Posts tagged journaling
Snow and Stitch scrolls...

I heard chickadees outside today. In the summer months, I realize I might not stop to appreciate their “fee-bee” whistle, but hearing this sound in the snowy quiet, was bright and clear.

Despite the birds, it’s very routine here in the studio, I’m up early working on art and I crank through the day with Maisey at my side. In this wet weather, Maisey and I have come to enjoy what we call a “suburban walk.” We walk on the cement pad from the front to the back deck so she doesn’t get her paws wet. She’s something else this one…. but it gets us out and breathing the fresh air.

I said on Instagram that we were not prepared to deal with the snow at our new place. Thankfully, thankfully, our neighbor with a John Deere plowed us out, not once but twice! We feel quite welcomed out here. I will say, I miss talks in the dark night chatting with our former neighbor - shout out to Martha!

As some of you know, Evan and I moved out of the suburbs and are building a small scale homestead, which begins with rehabbing a 1970s ranch. The ongoing construction inside the house is dirty, cluttered, and slightly dangerous… I feel like either Evan or I get a “it will be worth it” pep talk once a week. The cold is slowing us down as it’s hard to use saws even in the garage at these temperatures. We will hibernate for a little bit longer…. there’s certainly plenty to draw on my desk in the meantime.

I planned to put away my sewing machine for a bit while the dust settles, that’s until a friend of mine announced her pregnancy! Obviously, the Juki is coming out of storage and on to the kitchen counter - I’ve got a baby quilt to make! Even still, l need something fun and compact to work on in the evening when we are cooped up that won’t be too much of a mess … and so, I began a meditation scroll.

The mediation school, or snippet scroll concept is simple. Two layers of fabric: the bottom strip and the scraps on top. If you follow my projects you may recognize pieces of my mini quilt coral/purple ombre that Evan accidentally set on fire… It lives again! On the top layer, the little scraps can be basted down or stitched down on as you go. For the bottom strip, I’m using a jelly roll. It’s 2.5 inches wide but I don’t see why we could do a scroll at any size.

I love this as a way to keep meaningful fabric, clothes, or swatches. Some people use the scrolls to cut apart and use for journaling embellishments or decorations but I think it can be just for the act of stitching practice and play.

Stitching for stitching sake! Loving these meditation scrolls for sitting in front the t.v. at night, I can really fly down the strip! (Though that might not be the point… LOL)

Ideally, you’d fasten them onto to a spool and roll them up. I happen to have a few large wooden spools I want to use, where are they? What box? It could be a while friends…

If you have any bit of inspiration to make a scroll, I invite you to join me and please send pics!

I’m trying to keep the sewing explosion contained among the wreckage of the remodel. Whatever the heck I’m making on my Living Canvas is in its “ugly stage” no doubt. It’ll all be worth it. <3

More soon.

P.S. Seriously - consider joining me on the scrolls!





New Year's Project

Hello!

My sister and I have been stitching and sharing our work over text. It’s been a simple delight and a fun way to spend the evenings on the couch. I decided to make a template for a monthly embroidery journaling project. Each month offers blank space to try out designs, practice stitches — anything you want!

I drew the design in my cricut design software and had the machine draw it onto fabric. I’m using a Kona fabric, my favorite brand, 100% cotton.

On my first try, I realized that I didn’t give myself enough room on the edges to fit the hoop to be comfortable to work with. Oops!

Let’s try that again…. Much better.

I’m new to embroidery. When making my first quilt I hand sewed the edging and it was my favorite part. So meditative (and you get to be under a blanket while you do it!) It gave me some confidence that if I could do that I could do embroidery. So, if you’ve never done it - GO for it!

Here is JPEG you can print out at whatever size you’d like and trace on to fabric using a water soluble marker (you can find at any craft store!) Or upload this image to your cricut and let the machine do it for you! Be sure to use the water soluble cricut marker!

Below is how it looks in my set up screen. Leave room for your hoop!!

Happy stitching! If you end up working on this I hope you’ll share it with me! Tag me on instagram @kirbifagan