I did it!

It's 7:20 am and I completed all my goals:

I stitched 2 kissing pillow tops.

I stitched an ornament for the Breast Cancer auction.

I stitched a bookmark for a literacy program.





And I blogged every half hour for 24 (plus!) hours.

Don't forget, it's never too late to support the EGA.

I hope my stitching and blogging has encouraged you to participate in an outreach program if you are an EGA member and to introduced you to the EGA otherwise.

Now that Blogathon is over, come visit me at Orange Rug Yarn.

Front? Back?

I wasn't trying to make a double sided bookmark, but I think I succeeded - I can't tell which side I like better.

Where the Bookmark is Going

I don't actually know where we donate our bookmarks, only that they are given to kids to promote literacy.  It's not listed in our outreach program information and frankly, I don't really care - it's hard to mess up promoting literacy by giving bookmarks to kids, about the only thing you could do to mess it up is NOT hand them out.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Bookmark for Literacy Started!

Given the time constraints, I decided to do a pattern darning on paper bookmark - I just made up the pattern.  Here it is so far:



I'm going to be blogging until I finish the bookmark, but at the rate I'm going that shouldn't be more than another couple of posts.

Remember, even though Blogathon is over, it's not too late to sponsor me and it's NEVER too late to support the Embroiders' Guild of America!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Ornament Done!

I've finished the ornament! I'm not sure I'm happy with the cording though - I might replace it with something else. But it's done! And I'm starting my bookmark.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

From Two to One

The two sides of the ornament are now one!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

More Correspondence Courses

Some of the other Correspondence Courses I've taken (or am taking) through the EGA include:

Castiguilldi and Lavender - Italian dimensional embroidery

(This is the background which I've been stitching for my 12 stitches a day.)

Grrcia - Bargello


Star of Hearts - Layered Stitches



You can look at all of the EGA correspondence courses here.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

EGA Correspondence Courses

The EGA has a number of educational programs for members. One that I take great advantage of is Correspondence Courses. These are in-depth projects in a specific technique that are done together by a chapter or group. The teacher provides a course book and is available to answer questions if the group cannot figure it out. The group works on the project for about six months then sends back the completed projects for the teacher to look at and evaluate.

I've taken (and am currently taking) several CC's and they have all been excellent. Here are some pictures and links to where I wrote about the projects on my stitchery blog Orange Rug Yarn, if I did.


Beginning Drawn Thread


Oksana's Sampler - traditional Eastern European folk motifs


And I've already shown Winterspring, the Hardanger project.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Ornament Sides

Here's a photo of the ornament sides on the forms - one side needs to be reattached because my basting broke while I was tying the knots though.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Stitching Tools

Like many stitchers, I'm a sucker for fancy stitching tools, although I don't actually have anything fancy unless I made it myself. (like my Hardanger Chatalaine)

If you are looking for fancy stitching tools, the EGA store has some amazing pieces in the jewelry section. There is a lovely thread cutter on the top of the page and then at the bottom you'll find silver needle and thimble cases, a small tape measure that rolls into a silver case, and a gorgous crown pin cushion.

Check it out!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Petite Projects

I joined the EGA for the educational opportunities. One of my favorites is the Petite Project. These are small projects that are made available to chapters for chapter programs for free. They each focus on a technique or stitch and teach it as part of a small project. They've really helped me to explore new skills.

The stitched image in my sidebar is my version of the Rice Stitch Pincushion/Ornament Color Study.

I learned to paint canvas with Winter Landscape



I've played with techniques from several others as well, but don't have photos handy.

You can see a partial list of Petite Projects here

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Bookmark Brainstorming

Since it looks like I will have time to stitch a bookmark, I need to get cracking on ideas.

Since they go to a children's literacy program, we are supposed to pick a project that will appeal to children.  Most people take that as a child-like theme, bright colors, etc.  But I remember someone getting my entire third grade class elegant leather bookmarks and we were all very proud of them, so that doesn't rule much out.

I'd love to do something with the glittery aida cloth, but I have no good ideas.  I found some perforated paper in my stash and I've seen some nice pattern darning on perforated paper bookmarks that I could probably reproduce.  I also found some cute rabbit cross stitch patterns that could be bookmarks.  Or there are some cute Sublime Stitchery freebies that could become bookmarks.  Or of course, there are thousands of bookmark patterns on the web...

