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