I know for a fact that a commericial embroidery machine needle can completely pierce a finger through and through without the unsuspecting recipient feeling anything.  However the resulting blood is a dead giveaway…

And it does hurt later.

The more I embroider, the more I love to learn about where embroidery has come from.  The following article added to my embroidery awareness.  These designs (and others of the same genre) are available at Initial Impressions - just ask!

The blackwork that inspires the designs for this week offers us the opportunity to connect with our roots. Almost every culture has produced embroidery evolving  from simple stitches like these.  Blackwork may be many centuries old, but it is textile art that has been freshened and enlivened by every generation and culture since it was born.      Blackwork is a counted thread method of embroidery that uses straight stitches worked on an “evenweave” fabric. Linen was and still is a first choice for this hand needlework. When we look at the geometric patterns in this thread art today, we can see how every design is built on the squares and diagonals these stitches create.
The origin of blackwork designs may be the formal arabesques and geometric patterns developed by the Moors and used in Spain for centuries. The Spanish princess, Katherine of Aragon, brought her love of embroidery and her trousseau with “Spanish work of black silk.” to England in 1501, and as a member of the Royal family, influenced the rise in the popularity of her Spanish, or black, work.       The sleuths among us will find it fun to trace embroidery designs back to their many historical forms. Next time you are in an art museum, pay special attention to the detail recorded by portrait artists as they painted their “royal” or patron subjects in the clothing of their day. You can see how fashions evolve through the ages.
In the hands of the English — courtiers and commoners alike — the geometric embroidery patterns of the 16th century evolved to scrolling, more naturalistic designs. Embroiderers added variations in texture — stitches such as coral, herringbone, plaited braid — herbs and flowers of the Tudor knot garden, animals from Aesop’s Fables, and fantasy animals like the griffin.      To record each new design and pattern she made, an embroiderer would sew them on a sampler that she could roll up and carry in a work bag or take with her to share with friends. Some of these “band samplers” from the 16th and 17 centuries have survived, while embroidery pattern books, first printed in England in 1548, have not faired as well.
The popularity of embroidered blackwork is in evidence in the traditions every European country, each culture developing it in their own traditions. In America blue thread was substituted, probably as an influence of the popular Delft tiles from Holland. Eastern European countries favored red thread, and all over the world, variations on blackwork were influenced by local customs and traditions.      During the Stuart and Victorian eras in England, color and shading replaced the stark contrasts of blackwork, and the exuberance of Jacobean embroidery was a powerful  influence on fashion everywhere.
It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that blackwork regained popularity. Credit the Arts and Crafts movement in the United States with reviving blackwork among the traditional crafts it fostered. By the 1920s and ’30s pattern books were published and classes were teaching blackwork patterns, still evolving today.      We love the simplicity of the designs, and even as we develop new methods for creating them, we feel the connection to this age-old art form and revel in its charm.

Source:  Kenny’s Korner, www.embroiderylibrary.com

I have to spread the word — www.grandparents.com is a great free resource for terrific ideas for spending time with your grandchildren.  Make memories!

In September of 1978, I had my second child, Kate.  At a time that would normally have been such a blessed time, we also finally got the diagnosis for the strange symptoms my mother had been experiencing for several months.  After a barrage of tests at Stanford Hospital, they finally came up with a diagnosis of a disease that I had never heard of – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig Disease for the famous baseball player who succumbed to it). 

My mother was only 48.  The prognosis was dire and we were shocked and devastated.  Mom fought the disease valiantly, but it got the best of her in December of 1980.  To this day, there is no clear cause and no real treatment.

Fast forward about eight years and our existence in Colorado.  We have some wonderful neighbors who moved to this area of Boulder in 1988 - just about the same time we did.  Fortunately enough, Jay happens to be an EMT and a horse lover.  One one Colorado blizzard night our daughters’ horse Fancy was blinded by the snow, panicked and broke a huge plate glass window, cutting herself badly in the process.  I have never seen so much blood and in the white snow, it looked pretty gruesome.  We managed to get Fancy into Jay’s care and he was able to save her.

