Modern Motifs of Mexican Trend

aka "My best friend went to Mexico and all I got was this tiny sombrero"*

Yes stitchy friends, here's your erstwhile blogger managing a post...although I can't feel guilty because a) so many other great bloggers regularly share stitchy goodness and b) I still don't have a scanner.

Mexico is on my mind - literally:
...As my best friend recently returned from two weeks in Mexico and brought me back a wee present. Hope I'm not scaring you with my pic!

I haven't been to see all her photos yet, and for those of you without your own sombrero (because I know you're jealous) I present "fiesta motifs for colorful touches of Mexican gaiety". You know your breakfast nook wants it.

Apparently:
"Your needle will fly along the simple sitches of these motifs of Mexican flavor. Gay up your kitchen with Mexican-inspired dish towels and pot holders. Put a variety of these designs on curtains and table linen in the breakfast nook to add charm to informal meals. Delight the bride-to-be on your gift list with hand-made guest towels, refreshment napkins, luncheon sets or dresser scarfs reflecting in these designs the happy Fiesta spirit of our South-of-the-Border neighbors."

I'm keen to see if my friend's holiday snaps include women with baskets of fruit on their heads, giant cactii, boys eating bananas, and fighting cocks (actually sounding "gay-er" by the minute...oh dear! Come back readers...please...**) But this pattern assures me that these are common South of the Border capers.

Men wearing rugs will give you flowers:

Doves, cactii and maracas abound:

But the scariest thing in Mexico are the deadly attack parrots!

Watch your fruit girls.


*only kidding Nat, I do love my pressie.
**sorry, really I am.

Owl love you

Hello Stitchy friends,
Oh yes, it's been a long time, I know! Short story is that 2009 was a HORRID year and as such, all crafty endeavours suffered. But I'm getting back on track now, and to show you how much owl love you all here's a pattern from a late 60's Crewelwork set:

Hopefully it's clear enough for you to print and use...I don't have access to a scanner anymore, so I took a pic of this pattern with my i-phone. And don't forget to share any pics of your stitchy goodness to the Flickr embroidery pool!

Stitch along with Mike's!

I'm a bad britches, stitchy friends, I know I am. But good stitchy fun is currently happening on the Meet me at Mike's blog. They've got a nice list of links to free Christmassy patterns, and they're having their own Christmas stocking stitch along, with two of their own designs. Pip's also put up some embroidery basics tutorials and they're all rather splendid. So if you haven't already, check it out! That should keep you out of mischief for a while!

Here's one that's been stitched, by a lovely gal at Brown Owls last Monday:

walkers 705

walkers 705, originally uploaded by drewzel.

Hi Stitchy friends,
I scanned this one ages ago and promptly forgot about it...hopeless aren't I? I found it in my Flickr just now. I don't have many Walker's transfers but I do like their style, they are more "realistic" than the stylised animals of Vogart and Aunt Martha's (which I also adore.) It depends what you're looking for. I'm guessing these date from around the 1940's and I can't even remember where I got them now! Another good thing about Walker's is that they always appear to give you double copies of the transfer sheet, which is a nice bonus, so usually the ones I've found, even if one sheet is used, the other will usually be intact. Hurrah!

And because our kitty friend on rollerskates is a popular motif...here you are:

scottie kittie1, originally uploaded by drewzel.

Click on the picture to go to Flickr and get sizes for printing.

Sailor girl and Sailor boy

sailor girl, originally uploaded by 'Playingwithbrushes'.

Given the fact that I've been neglecting my scanning lately, when I find something cute and stitchy in my Interweb travels I have to share with you. Two cuties to stitch, from a vintage colouring book, courtesy of Playing with Brushes' Flickr.

I know it's not vintage...

but I've just fell in love with these:

Go forth and make!

Iron On Transfer Pencil tutorial

If you're a newcomer to the stitching thing and are a bit stumped by the phrase: "Just print off a copy, transfer to your fabric and off you go!" (I'm sure I've used those words before.) ...Sparkly Green Knickers has put up a iron on pencil tutorial here. And I think it's fabulous! [Check out her cute scooter design too.]