FanningSparks – Page 55 – A DIY and lifestyle blog authored by Peg Frizzell.

Decorate Interiors

Decorating with Texture

Interior designers use texture to bring a unique dimension, give a sense of depth, and add visual weight to a room. In my last post, Texture by Mother Nature, we looked to nature for inspiration. There were numerous examples of beautiful and unique textures such as smooth beach stones, abrasive granite boulders, slimy pond scum, a hairy lion’s mane, a woolly lamb, a downy goose feather, a ribbed seashell, stringy corn tassels and a fuzzy peach. With this broad variety of textures as inspiration, let’s consider some options for using texture to increase the richness and depth in our homes and surroundings. Keep in mind, texture is only one of the 7 design elements and must work in harmony with color, pattern, space, line, form and light to create an aesthetically pleasing interior.

The below photo was taken in the living room of a Southern Living Idea House. Notice how the professional interior designers incorporated texture into this setting. There is texture on the floor, the furniture and the décor items. But it’s the coffee table that caught my eye. The unexpected metal grid provides a sharp contrast to the soft furnishings. It is further enhanced with carefully selected decorative items which also incorporate interesting textures such as the smooth polished glass candle jars, the waxy pillar candles, the smooth book covers, the rustic antlers and the fine leaves of the small plant.

Plants and flowers are a great way to introduce texture. In the below example, Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascene) seed heads make a beautiful textural bouquet. The seed heads contrast beautifully with the layered and knobby vases.

Here’s another example of using dried flowers to add texture and interest. This lovely vignette is brimming with carefully arranged textures‒the carved wooden mask, the woven side table, the flat tray, the dimpled vase and the dried flowers. Splendid!

This perfectly-executed bed design is from the same bedroom. The bed cover, which appears to be popcorn-patterned chenille, is complemented by the richly detailed pillows. The bed frame, in hammered metal and fabric padding, plays a strong supporting role while the eye-catching mirror with the ruffled frame completes the scene.

Pillows are an easy way to add texture. They can be made or bought in a wide variety of materials and treatments. Here’s an example from my own home. I designed and made the below pillows and embellished them with piping, buttons and pompoms. They add texture and interest to the banquette seating in our kitchen. See More Info below for a link to the step-by-step tutorial for these DIY bespoke pillows.

Walls often present a blank canvas for interesting décor. I designed and made the below wall hanging to add color, interest and texture in our bedroom. It’s woven with yarns in a variety of stitches and embellished with yarn fringe, beaded trim, silver wooden beads, and jeweled beads. I also glued beaded trim to the lampshade, shown in the photo, to pull in more color and texture.

Here’s another, albeit much less common, example of adding texture to walls. The artist adhered pine cones, twigs, acorns and other nature elements to the walls to create patterns and designs. While decidedly unconventional, and perhaps not so practical, this treatment is unique, fresh and exciting. I spotted it at Camp Boxwoods during the Madison in May Spring Tour of Homes (see More Info below).

A carefully chosen piece of art or vintage object can add textural interest. This clay pottery chess set by Jim Bridgeman, spotted at the 2018 Perspectives Georgia Pottery Invitational, is a case in point.

How about adding this vintage three-legged stool, spotted at an antiques market in Tongeren, Belgium, for more texture? It’s too extreme for my taste but there’s no question it would bring a unique dimension and add visual weight to a room!

Incorporating vintage textiles into your room décor is another option for adding texture. The cross stitch on this vintage tablecloth is an example.

Increase textural interest with a collection of objects. I spotted this display during the Penny McHenry Hydrangea Festival garden tour. A collection of shiny, smooth glass stoppers sits on a bed of springy moss. The glass stoppers are complemented by a trio of shapely bottles filled with feathery ferns. A oval tray pulls the display together giving it enough visual weight to complement the weathered concrete bust.

Here’s another example of a grouping of objects from the Southern Living Idea House. Notice how the weathered leather of the vintage trunk complements the woven textures of the basket, tray and wall hanging. The glass bottle provides the perfect contrast with its smooth polished surface.

It’s worth calling out that none of these examples rely solely on texture‒all draw from the other design elements adding aspects of color, pattern, space, line, form and/or light. All 7 design elements must work in harmony to create an aesthetically pleasing interior.

