MY 2026 GOALS

 

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 2:21:29 PM

Nothing is finished and it is almost time to go back to work, #taxseason. The hand embroidered owl that is to go on the carry-all bag is 30% complete. The quilt has not been quilted, the sewing machine is ready and the quilt is setting on top of the machine. However, that is not going to stop me from planning 2026! As with every year I will plan it and what gets done will be done when I get it done! So here are my 2026 goals:

RAG DOLL - at least one maybe two
Quilts-   with applique face 
         - design to be determine
CARRY ALL BAGS- the owl   
                                  blue jay                            

Garment: SIMPLICITY 1950s Vintage Pattern 8799  a nightgown

Hopefully I will finish the sunflower quilt before the year ends! 

As with any individual who works finding time to create is a challenge, particularly if you have children. I work from home 5 hours a day Monday-Thursday during tax season, and I, obviously, write  and I have house chores. Meal preparation is another time consuming activity, this includes preparing, cooking and cleaning.  

My faith activities are my priority they include: Scripture Writing, Bible reading or listening, I will finish the audio KJV Bible by the end of the year and will read a print version next.  I pray through out the day and I try to have early morning quiet time, daily; I also journal daily. These activities can last from one to three hours depending on my time with God. 

Do you have one project you want to do in the upcoming months? Plan it out. I would suggest that you allow yourself some “life happens” flexibility. Make it your goal to either finish a project in 2026 or start a project and complete it as time permits try not to accumulate a bunch of unfinished projects. 

The projects I listed are gifts from family, that is my motivation to finish. In addition I challenge myself to learn something new with every project. More important, I love what I do!

WRITTEN by Marsha L Floyd

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

EMBROIDERING THE OWL PART 2: Needele Threaders and Colors

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 11:04:43 PM

Today I was excited about what I was doing. I am working on the eye, single strand, and it looks like an eyeball! 

LESSON: Don’t give up.:

Friday, November 7, 2025 10:47:14 PM

Since I started sewing, decades ago, there have been quite a few tools designed to thread a needle. My needle threader is a classic: a piece of wire attached to a small circle.  For a while I embraced the challenge of doing it myself, and I still can but, I see using the needle threader a challenge. The hole is bigger but one still needs a steady hand. I tried using a few of the newer types, I am so good at using the classic threader that setting up the automatic threader and other gadgets is to much trouble.

Why am I writing about needle threaders when I should be discussing the owl? Because I once again had to remove stitches and now I am threading a needle to start again!

This error had to do with color choices. The owl’s eyes are not White! The owls eyeballs are black. Despite the number of times I look at the finished picture I have, that detail did not register. Sp seam ripper it was!

Note, I started working on the eyes three days ago, the 4th.

I have two needle threaders beside me at all times, including a backup in my sewing kit. One is all aluminum, the circle and the wired and the other is plastic with the wire loop. I buy these things in mass quantity because I misplace them quite often and I  have them at every sewing station.  

My basic sewing supplies: sewing needle, thread, scissors and needle threader, everything else is a want but not a need.

LESSON; Sewing is as expensive as you want it to be but you can do quality work and not spend a lot of money. 

This was from a pattern,
it was easier!

Sunday, November 9, 2025 5:35:3

I have been looking at the owl trying to determine what do I do next? Finish the eyes or work on the feathers. The head, looking at the sample image, has a layered look, is that because of the number of threads or the type of stitch?  I went through my embroidery books and saw a stitch that might work, namely the Couching,  but when I researched how to sew it I realized it is not the one. Next I Goggled “layered embroidery stitches” and came across Padded/layered Satin stitch, I think this is what I want.

 The best way to learn different embroidery stitches is by practicing, this is the purpose of samplers. The first sampler I completed was 3 round panels kit with about 30 stitches on each. The next kit I purchased was 12 panels and at least 100 stitches, it will be a while before I finish it. 

