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

[Kaye]

Just got my issue in the mail today. Congratulations. You truly are pretty by hand.

[Helen Lebrett]

Such a pretty bag and embroidery! I thought I recognized it: I just bought that issue last week! congrats on being published!! Hugs, H in Healdsburg

[Jodi]

Congrats! Just saw it in the magazine the other day. Looks awesome!

[Machelle]

Had fun making this even though I misread directions and did not center it the way I intended. I am still pleased with the results. Here its a link to the picture of the tote I made.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65909081@N05/12649442705/

Congratulations on being published