More Info

In my post, Texture by Mother Nature, we looked to nature for inspiration on texture.

There are 7 elements of design including color, pattern, texture, space, line, form and light. The Interior Design Academy explains these elements must work in harmony to create an aesthetically pleasing interior.

See my Color Palette by Mother Nature post for more information about inspiring color palettes. See my Patterns by Mother Nature post for inspiration about patterns.

The post, Our Pony Wall and Banquette Combo, explains how we designed and built a combination pony wall and banquette to solve a functional challenge in our kitchen and entryway. The DIY Bespoke Pillows Tutorial post provided step-by-step instructions for making the pillows shown on the banquette.

See the post, Madison in May – 15 Favorite Fotos, for lots of great photos from the Madison in May Spring Tour of Homes.

See the Event Expands Pottery Proficiency post for more examples of the work presented at the 2018 Perspectives Georgia Pottery Invitational.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Consider adding texture to bring a unique dimension, give a sense of depth, and add visual weight to a room.
2. Explore ways to add texture through functional items such as coffee tables, bed linens and pillows.
3. Weave texture into a room’s decor with wall hangings, plants and flowers, textiles, collections of objects, vintage items or art work.

Decorate Interiors Nature Wildlife

Texture by Mother Nature

Looking to nature for decorating inspiration is a fun way to build awareness and discover a variety of options. In previous posts, Color Palette by Mother Nature and Patterns by Mother Nature, we explored color and patterns. Today, I’d like to take a similar approach with texture. Texture, color and pattern, along with space, line, form and light comprise the 7 elements of design.

Within this context, the definition of texture is “the feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface or a substance”. Texture is broadly categorized into tactile (aka actual) and visual. Tactile texture is the actual three-dimensional surface that can be seen and touched. Visual texture gives the illusion of texture and can only be seen. For instance, the eye can perceive texture portrayed in a printed photo but the tactile texture is simply the smooth surface of the paper. Both tactile and visual texture play a role in interior design. Interior designers use texture to bring a unique dimension, give a sense of depth, and add visual weight to a room.

Let’s look at some examples, starting with some limestone beach stones from Schoolhouse Beach in Wisconsin. The texture of these stones is smooth and polished.

The texture of the granite boulders, in the below image, is abrasive with rounded edges. This photo was taken at Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia (see More Info below.)

The bird tracks provide an interesting pattern but the texture of this sand is simply gritty and fine grained.

This pond scum, which I assume is algae of some kind, has a slippery, slimy texture.

Nature presents another whole world of texture on animals and birds. These next two photos were taken while on safari in South Africa (see More Info below). This magnificent lion has a furry texture both in his short haired coat and his glorious long haired mane.

This awesome rhino has tough leathery skin.

This alligator, spotted while visiting the Everglades in Florida, is crazy scary‒every.single.time I look at this photo I get the willies! But for the purposes of this discussion, note his knobby, bumpy tough skin.

But there’s no cringing when I look at this adorable little lamb! This Dorset sheep was spotted at the Lismore Sheep Farm in River John, Nova Scotia. He provides a great example of a woolly texture.

Feathers present another type of texture. Preened feathers form a smooth, layered coat as seen on this Red-tailed Hawk spotted at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia.

But individually, feathers have a different texture like the downy softness of this goose feather.

Seashells have unique and intriguing textures. This one has a beautiful ribbed texture.

This seashell has an intricate grid-patterned texture.

Moving on to the plant world, there is yet another endless variety of texture. This cactus has sharp, prickly thorns.

The leaves on this Japanese Maple tree have a delicate, veined texture.

The flower head of this Queen Anne’s Lace has a light, bouncy texture.

This garden corn was spotted in my sister’s vegetable garden. The corn tassels have a silky, stringy texture.

Peaches are abundant in Georgia, where I live, so I have a lot of peach pictures! It is, in fact, the official state fruit. This ripe peach has a fuzzy softness.

The types and variety of texture multiples as wildlife build homes and find food. Here’s a neatly woven nest built from pine needles.

In the below photo, a series of small holes, probably made by sapsucker woodpeckers, add interest to the bark of a pine tree. The resulting texture is rough and varied.

