Knotted stitches used for traditional embroidery can be worked as single stitches, along a line, or in groups to fill an object. The how-tos below show several variations of knotted stitches that you can use in your embroidery projects. While many are familiar with French knots, the Colonial Knot ...

When you stitch on canvas the most popular way you do that is simply by making even crosses. That’s easy as an embroidery canvas is an open-weave and even-weave fabric. This technique is called cross-stitching as it works the thread in even crosses through the open mesh of canvas. Cross stitch is ...

Have you ever read about this term in a book or pattern and wondered what Finger Pressing is? Goodness knows we’re not going to stick our fingers under a hot iron and flatten ’em! Finger Pressing actually refers to using the fingers on your hands to press a seam or fold into shape, making a ...

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “Montessori”? While it might sound a little too fancy, the Montessori method of teaching is a child-focused approach to learning that emphasizes hands-on, child-directed work and promotes hand-eye coordination.  Developed by an Italian ...

A big tree grows from a tiny seed. The incredible variety of embroidery stitches build upon a limited set of parent motifs. Meanwhile, these parent or basic stitches are actual working techniques. You would want to use them as such in many embroidery projects. Basic variations of a stitch outline ...

Once upon a time, when Pinterest was new and social media was young, I had a blog. It was a happy little blog, one that stretched my creativity and hopefully, inspired others to do the same. We had one little girl, and my husband was finishing school.  And then many things changed. The good kind ...

Hey!  Well, I've been changing things up a bit around here.  A new look and a new sense of organization.  Now all of my posts will fit into one of four categories - which you can browse using the tabs beneath my header. Decorate. Create. Educate. Nourish.We have decided to homeschool in the fall - ...

12. Everyone gives you advice about everything. 11. You must haul around a lot of extra luggage. 10. Upon arrival, you are exhausted. 9. Everything is much smaller. 8. You lose days of sleep. 7. There's a serious language barrier. 6. You are easily disoriented. 5. Everyone ...

Ever feel like you don't have time to clean?  I do.  Like, every day. Actually I'd just rather spend my time doing something else. BUT the cleaning must get done.  Sometimes I have to set my timer every 20 minutes and I will sew/craft for 20 minutes, then clean for 20 minutes, and so on. So I ...

I've been wanting to write this post for a while now, ever since having a conversation with my sister about what Feng Shui is. How to feng shui your bedroom Here's wiki's definition:  an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to use the laws of both Heaven (astronomy) and Earth ...

The other day my mom and I were chatting about cleaning, and she sent me to this post over at the Inspired Room.  Something in this post really clicked with me - perhaps it is my aesthetic personality - but I am attracted to all things lovely.  Including cleaning supplies.  You should go read her ...

"A man finds room in the few square inches of his face for the traits of all his ancestors; for the expression of all his history, all his wants." Ralph Waldo Emerson Today's book is This book is a wonderful resource for making your own beauty and cleansing products. This recipe I am going ...