Thursday, December 21, 2006

Dyed Motif

I got out my dyes and for the first time tried to dye a motif. I even mixed a brown color and used that to tone down the colors. I think it came out pretty good. I've started to bead the leaves and put some DMC gold fil in the flower. It's kind of hard to see, but does add a little sparkle. Maybe this afternoon I'll be able to do some more on the ribbon spray.
I was disappointed that the dye ran into the yellow in the center. Maybe I'll have to find some resist to keep it from doing that.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Chance to Stitch


I've finally had a chance to do some thinking about my encrusted block. I've got all the Christmas packaged done and mailed, so now i can think about something else.
I'd remembered I have this piece of lace from my living room windows and thought I could cut it apart and use the motif. So here it is. It's kind of large and haven't decided if I will use it or not.
The little pieces at the top right are from the same piece of lace.
I hope there are still some people interested in reading my blog, since I've been away so long. At any rate I want to tell you about Sharon B's "Take a stitch Tuesdays Challenge" It will start on January 2 and run for the whole year. Sharon will be showing us new stitches each week and we can work with them and try different versions and threads to see how they look. It's a do at your own pace project and you and join at any time. I will be posting more as the year goes by and hopefully encourage some of you to join us.
You can findthe challenge at www.inaminuteago.com/blog. Pop over and take a look at Sharon's site if you haven't already. She give such wonderful information and instructions. June

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Just a note

Haven't had much time for stitching or anything else. I really need to get things going for Christmas. I've been trying to post a picture of an idea I have for my encrusted block, but haven't even had time for that.
I've joined Susan's group :Stash for Pounds" It's a group of very nice ladies that do stitching and want to loose weight. Don't I need that. Everyone is so encouraging and helpful. Maybe I can loose some of this weight, Have to get up and start moving.
Trying very hard to not eat when I get frustrated. Today is not a good day. I will try to post a picture tomorrow. June

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Encrusted CQ Lessons 4 & 5


I've had a chance to work some on my block this weekend. I have a major mess in my sewing room. the SR is all 4mm some hand-dyed.The yellow seems to split as I use it. I don't remember where I got it. I've had it for awhile. The burgundy ribbon I found at Wal-mart in the scrapbook section. It was on a card with several other colors. I was surprised how the beads on the tatting changed the look of the tatting.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Entire block


After looking at my previous post I decided to post a picture of the emtire block, so you could see what I have done so far. I have not finished some of the treatments yet. And I need to get busy on the right hand side. I do have a few ideas for that area.

Encrusted CQ - Motif


This is a motif I managed to get done over the weekend. The chain stitch is done with a silk floss and the leaves in a hand=dyed silk ribbon. The "flowers" are a design I found on Maureen Greeson's site in one of her newsletters. I'm sorry to say she has deleted her newsletters from her site. There was some wonderful information there. I have an idea for another motif, but I need to practice the stitch and draw a design before I do it on my block.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Seam Treatments



I've added some new seam treatments. On the one with the detached chain I found this multicolored thread in my stash. I think it works pretty well with the colors. These are all perle #8 and 12. The other one is not complete yet. Still playing with what to use for the leaves on the bullion rose. I've used perle #5& 8 and a tatting thread. Also a matte thread I got a a scrapbook store. There are several colors and kinds of threads, so I will probalby be using more of these.

Monday, October 30, 2006

Encrusted CQ - Lesson 2


I've added a few things to my block. having a hard time trying to decide what to do.
I found the piece of gold lace on the right over the weekend. I thought I could embellish that later. I've added just a few beads so you can see where I'm going with that embellishment. Will add more later.

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Encrusted CQ - Lesson one


This is lesson one of Sharon's class. I've put together my block and added some trims. I tried to keep the colors and fabrics to a minimum because I want the embellishments to be the focus of the block. I kept adding different fabrics, but they just didn't look right to me. I've done all the stitching by hand (I do have a sewing machine, but really dislike using it.) That's one of the things I like about CQ is that it can be done mostly by hand.
So now that this is done I will spend some time pleasure reading. I bought a book titled "for one more day", by Mitch Albom. I've heard it's a fantastic book and it is just beautiful outside. A little on the warm side, but I will sit on the patio and relax and read for awhile.

Finished Biscornu



I've finished the biscornu. I wanted to get it done before I started Sharon's Encrusted CQ class. This is done on Waterlilly 28 count Jobelan. I used all DMC threads to stitch it.
This morning Yahoo insisted I download Microsoft Explorer 7. Well, It took over and hour to do that. And now I find out I've lost my back button, which I use all the time. Can't find it anywhere. Darn. When I posted this message I only had one picture, so I had to go back and start all over to edit the post and add the second picture. GRRRR!!
Anyway, now I will try to post a picture of my block for Sharon's class

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Front of Biscornu


I've been trying to upload this picture for a few days, but blogger just wouldn't let me. I think the picture is here. All I see is a bunch of letters. Anyway, I've finished this and will try to post the finished project tomorrow.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Peachy Biscornu



I haven't posted for awhile. There's some bad family stuff going down around here and I haven't felt like stitching for a while. But my daughter really read me the riot act and said I need to get back to doing my stitching, so here is what I started on today.


