The Gentle Art

Embroidery.  I can't think of a more gentile form of needlework or a more common one.  It certainly occupies a good part of my free time anyway.   I'm happy to see it coming back around again, even though there are those who will tell you that it never went anywhere.  It seems as though it's always been here in one form or another, like a comforting old friend.  It's what I refer to as my "cheap therapy" anyway.  After recently finishing up that long over-due quilt project, I was ready to do a few smaller things and this drawstring bag was perfect.  It's a surprise for a ten year old girl that will have a few small favors tucked inside.  The embroidery design was done freehand.  (Worked out on a piece of paper first, then traced onto tracing paper.  You get a reverse image when you flip it over---use a transfer pen to trace over the reversed image, then pin and stamp with an iron.)   I do a lot of custom work this way.  Especially if the design is small like this.  Sulky has a good how-to page here.