A Short Video of some Motifs/Techniques Learned in the Free Courses!
This week, I've been working to get a red-work quilt constructed of the embroidery blocks sent to me from my friend Judy in Mississippi. Here is the progress...all that is needed is a red border.
I also made some lovely chicken, mushroom, and spinach crepes yesterday...but ate them before taking a photo! They were yummy. I love crepes but rarely think of making them...so these were a real treat for me.
Check back with me tomorrow...because I'm starting a new series of cross-stitch patterns just for the blog...and hope you will enjoy them!
For next year's crazy quilt challenge, I'm working with octogon shaped blocks and square setting blocks. My blocks all have fairies silkies in the center, thanks to the generosity of a wonderful artist and cyber friend...Annette. Fairies are a very special topic for Annette, who does wonderful watercolor paintings...you can check them all out at her website ArtImagesByAnnette or on her blog AnnetteGraves. They are just wonderful.
These are a few of the blocks, as I could not stop piecing them! In total there will be sixteen octogons and squares. There will need to be more squares made, but they are super quick...just one piece of fabric, ha! The challenge of the squares is that the stitching area is only about an inch of space! Not much stitching goes into an inch...and I'm thinking just a wee bullion rose might be enough...perhaps different colors for each block?
So, you'll be seeing the progression of these blocks as the new year begins...for now, it's back to stitching on the blocks for this year which are not finished yet! I'm thinking that it will be late into next year before I get this year caught up!
Good day to all...thought I'd do a little catching up. Last Sunday we had our family gathering for Thanksgiving, and it was a full house! No time for running upstairs for a camera...but I did get a photo earlier in the morning of Aidan making her fruit salad. This is the first year that she got her name on the "list" of cooks and what they were bringing. Pretty good for a ten-year old. She washed, cleaned, and cut up all of the fruit. We put it into a pretty clear glass bowl...but she mixed in my ceramic white pot so everything could be stirred up without it going all over the counter....which as you can see from the photo is really tiny.
My friend Judy from Meridian sent me some lovely redwork embroidery blocks...and I've been having a lovely couple of days turning them into quilt blocks. I'm still thinking what the sashing and border will be...so that will be for a later post.
And, an update on my precious little ward during the day...he is sitting up on his own now! But, I still pile pillows behind him just in case he were to topple over. He loves standing and sitting...but just does not want to crawl.
He seriously detests being on his belly for more than three seconds...I think he might just decide to pull up and walk instead of every crawl! Boy, when that day comes...I've be one tired great-aunt then! Ha!
Well, I managed to get the quilt partly quilted (just around the applique pieces) and the binding on so it's ready to go on Mother's bed for this Christmas holiday. Then, I'll remove all of that quilting and re-do because I managed to get a huge fold in the backing fabric...argghrrrr! It's just really hard to lay out a quilt properly on an ironing board!
But, for now...it's done and I can concentrate on baking cakes today! We are celebrating Thanksgiving on Sunday because that's when all of the family will be here...but, wishing each of you a joyous turkey day today! Hugs,
These past few days I've been really busy hand quilting on my Merry Merry Snowman quilt...and I still have a long way to go. Mom expects it to be on her bed this Sunday when the family gathers for Thanksgiving...and I hope I can get at least enough stitching done to hold it together for binding! More will just have to be added later on.
It has been quite a while since I've hand-quilted anything as large as this quilt..and I had forgotten how much I really enjoy this process. My wrists and fingers are complaining some...so I'm taking some small breaks here and there so that my carpal tunnel doesn't rear it's ugly head...and I'm also planning my portion of the Thankgiving feast! So, maybe I'll remember to get you some photos of what happening in the kitchen this week...if I can stop long enough to get the camera! My mind is not what it used to be!
Hugs!
Susie started this tree skirt as her CQJP2012 project, and I'm so proud of her for finishing it...and it is GORGEOUS! You may have seen photos of it in Pat Winter's magazine...but I asked if I could share the photos that Susie sent to CQJP as her finish here too. If you missed her blocks, you can find them posted on the CQJP2012 blog.
In celebration of her pink skirt (to match her beautiful pink Christmas tree) she just had to have one of my pink spiders too. And although it is too large to work as a CQ spider...it will still find a special home on or under her christmas tree. Now, doesn't this spider just look so proud to be walking on this gorgous tree skirt!? I think so!!
Super great job Susie!!
Val has the cutest little needle book on her website today. She designed it as the start of her four weeks of free patterns for Christmas. If you don't already follow Val's blog...you really should do that! She has some of the cutest ideas and designs.
This is a simple little block...the center "PEACE" was already part of the pieced basic block. Here is the finished block. Sorry the photo is a little bit out of focus...
Here is the beginning...just plain single seam treatments.
Next came the addition of more stitching to make combination seams. Lastly was the addition of beads, ribbon, and buttons (see first photo). It's these "extras" that really make a block special to me. Do you agree? It's hard for me to stop at just stitching...
Want to win fabric...for life! If you live in the USA or Canada...you can! Keepsake Quilting is having a contest...just go to their site and sign up.
Click Here to Get There Fast
Good luck...and if you win instead of me...I'd accept any gifts of thanks!
Hugs!
This block just went in the mail this week, and it was fun to work on. I was the second person to stitch on the block, and this area is only my work. The print fabric was a challenge because the fabric pieces were so large and it does not lend itself very well to 'over-stitching' the design. So, I covered a lot of it with a lace motive and sequin snowflakes. This mades the print more of a wall-paper type effect...in the background, and not as prominent. The lace was beaded heavily since this is an encrusted round robin.
This seam also got loads of beads.
The silk ribbon flowers filled their patch quite well.
And this little pink and silver Christmas tree is situated outside in the pink snow drifts surrounded by more snowflakes falling from the sky.
Working on this block made me wish I had a pink Christmas tree up in the house this holiday.
I've been working on some wee little gifts this week...tiny little strawberry pincushions...done on white minkie fabric. So sweet and easy.
I used the pattern for the berry from Martha Stewart's tutorial...but not her felt top this time. Instead I frosted each one with white ribbon and white jade beads. The little roses are simple silk ribbon woven style with some glitter thread fly stitches and some silk ribbon leaves surrounding.
Each is stuffed first with crushed walnut shells and topped off with a bit of poly-fill to keep those shells from escaping.
I stitched around the top and gathered,
then chris-crossed some stitches across that spot before ending off the thread.
Today, the blog post is by Aidan...who just turned 10 years old. It is a fashion show of just some of the wonderful outfits she got for her birthday...for her 18" doll. These creative ensembles were made by my friend Bea and mailed to Aidan. She was so excited to find that the box in the kitchen was for her...she didn't even wait to move it into the bedroom before opening it.
It was full of doll clothes, shoes, hats, and even a doll bed with mattress, quilt, and pillows.
Bea, you are just too much! Thank you so very much for making my darling Aidan smile for the past two days as she has dressed and re-dressed and re-dressed...etc...her doll.
(p.s. I love the little fur monkey you included in the dolls backpack)
Here's the fashion show!!
And, these are not even half of the outfits!
(p.s. yes, I did not make my bed this morning...ha!)
