TDiTM Stitch #135

This is the last little Cretan stitch. The photo is not as clear as I'd like, but the chart is very simple so I know you'll do just fine!

The only thing to watch out for...is stitch the Cretan long enough to give you room for the triple lazy daisy stitches.

Happy Valentines Day!

More great graphics from the Graphics Fairy! I'm hoping that each of you will have a great day...get out and smell the roses! Even if they are virtual ones!
 

Thearica's block

Over on HGTV Message Boards Nickilee of Ravioli Dreams is hosting a crazy quilt swap called "One Block Swap".

 This will be my third year to participate and my block will be created for Thearica (Quiltaholic) of Pigtales and Quilts. Thearica lives in North Carolina, on a beautiful tobacco farm and she collects pigs...in honor of her grandfather who raised them during her childhood. We are allowed to give little sneak peeks along in the challenge...but not so much that you ruin the surprise when the blocks are sent. My first peek was posted yesterday...and I thought you might like to see it too.

The tree and pig are not finished. And I"m not showing the completed version because I want them to be a surprise to Thearica...and she follows the blog. However, they are close enough that if I explain how to do the tree, you can finish it off without problem. I also like this "unfinished" version as well...and will use it in the future too.

If you have purchased my book, the tree trunk motif is on page 143...the one with the stars! As you can see, the tree is very adaptable. If you don't have the book (and you're really truly missing out!) then just sketch out a simple tree trunk with limbs to begin. You can see from the photo that the trunk is embroidered in a simple back-stitch. This could be wrapped...or the area could even be filled in with straight stitches or chain stitches if you wanted a solid trunk.

Obviously, the "foliage" is done in French Knots...but where to place them? That's the part of the process I want to share. It involves something sticky...and in my case I used labels. You could use duct tape, shelf paper, masking tape...anything that would allow you to draw on it and then "stick-it" to your CQ block. For me, office file labels about 1" x 4" were handy. I began by drawing floppy little cloud shapes on them...and cutting them out. I placed these...and then moved them around...and moved them again...LOL!...until I had them where I thought they would make a realistic looking tree. I also made sure to cover the ends of all of the branches, so each one would have foliage.

These are the positions for the groups of French knots. Now, don't stitch on top of the labels! You'd never get them removed from your CQ block if you did! Instead, stitch enough of the French knots around the outside of each "cloud" so that you will be able to determine your "stitching border" when the sticky tape/labels are removed. If you are stitching all of one color, you might want to stitch more than I have shown here...so you don't loose your place. Since, I'm using different colors for my Autumn tree, this medium orange color will be easy to distinguish from the other shades of orange, yellow, red, and green I'll be using. You might also notice that I also "repositioned" yet again...even when I had begun to stitch...the "clouds" are different in the two photos!

Then, just continue to fill in each "cloud" with the amount of French knots you desire...and the tree will start to form! The pig is a simple embroidery in wrapped back-stitch...just find a photo of a pig, trace the shape and then stitch it in back stitch (just like the tree). Go back and wrap each back stitch...and you have the outline of the pig. If desired, you could fill in the pig with long-short stitches as well.

Thank You Melissa!

Look at the beautiful block I just received in the mail!

If you have been reading some of the more recent posts...you have seen me post a few photos of a block that I was working on for Melissa. Now, I have my swap block back from her! And, isn't it gorgeous! Check out the silkie of the lady, surrounded by lovely hand-dyed laces!

And, did you notice that the block is just full of tatted pieces of lace! Glorious tatted pieces! Wonderful!

See this little bee...doesn't he look vintage. I have to get Melissa to tell me where she got that!
Thank you Melissa...I just love the block!

Woot! Woot! It's Here Early...

Pat Winters new CQ Magazine "Crazy Quilt Gatherings" came out yesterday!

