So....embroidery....

As if I need one more craft project to add to my list, I went and bought this lot of hand dyed emroidery floss off of ebay ($11). Do I know how to embroider? Not beyond a few tutorials I've read on blogs and different websites over the last few days - which means, in my head I THINK I can figure it out, but really: No. I don't.

I was brainstorming for a handmade wedding gift for a childhood friend (who I'm pretty sure doesn't read this blog, I hope). I really want to do handmade b/c I just think it means something and I'm at that stage of my life where I want to start giving things that mean something. So she loves purple. I was inpsired by this tutorial over at Film in the Fridge to make some patchwork dish towels - this I KNOW I can handle, I have lots of purple scraps of material and a sewing machine. I will have to figure out was stitching in the ditch means, but I'm sure its simple enough.

Then I was inspired my some amazing emroidery art over at Maureen Cracknell Handmade and also Kat, at The Story of Kat, posted this little gem which planted in mind the idea of embroidery as wedding gift. So off I launch into a another realm of the crafting world, despite the fact that I am already surrounded by unfinished projects that have made quick work of my craft room and are now cluttering up the where-the-kids-can't-get-to-them-slash-laundry room.

I tell myself it was meant to be though, because just last week I picked up a big huge purple linen dress, thinking I would make hand towels of it. Now, however, I realize it will be the perfect base layer of my pillow case. I also have a lovely sturdy natural color eddie bauer linen dress I've been slowly deconstructing for a while. I think I will do the actual embroidery on it, b/c the floss colors are going to look beautiful against the neutral background - then I'll sew that onto the purple linen base.

I'm thinking I'll have the bride and groom's names, wedding date, a quote, and I've found some nice free embellishment patterns online as well that I can spice things up with - oh, and I'm going to attempt to embroider some mountain silhouettes in the background since they're Colorado folks. I'm a little overwhelmed, but I have 'til mid July and beginner's luck on my side.

When I get all my materials assembled I'll take you along with me on this project. Perhaps promising you a happy ending will keep me honest.

Have a lovely thursday!