Everything Old is New Again: A Satin Stitch Reproduction

Here I am again! Promised you I'd post something new last night, but my computer (or it's operator) had a glitch, so I'm just now able to post. Over the weekend, I went "out and about" and drove to Mountain View, Arkansas, to do a program for the Committee of 100 Workshop at the Ozark Folk Center, part of our state park system, devoted to the arts, crafts, music, and history of the Ozark Mountain area of Arkansas. It's a beautiful drive up there (about an hour and a half for me) and it made a nice "getaway" for a couple days.

Friday night I stayed in my room at the lodge and finished a project that I wanted to include in the presentation next day and that's what I'm showing you today. (By the way, I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to this group...they seemed very interested in what I had to say and show, which made the trip even nicer!)

A few posts ago, I showed you the pillow I purchased on yet another visit to one of the local flea markets. I really wanted to "reproduce" it, in my own way, for the program. I also showed a vintage curtain edged with lace that I would use to make the reproduction pillow. I removed the lace to save for another project. I love doing this...finding something interesting (maybe only to ME), and using found fabric, etc., to reproduce it.

In the photos, you can see the vintage pillow at the top....with a beautiful lace ruffle around it.
I really like the embroidered flowers and leaves...all done in a satin stitch. This is what I wanted to do 'in my own way' and so beneath it, you see the pillow I made. While doing the embroidery, I decided to use beads to finish it off...as you can also see here...these are bigger than the seed beads I might normally use....and a lovely "pearly" color. After finishing the pillow, I decided it needed a nice bow, so used some silk ribbon and French Knots to attach the bow. This pillow is approximately 6 inches x 13 inches. (Of course, you know, you can click on the photos and see the stitches "up close and personal.")

A word about the flowers.....on the vintage pillow, the leaves and the flowers are all done with a satin stitch. You know how I love to stitch leaves, so I used my version of a fly stitch to make them. I did use a satin stitch for the flowers and beads for the flower centers. It might interest you to know that I cut tiny "versions" of each flower petal out of white felt, then did the satin stitch over them....and that's what makes the petals really thick and fat looking....something you don't get with satin stitch alone. What do you think?

I really enjoyed making this pillow....it may end up in my etsy shop, but for right now...I'm enjoying looking at it. Now, after a trip out of town.....I need to get back to work....see you in a few days, hopefully, with something neat to show you. Take care, pat