This blog post barely scratches the surface on the variety of textures Mother Nature provides. While each natural texture is compelling, it seems to me it’s the variety and abundance of textures that give a natural scene richness and depth. Man-made structures, on the other hand, tend to be dominated by flat, smooth surfaces such as walls, floors, tables, countertops, cabinets, and so on. Contemplating this contrast helps me appreciate the importance of adding texture in my home and surroundings. Texture can bring a unique dimension, give a sense of depth, and add visual weight.

I’ll wrap up this post with this serene natural scene which showcases a rich variety of textures. Note the natural smoothness of the still water, the airy delicacy of the tree leaves, the sharpness of the pine needles and the roughness of the tree bark.

More Info

Jan 29, 2019 Update: See the follow up post, Decorating with Texture, for suggestions on how to use this natural inspiration to add texture in our homes and surroundings.

See the post, Color Palette by Mother Nature, for inspiring color palettes.

See the post, Patterns by Mother Nature, for inspiration about patterns.

May 19, 2020 Update: Form by Mother Nature is the latest post in this series.

Peggy’s Cove, in Nova Scotia Canada, is renowned for its rugged beauty and is a popular destination. The post, First Light at Peggy’s Cove, includes lots of photos and shares more information.

The lion and rhino were seen in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in South Africa. To learn about my awesome African safari, see the post Majestic Lovable Elephants.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Consult Mother Nature for inspiration on texture.
2. Take time to consider a broad range of options and observe a variety of textures.
3. Use texture to bring a unique dimension, give a sense of depth, and add visual weight to your home and surroundings.

Fiber Make Southeast Travel

My Batik Journey from Singapore to Miami

A recent road trip to Florida turned into a batik-themed adventure. It started with an African Wax Prints exhibition in Melbourne and wrapped up with a Malaysian Batik Painting Experience in Miami. Both activities were fun and interesting‒especially for someone as intrigued by batik as I am.

Batik is the art of decorating cloth using wax and dye. The UK-based Batik Guild explains it this way: “To make a batik, selected areas of the cloth are blocked out by brushing or drawing hot wax over them, and the cloth is then dyed. The parts covered in wax resist the dye and remain the original colour …. After the final dyeing the wax is removed and the cloth is ready for wearing or showing. Contemporary batik, while owing much to the past, is markedly different from the more traditional and formal styles.” For instance, painting the fabric with brushes and fabric dye is a popular alternative to tub dyeing. Here’s an example of a beautiful batik piece done with wax resist and brush painting.

Here’s a closer look at the color and design of the angel fish. The white lines would have been covered with wax before the color was painted on.

In the more traditional approach, complex designs are achieved by repeating the process of waxing and dyeing to layer color and create elaborate designs. Certain wax blends will crackle during handling which causes jagged lines of color to peek through. A batik master uses these cracks to produce fine detail lines in the design. Notice the subtle color change and crackle lines behind the dragonflies and bamboo in the painting below.
My interest in batik goes back several years to when I lived and worked in Singapore. I had the good fortune to attend a series of Saturday morning workshops taught by a well-known Indonesian batik artist. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn from an expert. Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos of his work but I still have the pieces I completed. No masterpieces here‒I was obviously still learning!

When I had the opportunity to visit other countries throughout Asia, I sought out batik artwork. The tropical fish and dragonfly pieces shown above were purchased in Ubud, Indonesia. Batik has been made in Indonesia since the 12^th and 13^th centuries. Today, the island of Java, Indonesia is recognized as the area where batik has “reached the greatest peak of accomplishment”. Javanese batiks are considered a delicate art form. Here’s another batik piece I purchased in Indonesia.

Given my long-standing interest in batik, I couldn’t resist taking a detour to visit the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. The exhibition, called “Wandering Spirit: African Wax Prints“, was excellent. I’m grateful to have caught it just before the exhibit finished its term. The exhibition was presented as “a tribute to African Wax Prints, the common name for a textile that had its origins in Indonesia, was imitated by Dutch textile manufacturers, and ended up marketed to an African and global audience.”
A wide variety of fabrics were displayed along the walls‒each with an explanation of its origin and significance. The vast majority of these fabrics were manufactured by Vlisco from the Netherlands.