I am starting to purchase books, they can I have learned the books can show you the results and identify a display a pattern and write out how it is to be sewn but a watching someone sew the stitch makes a difference, especially if you have no idea what you are doing. Embroidery is an international art and certain stitch names have a particular country of origin. 

LESSON: It is better to sew what you know than to try something different and not be satisfied with the results. 

Tomorrow I am going to Walmart to look at the embroidery floss that is available, I am not 100% satisfied with the colors I have chosen.   I have been know to change the colors that are included with the kit. 

WRITTEN by Marsha L Floyd

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

EMBROIDERING THE OWL: I MADE A MISTAKE!

 I remember making a mistake when machine embroidering, I didn’t remove those stitches, I started over. Starting over with a machine embroidery pattern means waste, wasted: thread, fabric and stabilizer; not to mention time. 

I cheerfully started on the Owl after making the decision to use the long and short satin stitch. I chose, for the owl’s breast feathers two different shades of white. I am using the DMC brand: B5200 and     S5200.

What is the difference?  With “B” 200 and “S” 200?  DMC Cotton Floss “B” is 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton a good thing! It is a pure white. Snow White, which is a brighter, cooler-toned white than the standard DMC Blanc. The "B" itself isn't a thread type, but a specific color within the standard cotton line. Whereas, “S”200 is 100% rayon, has a smooth silky feel with a satiny shine. The “B” floss is much is easier to work with.  Yes, the Satin floss is challenging to work with but the look is worth it.  

About one hour into the project, I didn’t like the way things looked. I put my work down, some times walking away is the best solution to a problem, at least temporarily. I came back the next day and decided I had to undo the stitches! It is one thing when a sewist takes a seam ripper and removes a few stitches, by hand stitched or machine but embroidered, oh my! I have even un-stitched stitches done by a sarger and not ruined the fabric, that ain’t easy. I struggled undoing my stitches because I was not sewing neatly, more on that another time. I took my time, using my embroidery scissors and tweezers successfully undoing each stitch.

 I remember listening to an embroiderer stating: Before beginning a major project do a practice project first, using the same fabric and thread and stitch. Of course I did not do this. After all, I have embroidered an owl before, not the same pattern . I was trying to get this done before Christmas, it is just a part of a project, I was thinking I don’t have time, yet I had time to undo stitches.

I repeated this error, having to undo stitches a few more times before I discovered my problem.

LESSON: The type of thread and the number of thread is important. The design space in this project is limited and the required needle work for is delicate, the eyes in particular, thus the number of threads and type of thread will influence the results.  The project will either look sloppy or it will reveal the intended results. 

Written by Marsha L Floyd

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

THE SUNFLOWER QUILT: Race to the Finish

 Sunday, November 2, 2025 9:39:09 PM

I started this project April 30, 2025, why is it taking me so long? My goal is to finish the quilt this week. Each layer is together I just need to quilt it! I started this project during tax season yet I manage to piece it together. 

Then I had to make the three layers. Once the pieces was done I had to figure out the backing, I use old sheets that are in good condition.  Like everything else, once I decided on the backing, I changed my mind, I cut it to commit myself!  I have a lot of leftover batting, it took me a while to find the sizes that I needed and then I had to position each piece on the top layer.  Did I mention the three layers have been together since August? 

Yep, here it is November and I have not sewn a lick? I don’t embroider all the time so the owl is not the issue.

So what is motivating me to finish now? A new project of course! I don’t want to be like other quilters with a bunch of unfinished projects. Note: I don’t want to own dozens of quilts either. With tax season getting underway next month I really have to get this lap quilt done ASAP.

Quilting takes time, I don’t have much; I blog, hand embroider, have house chores to do and I have people to visit.  In addition to blogging I also Scripture Write, and during the month of October I participated in a writing challenge. Did I mention I am editing an ebook for republishing? 

Is seven months to long a period of time to produce a lap quilt? No. I am sure if I was being paid for the project I would have made time to finish it sooner but this is the beauty of just making quilts for the sake of making quilts. I was not, and am not, in a hurry. Currently I have about four individuals who want me to make a quilt for them, they are not paying so I do not have the pressure of rushing.

