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!

Raylan's Blankies...

Working on odds and ends today (trying not to think about cleaning house!)...so wanted to put together a few little blankets for Raylan. He is the newest addition to the family...arrived early...and weighs in at less than 3 lbs. These blankets are super fast since they are so small...lime green fleece (soft as a cloud) on one side and fun cotton plaids and frogs on the other. Each is only 18 inches square, and I rounded the corners...nothing "pokey" to bother his sensitive skin...

There is no time to think about sewing any clothes for him...as much as I'd like to. So, I ordered three gowns...and they came with adorable hats too. So small...amazing!

Now, Aidan and I are heading to the grocery store for "baby washing powder"...so I can get all of these in the laundry. My sister is heading up to the hospital again on Tuesday and these will go to Raylan then. I'm hoping to ride along too...if my life isn't "crazy" that day!

CIJ - Round #2

The patterns for Christmas In July...Round #2 are loaded on the Yahoo site in files. Here is a preview of one of the three blocks in this round:

If you want more information on this BOM...or to see a photo of the entire quilt...check out the first post on CIJ in the menu bar on the right. The quilt is done and designed for shadow applique quilt technique...but the patterns are line-drawings so could be done in red work or standard embroidery. Some pattern pieces might be too small for traditional or machine applique...but the design could be adapted or substituted for those specific blocks.

Free Online Quilt Magazine

Check out this FREE Online Quilt Magazine...just starting. I have no affiliation with this magazine, but hope it goes well! We quilters love inspiration!

Books Have Arrived!

Look what the UPS man just delivered!

Woot! Woot!
For those of you that have ordered autographed copies...I'll get busy writing...and get them in the mail to ya'll just as soon as I can! Of course, you'll get an email with your delivery confirmation tracking number when your book go's in the mail.
Some will go out today...and I  hope to get the rest of them in the mail by tomorrow! For the international ones, I'll get postage estimates for you...and email you about that soon too.
Oh, I'm just so excited!!

Welcome Little Raylan!

Raylan is the newest addition to our family. He is my grand-nephew...my little sister Jan's son/DIL first child. He is 2 1/2 months early...and weighs 2 lbs 12 oz. He will be in the Neonatal ICU for 4 to 6 weeks until he gains enough weigh to go home. Mom is doing good...Dad is a nervous mess, but doing fine too!

Photo is a little blurry...but it is from Jan's phone...and I pulled it from Facebook...so that's even worse!

A bit of trivia for you...I was also a preemie. Born at 1 1/2 pounds...then lost weight! Had pheumonia when I was 3 days old. But, I certainly made up for it. Hey, perhaps that explains my love of food!! I HAD TO EAT...so it ingrained in my brain! Yeah, that's the story I'm going with!!

Hugs to all!