best buds

So, you know I wrote an embroidery book, right?  It came out about a year ago.  What you may not know is that a few months earlier, I'd submitted a little project to American Patchwork & Quilting with the tiniest of hopes that they might be interested in publishing it.

:)

The latest issue of American Patchwork & Quilting - on news stands now - includes that little design called "Best Buds".

(The above images are used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2014 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.)

As I thought about what I might like to design, I came across this pretty picture on Pinterest ...

I really liked it so my mind set about trying to come up with a simple, yet pleasing interpretation of these wildflowers.

I started designing a purse for a little girl ... because I love making bags and because I have little girls ... not much of a stretch there.  But then I got to thinking that not everyone likes to make bags and not everyone has a little girl to make things for.  So then I thought wouldn't it be fun to make an embroidery design that could be turned into either a bag or a framed piece. 

Here are the original samples I submitted to the magazine.

When it came time to sending in the "real ones" to be photographed, I wanted to use more current fabric - the fabric in the originals were at least a few years old, if not more.  Scrumptious by Bonnie & Camille for Moda was just coming out and the colours and scale of the prints were p.e.r.f.e.c.t.

Here's a quick progress photo I took at my kitchen table last summer ...

(Some of my fabric choices changed as I worked.)

And I used DMC embroidery floss because it's super easy to find. :) 

So there you have it.  It's a quick, simple and versatile design - you can have lots of fun with different colours and you can resize it to suit any frame.  Right now I'm picturing it on a pillowcase border and repeated around the hem of a little girl's summer dress ... with a few butterflies ...

Comments

[Vickie]

Congratulations on being published. Your little design is adorable. I want to make a bunch of those cute purses for my grand daughters, and I had better start now to be ready for Easter.

[Christine M]

Oh, they are so pretty! Congratulations on getting your project published.

[Susie]

Oh so very sweet. I am stitching you quilt in your book. Love it. Keep posting progress on my blog. The stitcheries are so cute.

[pam]

hey thats great!! CONGRATULATIONS!

[Chrissie]

Congratulations! Such lovely designs, they brighten my day over here in rainy, grey England! I'm going to ask my mom to send that mag over (she lives in Pa...). Chrissie x

[Christine B.]

What a simple but beautiful design. Makes it easy to stitch but with great results! Congratulations on having it published.... must be very rewarding! Love your work!

[wendy]

oh how gorgeous! Well done on getting them published, though I'm not surprised they accepted them at all!

[Annerose]

Wunderschön, die Farben und Stoffe sind ganz toll und deine Stickerei zauberhaft.
Liebe Grüße Annerose

[greenrabbitdesigns]

Congrats K ...........it's gorgeous!
V x

[Jennifer B]

Kristyne...absolutely beautiful! You never cease to inspire.

[Leanne]

Absolutely gorgeous! You really inspire me to tackle some embroidery, something I've never really done. Your designs are always so pretty and sweet, Keep up the great work,

[edith]

Congratulations on being published, again :) Sweet little design and so versatile. Lovely.

[Michelle G]

Congratulations on the design being published! Unfortunately, it's not a publication that I have seen here in Australia 😟. Will just have to wing it from your photos...

Michelle G

[Elaine]

Congratulations!! That's exciting but more than it it's absolutely darling those "buds" and bag! I have a couple if patterns is love to submit you have given me hope! Although who wouldn't publish your perfection? Duh!! : D

[karenkay]

Amazing blog! I love reading your blog and seeing your amazing embroidery ideas!

[Teresa]

Oh how cute around the bottom of a little girl's summer dress! Do you plan on showing us or doing a tutorial? That would be nice!

[anna]

I love your work. Your stitching is beautiful. Would love to learn from you. Can't wait to get the magazine. I so look forward to your posts on your blog. I check it everyday and sometimes several times a day. You inspire me.

[greg]

I love these! I saw them on Pinterest last night so I knew that you had a surprise for us. Congratulations! I haven't recieved my copy in the mail yet... probaby because of all of the snow and ice here.

[Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts]

Congratulations! Very pretty!

[pam]

So cute !!! Like everything you do! I have my magazine sitting on my ottoman waiting for a quiet moment! Congratulations!
xo

[Kay]

Congrats!!! I love the fabric choices too, Bonnie and Camille make such gorgeous designs.

[A.J. Dub (Amy)]

Such a pretty project!

[Debbie R]

So pretty. And a much needed harbinger of spring. Congratulations!

[Maria Beuttenmuller]

Congratulations!!! LOVE this little basket/bag! What a great little bag for finding Easter Eggs. I will certainly get this issue . I was thinking of Birdseye Pique for white portion! Love all versions. You must be sooo proud ! Thanks for sharing your beautiful work, which is truly inspirational!
Maria

[Dana]

Congrats on being published! And I so want to make this!!!

