Cabs and Lace...

What a week so far...very busy! And, I'm not even having to get any children back to school this year... Brady continues to be a joy every day...but his poor dad has worked late almost every day...which of course, means that I work late too. It has made me more tired than usual...guess I'm getting older! Hugs! I've been working on these purple cabochons while the baby sleeps...but he has been taking power naps (short ones) and I do more putting down than picking up beads it seems. I managed to finishe the two large crystal ones...but the purples will take a couple of more days perhaps.  

  The camera is not capturing the purple very well...but, it is purple.

  This afternoon I decided to dye some lace.   

  After it dries (in a couple of days perhaps) I'll hand paint some accent pieces and get you some closeup shots.  

Merry Merry Snowman - Block Nine

 

It's been a while since I have worked on my Merry Merry Snowman blocks...and this past week I found time to complete the set. Yeah! Here is block #9...the last block for the quilt top. Next is to cut and sew the borders and assemble the quilt. For me, that's the hardest part! When I can "visualize" the finished project...my muse gets bored and doesn't want to finish. That a HUGE reason why I have so many un-Finished projects!  

Pretty Fairy Silkies

Saturday, the postman brought me these beautiful little silkie mermaids...I'm going to have loads of fun creating with these as my inspiration! Thank you Annette for such a delightful surprise. If you have not seen Annette's work before, check out her website...she is a very talented artist!  

Her gift inspired me to finishe up a little giftee for a friend. Four little pillows to adorn a shelf, fill a basket, or sprinkle over a bedspread. The words are from my Aussie pal Jenny's blog...Elefantz.    

Center of CQ Piece Done...maybe

Okay, I know that when you look at this...you are most likely gonna say "what does she mean, Maybe?...you couldn't fit anything else in this!". Yes, this is an encrusted piece...so it has a lot going on in it. But, well, my muse wants to add some snails and ants and who knows what else. I'm resisting...but in the end...I usually give in...so maybe there will be other changes. If so, they will be minor.   

  Also, the blocks are still in the frame because I have yet to decide what type of border to put on them. I'm leaning towards framing the piece...but my muse wants a dyed lace border. Either (or some other idea entirely) will take more time...so, for now...the project will be put aside until I/We make up our minds.  

If you've been following along...you might remember that the very, very beginning of this project was not a project really at all. It was a 6" block round robin over at HGTV Message Board. The ladies did a very nice job of completing four blocks. One of the blocks I have kept aside as a label for a different project. Three of the blocks are included here, or at least parts of them. And a blank block that had not been worked was completed entirely (the upper right one above).

 

  Now, you might be someone that "doesn't touch" other folks work...but, I'm not that way. While I certainly appreciate very much what someone else stitches for me...it is not always a good "fit" for a project once I decide what to do with my returned round robin blocks. Especially, when I decide to combine several blocks into one single block...then, what looks great on a single block might not work well with the other "partner blocks"...and has to be removed or altered. That is what happened here.  

  So many additional elements are included in this project...that the three ladies that helped by stitching the upper left, lower left, and lower right blocks might not even recognize their original seams or motifs.   

  I've included the Full Block, the Upper Left, Upper Right, Lower Left, and Lower Right in this post in that order.   

  And the remaining photos are some closeups for your enjoyment (hopefully).   

So, here's a question for you: "When you receive round robin blocks back...do you ever alter them to suit your own taste or project needs? Or do you keep them 'as-is' even though you would rather have something different on them? Or do you leave them 'as-is' and stack them back somewhere...because you don't want to alter someone else's stitching?  

As the owner of the block...I have no qualms about changing any block received. Obviously, as you can see from these photos. My personal feeling is that the person creating the stitching put their best effort to it, and I enjoyed seeing what their vision was and how they approached the block. Often, I'm even inspired by what others have done. But, if I'm going to put the blocks to use...and I own them...and I am the person to view them for years to come...then I want them to fit my style, vision, purpose, etc. So, I change whatever I want. That doesn't mean I didn't appreciate the blocks beginnings...just that I want it to evolve to something I'd enjoy even more.  

How do you feel and treat round robin blocks you receive?  

  Sending hugs out to you today!

A Moment of Silence Please...

My Janome 5700 "may" have stitched it's last stitch this week. She has been making a grinding kind of sound for the past few weeks. The repair guy said it sounded like a bearing was going out perhaps. But, last Saturday...she turned herself off without any warnings or strange sounds...and refused to turn back on. The repair guy said that sounds like a blown board...and that could cost several (as in 7-8) hundred dollars to fix. So, my nephew (Brady's dad) has her now to break-down and see if he can get her to start working again. Even though he is a trained high-voltage electrician...he is the family "electronics" fixit guy. He has worked on several of our televisions and computers that have seen better days...We shall see if he can resuscitate my little sewbaby or not. For now...I've pulled out my old trusty Pfaff 1469 which I purchased at the Post Exchange in Germany way back in 1983-5 when we were stationed overseas. It has been banged around in several military moves...but still has a pretty stitch. The presser foot lever doesn't work perfectly to lower...but I can push it down all the way with my finger...so that will have to do for now.  