Here’s a closer look at the design at the top right. As explained on the exhibit card, this design is called “Rolls Royce and also known as HekWerk“. It is a Dutch Wax Block on cotton and was introduced in 1979. “Thought to impart healing, success, and good luck to the wearer, “Rolls Royce” is an established, popular pattern in West Africa, particularly among the Igbos of Nigeria. One of the perennial patterns of Vlisco, it is called “The Wedding Bouquet” in the Ivory Coast, and known a “HekWerk” (“trellis work”) in the Netherlands.”

After visiting the Wandering Spirit exhibition, I was eager to give batik another try. Fortunately, I’d already scheduled an art workshop to “Make and Paint a Malaysian Batik Scarf” in Miami. I booked the workshop with my sister and friend through Airbnb Experiences. See More Info below for details. The workshop was hosted by Munirah‒a delightful and talented Malaysian artist. Munirah’s passion for batik is evident and she generously shared her knowledge and expertise. The workshop space was filled with examples and inspiration like those shown below.

Munirah introduced us to intricate tjanting techniques and we tried the Tjanting tool. Interestingly, this is the same tool I learned to use back in Singapore at those Saturday morning workshops.

Then we selected our designs and started painting!

By the end of our 3-hour workshop, my batik painting looked like this.

Here’s a peek at all three finished projects. Special thanks to Marian and Denise for joining me and making it a fun day!

We left our paintings with Munirah to dry. Then she removed the wax and mailed the finished pieces to us a week or so later. Here’s how my batik painting looks in its finished state. Not bad!

More Info

You can learn more about batik at the UK-based Batik Guild website.

The Wandering Spirit: African Wax Prints exhibition has closed. But check out the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts website for other textile-related events. Here’s a link to Vlisco, the Dutch company responsible for many of the fabrics at the exhibition.

If you’re planning a visit to Miama, Florida, USA and have an interest in trying batik, don’t miss the opportunity to meet Munirah and join her Malaysian Batik Scarf Art Class. She’s a delightful hostess and the class is great fun. Plus you get to make something beautiful to take home.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Are there any art/craft disciplines that you find particularly intriguing?
2. Be curious and seek opportunities to learn more about it. Studying the work of others is a great way to grow your knowledge.
3. Consider experimentation, either independently or under the guidance of experts, to build your skills with various techniques and materials.

About General

My Top 3 Nonfiction Reads from 2018

Dr Seuss, the iconic children’s book author, is quoted to have said “Read. Travel. Read. Ask. Read. Learn. Read. Connect. Read.”. That’s advice I’m happy to follow. Reading is one of my favorite pastimes. Typically I read fact-based fiction, such as Daughters of the Dragon and The Dragon Queen by William Andrews two great books based on the history of Korea, which I just finished. But I like to mix it up a little with thought provoking nonfiction. Today I’d like to share my top 3 nonfiction reads from 2018.

I thoroughly enjoyed these books and highly recommend all three:
. Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee
. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
. The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams
Rather than try to write my own summary, I’ll share what the experts have to say.

Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee
“A groundbreaking investigation that turns everything we think we know about happiness on its head.”

“Have you ever wondered why we stop to watch the orange glow that arrives before sunset, or why we flock to see cherry blossoms bloom in spring? Is there a reason that people — regardless of gender, age, culture, or ethnicity — are mesmerized by baby animals, and can’t help but smile when they see a burst of confetti or a cluster of colorful balloons.
We are often made to feel that the physical world has little or no impact on our inner joy. Increasingly, experts urge us to find balance and calm by looking inward — through mindfulness or meditation — and muting the outside world. But what if the natural vibrancy of our surroundings is actually our most renewable and easily accessible source of joy?
In Joyful, designer Ingrid Fetell Lee explores how the seemingly mundane spaces and objects we interact with every day have surprising and powerful effects on our mood. Drawing on insights from neuroscience and psychology, she explains why one setting makes us feel anxious or competitive, while another fosters acceptance and delight — and, most importantly, she reveals how we can harness the power of our surroundings to live fuller, healthier, and truly joyful lives.”

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
“A must read for anyone hoping to live a creative life.” – PopSugar

“Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity. With profound empathy and radiant generosity, she offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.”

