Paisley Embroidery Finish, a New Brooch, and Antique Travel Book

Good morning everyone! I worked on my Bohemian Paisley pattern on Friday and I was able to get everything finished except for the backstitching around the larger green motifs and the lazy daisy stitches. Since I was so close to being finished, I decided to work on it on Saturday afternoon after coming back from shopping.

Here is the design all finished. I still don't care for the lazy daisy stitches. I think they would be fine if there wasn't the pre-marked design behind them......I did try to wash the pattern after I was finished, but none of the ink came out.

So here's my ramble......why do embroidery companies make patterns with ink that doesn't wash out? Does that make any sense? Your design is never going to look like the one on the cover unless you are meticulous about covering up every white area there is on the fabric.....and I can tell you, it's hard to do on those lazy daisy stitches.

Well, I can't complain too much because this kit only costs me $3.50. A nice way to practice my embroidery stitches if nothing else.

On Friday, my coworker gave me a lovely brooch for my collection. His mother recently passed away. She had lots of costume jewelry . My coworker asked if I would like something from her collection since I wear brooches to work and I said yes. He picked out this Bob Mackie heart brooch.

I only have one other heart brooch in my collection so this is a great addition! I'm going to wear it tomorrow for Valentine's Day :)

On Saturday, I stopped by The Book Nook and found a lovely copy of Baedeker's Great Britain from 1927. Baedekers were travel guides published by a German company founded in 1827 (it still exists today under a different name.)

For a book that is ninety years old, it is in wonderful condition. The maps are bright and look to be rarely used. It is interesting to see that the North Sea used to be called the German Ocean (upper right on the map).

The book is somewhat like a modern travel guide with maps, directions, attractions, and costs. There are small descriptions of various historical places from each city in the guide book.

The geek in me would love to see a guide book for London. The earliest book on London was published in 1878 and was re-released every couple of years until 1930. With the war, English editions of the books weren't published until the 1950s. The last edition of the London book was in 1955, its 21st edition of that title.

I would love to see the books before and after the war to see how the face of London changed.

Like I said........the geek in me. LOL

In stitching news, I started a new Friday Frolic project on Sunday morning. I chose Potions, Brews, & Spells by Cherished Stitches, which was featured in last year's JCS Halloween magazine. I had ordered the fabric and threads in the fall, but never started the project because I was busy with Saisons 4 Sampler.

Since it will be my Friday Frolic project, the only things I did on Saturday and Sunday was pull the fabric out, iron it, find the center point, and stitch two number motifs to get it started.

This fabric is definitely going to require my Ott light. I am stitching it on 35 ct dolphin linen by Weeks Dye Works. The pattern originally called for 36 count, but the store I bought it from didn't have 36 so I went with the closest alternative.

The highest count I've worked on so far is 32 as that it the only count you can find in the chain craft stores in town.

Taking that and the dark fabric color into account, the Ott light is going to be used quite a lot. Usually I bring my project with me when I meet up with my friends on Friday nights, but I think I will have to start an additional Friday Frolic project since I can't drag a standing Ott light around town. I plan on stitching on the Shy Fairy on those nights.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Have a great Valentine's Day tomorrow. Even if you're single! Go to the store, buy some chocolate, and enjoy an evening of self-indulgence! LOL

Until next time ^____^