[Trudy]

Congratulations on your book, I can't wait to see it! I looked you up because of this very article in the magazine and I fell in love with the project! I have four little granddaughters and it occurred to me the other day that this would be a precious project for them for Easter! I have been sewing forever, quilting for 25 years and embroidering even longer than sewing and I love simple little embroidery projects!! To be able to combine my love of embroidery, sewing, fabrics for my little granddaughters is going to be great fun!

[Davy]

Beautiful! I am definitely running to the bookstore on my lunch break tomorrow! Congratulations!

[Bonnie Nyquist]

I have been waiting for you to show us this, I got my magazine several days ago,and I fell in love with it, not realizing it was yours..until I say the book, I flipped the page back and there was your name, I just knew in my heart it was you! I have been practicing my stem stitch, my stitches are too large, but I am working on it! This is one adorable project, we have a new baby in the family, I plan to make this for that little girl for Easter and fill it with hair accesories being she has a ton on hair! I never thought about bottoms of dreses or even to top of sheets and pillow case bands! You are so inspiring!! Congratulations again Kristyne, this is wonderful!

[Anne Beier]

Well done!! I am just starting a project from "S is for Stitich." I don't know how to hand embroider well, and a quilter in my bee is going to help me with it. Very excited.

[Shelley]

very nice!! and pretty too!!!

[Pamela Danner]

How absolutely adorable, I just love these!
Pam
scrap-n-sewgranny.blogspot.com

[Kathleen O'Grady]

Congratulations to you! Your work is so beautiful! I just love that little basket. It could be used for so many things. I wish I could embroider like you do, just amazing, perfect, little stitches! Guess I will be hunting down that issue on my next trip to the store.

[Carla]

I just picked up that issue today and its in plastic wrap. I'm about to tear it open! And to think you're Canadian. Lucky us : )

[Sheri]

That is soooo cute!! I've enjoyed your work so much, I tried my hand recently at embroidery and hope to do more and get better at it. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Kristy]

Congrats!! Now I need to go stand by my mailbox and wait for my copy to arrive.....and it is soooooo fridgid out there........oh well you do what you have to do. :) Kristy

[A Little Blue Dragonfly]

Yay and congratulations!!! A beautifully sweet design, and I love your use of Scrumptious! :)

[Debbie]

Simply gorgeous as usual!

[Jan S]

I got that issue, leafed through it, saw your project - but didn't realize you were the author, and thought to myself, "that looks like something Christine would make. How pretty!" Congratulations!

[Cassie]

I received my copy of American Patchwork & Quilting a couple days ago and as I was savoring the new pages, there you were! I was thrilled to see what felt like an old friend :) Congratulations on being published! Wait until readers discover your website and all your inspiration!! What a swee treasure for AP&Q readers :)

[Erin]

the stitches are so pretty! The originals and the real ones are all beautiful. I loved the framed piece!

[Heather (mtl)]

Congratulations (raising pretend glass of champagne)!
How on earth could you keep such a secret?! What a stunner that little bag is, but I'm in love with the framed embroidered piece. I'd like to do one adding little woodland critters, just for fun.
You inspire so many of us and it's no wonder as all your designs are... 'scrumptious' ;)
Thank you so much for sharing your creativity with us!

[Lucky Lisa]

AWE!! I love it!!

[Jackie]

I am so glad I get that magazine because I "sew" want to do that embroidery! It's just beautiful.

[Keri F]

Hi Krystine. Congrats on them using your design (of course they did!). I will buy the mag just fot this. It's darling.

[Jeannie D]

Just adore your work...Congratulations, Krystine!

[Robin M]

I'm so happy for you, that is a darling design! I just got my magazine yesterday and hadn't looked at it yet but I sure will now so I can see it. Congratulations!

[Allysgrandma]

After a very long day at work, what a joy to come home to find my magazine waiting for me. I love the bag and even have the same fabric! Lovely and can't wait to make one.

[Val Robichaud]

The design is sweet! I love American Patchwork and Quilting and will be sure to get the new issue.

[Marion Family from NJ]

Yeah so excited for you, my daughter (age 13) and I saw it and said that looks like Pretty by hand, and sure enough it was you! We felt like we new a celebrity because we always read your blog. Congratulations from New Jersey!

[Babychaser]

Quick story... I was flipping through the quilting mag my mother in law subscribed me to for Christmas, when I happened upon the cutest little embroidery project. LOVED it! Then, and I don't know what caused me to do it, I decided to look at who made them... and I was not shocked at all to see that it way you! I was very excited though. :) Well done. Sadly, my internet access has come to a very slow trickle (I've been online on my computer a dozen times since August) and my smart phone just fell to it's demise, thus leaving me unable to even get my email updates, let alone comment. But here I am for a quick moment and I just had to share my story! :) Congratulations!