My quilts are designed by me  and each quilt incorporates a new technique. My quilts are not perfectly made but they are made with perfect love.

THE BACKING AND THE BINDING

Monday, December 1, 2025 8:34:47 PM

Good bad news. I am not home but I brought the quilt with me. I have put the binding on and now all I have to do is the quilting but that will have to wait until I get back home. 

I go back to work, a week earlier than anticipated but I will not be home until December 5, can I get the quilt finished this weekend? I am not making any promises. 

WRITTEN BY Marsha L Floyd

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

HAND EMBROIDERING THE OWL: PART 1

 

Thursday, October 30, 2025 6:48:47 PM 

   HAND EMBROIDERING THE OWL

I do not buy just one skien of floss, I am always concerned that I will run out of that color. There is always a risk that the color you need will not be available., should you not buy enough, even kits give you more than enough

I needed three shades of brown. In my stash I have at least 5 shades of brown but it wasn’t what I was looking for. In addition, a few of the browns were different brands and I wanted to use the DMC. One of the shades of brown I had transferred to a spool and I did not know the color number.  

I now tape the number to the bobbin, a flat plastic spool shaped object that floss can be placed on. I then group all the same color in a ziplock back.  I do not use those storage containers that the bobbins can slide into.

Have you ever seen videos of people who have neatly organized containers of  floss, they have many shades of each color. Eventually, those plastic bobbins become empty, or they may have just a foot or two left. By keeping each of the color on a bobbin along with the floss that has not been used all in the same ziplock bag I can grab the color I want. I throw the bags in a box that contains a set of colors. This works for those of us who are not so organized that we will properly put away our bobbins when we are finished.  I re-purpose boxes, decorate  and label them according to the color, 2-3 colors per box

 Left over floss can go in the bag until it is to small to use, then I have a thread jar. With enough thread I can make a bal for a rag doll head, or body. 

This step should have been thought of at the Organization and Preparation stage, see GETTING STARTED, but I assumed! And, as per my personality, I often change my mind about colors, while in progress. Unfortunately, I may change my mind! 

THE LESSON: I PROBABLY WILL NOT LEARN; Plan your colors before your start.  

Sunday, November 2, 2025 9:28:41 PM

It is the same error I made when I first started the Owl, the number of strands. I was working on the eye and was using two strands I was half way through the first eye and realized it was to thick. I didn’t know where my seam ripper was so I just grabbed my embroidery scissors and started removing the stitches. 

This time I was not disappointed or irritated with myself, in fact I was giving myself words of encouragement as I undid the work that took me a while to do. I realize, some things take time.

I look at some of my projects and can see the mistakes but it still came out good. 

LESSON: Don’t be so hard on myself! I will get better as I get better, in the meantime, keep a seam ripper on hand :)

NOTE:  I wrote a separate post entitled: EMBROIDERING THE OWL: I MADE A MISTAKE, it will follow this post.

WRITTEN by Marsha L Floyd

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I STARTED IT! My first applique block

 I started it! I started it in my head years ago and then it progressed to research and then I actually cut out the parts using a pattern from a book I own. It was a simple flower, this was done in August (2025). And then FEAR came upon me.

In the “Beginners” Facebook group I was a part of the finished works that I saw seemed so advanced, it was intimidating.  I had to ignore them, they are not me. I also realized, when I joined a beginner quilting group I had made a few quilts, I was just not confident enough to join the more advanced quilters.

On September 5, 2025 I “appliqued” part of the flower. The books I have read, the videos I watched on YouTube had various steps I should have taken but did not. Why? Like quilting I wanted to do things like my great grandmother did until I knew what I wanted to do. Since I did not have my great grandmother around I had to use my common sense and appreciate where I was and not where I wanted to go. 

Aside from not using stabilizer I tried but did not continue using a technique called Needle Turn. I decided to simply put the parts on the fabric, using a glue stick to secure the piece in place,  and sewed it on! By September 12th, I had made my first applique block! 