I already have mine...and could not wait for the paper version to be mailed, so I got the pdf e-file version! Really, for only $5 how could I resist! Now, I think I'll go back and also order the print version...just so I'll have a good quality hard copy magazine...and I plan on collecting each edition! The magazine will be published quarterly. Go to Pat's blog and check out the details!
http://gatherings100.blogspot.com/2011/02/early-releasefeedback-welcome.html

Got some rick-rack?

Make some of these..

Here's the size of rick-rack I'm using. It happens to be orange...so these could be artsy pumpkins, persimmons, or fantasy flowers. Do them in green for artichokes...turn the outside "leaves" down slightly, for cabbages. Do them in white, yellow, peach, pink, red....and you have flowers!

 Here's a close up of the finished back.

 The longer the piece of rick-rack...the larger the flower. A 16" long piece makes a flower about the size of a thread bobbin. A 9" long piece made the two smaller flowers at the bottom of this photo...

Cut your piece of rick-rack and fold it in half. Pinch the folded end in one hand (I use my left), and start to"fit" the rick-rack together with your opposite hand. Making this always makes me think of those "scissors" exercises in gym class..."open the legs wide...now close...now open...now close". The difference is that I'm crossing one rick-rack "let" in front of the other. So...OPEN the rick-rack wide...then slightly wiggle the rick-rack as you CLOSE the rick-rack "blades" with the left piece of rick-rack on top. Then repeat, only this time with the right piece of rick-rack being on top. Repeat...until you reach the end.

 The end result will want to twist...but that's not a problem. If you can MAKE it lay flat on the table...without any twists...then it is correct.

Now, trim the raw edges end slightly. Start rolling from that end, and keep the flower as tight as possible.

 Once you have rolled the entire length...take your needle/thread and make a few anchoring stitches to hold everything together. You can also stitch the folded edge down or let it be slightly open. Try folding down some of the "petals" and see if you like that look too!

Incredible! Inspiring!

Wow, after seeing this lady and her accomplishments...makes me feel like getting up and stitching something!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lfaSmDxVZQ
I hope her video inspires you too!

TDiTM Stitch #134

Here is the next little cretan seam...hope you enjoy it! The little swirls could be silk ribbon spider-web roses! Or, if you are in a hurry...substitute beads or sequins!...or buttons!

And, after stitching the button down...add beads to the center to jazz it up some! Even the "empty" cretan stitches could have smaller beads added to them...to change it up again!

TDiTM Stitch #133

 We are nearing the completion of the Twelve Dozen in Twelve Months challenge. At times, I have wondered if it was actually possible to get to 144 simple stitches...but now find that the finish line is coming up fast! So, in honor of this last dozen steps...let's get in a few stitches that have a different in base. These are also simple enough...but, not my first choice as a base...so, I am challenging myself in a few of these.

The Cretan stitch is familiar to lot's of folks...I know this because I see it used a lot by other stitcher's. However, I am still very uncomfortable with it. So, I rely heavily on my templates to keep the seam line neat and straight. In my mind...I think of this as a ladder. Not the kind you use around the house...but the ones seen sometimes on telephone poles...with the steps staggered instead of straight across. And so, I turn my seam so it is vertical to my body when I stitch it. I take little bites of the fabric with my needle always pointing to the center of my ladder...which causes me to change the direction of my needle. First it's pointing left, then it's pointing right, and then repeat. I always keep my thread in the center...and that causes it to get "captured" under the needle with each stitch...making this feel a bit like the blanket stitch as well.
Isn't it scary to see a glimpse inside my head! I'm sure I am the only person in the world that thinks like this! Thank goodness for the little dots to follow...or this would be one hot mess!

Great Shabby Chic!!

Jenny of Elefantz has some wonderful Shabby Chic patterns...here is one of latest blocks.

This is from a full quilt she has posted on her blog at http://www.elefantz.com that I recently ordered. The patterns arrived today in electronic pdf format...and I have printed each out. I love them all!I had already begun a shabby chic project when I saw Jenny's blocks...so I will be incorporating some of them into my original project. And, since it's a surprise...I will not be posting any photos. I hope you go over to Jenny's site and check out all of her great patterns on Etsy too!