IMPERFECTLY BEAUTIFUL STITCHES

One stitch at a time, but only when it's fun.

Home: Welcome

THIS IS ME

Amy loves hiking, fresh sour cream donuts, & creating with color! While stitching, she uses thread to paint, doodle, & letter - but only when it's fun!

She lives in Kansas, with her husband & three teens, but Texas was home for 22 years. Her favorite way to take a picture is with a big smile & her arms spread wide!

For most of the past ten years, Amy & her family have loved & learned from several foster children who will always have a special place in their hearts.

Amy creates imperfectly beautiful stitches and would love to teach you how to as well!

WANT TO STITCH WITH ME?

Having a passion for connecting with others in creative ways, I began to teach embroidery to friends in 2018. By the next year I was giving technical instruction on particular stitches whilst encouraging these groups of women to embrace the imperfections in their art. I teach process over product, texture over form, and fun over perfection. I love to stitch with friends - new and old - and would love to stitch with you! Please click to register for a class with me.

MY WORK

MY STITCHES

not for sale, just for beauty

HOMETOWN STAMPLERS

ONLINE STORE

DIGITAL DOWNLOADS

embroidery patterns available on Etsy

“I paint flowers so they will not die.”

Frida Kahlo

This girl. So glad we get to be a part of her life. 💛 #insidefostercare #thisisfostercare #fosterlove #raylight #alwaysworththeprocess #morevaluablethanthecosts #imperfectlybeautifulus

1 Come up from the back of the fabric, onto the front of the fabric, with your needle pulling the thread.

2 Take the thread in your left hand and hold the needle in your right hand.

3 Loop the thread around the needle. Push the needle - just slightly - into the fabric. (Do not push the needle all the way to the back of the fabric.)

4 While the tip of the needle is in the fabric, pull the looped thread, so that it's tight against the needle and then slide it down the needle so that the loop is pushed against the fabric.

5 Keep holding the thread so that it stays taut against the fabric, while you bring the needle all the way to the back.

Do this over and over and over and over. Essentially, you're making tiny dots anywhere your needle comes out of the fabric.

This is called the French knot.

#imperfectlybeautifulstitches #stitchingwhenitsfun #stitchinglessons

This child is sunshine & joy & sparkle glitter. ☀️❇️💖 Except when she's not, because let's be real, she's three and she has her moments. #imperfectlybeautifulus #fosterlove #raylight #morevaluablethanthecosts #alwaysworththeprocess

We couldn't be happier! 💛 #imperfectlybeautifulus #fosterlove #raylight #morevaluablethanthecosts #alwaysworththeprocess

*@kenny_bednarek - Olympic medalist & former foster youth
*@fostervillagenortheastks stitching @reconferencekc
*touchable art created for those who are visually impaired @equalmindedcafe & the best KC chai
*questions to start conversations with your kids listed by @shanelledupree
*art @antlerroomkc by @bespokecrestco
#imperfectlybeautifulus #imperfectlybeautifulstitches #insidefostercare #olympictrack

Down and up, going in and out of the fabric with your needle.

Down on the right end of the line you are making, and up on the left end of the line. (Or up on the right end of the line you are drawing with the thread, and down on the left end of the line.)

Do this over and over and over, filling the space with adjacent and parallel lines of threads.

This is called the satin stitch.

#imperfectlybeautifulstitches #stitchingwhenitsfun #stitchinglessons

There's no confidence that can measure up to that of a 3yo when they can convince you to stop for a potty emergency and then spit on the toilet and say "there's nothing." Because if you're willing to unbuckle the 5pt carseat at the airport drop-off line, go inside, find the bathroom, take them inside, and then willingly go along with the assessment that "there's nothing," what won't you do for them? 😄💛💛 #imperfectlybeautifulus #insidefostercare #fosterlove #raylight

She's making......?
#insidefostercare #thisisfostercare #fosterlove #raylight #imperfectlybeautifulus

When you want to start an embroidery project, you begin by choosing materials. ❤️💚🩷
If you want to start an embroidery project by stitching on a canvas tote, your materials are pretty much already chosen for you.
My process? Just take your tote (or you can do this with another stitchable fabric) next to your personal stash, a thrift store basket full of floss, or the shelves at your local craft store and hold up each skein or bobbin until you have a match. This could take seconds or minutes or almost an hour, based on a combination of your vision, the lighting, & good old-fashioned luck.
If you are stitching your tote from @filledgathering I've already done the legwork for you:
@dmc_embroidery colors: 350, 733, 21 (6-strand standard embroidery floss)
@wonderfilspecialtythread colors: EZ2109, EZ31, 306 (#8 perle cotton)
In this case, the colors were matched to the screen of my computer, since I wanted them with me when I arrived at the gathering, over 1,000 miles from my home.
#imperfectlybeautifulstitches #stitchingwhenitsfun #stitchinglessons

