We all
create in different ways. My medium, I
think, is in thread and fabric.
I love to embroider
and I feel it is my greatest talent.
While some paint or draw I do my art with a needle and floss. I thoroughly enjoy it. I think I get that talent from my
great-grandmother.
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| I just love this tea towel with a rooster embroidered on it. |
My mother is
a very gifted and talented seamstress.
She seriously can make anything.
When it came to my talents with a sewing machine I'm afraid I'm not nearly
as blessed as she is. Those talents
simply weren't passed down to me. I
struggled for years to learn to sew well and because I tend to be a
perfectionist, and my work was anything but, I ended up hating it. I really wanted to be good at it, however, so
after taking breaks from time to time I would go back and try again.
Finally I
figured out how to make it work for me. I
do fairly well with simple things. And a
lot of patience. Well, patience was
never my strong suit, but I finally realized that if I would just practice it I
did much better.
My mother's
advice to buy a decent machine was also very helpful. Fighting a temperamental sewing machine
hadn't helped me much and only served to add to my frustration. Now that I have a good machine, simple and
easy to thread and operate, I've really enjoyed the process.
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| Pink chenille throw pillow |
Once I had a few successes under my belt I was able to sew with much more confidence. After all these years I really enjoy sewing and I am eager and excited to do it more and more. Most of what I make is simple and I really enjoy making items that are useful in our daily lives. From dish towels and tea towels to curtains and valances. Decorative items like throw pillows and doilies too. I'm ready to begin quilting again and that is exciting too.
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| Pretty scarf and ear warmer. I learned to make the ear warmer on Youtube. |
I crochet and knit a bit and I really enjoy it as well. Again I do basic simple things and I hope to expand my talents. Thanks to Youtube I've been able to learn to make a few new things. I'm not great at reading and understanding patterns so watching videos has made all the difference for me.
There is a lot of satisfaction in making pretty things, isn't there? Although I find lately that I need something to be functional as well. Your embroidery is beautiful but I have a feeling my cross-stitch and embroidery days are behind me. Though I would like to keep my hand in and remember how to do it. Embroidery can be functional if it hides a mark on fabric that is otherwise perfectly good. I remember buying a cheap, used sewing machine here in England for £50 and finding it really hard work. Bill bought me a new machine - not hugely expensive, but modern and I nearly cried when I discovered how easy it was to thread! Currently working on a Tunisian crochet pillow cover (though I gather no one in Tunisia actually does this sort of needlework...). It takes a long time, requiring attention, but I think I will enjoy the finished product. Currently on holiday in Ireland; hope to blog about it when we return!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe it when I finally got a good machine. Lesson learned. Hope you blog about your pillow cover. I'd love to see it. Enjoy Ireland!
DeleteWe all have talents in different areas like you said! I can't knit or crochet even though my grandma tried to teach me! Your sewing, embroidery, and crochet/knitting are beautiful and you should be proud!
ReplyDeleteTania
Thank you Tania. Like I said my talents only go so far but I keep it simple and I'm finding I like the results.
DeleteI have no talent in creating anything really. I'm jealous in all that you can do! I have no sewing machine and while I like the idea of getting one, I'm afraid to spend that money for fear I still couldn't do anything. I can sew by hand barely, functional (sometimes) but not pretty. I bought a crochet set and tried to teach myself (read books and watched videos), but I can't get the hang of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you have plenty of talents elsewhere. I happen to know you are a terrific thrifty shopper and believe me that is a talent! When and if you are ready try crochet again. I do much better sewing now than when I was younger. Sometimes time can be an advantage. :)
DeleteI basically flunked home ec, couldn't sew, cook or anything else I was expected to do. Took me many years to be able to sew well and cook, lots of tears and frustration. It can be done. Tedious but I am glad I kept trying.
ReplyDeleteLike you I've had my share of tears and frustration. Especially in front of my sewing machine. I'm glad I stuck with it too.
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