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Ornament Sides Stitched

I finished stitching the second ornament side:



Now for the finishing

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Stitching For 24 Hours

My Blogathon monitor, Noelle, of Life's Everyday Adventures mentioned that as a non-stitcher she can't even imagine stitching for 24 hours. Funny enough, for me it's easier to imagine stitching for 24 hours than blogging for 24 hours. Prior to today, I've never spent more than a couple hours at a time blogging - although I have pulled several all-nighters writing research papers - though that feels very different! However, a number of times I've spent all day stitching, either at workshops or because I have an educational project or gift due soon. In fact, EGA Correspondence Courses combined with my natural procrastination have been very good practice for this writing and stitching marathon. (I'll talk about Correspondence Courses later.)

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Some examples of Hardanger

While my ornaments are beautiful, they aren't really good examples of Hardanger embroidery, so I'm posting some other Hardanger I've done in the past.

Here's a work in progress:



And the following 3 pictures are from Winterspring, an EGA Correspondence Course:

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Ornament First Side

I just finished the first side of the ornament. It went pretty quick and looks really nice. It uses the square filet filling, which I'd never used before.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Ornaments for Breast Cancer

I'm stitching an ornament to donate to Attic Needlework's annual Silent Auction for Breast Cancer Research. The funds raised are donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This is one of my chapter's outreach project. Attic Needlework is one of our member's local needlework store, so we send our ornaments to her and she takes them to the store. This year's auction is November 21st from 6 to 8 pm, if you are going to be in Mesa, AZ area it's well worth attending.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Thread A Needle Day

I almost forgot that in addition to being Blogathon, today is Thread A Needle Day (also called Thread The Needle Day). You celebrate, of course, by threading a needle. So if you haven't already, you have one hour to thread a needle!

Here's a blog post with more information - "Thread the Needle Day" Eve

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Ornament Stitching Begins

Here are the first few stitches of my ornament:



You might recognize that it's Hardanger.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Teaching Children to Embroider

The EGA provides several free projects for teaching kids to embroider that can be used in free classes.

There is a Beetle Rider, which features a dragon fly riding a beetle; Dragon, a dragon with sequin scales; and Holly Ho!, a sprig of Holly. Dragon and Beetle Rider feature using a combination of crayons and thread for a finished effect, a technique the EGA uses successfully in a number of their youth programs. You can see these and any future projects on the EGA Youth Page.

The EGA also offers classes for adults in teaching embroidery to children.

Here's a slideshow of an EGA sponsored youth workshop. Don't they look like they are having fun!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Stitching Every Day

People often ask me how I get so much stitching done. First, I don't think I really do, I know many stitchers who are much more prolific than I am. (And faster stitchers!) However, I make stitching a priority. I was sick for several months over the winter and spring and did little to no stitching because I was pretty much just going to work, coming home and going to bed. I realized that I really missed stitching and found that even a few stitches even if I was exhausted made me more relaxed which led to better sleep, a better mood, etc. Staying up all night to stitch like I'm doing tonight isn't worth it, but 10 or 15 minutes at the end of the day - absolutely!

A few weeks ago designer Gay Ann Rogers came up with an idea called 12 Stitches A Day where you stitch 12 stitches a day on a project. I've started formally doing that and it's amazing the progress you can make when you just do a little bit at a time.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Second Kissing Pillow Top Finished!

Here is Miss Pico posing with my 2 finished pillow tops. The second set of stars went much better because I was focused on the fact that I didn't know how to stitch them. Laying the floss for the stars becomes surprisingly difficult when you are weaving it under the bars of the star.

So now a food/caffeine break and it's on to stitching ornaments for Breast Cancer research!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Stitching Progress Report - 8:30 PM

So, it's 8:30 pm and I'm about three quarters of the way done with my second Kissing Pillow top. I don't think I ever said this, but I'm making two because both my EGA chapter Cyberstitchers and my ANG (American Needlepoint Guild) chapter CyberPointers make Kissing Pillows as outreach projects.

I still have no idea what to do for a bookmark, but that may not matter because I may not have sufficient time to even start one anyway.

I'm getting sick of staring at kissing pillows and am greatly looking forward to working on my ornament.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Want to Learn to Cross Stitch? Don't miss this great educational opportunity!

