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Crewel Work Crazy, Embroidery, and the Good Old Days

Here's a freehand flower embroidery I'm working on.  I had to stop to buy smaller needles for the beads.  I decided to embroider on colored felt for an almost 70's throwback look.  The felt is embossed and adds to the movement in the embroidery.  

I used to do embroidery and crewel work on a start to finish and frame way, but my auto immune diseases have taken away some of my visual and physical limits, so my enjoyment and attention to these pursuits have to be in measured amounts.   What I'm really trying to say is that for ten years I have been fighting to keep my eyesight and the auto immune and other diseases are digging in their
 heels and the fight is a tug of war all of the time.  But I digress.

Way back when, WHEN?, when I was doing embroidery on a regular basis, including for some friends from school and wearing it on my jeans, jackets, bags, and so on I was crewel work crazy.  I'd sew until I couldn't focus any longer.  Everything I wore did not have embrodiery though.  I also loved to raid my Mom's closet for her clothes from her younger days.  Wedges, Peeptoes, Pretty Belts, and Jewelery.  The good old days.   I wish I had photos of those designs and clothes.  Sometimes I buy a cute item just because it has embroidery.  Crazy, right?  You ought to see me with the MagEyes on trying to thread a needle and holding a magnifying mirror up to the sewing machine needle, too.  Now, that's crazy effort!

Do you go all out and extend yourself to the limit for your crafts and art?  Or something else you are committed to finish?


16 comments :

flyingbeader said...

I have tendonitis in my elbow and sometimes stuffing dolls just kills my arm & makes it go numb. But there are times like now when I just wear my brace & keep going. Our Guild has a gallery show in June & I would love to make more dolls & of course extra cash to help pay all the Vet bills we've had this year.

Anonymous said...

I love love the sound of all those embleeishments you did, (Idid too) what fun we had , when I start something I'm obseesed to complete, I hate that I'm this way and i'm making a concerned effort to change.I'm so sorry your health limits your actions, that bummer.Do what you can and then rest.Thankyou for sharing your beautiful work and lovely work today, its beautiful.

Craftymoose Crafts said...

Gloria, I remember those days well! I used to embroider on my jeans! Your piece is coming along nicely--love the embossing & colors!

Magic Love Crow said...

Gloria, I am so sorry for what you are going through! Keep doing what you love! Never give that up! I bet you look cute with your MagEyes ;o) Your embroidery is beautiful!!! Big Hugs and many well wishes!! I forgot to say, sometimes I paint until my eyes go blurry! Not good!!

Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ said...

Hi Gloria,

On wow your work is beautiful. I have not done embroidery in quite some time. I had fun doing it too.

I'm always trying to think outside the box. I love to come up with different idea's and see if they will work. Do I go all out? You bet ya. :)

xo
Dee

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Gloria,

From A Lapin Life, from Dee's blog I ended up here.
Great embroidery you show here. To my surprise I read that you too had/have auto immune disease. Early January of 2010 I got completely paralyzed and since my hands and eyes are not the same. I've struggled on vacation with my counted cross stitch, in Curaçao. Enough light but it's the sight. From Solutions I have ordered a special pair of glasses for my embroidery in number 6! Early May they will come, can't wait to try them out.
Love to you from your new follower; triple...
Mariette

Gloria said...

Dot, You do such amazing and detailed work. Your tendonitis doesn't slow you down, hope your show in June is a great success! (I know what you mean about vet bills.)

Laurie, You're dealing with so much and produce beautiful work. I definitely agree with the pacing, need a teensy bit of restraint now and then ;) Thanks so much for the beautiful words.

Debbie, we are how old? haha I think the art of embroidery is older than us! Thank you for the lovely words!

Stacy, Well, your blurriness doesn't show on the finished work, terrific artist! Thanks for the kind words and I appreciate all the pep- it's often needed. The mageyes headgear is scaring Lucy! :0

Dee, Thanks so much, and I really enjoy your projects. When we look at the beautiful finished scenes it makes all the effort seem worthwhile to make it all look so good.

Mariette, Hello and Welcome!

I'm so sorry to know you have eye and hand problems as a result of what happened to you in 2010. Thank goodness the paralysis did not stay.

You're finding a big help with those new glasses. I hope they work well and hurry May!

I never tried cross stitch, I have seen some beautiful cs, especially in museums.

Thanks for visiting from Dee's blog and for following, too. I hope to see you again.




Gloria ♥

Cassidy said...

So pretty! Not a talent I possess but I appreciate the detail. Sorry to hear about your health though Gloria.

Ricki Treleaven said...

I like needlepoint, but I've never tried crewel work. Post when you're finished with the piece!

Linking from Katherine's Corner.

xo,
Ricki Jill

carol l mckenna said...

Awesome embroidery ~ very colorful and creative ~thanks, namaste, ^_^

You might consider joining my blog hop ~ Magical Monday Meme ~ a place for crafters to show their creations as well as other creative activities ~ thanks ^_^

Gloria said...

Thanks, Cassidy!

Hi RJ, I will do that, tfv!

Hi Carol, thanks so much and I will visit, tfsb!

Miss Val's Creations said...

How neat! I have not tried this type of work before but would love to. I love the look of embroidery on clothing and accessories!

Lucy said...

I buy embroidery pieces, I have no artistic qualities, I appreciate those that do beautiful work. I have a beautiful coat and I get compliments on it all the time.
I have had to cut back on writing and blog reading, my wrist and elbow was killing and I was pushing it, so I don't get on the computer at night all that much anymore.

Gloria said...

Hi Val! It's a nice retreat you can do this work and not have to be tied to a desk.

Hi Lucy! Hope your wrist and elbow are better; TY for the TY card!

Katherines Corner said...

Lovely! I have always enjoyed embroidery. I used to do a lot more it. thank you for linking up to the Thursday hop. Sorry I'm behind in saying thank you. My recent post will explain my delay.Hope to see you again this Thursday. xo

Gloria said...

Hi Katie, hope your daughter continues to improve, she sounds very positive about the surgery.