With the summer trickling by here in Kansas – actually, I should say streaming by, as it’s moving at a rather rapid clip – I’ve given some thought to my current embroidery project rotation and have made some adjustments.

Now that Will Ewe Bee Mine? is officially out and available, I can concentrate on other projects. Thanks heaps to all those who have purchased my latest ebook – your support goes a long way towards keeping Needle ‘n Thread going! So I really appreciate it! (In fact, I downright love you for it!)

So, today, an update on what I’m working on now, my reasons for switching things in and out, my future project aspirations and plans, and a bit of a chat on my multi-project approach, what works about it and what doesn’t.

Our world is full of embroidery.

And it has been, for a long, long time.

This thought – which isn’t all that profound, in the scheme of things – struck me with particular force, when, serendipitously, a couple boxes arrived, via post, on my front porch.

I say serendipitously, because just the day before, I began the Big Overhaul on my needlework book shelves. The timing couldn’t have been better!

Oh, happy Saturday all around!

It’s taken me all the week long to work through the catch-up after being out of town for a while. Subconsciously, this may be the reason I never go anywhere!

Strangely enough, I haven’t done a lick of stitching, with the exception of one tiny stitch tutorial. I’m craving my needle and thread! And with temperatures topping the 105 mark this weekend, methinks I’ll use that as an excuse to stay in where it’s cool(ish) and put my mind and fingers to a project or two.

Well, you know how it is – any excuse would do!

But before I hunker down, I thought I’d share some bits of inspiration, information, and whatnot that have surfaced in the needlework world lately. So pour yourself something refreshing, cold or hot depending on your particular hemispheric circumstances, and let’s go for a browse, shall we?

Brace yourself for a Cuteness Overload. And some incredible embroidery!

Whether or not you’re a cat lover (or a dog lover), if you’re an embroiderer and you appreciate meticulous embroidery, I think you’re going to be twitterpated with this book

Now, this is The Thing (full disclosure here!): I’m not a cat lover. I like the idea of cats. I’d like to like cats, but, thanks to the horrid allergy that plagues me whenever I’m around the little beasties, I try to avoid them at all costs. It’s a matter of being able to breathe, you see. I get a little testy when I can’t.

That said, I love looking at them from a distance. There is something rather regal, majestic, adorable, endearing about cats. And looking at them through the artistic renderings of an embroiderer makes these particular cats that I’m going to show you even more enchanting!

Welcome to Wednesday! Woohoo! I’m back home from a much-needed break – and glad to be here!

A few weeks ago, we looked at this piece of embroidery that I’m taking apart, to salvage the figures on it to put them on a new background.

This was the perfect project to turn my mind to yesterday, after a Most Wonderful, quiet, peaceful break – concentrating on it got me back into the swing of things in a very pleasant way!

A funny thing about this project: I was going to say no when asked to undertake it, but I’m so glad I didn’t! I love this kind of exploratory work. It’s enlightening, intriguing, and absorbing.

Today, we’ll look at some First Things First. Before really digging into a piece like this, there are a few preliminary steps to take and a few tools to line up.

If you love needlework history, if you’re a textile enthusiast, an embroidery history buff, a bibliophile… but if, like me, you’re needlework library might be a little out of control, and you might be thinking I just don’t have space for One More Book…then you’ll appreciate this list!

There are many places online where we can access old embroidery books, download them onto our computers, and learn from them. I’ve often spoke of Antique Pattern Library, Internet Archives, and similar places where you can find instructional and pattern books for all kinds of needlework and embroidery techniques.

But what about scholarly works that have to do more with the history of embroidery, needlework, and textiles? Even more recently published whole books, articles, and bits that can give us insight into the history behind the embroidery we love so well?

Thanks to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and their vast download library at Met Publications, we have access to quite a few excellent works of historical significance that are worth reading, if you love the history of embroidery and needlework, or if you want to know more about specific eras of needlework history.