Hearts and split stitches

Here’s an example of me just buying stuff because I have a vague notion of what I want to do with it.  Somewhere, out in the universe, I saw a tassel made with a cinnabar heart and of course other than the fact it had a heart like this I can’t remember anything else about it.  Just that it was really pretty and I thought I could make one like it.

Maybe I’ll stumble across it again. 

Still working on the macro settings with the new camera – I wanted the heart to be in sharp focus, not the lace.

I’m making some headway with the tea cozy.  I really like using a split stitch for outlining.  I get a smoother looking line, especially around the curves with it.

All the tutorials that say the satin stitch takes some practice – totally true.  I’m thinking "how hard can it be.." but it’s hard to get a nice, even edge.  Lucky for me the petals on the flowers are thin and pretty forgiving.

I wish I had seen Danielle’s comment before I got started about embroidering through a thin backing since I’m going to be making a tea cozy anyway.  Well hopefully the threads hopping from one flower to the next won’t show too much. 

You can see how well the transfer pencil works – or doesn’t work.  Not a nice crisp line to follow, is it?

Well I better get back to it – while I’m still motivated.  Like I thought it’s a lot more fun to use multiple colors.