Making Jane Proud

Embroidery. Hand sewing. It's an ancient women's craft (sorry, all you embroidery guys out there...you are definitely in the minority) that Jane Austen's women all engaged in, while maintaining lively banter and flirtations.

I have previous training with a needle and thread. Among my many unused talents (besides quilting, playing piano, and baking pies...I'm not joking) is embroidery. When I was a brand-new 4-Her, at about 10 years old, I made stuffed stegosaurus sampler. Each plate on the stego's back displayed a different stitch. And YEAH, I won Reserve Grand Champion. At my first Achievement Days. I'm still thrilled, except that I should have had the actual Grand. Some cheap looking plastic canvas thing won. Mom was sure it was because the kid's family was basically 4-H mafia.

Crystal from Two Peas is adding baby shoes to her product line up, and I have volunteered to help. As long as she makes me VP, AND as long as I only have to do what I WANT to do. I think that sounds like a succesful partnership, right? Lucky Crystal!

These baby shoes are so darn cute. And fortunately, the shoes only involve the blanket stitch, which is very easy. The only trick is to make the stitches the same length and width from each other. This is a time consuming project, but one that is enjoyable and highly stress-free.

Here's a sample of my stitching, before they are whip-stitched together.


These are some cute buggers once together. Especially the fish and bird shoes. Oh yes, my friends. The only thing cuter than blanket-stitched felt shoes on baby feet is felt birds and fish on baby feet. All they are needing yet is the ribbon or elastic to hold them on. If you're in town, come on down to the Meritcare Parents' Fair and check out the booth!