Our First Cottage

Hello, I'm so glad you stopped by!

I hope your summer is in full bloom and you are relaxing and working on projects you put off till times were a bit slower.

Today I finished a project I wanted to do for a long time...use fabric art and embroidery to reproduce the first home we lived in, posted about here shortly after we married.

And here is the finished piece:



One the left blooming fabulously is a purple crepe myrtle. That goes with the Rose of Sharon on the other side of the house...the Rose of Sharon was already there as was the large tree.



Daffodils now bloom on the walkway to the backyard. And a cluster of Wax Leaf Begonias bloom in pinks, burgundies with rich green and dark foliage. Under the large window two large rose bushes are ever blooming while just below are Pink Caladiums and Hydrangeas.



The window beside the crepe myrtle has a window box with yellow and orange flowers and greenery...that is when I stuck my finger with the needle and put my DNA at the top of the window, thus the awnings became a must.

More Caladiums, Begonias and Hydrangeas grace that side of the house and on the porch, outlined in scroll work that I would add if we lived there today, is a large wicker plant holder holding a variety of Geraniums.

Down the steps at the walk way is the Mail Box with our name and date of marriage that I moved up from the street. It is centered in Lantana with their blooms of peach, yellow and pinks...and they line the drive way as well.

On the door is an upper window to let in light and below are Door Chimes, Colorful bells that I would have if living there today.

Thank you for sharing this accomplishment with me! I hope you get to fashion something special you have wanted to do as well.

Warm hugs,
Melissa

Polka Dot Girls and Candy Cane Christmas

I happened upon the CUTEST embroidery pattern called The Polka Dot Girls. Composed of several larger designs and a few sweet smaller designs all for a quilt, wall hanging, well almost anything you want to make! I'm in love with them all!

I picked my favorite, chosen for the big huge cat the middle lady is holding. Reminds me of Hug A Lump, who did his best to lay all over my embroidery box and thread...at one point he was after the metallic thread. After we had an understanding that it was mine not his I started embroidering and fast as lightening that cat pounced on my leg and grabbed the thread before I knew what happened!

And because it was 2 in the morning he ran away snickering at me trying to quietly chase him through a dark house. Silly cat...he didn't barf or die so I guess all is well.

Well, here is the first one. I'm framing rather than quilting, etc.:



I added a few little bits here and there to make it my own and gave the cat alien eyes of green...lol! Then framed it:



Because I paint, I mistakenly thought embroidery would be similar to highlighting and shadowing. So I designed a sweet lavender candy cane for Christmas and made the bow out of metallic threads of different hues. I had NO idea it would take forever!
But,I learned a LOT and will let that guide the rest of my Christmas designs I want to make.

I hope you can see the sparkly outline and throughout the bow.



Not sure of the frame just yet.



I'm starting work again on the house applique and embroidery. Hope to have some photos of that soon.

We are barely surviving the heat! kids said the bank temperature was 108* this afternoon, same as yesterday and the day before...Ugh! And we have August yet to go...and September.

I pretend it is snowing and that is why I can't go out to play...lol!

Happy weekend to each of you!

Many hugs,
Melissa