July Favorites 🫘

Today I wanted to share some of the textures, techniques, palettes, activities, etc. that are extra-present on my mind this month.

Some of these will grow into fully-formed projects, some will be things I come back to in another season:

✹ A Filet Buffet

Filet Crochet has been so trendy lately and I’ve been wanting to incorporate it in my art somehow, but it looks like such a tedious endeavor. It’s based on Filet Lace which is an even more delicate process.

After searching for how to actualize this concept without fully getting into lacemaking, I found an amazing artist, Tessa Perlow, who has made ‘filet’ style embroidery pieces. I think the way she interpreted the lace look in an embroidered way is so genius. I definitely want to try this method out.

Update: I may have gotten slightly into lacemaking! [See: October Favorites 🫘, Cutwork Lace Adventure Part 1: Learning Richelieu Embroidery 🌱] This also inspired me to make a Papel Picado Inspired Crewneck 🌼

✹ Folksy Motifs

I don’t know if it’s because I’m so inspired by what I find in thrift stores, but I have such a soft spot for folk art motifs. I keep gravitating towards: Pennsylvania Dutch decor, Slavic/Polish folk-inspired florals, brightly painted Alebrije figurines, woodblock printed textiles from India, and so much more. Maybe I’ll compile these in a Pinterest board or somewhere I can easily see them all together.

See my latest folk-inspired embroidery work in progress: Butterfly Season in the Studio 🌱

✹ Birding

This has been such a bird summer! I got the Merlin app to listen to bird calls in my neighborhood, and it’s been life changing. I highly recommend listening to the birds once a day. It’s been inspiring in a way that I can’t really put my finger on. Something about noticing nature makes me feel more connected to it I suppose.

✹ Berry Picking, Jam Making

I went to a local U-pick farm and got some strawberries and spent a whole day making jam. It feels like a proactive way to stave off the winter blues down the road. I think I made enough to get me through the beginning of the cold season + give some away to friends. So obsessed with these little gingham wraps I added to them! Next time we pass by the farm, I’m hoping to get raspberries.

✹ T-Shirt DIYs

I have a bunch of t-shirts that aren’t as fun as they could be. I saw Kathleen Illustrated try this handpainted thrift flip and I really want to try this on some of my clothes! Youtuber Paola does these amazing thrift flips that inspire me. And Carly B has a lovely shirt with a very handmade horse patch whipstitched on the front that I think is so fun. I’d love to incorporate fabric painting, upcycling, and embroidery in future wardrobe edits!

Update: I keep ideating in November Favorites 🫘, Hydrangea Inspired Embroidery, & How to Make a Raspberry Patch 🌼.

✹ Photography

This could probably be a whole essay. I won’t deep dive here, but essentially, starting a blog has begun to revive my former love of photography & relationship with a camera. 🤎

✹ Morning Walks

My partner and started going for walks before work once or twice a week. I think the novelty of it all makes the 7am call time feel less groggy to me haha. It’s refreshing to walk in the cool morning air and talk through the things on our mind before the day begins.

✹ The Taste of Things

The Taste of Things (La Passion de Dodin Bouffant) is a French historical romantic drama written/directed by Trần Anh Hùng. It’s one of the most satisfying films to sit and watch. I put this movie on to embroider with in the background but ended up not embroidering anything at all because the cinematography & cooking scenes were so captivating. To me, it feels a little bit like if Studio Ghibli did a french live action film. Would watch again in a heartbeat.