one thing leads to another

Here's my new dishtowel above. It was directly inspired by the stitching I've been doing lately. You know, the stitching on this piece here :

As I have been working on it, I found myself wishing it was washable so that I could use it as a dishtowel when done. It's definitely not made to withstand any real use, many of the fabrics fall to pieces as I stitch them on even. So as I kept obsessing about the dishtowel, I decided to go and make one already, using the concept. I grabbed a favorite dishtowel that I bought at a flea market in Paris. It was the perfect piece because it had holes in it. Even with the holes, I hadn't been able to bring myself to throw it away, and now I'm so glad I never did. I used new fabric and vintage pillowcase pieces and stitched them on by hand, tucking under the rough edges. I added a few pieces where it looked like holes might develop too, and after a few washings, if it's working out well, I'll add more when needed. Something about mended things makes them so appealing. They are so honest and hardworking. And loved. Tended to.

And as I took a picture to show you the current state of my recent piece, I thought, this would be a cute backing to a chair, no? Can't you see it pulled taught with two ties where the chair back meets the seat? If I did it, I'd have to do it on one chair, like, for my desk say, because any more would be too much going on for my eye. I like my furniture pretty plain actually. But it's another example of how while doing one thing, your eyes can be opened to so many others. Always new ideas to pursue right around the corner. Oh, how I love creativity and making stuff!

Comments

[Gail]

Pam,
You're just too inspirational girl! Go check out my blog and you'll see what I mean, now that towel is so cute I wonder if I'll have to try that next......

[Rebecca Ersfeld]

Hello
It all looks so lovely... I love hand work myself. It is relaxing and I like the fact that you can create as you go along...it isn't so final--I can change my mind or add something. I enjoy your posts, thank you for sharing your inspirations.
Blessings
Rebecca

[Debbie]

Great photos Pam! Just wanted to let you know I thoroughly enjoyed your guest instructing for the Journal of Interest online class....love your work!

[Alison Gibbs]

It's amazing where that creativity bug leads us to. Love that dish towel - over here in Australia we call them a tea towel.
Alison

[Zita - Mlle Magpie]

So gorgeous, Pam! I'm glad you didn't throw out the old French dishtowel.

[andrea]

I think it would make a great chair cover-so lovely:)

[karen]

I love this idea you could always put dry clean only or use the dry cleaning method in the dryer !

[Tricia Samsal]

Simply gorgeous! I'm so inspired to make one. Just to hang on my wall. I love all the bits and pieces. I'm such a collector of that stuff, but haven't done alot with it. I think now I know! Thanks,
HUgs, Tricia

[jennifer norman]

I visit your blog all the time...the reason is I can be in the biggest creative funk and reading your post always pulls me up and out into a creative flurry!
The dish towel/chair back/etc is wonderful!
It would also be sweet as a market bag with the lace hanging down...or another take pn the sewingmachine cover that was in Somerset!
Thanks for sharing your inspiration!!

jen

[maryann]

GORGEOUS!! Love it, and love your ideas for it! Thank you for sharing!!! HUGS!!!

[Elise]

You have inspired me to start handwork again! I remember rainy days and doing the embroidery on dish towels with my grandmother. Lovely!
Elise

[RedorGrayArt]

so
pretty
::
your
stitching
is
art
::

[Kathy McElroy]

I have loved visiting your blog. Your work is exquisite and inspiring. I am in awe of it's beauty. It makes me want to pull out all my fabics and cover an old linen tablecloth my SIL just gave me. I would love to take a class from you someday.

[Lucinda Keller]

Wow. I love your blog. I am so inspired. LOVE the dish towel, by the way and the chair cover is enchanting! Thank you.

[Ludid]

i just found your blog; i recently starting working with fabric and your stunning work caught my attention

[kana conger]

Pam,

It is just wonderful and would make a lovely chair cover! Thanks for your continued creative encouragement!

[mary w]

Just gorgeous-of course I couldn't put anything like that in my kitchen because my family would mop up spilled kool aid with it but I am thinking it be nice in my own private bathroom. You never cease to be inspiring.

[Kari Beth]

oh, I am COMPLETELY head over heels in LOVE with your stitching! Your vintage fabrics are breathtaking!

[Tamar]

totally love this i have literally see it and pulled a whole heap of stuff out to do my own inspired by you - thank you for the creative jumpstart Tamar x

[Liesel Lund]

What a delightful story you weave with your fabric Pam! I love how you mix and match the little bits together. Thank you so much for sharing this! I'm glad that you are doing so well!

[Eileen T @ Star's Fault]

Pam ~ This is sooooo beautiful! Thank you for sharing. I have a few special linens that have love holes in them and I am inspired to put pretty patches on them.

Blessings ~ Eileen @ Star's Fault

[stacey]

too cute to use as a dish towel. I think a chair backing would be great!!

[Jann Saulsberry]

How absolutely FANTABULOUSLY lovely! I am totally inspired....am going to pull out some of my vintage fabric scraps and make something similar as a gift for a friend of mine for her bridal shower! Thanks so much for the beautiful inspiration! You always get my creative juices flowing!

[rachelle]

pam, i love handstitching and i love your blog. i'll be back to peruse your archives too.

[susan gilman]

yep. what they said! I love love love your posts....they are always so inspiring. Thanks for sharing. Thanks for "getting us" -- your readers who understand exactly the things that feed the creative desires that are in our very bones!

[rachelle]

that little cloth you are stitching sure is beautiful and i love the idea of making tea towels in the same style.

[Maide]

Wow...this work is so gorgeous and inspiring. All the fabric beautys so in harmonie together.
Love, love, love !!!!!

Warmest regards
Maide

[elizabeth woodford]

Hi pam!
i ahv ejust found your wonderful blog- not sure what took me so long, but I am sure gald that i am FINALLY here!! your dishtowel Journey ahs inspired me to add soem work to some old Swedish Linen Dishtowels that my grnadmother used. they are so soft and lovely and specail and holey- but far to precious to get rid of !! i am now going to honor them and add to them and think of all of the mending that my grnadmother used to do for all of us, so very lovingly witht he tiniest of stitches!! you ahve really given me a gift , with your inspiration! thnak you so much!!
hugs!
elizabeth

[elizabeth woodford]

I must apologize for my spelling in that last post- obviously I did not proof read it before I hit the SEND button- I was typing so quickly as my thoughts were tumbling out....
I must slow down, but I got so darned excited.....
hugs Again!
elizabth