embroidery projects

Working out the Details

Dear Liza,

Now that I am ready to put the land-use icons on my map of France, I am getting a little worried. There are going to be hundreds of these little rascals!

I want each icon to be easy to sew, of equal size, and to look vaguely like what it represents… a row of crops, a tree, or a vineyard.

Watching videos of embroidery, I noticed the importance of straight lines, so I practiced on some.

I am happy with some of these, but the squares and triangles were not right. I did more experimenting.

I also had to work out the right scale for the icons. Those first ones were 1 centimeter high, which I realized, since the whole map is about a meter wide, is TINY. So I tried some at 2 centimeters, which made more sense. I drew the 2 cm. icons on wider strips and laid them down according to the land-use maps I’ve been studying. I started with the south western part of the country

I took this picture to remind me what went where, then used my clear ruler to get the guide lines all straight.

And now, I have started sewing the icons! These are for wheat fields and row crops.There are still a couple hundred yet to go, so it will be a good long time.

Again, patience.

Love,

Grandma Judy

French Map Progress

Dear Liza,

I have been working on my French map quilt steadily for a few weeks now, and I’m pretty happy with it so far.

The rivers are embroidered, the city dots are ironed and sewn into place, the mountains and highlands edged, and the coastlines nice and swooshy.

Of course, it isn’t done yet. There is all that land between the main features that looks like it wants some detail.

Rolling hills and grape vines, rocky crags and swampy spots, fields of wheat and rows of lavender, all need to add texture and interest.

So I will get started on the next step. I have chosen my color palette, looked at the symbols used in paper maps. I have come to terms with the fact that this will not, and cannot be, an accurate depiction. It will be, like all maps, an interpretation.

And I’m okay with that.

Lovr,

Grandma Judy

Cities in Cursive

Dear Liza,

I love doing embroidery. It can be restful and contemplative, just making stitch after stitch and feeling a picture grow under my fingers. But sometimes I wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew.

My French map quilt needs the city names, and these pieces of paper aren’t going to do the trick. The names need to be stitched. All 27 of them!

So I practiced a bit, and then wrote, in pencil, each name on the map. You need to squint a bit to see them, I’m afraid.

Then came the stitching.

I used the embroidery hoop because the fabric felt floppy and it gave me more control, and it worked pretty well.

Once the name was embroidered, I used a small blanket stitch to make sure the city “dots” stayed in place.

I’m still working on this, but making progress. Moving Paris and some other cities slowed me down a bit.

I ask your patience, and my own, as well. Breathe and stitch, Judy. Breathe and stitch.

Love,

Grandma Judy

How Much Crazy is Enough Crazy?

Dear Liza,

When I finished sewing curtains and walking in the sunshine the other day, I counted my pieced and embroidered crazy quilt blocks.

There are almost 100!!! When laid out in a 10 by 10 square (ish), they cover about a five foot by five foot area. I am so pleased!

I love how the colors, shapes and embroidery work together. I love the “aerial photograph of a fantasy world” look. I love the map-ish-ness of it. I want to get tiny and go for long walks on this quilt.

Cousin Kestrel has even been doing some embroidery when she comes by, and Auntie Katie, too.

Auntie Bridgett cut me a strong template from an old book cover (left from our friend Melody Bush’s book excavation art) so I can make sure the blocks are straight and even before sewing them together.

But is it enough? I still have enough fabric to make more blocks, and there is certainly no hurry to finish it. Hmmmmmmm….

I will take a break, think on it, and let you know soon.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Stitching Memories

Dear Liza,

This past month in Better Homes and Gardens magazine, I saw an idea I really liked. I usually don’t go for their ideas; they are too fancy or expensive or just not my style.

But this one struck a chord with me. The idea is pretty simple, really. You have dinner guests sign your tablecloth with a pen (or in my case, pencil) that will wash out.

You embroider over the signature, then wash the tablecloth, and there is the beginning of a keepsake!

I think this struck a nerve because for so many years we could (and did) have dozens of friends to our house. Dinners, parties, pizza, you name it. But then two things happened in succession. First, we moved away from our home of 35 years, Salinas, to Portland, where we knew literally three adults.

And just as we were getting to know more folks, Covid kept us from having guests over. Having taken all those guests for granted now feels criminally negligent. I want to cherish their presence in our home, to have them with us even when they are gone.

With vaccines, we are able to have people over again! I started the new project last week with Auntie Katie and her friend Marion, and I like the way it looks. I hope to get this tablecloth really crowded with signatures before long.

Including yours, when you visit this spring!

Love,

Grandma Judy