  I'm gonna miss my Janome 5700 however...it was a workhorse...and the machine that I taught Aidan to sew on...with the help of several things to bring the foot-petal up to meet her short legs at the time. Hard to believe that she can use the petal flat on the floor now...time sure does fly!    So, a moment of silence please...for my little sewing pal...and all the other great sewing machines that we have had over the years that have been good partners in creativity. Her last task was to piece the four CQ blocks together that I'm still plugging along on. Finishing up the connecting seams and adding more beads, etc to the CQ 4-block wallhanging. Sewing on beads takes some time...But, I'm almost done..and hope to finish the block portion today. The borders will require some lace dying I'm thinking...but not sure yet about them. When the stitching is finished on the center blocks, I'll get some closeup photos for y'all. Also will allow me to test out a new camera gifted to me by my SIL...and hope to get clear close ups with it later on today or tomorrow morning when the last beads go on. So, more on that later...hope y'all are having a great day so far!
Edited to add: If you are looking for a sewing machine, you might be interested in this post from DoYouSew. about a "starter" machine.  

Embroidered Laundry Label

Yesterday, I made more laundry soap. I had give away ALL of the earlier batch I made...and now, my sisters, Mom, nieces can all get into the fun of creating their own (very inexpensive) laundry detergent. The batch I made for me...is stored in a re-cycle container of baby powder formula (these are starting to stack up...and are so neat that I hate to throw them away). So, I decided to use them to organize things...and for detergent etc. But, how to keep them from getting confusing? I decided to use a general idea from my friend Jenny of Elefantz...and create a wrap for the container. Each purpose will have it's on "label".  

  I searched the internet for "laundry embroidery design" and got tons of photos of prior projects and ideas...and liked this little vintage duck. So, I added him to some basic words...and will create my wrap from this basic design.  

When finished...sometime next week probably...I'll show you the final result.  

Finished Block One

The beads have been added...and block one of the four-block set have been completed. Now, to add some beads and stitching to the others to help them "play together" nicely. When, they are joined I'll be back to show you the entire set "re-visited".  

HGTV CQ Project

Last year (has it really been that long?) several ladies joined in a round robin of 6-inch blocks. It was a Do-It-Yourself robin...meaning that we each pieced several blank blocks...and each person stitched on a single block to complete it. Here is the original post.  

This week, I decided to work on the last block for myself and to update/change the other blocks to make sure all would blend together into a single wall hanging. Here is the block with all the seams stitched. The top photo added the silk ribbon flowers to the center. Next, the beading will be done to accent the seams and the silk flowers.  

Embroidery Instructions on your Iphone or Ipad?

My Aussie pal Arlene (and son) have been working diligently these past few months on an Application for the Iphone or Ipad. Embroidery stitches with how-to instructions...isn't that a super cool idea?  And to celebrate the pending launch of her free application (working with Apple right now, so no launch date yet)...she is having a drawing for her blog readers. So, if you are interested in possibly winning her giftee (international shipping is fine with her)...and/or just want to check out the specifics of her Application...please check out Arlene's blog. And, please send along a HUG from Shawkl too when you visit!  

Daisy Monogram - C

The "C" is done in blanket stitch. Frankly, this stitch is probably one of my least favorite stitches...and I need to overcome that by using it more. Therefore, I felt that the gentle curve of the letter "C" would be a best canditate for using this stitch. And, by the end...I was enjoying the stitching a wee bit more...but have not yet "fallen in love" with it yet! Hugs!  

  The daisies are done is double detached chain stitches. Simple as can be!  

  Here's the layout design for you. Enjoy!    

CQJP Blocks - May/June

Today, I finished up two more blocks on my shower curtain project. These, and about a dozen more circles will become a new shower curtain for my bath. Each circle is stitched/beaded based on one of the seams in my Embellishing Crazy Quilts Workbook.

These circles are six inches each. Others are also larger or smaller to create the entire project. Not sure if I'll be done at year's end...as I have a stack of circles still to embroidery...so this year's Crazy Quilt Journal Project might have to encompass next year's project too!
These two circles contain seams #10, #12, #18, #31 and #47. Changes might have been made to the original seam design to fit such a small circle's space limitations. These will be my May and June entries for the CQJP2013 Challenge.

Piddling...

For some reason, this week has just flown by! And, my needlecrafts have been mostly little piddling things while the baby was sleeping. Piddling is just like doodling...except you do it with a needle and thread...instead of pencil and paper! Ha!   

  No pattern, no real design plan, just stitch whatever comes to your mind. I decided to use some scrapes of felt and the threads, beads, ribbon that was just laying on my work table to cover some bits of wood. Not at all sure what to do with these now that they are done. Well, the roses still need a smidge of ribbon glued around the edge to be done....but, close enough for posting.  

  Today, I'm off to clean up my sewing area some...as it is a cluttered mess!

Thanks Kayla, Mary, and Erma

My monochromatic block returned home yesterday from the HGTV Message Board round robin...and the ladies did a really fine job! Isn't it just pretty? Thanks again to Kayla, Erma, and Mary!

Daisy Monogram - B

The "B" is embroidered with Fly-Stitches. The small daisies are bullion knots (eight wraps) done in sz-5 perle cotton. The large daisy is done in Straight Stitches that cross in the center. I then tacked the center a couple of times and added more straight stitches between the pattern layout lines at about 2/3 the length of the main ones. Each Staight Stitch has a French Knot at the end. The leaves are done in Detached Chain Stitch.  

  This is the overall design.  

  This is the layout for tracing.