A few months back, I found this gorgeous cross-stitched fabric at an antique store that I used for a series of moth figurines. It is very different from the fabric which I typically use and I personally think these figurines are my personal favorites. Below is a sculptural figurine commission that I'd made using that cross-stitched fabric. I just love the texture the cross-stitching gives, as well as the even more personalized/home-made look.
The great thing about using vintage fabric is that you will always get a one-of-a-kind item if it is used, but it also comes at a cost. Once I use up this fabric, I will not be able to get any more of it. It's kind of bittersweet.
These really attractive and colorful embroidered fabrics are not very easy to find, but one great thing is that it is a skill that I could develop for myself. If I can learn to do embroidery and cross-stitch, I'll be able to make my own designs to use, which would be a lot of fun for me and allow me to make even more personalized figurines and ornaments.
With all those thoughts in mind, I decided to do some research and purchase a basic embroidery kit. What's great about kits is that they come with everything that you'd need, and you can learn the basics. I spent some time searching the keyword "Embroidery Kit Beginner" on Etsy, and that got me a lot of really cute results.
Here were a few that I found that I really liked on Etsy. All of these images are courtesy of their shop listings. Links go directly to these items.:
The one below is by Heidiboydwhimsyknits. I love the colors and (of course) the subject matter. 😊
The next one is by jennyblairkits and is of a luna moth. I love the colors on this one and that it looks neat and symmetrical.
This next one scratches the cottagecore itch that I've been having, and it's adorable. I love the mushrooms! It's a kit by Tamarnahiryanai.
This last one is so cute and unique. I just love everything about it, and it's an adorable snake! (I was so close to buying this one! I might get it after I finish this one. 😊) It's by ArtbyAshFox.
All these options considered, the one that I ultimately ended up buying was this one by Jessica Long Embroidery. Here's a link to the listing. The one I ordered is called the Blissful Blooms Embroidery Kit. Isn't it pretty?
After waiting a little less than 2 weeks, it came in. This is how it looked when I opened it. It was really nicely packaged!
The kit came with a piece of fabric printed with the design, an embroidery hoop, needles, thread, and thorough instructions.
I'm really looking forward to starting this project. If I like this one, I might try my hand at downloading a cross-stitching pattern off Etsy (or I might go back and order that little snake one).
It'll be nice to have a project that I can work on while sitting on the couch watching TV. Most of my hobbies involve lots of materials/access to an electrical outlet, etc. so I'm excited to relax with this and start working on it. Maybe after this I'll feel comfortable starting to make my own designs to use in my own projects. We will see!
Anyway, I think I'm going to get started on it now so I'm going to end this blog. I hope that you all have a good weekend!