The girls grew up and moved to other areas of the country.  Arrangements were made to have Fancy leased by a local girl whose family was supposed to take proper care for her.  Alas, they did not and Fancy became severely malnourished.  Again, Jay came to the rescue - performing a horse rescue.  Fancy is now in the care of one daughter and her extended family and is thriving to this day.

What does all this have to do with embroidery you ask….

Recently Jay and his wife Judy moved to California.  They wanted a lot of new personalized towels for their new home.  I was happy they wanted me to do the embroidery, but I did not feel comfortable charging them for my work after all they had done for us.  Sooo, I suggested that they make a donation to Project ALS in my mother’s honor.  Jay and Judy thought that was a terrific idea and that is what they did.

In case you have been touched by ALS or know someone who has, Project ALS is located in New York City.  Their website is www.projectals.org, with email at info@projectals.org.  Project ALS is funding every aspect of a gene therapy pilot investigation in collaboration with Johns Hopkins, Harvard University and the Salk Institute.  If successful, gene therapy will make a difference for those living with ALS and many other neurological diseases including Alzeimer’s, Parkinsons, Multiple Sclerosis and spinal cord injury.

If at this year end, you are looking for a meaningful charity and have even a little disposable income left, this is one to carefully consider.

Baby Dani is clearly warm and comfortable after her bath in this sweet photo where she models the Initial Impressions hooded infant bath set.  What a cutie pie!

These needed to be the same because both girls are going to want this apron.  As I embroidered them, I was transported back to 1980 when I made my first real tutu for daughter Charlotte’s first ballet recital.  It too was purple and turquoise and was made under the direction of a ballet mistress who knew how to make American Ballet Theater tutus.  An army of moms made 18 tutus for that recital - all of them the real thing.

We are excited to announce that our wedding labels and wedding ribbon labels will be showcased in the November/December issue of Brides Magazine. These include labels for the wedding dress, groom’s tie and even the flower girl dress.   

When I first formed my company in 1999, I felt very comfortable with the sewing aspect of what I was about to launch.  But I had a lot to learn about the business end and certainly a lot more to learn about the tech aspects. 

Very early in the process, I contacted Sherri from Cuddlebug about blankets to embroider and she encouraged me to join Digital Women for resources and links to talented women.  It was through Digital Women that I acquired my merchant account and skilled Digital Women have helped me through a variety of computer crises over the years.

For the first few years, I was a “free” member but it became apparent to me that the benefit I had received from Digital Women was well worth the one time fee to be a paying member.

Belonging to Digital Women was one of my first business decisions and one of my best.

I don’t know if it is a common thread among middle children, but my daughter, Kate, is not terribly competitive. She would rather everyone win. So when her April, 2006 wedding was being planned, the notion of the bouquet toss struck a raw nerve with her. Then she came upon a better idea - at least for her. She had me make a second bouquet from flowers that were similar to her florist made bouquet. But this bouquet was different. It was composed of multiple mini-bouquets, each wrapped with a satin ribbon with an attribute of a good marriage embroidered down the length of the ribbon. We had embroidered ribbons with the words “patience”, “understanding”, “communication”, “laughter”, “forgiveness” and more. Kate stood at the top of the stairs and held the mini-bouquets together as if they were all one bouquet, but as she tossed them, they scattered and all the young ladies assembled to get the bouquet did get a bouquet. It was a lovely gesture.

I am coming up on the tenth year of Initial Impressions and thinking a bit about the last ten years and how I started the business.  I sometimes question how little thought and research I invested before embarking on the adventure - and how fortunate I am that it has turned out so well.   And it has been an adventure!  But I think the idea had been rattling around inside my head for a long time before I allowed it to take shape, to really be considered as a possiblity.  Once it came out, there was no turning back. 

I often have to bridle the expression of my opinion when I hear of women who want a home business - any home business - and they are searching for one that will be quick and easy, without much consideration of whether it is the right home businss for them.  I want to tell them to really search their soul about where their passion lies.  Because without the passion for what the business actually does, they will not have the staying power that is necessary to get them through the long days.  I would ask them about what they have loved to do for a long time.  And then I would ask them if there was some extension of that activity that is marketable.  If so, they have the raw materials for something special.