The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams
“[A] lively exploration of what modern research has to say about the myriad health benefits of the great outdoors.” – Wall Street Journal

“From forest trails in Korea, to islands in Finland, to eucalyptus groves in California, Florence Williams investigates the science behind nature’s positive effects on the brain. Delving into brand-new research, she uncovers the powers of the natural world to improve health, promote reflection and innovation, and strengthen our relationships. As our modern lives shift dramatically indoors, these ideas―and the answers they yield―are more urgent than ever.”

I found Joyful and The Nature Fix to be well-researched―often pulling in scientific studies to foster understanding. Big Magic also draws from the opinions and experiences of others but not in sciential way. The authors are masterful story tellers weaving their personal experiences and observations around their research. The resulting stories are charming and delightful. Many ideas and concepts resonated with me. Here are a few of my favorites:

From Joyful: “…. the drive toward joy is synonymous with the drive toward life. From the first revelation of the ancestral link between bright color and ripeness to the simplicity of the S curve, this correlation has held true. Joy evolved for the express purpose of helping to steer us toward conditions that would encourage us to flourish. It is our inner guide to the things that animate, stimulate, and sustain us. Put more simply, joy is what makes life worth living.”

From The Nature Fix: “nature deficit disorder… what happens when people, particularly children, spend little or no time outside in natural environments resulting in physical and mental problems including anxiety and distraction”. There are “two dominant theories that attempt to explain why our brains need nature” The first theory is being studied by researchers in Japan who “are quantifying nature’s role in lowering stress and boosting mental health using a framework based on the biophilia hypothesis, the idea that we feel most ‘at home’ in nature because we evolved there”. The second theory, being studied by American neuroscientists, focuses on “how nature helps restore our attention-addled brains to a state of sharper cognition.”

From Big Magic: “Most of all, be ready. Keep your eyes open. Listen. Follow your curiosity. Ask questions. Sniff around. Remain open. Trust in the miraculous truth that new and marvelous ideas are looking for human collaborators every single day.”
“I can guarantee you this: A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life. Living in this manner–continually and stubbornly bringing forth the jewels that are hidden within you–is a fine art, in and of itself. Because creative living is where Big Magic will always abide.”

These books address 3 different topics; joy, creativity and nature. Yet as the authors explore their chosen topics, they cross into the other topics. For instance, in Joyful, Ingrid Fetell Lee identifies freedom as one of the ten aesthetics of joy. She reveals a distinct connection between the feeling of joy and the tangible qualities of freedom including nature, wildness and open space. She interviewed James Corner, the lead designer of the High Line (the famous public park in New York City) to explore the power of modest green spaces. She attributes Corner with observing that “the delight of a landscape is less about what we see and more about what we feel. … Plants. Scent. Color. The effects of light and shadow. Water. The sounds of water. Ambient humidity. Texture. …”

The Nature Fix author Florence Williams noted that when she moved from Boulder, Colorado to Washington, D.C., she “noticed some dramatic things about my mood, creativity, imagination and productivity in different environments, and I started to ponder it.”

When discussing enchantment in Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert describes the feeling we commonly think of as “flow” or “being in the zone”. She says “It’s the feeling you get when you’ve made something wonderful, or done something wonderful, and when you look back at it later, all you can say is: ‘I don’t even know where that came from.’” She uses words like change, delight, surprise twists and unexpected endings to describe the advantages of having the courage to live a creative life.

Nature impacts joy‒nature impacts creativity‒creativity impacts joy. It’s a fascinating, engaging web of interrelated ideas.

I’m on the lookout for equally thought-provoking reads for 2019. What books would you recommend?

More Info

I originally introduced Ingrid Fetell Lee’s ideas about the aesthetics of joy after hearing her TED talk. Check out my post on Joy Spotting to see examples of where I’ve spotted joy. I was thrilled when she called out my post in her Instagram story.

The books are available on Amazon. Here are the links:
. Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee
. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
. The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams

If you like to read electronically, you may want to check out Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service which allows you to borrow an unlimited number of selected books for about $10.00 USD/month. Since not all books are available via Kindle Unlimited, I supplement this service with my local library’s online borrowing service. They use Libby by Overdrive which gives me easy online access to hundreds of titles for free. The combination of these two services gives me access to a huge selection of books at a very affordable cost.

Today’s Takeaways

1. “Put more simply, joy is what makes life worth living.” Ingrid Fetell Lee
2. “…our brains need nature.” Florence Williams
3. “A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life.” Elizabeth Gilbert

Happy Reading!

