Bullion Rose Button Tutorial

Here's a little bullion rose tutorial for you...on a 4-hole button. You just won't believe how cute these are! This one is only about 1/4 inch in size...so hard to photograph...sorry you can't appreciate just how cute it really is by this pic. But, you'll agree for sure once you have tried it...just grab a four hole button and a scrap of fabric to try this out!First...start by securing the button down with regular sewing thread. You want to rotate the button so that the holes form a diamond and not a square; and secure by stitching vertical and horizontally at least twice...then anchor your sewing thread to the back. Change to embroidery thread and a slender needle without a large eye...as it has to pass through the wholes a couple of times.Next, you start by stitching one bullion of the rose bud color (pink shown in the chart below) using the top and bottom (A & B) holes. You have to use the "poke and pull" method since you can not needle through the hard button. Just needle up at "A"; needle down at "B" but do not pull the thread all the way through...needle back up at "A"...hold the needle straight and wrap the thread starting at the base about eight times around the needle. Now, pinch those wraps between your fingers and pull the needle. This will bring the remainder of your thread through those wraps. Pull downwards and the wraps will begin to tighten up, you can also "nudge" them into place with the needle at this stage by pushing on them slightly...while pulling the thread. Lastly, needle down again at "B" to hold the bullion in place. Stitch two more bullions in this vertical position with the "pink" embroidery floss. I used silk floss and two strands for these little buttons...you'll have to adjust as needed based on the size of your button and your floss. Then stitch the green bullions in the same manner but using the "side" holes as shown in this chart as your "A" and the "B" position remains the same...the bottom hole.

I had great fun yesterday creating this little blouse for my new niece...we are awaiting her arrival. The fabric was thicker than the pattern called for...making the neck opening larger than designed. 

 So, instead of a Bishop Style Dress for a six month old...it became a Bishop Style Blouse for a twelve month old. Luckily this was an easy fix to just enlarge the sleeve openings by using longer elastic. Bishop style types are very forgiving...and my muse loves to "adapt and over come!".Next, I'm off to find some thinner fabric to try this again in the correct size. And, I want to make it longer for more of a christening style gown. We'll see how that comes out. I'm having a great time stitching baby clothes and such....but am getting more behind with my "monthly" projects...so it will be a race to see if my muse can catch up! Hugs to all!

Mom Expects Frost

so, we just spent the last two hours covering all of the new plants in the garden. It looks like some sort of tent city along the fence...with the sheets and extra fence posts making cover for the row of corn. And, extra plastic bags and newspaper make cover for the okra, tomatoes, beans, squash, and cucumber plants.Every year...it seems...we do this. It's almost become a family tradition!

 Here are the roses in bloom...

thought you might like to see them too. 

 Aidan's garden needs some work...so I'm not showing the bottom...but she in out of school next week, so Nana has plans! Ssshhh...she doesn't know about that yet.

Roses, roses, roses - Rita

All finished with my stitching on Rita's block...and it is off to Meg for completion.

Here is the seam work I added...

two...

three...

four. I could have stopped at two, but because the block had so many motifs crossing over the block...two seams just seemed out of balance. To ensure that Rita had enough seams to make a cohesive block...I just did the next two as well. But not to worry...Meg has a huge section in the middle...and an area on the right side that she can really play with.

Roses, roses, roses - Rita

 My work on Rita's block in the Roses, Roses, Roses crazy quilt round robin over on Crazy Quilter's International is complete. Let me show you some of the motifs I added. First was a crochet basket filled with flowers and a tiny bow stitched to the top.

Next was two pieces of gorgeous dyed lace I got from Cathy K's Etsy shop...lovely! It was a shame to cover some of it...but, in keeping with the rose theme...I placed a wire ribbon that was made by gathering up some ribbon after rolling the center. The leaves are velvet on the bottom with hand painted dyed lace above.

The smaller piece of lace got a little button cluster. Rita didn't want any large clusters...but I think this little one is just fine.

Lastly, for motifs...I added two iron-on butterfly motifs...

but, I sewed them in place...and did not iron them.

Tomorrow...I'll show you my seams...and the final block before it is mailed to the next person in our group.

Roses, roses, roses...beginning

I signed up for a round robin...CQ of course...titled Roses, Roses, Roses! As I receive each ladies CQ Block monthly, I'll be stitching and sharing photos. I'm excited about this round robin...one because it's ROSES!!...and two because I have not stitched in a round robin since the spring...before the garden!I mailed my blank block off yesterday...

 so the ladies can work on it. I'll show you photos when it returns in a few months...all "Pretty!"

Afternoon Delight!

Buddy and I took a little walk around the back yard this afternoon...and check out all of the blooms we found! And the smell is wonderful too!

And these beauties are inside the house...a miniature rose that my dear friend Pam Naugher brought to me on Saturday...isn't she a sweet friend! She knows how much I love roses!

Roses are in Bloom!

Yea! The roses are all in bloom! I'd love to say that Mom and My backyard is full of rose bushes...but, it is sadly not. We have a rose bed that I put in for mother three years ago, it has four long-stem rose bushes and two are in bloom. Last year, we could not cut these back until January...they were still blooming on Christmas!

At Aidan's playhouse, we also planted roses. Two topiary trees. One of them has been blooming each year, but the second one only lasted the first year. However, the single one has gotten so huge it's probably a good thing that only one of them made it!

It rained heavily last night, so some limbs are kind of "droopy" this morning holding all of that water. The long poles are mostly cane; some of the newer limbs need to be tied up to support all of the new grown since last year. That's a task for a drier day!

UTS Finished Jacque's Block

I have so enjoyed working on my part of Jacque's Under The Sea block...and it is now ready to move on to the next person on the Round Robin list...

Here are some closeups...the only things added are the beads and charms. But, they finish off the stitching nicely I think...and make it look like a real scene. I can almost see those fish swimming! Here are the rocks...some clay roses are added to the green stump-work plant, and a purple glass one is added below. A couple of German glass beads in blue, and some flower iridescent type beads are added for more color.

And, next the fish. Here is the large one...

And the small one...

The fish are brass charms, and while I often ink these type of charms...this time, I painted them...with fingernail polish! The feather stitching has been adorned with multiple seed beads in three different colors.

To Inspire, Comfort, and just Simply Enjoy...

I love roses. I can't grow them...unless they are really hardy!! LOL! But, I love them.

When I'm having a hard day and feeling down and sluggish...they cheer me up.

When I need a little inspiration, they become my muse.

I roam the web searching for roses of all kinds...and a lot of florist sites have photos that I download just so I can go back to my "rose folder" and enjoy them over and over again.

Hopefully, your day was brightened a little...just by viewing such beauty!