This one is from the business community, not the EGA, but well worth looking into:


You can find a participating shop or download the chart here

Blogged with the Flock Browser

EGA Youth Programs

I don't know a lot about the EGA Youth programs, but everything I've seen involves working with kids at their level without dumbing things down. I think that is very important - I learned to embroider at age 5 or 6 and one of the first stiches my mom taught me was the french knot. In third or fourth grade at my elementary school we all made 11X14 or so embroidered tapestries on burlap with rug yarn. Kids can do more than follow the dots! This becomes clear in the EGA's annual youth exhibit "Fresh Perspectives", which can be seen here.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Pico Says It's Time for a Belly Rub Break

And has therefore plopped herself in the middle of my stitching area.

Free Educational Opportunities from the EGA

Education is part of the EGA mission and they offer a wide range of educational opportunities for everyone from beginners through professional stitchers.

Here are a few of the free resources they offer to the general public to learn different techniques:

Surface Stitchery
Counted Cross Stitch
Counted Cross Stitch (a different one)
Blackwork
Canvaswork / Needlepoing
Stumpwork

On the same page they also offer free nametag patterns in counted thread with detailed stitch diagrams.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

My heart is in the Right Place

This time I managed to count correctly and my heart is in the right place.

This is where I could put in some pseudo funny pun about hearts in the right place and sponsoring, but I'll spare you and just remind people that I'm blogging for the EGA and you can sponsor me here.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Kissing Pillows, Not Just for the US

I've never seen a Canadian kissing pillow, but I know they have maple leaves on them and the "I love you" can be in French or English. Some of the Canadian members of my EGA chapter, Cyberstitchers make these instead of the US ones.

Here's an article about the Canadian kissing pillows - Military Family Kissing Pillow Project Report from the Ottawa Valley Guild of Stitchery.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

One Down, One to Go

I finished my first Kissing Pillow top:



The stars were hard. I really had to pay attention. I know how to do a stitch that looks exactly like that one, except that unlike the one in this pattern, it doesn't start and end the thread in the same place (where there is room to hide it!) As it was, one of my stars is still not quite right - but you'll have to look hard to see it.

And I've started the next Kissing Pillow:



My model Hero says "Love Yo!" to fellow Blogathon blogger Niki at Like A Dog Chasing Cars who is blogging for one of his favorite charities Pit Bull Rescue Central.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Outline Finally Finished!

Well, I've finally got an outline done! Actually, I just finished my piece, so I'll show that in my next post.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Reports of My Demise...

Apparently, I got temporarily kicked off the Blogathon because I had a typo in my blog name when I entered it on their site, so it looked like I didn't exist. Thanks to Rickie for noticing that I was posting to the Flickr pool so I must exist and Sheana for fixing it!

Anyway, it's all taken care of and I really am here!

PS Be sure to check out the Blogathon Flickr pool.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Samplers From The EGA Collection

On the samplers page in the EGA store, you can see pictures of several samplers in the EGA collection and purchase patterns and kits to reproduce them yourselves.

I particularly like the Mini Flower Basket Sampler (Accession #00012), which is worked in cross stitch and queen stitch.

Stitching Slug

I'm a proud stitching slug, but even so I can't believe I haven't even finished one Kissing Pillow top yet! I've never stitched one before, but my friends who have talk about being able to complete a top in a few hours at most. Of course, if I hadn't had to frog so much, I'd probably be at least a third done with a second kissing pillow!

Finally Back to Where I Started

I've finally got my kissing pillow back to where it was before I started frogging.

The Embroiders' Guild of Ameria (EGA) Office and Embroidery Museum and Resource Center

The mission of the EGA is:

To stimulate appreciation for and celebrate the heritage of embroidery by advancing the
highest standards of excellence in its practice through education, exhibition, preservation, collection and research.

These activities are all supported from the main office in Louisville, KY. The Embroidery Museum and Resource Center is also there. It includes the EGA collection, which is approaching a thousand items and two galleries . (Note: one of my pieces is currently in the online gallery display for the Margaret Parshall Gallery, which lags behind the physical gallery exhibits by a few months.) There is also roomd for education programs and meetings.