About Fiber General Make Photos

Harmony: My Word for 2019

Discovering delightful surprises is one of the reasons I love to stroll through gardens and natural settings. It’s also the reason I observe carefully and keep my camera ready. You never know what amazing sights you’ll come across. I certainly didn’t set out to photograph an incredible balancing act… but that’s what I found!

I was struck by how the leaf is the perfect size and shape for this snail. The snail seems to be nestling into the curve of the leaf… almost like a little cradle. How is that even possible?

There are many intriguing aspects to this situation. How can the snail maintain its balance? How is that fragile plant stem strong enough to hold up the weight of the snail? How did the snail manage to crawl into this place? Did it crawl along that thin little stem? What happens next? Will the snail eat the leaf? As far as I can tell, it’s a common Garden Snail (Helix aspersa or Cornu aspersum) which does consume plant matter.

Regardless of these unanswered questions, or perhaps because of them, I’m drawn to this photo. There’s no flash or sizzle here… just a simple creature on a simple plant. The colors are soft greens and browns. There is a gentle balance. A softness… a peaceful quiet… a calming stillness. A natural harmony!

It’s become popular to start the New Year by choosing a word for the year. The word is meant to represent a concept or ambition that one hopes will represent the year. It’s a simplified version of new year’s resolutions. I’m going to give it a try this year. My word for 2019 will be “Harmony” and I’ll use the below embellished photo as a visual reminder.

This 8 x 10 print is enhanced with a technique called paper stitching. White embroidery floss is used for the word “Harmony” and to accent the spiral curve of the snail shell. The technique is simple and straightforward. Print the design, in this case the text, on a piece of paper and carefully plan the stitch and hole placement as shown below. I found a mix of stitch lengths, with a long stitch on the top and short stitch on the bottom, worked best. Take extra care at the ends and the crossing points of the letters. It’s best to stitch into each hole only once. Avoid placing holes too close together because they can rip when stitched. Place the photo on a padded surface and use a sharp point to punch the holes. Using the same needle to be used for the stitching works well. There are specialty tools (called piercing or pricking tools) available for this step but they’re not necessary.

Use 3 strands of embroidery floss to stitch on the photo. I used a running stitch (aka straight stitch) for the title and a backstitch for the snail spiral. Simply tape the thread ends on the back of the photo.

While it would have been easier to insert a text heading in my photo editing software, paper stitching forced me to slow down and think about harmony. I’ve already noticed more harmony in my life after last year’s transition into retirement. Without the demands and the stress of the corporate world, I have more time for the people and activities I love… something for which I’m sincerely grateful. I’m eager to see what 2019 will bring.

I’ll close this post by wishing you a Happy New Year! May 2019 be filled with Harmony!

More Info

Jan 16, 2021 Update: Paper stitching is an easy project. Only basic design and hand sewing skills are involved. Check out the post, Hello Marvelous Photo Embroidery – DIY Tutorial, for step-by-step instructions to embroider your own printed photo.
I’ve created a Pinterest board with Paper Stitching inspiration. Check it out.
My previous post, Season’s Greetings 2018, showcases another example of stitching on a photo.
Jan 16, 2021 Update: Gathered.How, publishers of Mollie Makes and other fine craft magazines, provides great instructions in their Library of Embroidery Stitches for Beginners.
To learn more about paper stitching, check out this article on Embroidery on Paper by Nordic Needle.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Consider adopting a word for the year.
2. Consider creating a visual reminder of the word for the year.
3. Paper stitching is a great way to combine photography and embroidery.

About General

Season’s Greetings 2018

Hello All,
Instead of a full post this week, I will simply wish you a safe and joyous holiday season!

Decorating with Texture

Texture by Mother Nature

More Info

Today’s Takeaways

My Batik Journey from Singapore to Miami

More Info

Today’s Takeaways

My Top 3 Nonfiction Reads from 2018

More Info

Today’s Takeaways

Harmony: My Word for 2019

More Info

Today’s Takeaways

Season’s Greetings 2018

Securing Love Under Lock and Key

The Scoop on Deluxe Floral Cones

Jim Gibbs Dreams Big

Roses are Red, Violets are Rarely Blue

FanningSparks Completes 7th Lap

Frigorific and Other Cool Wintry Words