WHAT I LEARNED

1. It is important to be familiar with the process. 
2. Like with anything I do, I try to find someone, on YouTube, that teaches in a way that I can appreciate.
3. In order to gain confidence I NEEDED TO just sew it. The reason I own so many seam rippers is that I can undo mistakes!
4. SIZE MATTERS
   -One of the reasons why I did not successfully apply Needle Turn applique was because the project was small. Next time will try a larger design.
   -I did try using a quilt frame but it was not necessary because of the size of the project. 
5.  I used the thimble and it helped.
6. My technique will improve with experience.
7. I still don’t see the need for stabilizer or paper, the glue stick kept everything in place, that and pins. 
8. I used a simple running stitch. 

At some point I have to NOT LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE! 

MY FIRST QUILT 2017

Making a quilt is tearing up fabric and sewing it back together, then getting a uncut fabric the same side putting them together with stuffing (batting) in the middle.  The process of quilting is sewing the three layers together; people like to sew the pieces together creating a design. A

Applique is making an image out of fabric and sewing it onto fabric.  

We are all as good as our imagination will take us. 

Written by Marsha L Floyd
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

GETTING STARTED: HAND EMBROIDERY THE OWL

From left to right: The design to be copied, the expected look &
 the transferred image onto cotton fabric.

Despite the number of completed hand embroidery projects I am still learning. The one thing I have learned is that there is always something to learn. Things were different when I was machine embroidering. The mobility of hand embroidery, sewing anywhere, I need to master four specific practices.  Organization, Preparation, Set-up,  Restoration. 

NOTE: This is what I do, you will develop their own routine based on your time, amount of space you have, financial investment and the project. I do believe the following steps are part of any crafting project.

 ORGANIZATION: Before I know what I am going to make it is important that I have the basic supply of items. The set-up can include: scissors, a needle threader, pins, needles, a measuring tape and or ruler , pen or pencil, paper, and a thimble.  These items should be placed in a convenient ready to reach for spot. 

I have a list of all of my patterns: sewing patterns, machine embroidery patterns and hand embroidery patterns. 

• My sewing patterns are listed, individually of course, on index cards and categorized: tops bottoms, bags, hats etc. 
• The machine embroidery patterns are listed, alphabetically, in a small 3 ring binder (5 1/2” x 8 1/2”). I can put notes on each page 
• For the hand embroidery I actually download each pattern. Each pattern is placed in a Pocket plastic divider. When I purchase a kit, I save the picture, they are placed in a 3 ring binder. 

 I have 3 mobile sewing kits: quilting, embroidery and sewing, they are stocked accordingly.

PREPARATION: Once I know what I am going to make I start preparing.

 When you purchase a kit everything you need is usually part of the package, including the hoop, not so when you starting from scratch.

1.    I start with my design, I am working on an owl that will go on a carry-all bag, so I will use the owl to describe my preparation process.
   -The design- I cannot draw so I need to find an image of an owl that I can actually embroider. I      have found quite a few embroidery patterns priced reasonably on Etsy.
   -The structure in which the design will be placed on. Yes, I know it is fabric but, you could transfer your design on wood, plastic or even glass.
2. There are a few different methods of transfer the design onto the structure, I primarily use carbon paper.
3. Colors, the hardest part for me is determining the colors I will use. Make sure you have enough of each color.
4. Right size hoop.
5.  Most kits give you more than enough floss, I tend to buy more than enough because I don’t want to run out  
6.   I have an Embroidery Hoop Stand, this is optional and I don’t use it all the time.

SET-UP Now I am ready to transfer my design and position my project on the hoop. I have gathered the colors I will need, and have my needle, and scissors nearby. I am ready to sew.

RESTORATION: After I finish embroidering for the day I should put everything back to wear it was ready for my next session. Unfortunately, I don’t always do this and that is how things get lost. I do, however, put everything up once I have finished a project and use that time to restock. 

   

This was from a kit which I added to a handmade pillow.

Yes, I made my own pillow form!