Autumn Blessings

Fall is here and in full swing!

 

     Every other year my family gathers at the old homestead place to enjoy each other and make applebutter. We have wonderful old traditions and some new ones.

   Family is what it's all about though, they are our greatest earthly treasure.

   Another fall tradition at our house is carving a pumpkin. It's so representative of what God does for us! Did your mind make a sound like screeching tires just then? It's true. You see, like a pumpkin we are full of yucky stuff. Sin. God can remove it, carve a smile on our faces, and fill us with his light to shine in the darkness. We didn't do a smiley face, but the lesson remains the same.

   So often I have more ideas than I can put into practice. Especially when it comes to embroidery design and project completion. I think I have ten or so that are in different stages of execution. This is one that I thought you might enjoy because I'm using a different kind of thread. It's Adelaide's birth announcement.

   I had a difficult time deciding on a color scheme until I spied cotton perle. I chose DMC cotton perle #12 in ecru. Let me break that down for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about. Perle is a kind of thread like floss or yarn. It comes in different sizes represented by numbers. The higher the number the thinner the thread. #12 was the thinnest that I could find. I think it may come in more varied colors in other countries but in America we most often see neutrals, white and ecru. DMC is the company name, it's probably the most well known cotton floss brand here in the states (Anchor is another). Unlike cotton floss perle is not divisible. You don't separate the stands when you use it. You simply unwind a length and use it. It's shiny but not silky if that makes sense. I haven't used it before and I didn't realize that. When I stitched an inch or so and realized how shiny it was I felt like I'd come upon a clearance sale at the craft store if you know what I mean!

1) full thread of cotton floss 2) one strand pulled from a length of cotton floss 3) size 5 perle cotton  4) size 12 perle cotton 5) full skein of cotton floss  6&7)  balls of perle cotton

     

This picture doesn't do it justice but to give you some perspective... Most cross stitch patterns and indeed most embroidery are done in 2-3 strands of cotton floss. The cotton perle that I'm using is just slightly thicker but it's more dense and almost stiff.
   I hope you enjoy you fall as much as we are! Off I go to sew a few stitches.
God bless you.