Oh, and there is a shop selling EGA related items as well. (online store) :-)

I think it is particularly important to help the EGA now because they may have to move their headquarters and museum a few years early through no fault of their own. Although they have a long term lease, there have been a number of ongoing maintenance issues with the building and their landlord just asked to talk to them about the possibility of moving out early. Having to move unexpectedly during an economic downturn is just as difficult for a non-profit as it is for one of us!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Other Bloggathon Bloggers Who are Making Things Today

spacefiend is making stuffed bears for her top sponsors.
Make Mine Gluten Free is baking.
Will Knit for Caffeine is knitting baby booties (she had to do some major frogging too!)

I'll post more if I find them.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

My Stitching Space

This is where I usually sit and stitch, and where I'm working today. If you go to the Flickr page, I've added notes to the photo explaining most of the stuff on it. I took the photo from in front of the TV. Believe it or not the TV isn't actualy on (yet) today.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Frogging Done, now for the Restitching!

By the way, I'm not the only Blogathoner frogging today, check out Will Knit for Caffine

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Definately Frogging!

It clearly looks messed up to me. Plus the idea is to have all the pillows the same. So I can't help it, I'll be frogging.




cute frogging needlework accessories on etsy (sadly she's on vacation right now so there isn't anything listed)

Blogged with the Flock Browser

What is a Pipkin?

I was thinking I'd feature some items from the EGA Store for those who might want to support the EGA by buying their merchandise and I came across this:



Apparently it's a kit to make a pipkin, whatever that is. From the photo it looks like some sort of mini-chatalene, a quick Google search returns references to a thimble pipkin but no definition or photos clear enough to figure it out. Maybe it's a thimble pocket? Or a specific type of thimble pocket?

Anyway, you can buy a kit here here, halfway down the page.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

To Frog or Not To Frog

I just realized that I left 2 empty rows instead of one between "I Love" and "You". So I need to decide whether to rip it out or not. Unfortunately, I started the heart based on the location of the bottom of the word "You", so all the words are in the wrong place relative to the heart. I'll finish the heart first, but I think I'll have to. Guess I spoke too soon about not miscounting.

Note: ripping out stitches is called frogging because you "rip it, rip it".

Bookmark Ideas Needed

As I mentioned earlier, I haven't kitted out my bookmark because I'm not sure what I'm going to stitch. I do, however, have a piece of glitter aida that is just the right size for a bookmark, and I was thinking I'd use it. It makes me think of snow or stars so something along those lines would be good. Or I could just do something in glittery/metallic floss, although I don't have a huge range of metallic floss.

Ideas anyone?

OK, I need coffee!

I had trouble uploading my last photo to Flickr because I forgot to hit send on my cell phone and I'm losing track of when I'm supposed to post and whether or not I'm on track. I need some coffee before I lose track of where I'm supposed to stitch!

By the way, Nordic Needle sells "Sticher's Choice Coffee" so I'm obviously not the only stitcher who is addicted to coffee!

Beyond Words

I've finished the words and am onto stitching the heart.

Actually, I've now stitched half of one side of the heart.

Other Ways to Support the EGA

(By the way, from now on, I'm just going to say EGA and not spell out Embroiders' Guild of America. Everyone I know always does this anyway.)

Like all organizations, the EGA can always use cash, particularly unrestricted donations that can be put to use wherever they are needed. However, that's not the only way to help out. On their giving page, they also list a number of other ways to help out.

First off, if you aren't a member I recommend joining. If you are at all interested in embroidery, the benefits more than pay for membership. You can join a chapter or as a Member At Large.

You can take a class or buy something from the EGA store. Yes, shopping!

Also, the EGA has a wishlist of items they could use for their museum, collection preservation and offices. Some of these are items that you or your employer might have laying around unused like dress forms or a scanner!

However you wish to give, please do! And remember you can sponsor me here, I'd really appreciate it and so would the EGA!

A message from EGA Outreach

My friend Valorie is the National Outreach Chair for the EGA (Embroiders' Guild of America). I asked her to post a guest post, and it's also her first blog entry! (By the way, rather ironically, I know Valorie from my ANG (American Needlepoint Guild chapter.))

I'll turn it over to Valorie:

Hello Blogathon Readers,

This is my very first blog entry. So I made it for a good cause. EGA Outreach is such a vital part of our organization. How else can we let the public at large know we exist? Let them learn about embroidery, how to do embroidery, and eventually love the art of embroidery so that it becomes an integral part of everyone's life? We don't remember past civilizations fondly because of their political systems. We remember them for their Art, fine art and decorative art of which embroidery is an exceptionally apt example.


