What I learned this week: Stitching Letters

HELLO!
Welcome to my new blog series:

What I learned this week.

Do you like my five-second no Adobe Illustrator-experience-whatsoever series banner? (HA!)

Each Monday I'll talk about a new (to me) technique and all the mistakes I made during the process.

This week's technique was inspired by Sasha Farina's gorgeous stitched layouts for Studio Calico.

Candy colored vintage buttons, vellum paper "Bokeh" and my favorite Glitz line ever.
Materials: GLitz Design Color Me Happy papers, vintage buttons, Maya Road burlap heart and orange twine from Divine Twine.

I'm waiting for my Amy Tangerine letter stitch stencil to arrive.  (EXCITED!)
Till then, I'm using embroidery grid paper which is AWESOME... if you can draw.
This was a LOT harder than I thought but I've been promising to practice my penmanship for YEARS
so saturday night I put on Season 3 Sons Of Anarchy episodes on Netflix and got to work.

Since I was using thick twine (first mistake) many of the letters  required tape to
keep the twine in place.  

What I learned this week:

1. Use thinner embroidery thread and smaller needle for detailed jobs like this. I used a huge upholstery needle- easy to find in my mess but hard to use without punching through the paper.
2. Reinforce paper that has had string punch through with washi tape. 
3. Twine is not the best option for paper but looks FANTASTIC on burlap details or sewn through button holes.
4. The duo-tone twine blended right into the paper. Use a brighter or contrasting color for titles.
5. Stick buttons down with Zip Dry BEFORE you stitch them on a page.
6. Walk back and STARE at your layout BEFORE you stitch everything into place! 
7. The location icon that is the main focus of this page has a wonky right side because I was working right over the page and never spotted that the buttons need a little more curve there. 

Could be better but it's my first time. Loved this- will be trying it again!

What did you do this weekend?
Also what crazy technique would you like me to try out?

Have a great week!
Michelle

The Promise- a tone on tone experiment

Lately I've been REALLY awful at keeping up with my blog reading.

Thankfully I have Scrap FX and some photos I printed over 2 years ago to provide the inspiration for my latest scrapbook layout.

3 weeks ago I saw a post by Melissa Mann for Greenfrog Studios where she used her scoring board to make an embossed grid on her layout. 

I was SO INSPIRED!

So I tried it:

Those bright and fully alert eyes followed me everywhere.
Materials: Scrap FX The Promise wordlet 2012061, Flourish Kraft tag set 2012041 K, Kraft Lace tag set 2012040 K, Swallow embellishment pack 2010054, The Paper Source Kraft paper, buttons from American Crafts, My Mind's Eye and Basic Grey, Studio Calico Mister Huey in Calico Cream, EK Success score board (for embossed lines). Wax baking paper and cooking twine. Spools from Maya Road. Twine from The Twinery (via Scarlett- thanks girlie!!!)

I LOVE the subtle tone of tone effect this technique gives a layout. Melissa is a friggin' GENIUS!

Gotta use my button stash! 

At this time, 3 years ago, I was struggling through the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. 

I had JUST gotten the immensely exciting and joyful news that I was pregnant.

I had JUST started to shop for maternity clothes when a routine sonogram showed major problems with my baby's fetal nucal translucency. 

I was made to sit down as the doctor told me over the phone that this was a sign for fatal genetic defects and that further testing needed to be done right away.

And so the roller coaster began. 

Test after test showed very low probabilities for genetic disorders. 

So more exotic tests were given to ensure my baby didn't have some newly discovered syndrome. 

"Termination" was recommended several times each doctor's appointment even though no one would take a stand and tell me that they knew FOR SURE that my baby would not survive infancy.

All this cautious but terrifying probability talk really pissed me off.

A title meant for an engagement photo is given another meaning.

So I took a leap of faith.

I am strictly a rational person when it comes to this stuff but that's what it was.

I trusted that everything was going to be ok.

Not because I'm some wonderfully moral person but because I already loved my baby.

I loved her the second I found out she was there. 

And I made her a promise even if she was "only" a floating bean in a calm and dark sea. 

I would protect her at all costs. 

I would willingly and completely hand over all the love, all the affirmation and all the support one scared Brooklyn girl could give another. 

We would stick together and make it through this. 

Whatever "this" turned out to be.

Journaling written while Lola was in the NICU.

I told everyone to BACK OFF. 

I knew she was gonna be ok.
I got lots of flak from people I thought would be on our side.
They feared I would be "stuck" with a severely disabled child.

I ignored them too.
And I got support from unexpected corners.
People came out of the woodwork for Miss Thang!
My Mom most of all.
The outcome is a normal kid with an unnatural love of apple juice and Udon noodles.

She's had no health or developmental issues of any kind. 

She runs and jumps like a puppy on caffeine pills, makes random strangers answer her garbled questions, bosses everyone around (SIT! RIGHT THERE!!!) and generally acts like she's 5 not 2.

I love and am endlessly amused by my half-pint.

For her continued health I am unconditionally grateful.

GRATUITOUS TODDLER SHOT!!!!

Asleep...

AWAKE!!!

MuChOs SmOoChEs!

Michelle