Some of you are new around here and it seems like a good time to share what I'm passionate about:
🟡 advocating for reunification with biological families
🟡 foster parenting with a focus on attachment
🟡 helping foster moms connect with one another #insidefostercare #kinshipcare #fosterlove #babycarey #imperfectlybeautifulus

There's a tote that you want to customize? I'll teach you how! We're going to start from the beginning and you'll learn every step. Bonus for the @filledgathering attendees: you'll even know which threads are a match! #imperfectlybeautifulstitches #stitchingwhenitsfun

Just returned from our annual fostermoms gathering. All our swag came in this canvas tote, so of course I embroidered it. Wanna learn? I'd love to teach you! New series starting soon. #imperfectlybeautifulus #stitchingwhenitsfun

Just a little time I'm gifted with this baby.
#insidefostercare #kinshipcare #fosterlove #babycarey #imperfectlybeautifulus

That these two know each other is everything. The best. The little one says "she's my friend" & the older one was alternating between playing and being annoyed with the younger one. 💛🩷🧡

#insidefostercare #fostercareadvocacy #thisisfostercare #fostercareawareness #fosterlove #raylight #kyky #alwaysworththeprocess #morevaluablethanthecosts #imperfectlybeautifulus

One Friday in the recent past, I opened up my next set of secret directions for this quilt - which was, after all, entitled Destroy This Quilt - and Zak said something like this: "Cut holes loosely around each object. Mend each hole." Whaaat? First you asked me to use a very precious material and now you're asking me to cut holes in it??! 😳
This is a whole cloth quilt, that in its finished form will be an art quilt, displayed somewhere rather than used for warmth or comfort. The process of making this quilt is based on prompts by @zakfoster.quilts rather than based on a see-and-sew pattern. Loving this year-long adventure with @zakfoster.quilts even if it involves cutting several 🕳️🕳️!!
The Story Of A Quilt. #imperfectlybeautifulstitches #stitchingwhenitsfun #dtq

I hate potty training so much. And this time around there are so many more reasons to hate it. Please send help. #insidefostercare #fostercareadvocacy #thisisfostercare #fostercareawareness #fosterlove #raylight #alwaysworththeprocess #morevaluablethanthecosts #imperfectlybeautifulus

A few quilty differences:
*There are block-based quilts and whole cloth quilts (this is the latter).
*There are functional quilts and art quilts and also arguably some are both (this is an art quilt - so far).
*There are prompt-based quilts and pattern-based quilts (this is the former).
*There are hand-pieced and hand-quilted quilts, or they can be done on the machine (not sure exactly how the methods will play out for this quilt).
Have questions? Ask in the comments & I'll answer. I loved this year-long adventure I went on with @zakfoster.quilts in 2024!!
This is The Story Of A Quilt #dtq #thenook #stitchingwhenitsfun #permanentlines #imperfectlybeautifulstitches

This girl. This former-foster-daughter turned forever-goddaughter.
This Sunshine, she visits us every weekend.
And she loves having her own vinyls to listen to. Her favorite track? No. 4 on side B of the fp POP! Album, titled "Dance Party." 💛🩷 #insidefostercare #fostercareadvocacy #thisisfostercare #fostercareawareness #fosterlove #raylight #alwaysworththeprocess #morevaluablethanthecosts #imperfectlybeautifulus

In January 2024, I chose a precious piece of fabric that I was saving for "someday" and then I folded it into a museum fold and marked where it had been folded with chalk. This is The Story Of A Quilt. #dtq #thenook

Wishing you the Merriest Christmas! Love, Us

Over here prepping for the holidays. You? 💛💛 #insidefostercare #fostermama #fostercareadvocacy #thisisfostercare #fostercareawareness #fosterlove #raylight #alwaysworththeprocess #morevaluablethanthecosts #imperfectlybeautifulus

Should I add lights to these ornaments? Every year I create ornaments for friends and family and I'm living these scraps turned appliqued mini quilts. I'm just not sure about adding some sequins. What do you think?

November happened. Dropping this here to remember the moments. 💛💛 #insidefostercare #drawawidercircle #fostercareawareness #fosterlove #raylight #alwaysworththeprocess #morevaluablethanthecosts #stitchingwhenitsfun #imperfectlybeautifulus

November happened. Dropping this here to remember. 💛💛 #insidefostercare #fostermama #thisisfostercare #drawawidercircle #fostercareawareness #fosterlove #raylight #alwaysworththeprocess #morevaluablethanthecosts #imperfectlybeautifulus

In her Magnum PI Era. 🕶️ 💛💛 #insidefostercare #fostermama #magnumpi #thisisfostercare #drawawidercircle #fosterlove #raylight #alwaysworththeprocess #morevaluablethanthecosts #imperfectlybeautifulus

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