When you are stitching on a Kissing Pillow to give to a soldier or that soldier's family, you are carrying on an incredible tradition of enriching someone's life with the art of embroidery. This is the second part of Outreach, doing good works with the talent of your hands and heart. You all should be proud of yourselves, as I am of you all, for giving so generously.

Valorie Perkins Rice
EGA National Outreach Chair

The EGA National Outreach Page is here and has more information about what is being done for outreach on a national level.

Stitching Love

My progess thus far - I've stitched love.

To strip or not to strip

I bet you thought this would be something dirty! In embroidery, stripping refers to the process of splitting out each individual strand of thread in stranded embroidery floss and then putting them back together into the number of strands you need. This allows you to get a smooth flat result with each thread laying next to the other when you stitch.

On the other hand, I kind of like the slightly twisted look of plain floss off the skein when you have more than 2 plies. The kissing pillow is stitched in 3 ply. Also, stripping is a little more work and I'm not sure that you can really see the difference when doing cross stitch on Aida cloth. Comments anyone?

What are Kissing Pillows?

I keep mentioning Kissing Pillows, I guess I should explain what they are!

Kissing Pillows are small embroidered pillows following a specific pattern by Geraldine Trappey of the Yellow Rose Chapter of the EGA. They are given to soldiers who are being deployed and their family members. The soldiers kiss the pillow and give it to their children, or vice-versa. As my chapter's website says so well "This project is to benefit children whose parents cannot be with them. It is designed to give comfort and solace to children who have no choice in their parent's employment. It neither supports nor decries the current situational operations of the armed forces, but rather supports the people most impacted by those operations." (source)

A good news article on Kissing Pillows with a better description than mine -
Love in every kissing pillow stitch"

Supplies

In preparation for today, I kitted up my supplies for making Kissing Pillows and ornaments. I'm also planning to stitch a bookmark for a children's literacy program, but I haven't decided exactly what I'll be doing, so I didn't kit it up.

Kit for Kissing Pillow tops:





Kit for ornaments:

Good Morning

Damn! What time is it? After having nightmares about sleeping thru my alarm all night, I did! So, I'm an hour late. As I said previously, it's be a miracle for me to be awake at 6am - I've had trouble lately being awake enough hours to work, thanks to migraines, the anti-migraine meds I've been on and what they've done to my body, so staying up for 24 hours is a major challenge. Anyway, I'm awake now and I still have charity/outreach stitching to do - so I guess my 24 hours starts now. If anyone feels like I'm not fulfilling the goal, I understand, but I hope you'll still support the Embroiders' Guild of America, they need support even if I spend most of my time half-asleep.

Introduction and Plans from Juli

If you aren't familiar with Blogathon, it's an annual event where bloggers post every half hour for a full day raising money for charity in the process by getting people to sponsor them for this feat. This year, that day is July 25, 2009 starting at 0600 PDT/1300 UTC. For those who know me, just getting up by 6 am (heck, by 9 am for that matter) takes a miracle, so I suggest that my actually blogging at 6am at all would be donation worthy!

I'm planning to work on some charity stitching projects and blog my progress. I made a personal commitment to stitch 3 different charity projects at the beginning of this year, so I'm going to see how close I can come to completing that commitment in one day.

The charity I'm blogging for is The Embroiders' Guild of America (EGA), which is involved in education about and preservation of embroidery as an art and craft. I'll have another post about why I picked them in detail, but I've been particularly impressed with what I've seen of their programs for educating and involving children in embroidery. (Unfortunately, there is very little on their website about this, but I've seen a number of interesting articles in their publications, and they offer classes for adults in teaching embroidery to children.)

The three projects I'm going to try to work on are "Kissing Pillows" for service members and their families (I committed to 2 tops), a bookmark for a children's literacy project , and a Christmas ornament to be auctioned off to raise money for breast cancer research. These are all projects that my needlework guilds support.

I hope that you will be inspired to support the EGA or join me in stitching for charity. Co-bloggers with similar interests are encouraged! Feel free to comment below if you'd like to join this blog or are doing something similar yourself!