I'm working on this biscornu designed by Carol Tinson, Heirloom Embroderies. It's done on 28 ct Jobelan. As I was working this morning I noticed that I was working on the wrong side. I'm usually very careful about this, but you really notice the difference on the Jobelan. The backstitch vine really looks funny. So I will cut another piece and start over. I can do the frog stitch on the back piece and rework it.
I follow a couple of blogs everyday. Sharon Boggins "In a Minute ago" and Pam Kellogg's "Kitty and Me". Also one I really get a lot of inspiration at is "Rose Cottage by the sea" by Lady Laurie. She has such a wonderful outlook on life.

Friday, September 29, 2006

Finished Red, White and Black


Finally finished this. Now to make it into a pillow.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Life gets in the way


I haven't been posting and I hope I haven't lost everyone. Things have just been busy.
This is another panel from the wall hanging. I'm really getting not to like it. I think I have put too much on it. Maybe I'll put it away for a while and just work on some of the UFOs I have. I'm starting a biscornu by Carol Tinson. I love the things she does. I'm only sorry that she is in the UK.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Finished


I finally finished these two letters on the rainbow Gallery project. I started the letter G yesterday. It seems too go much faster than the others. I want to spend some time today finishing a motif on the red, white and black so I can post that.
The weather has finally cooled down around here. Of course my yard is just completely dead. Our water bill doubled this month. Never mind the electric because of the air conditioner. I don't know how the people on fixed income manage. I spent a lot of time today looking at everyone's work. Some of the ladies from down under have posted pictures of their pring flowers. Sonice to see when every thing here is brown. I hope i can remember to do the same when they are in the middle of their winter.
I also watched a movie called "The Road Home" It's a love story about a chinese boy and girl that endures 40 years. Very nice and the scenery was beautiful.
Better get sewing.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

I'm back

Well, for anyone who might still be watching this blog. I have finally gotten my laptop back. I've had a busy week and have not done much stitching. Hope to get some pictures posted later today. June

Monday, September 04, 2006

Wooly Flower Sampler



This is another of my UFOs. I started this in 2003 and just needed a break from the CQ. The pattern is from The Starry Pines Pattern Co. It is wool felt stitched on Tie dyed flannel using the blanket stitch. It doesn't take much thinking and goes fairly fast. I did the sunflower over the weekend. I have 3 more blocks to go. Then I need to choose fabric to finish it into a quilt. Don't know quite how to do that, but i have some friends who do.
It is 103 on the patio in the shade today. The weather man promises it will cool down by the end of the week. Our County fair starts on Friday and we usually have hot weather and some rain during the fair.
Hope you like my stitching for this week.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

What I've been doing


Boy, do I miss my laptop. I'm working an an archaic computer and I've had to figure out how to get to the dashboard and this thing takes forever.
Anyway, here is a picture of what I've been working on. As you can see I've started alot of things and haven't really finished much. After looking at the picture on the computer I probably will be changing some things.
I've been looking at everyone's blogs and love all the paisley work being done.
Have to get busy and work on my Rainbow gallery book. I'm a whole month behind on that. I find that I don't like to cross stitch since I'm doing the CQ. But better get back to it.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Darn Puters

Well, my laptop decided to take a break so I'm using the old computer in the office. And it is hot out here. It's a little after 6pm and the temp is 98 in the shade on the patio. Hopefully we will only have about 3 more weeks of this or we will go broke paying the electric company.
Anyway, since I have to post out here, I probably won't be posting many pictures for the next couple of weeks. But I will be looking at everyones work. Guess I'll have plenty of time to stitch now as I won't be spending so much time on the computer.

Darn Puters

Well, my laptop decided to take a break so I'm using the old computer in the office. And it is hot out here. It's a little after 6pm and the temp is 98 in the shade on the patio. Hopefully we will only have about 3 more weeks of this or we will go broke paying the electric company.
Anyway, since I have to post out here, I probably won't be posting many pictures for the next couple of weeks. But I will be looking at everyones work. Guess I'll have plenty of time to stitch now as I won't be spending so much time on the computer.

Friday, August 25, 2006

100 Details/Day 67


I was looking for an embellishment for this seam and there was Sharon with this wonderful idea. Thank you Sharon.
I'm trying to keep this in red,black and white. So far I have added a little of bright green and a little yellow. It's hard to keep to just 3 colors. It gets sort of boring.
Still waiting for some ribbon. I went to one of our stores here and they no longer carry the silk ribbon. It's amazing how stores have changed. I also went looking for small red heart shaped beads. There were none to be found. I found many other colors, but no red.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Live-laugh-love


My new block. When I put this together, it looked like a soccor ball. So I turned it around and hopefully when it's done it will be ok.

Homemade Braid

<3

<2

<1

Start with the bottom picture. I couldn't get the pictures posted in order.

I've had some inquiries about the beige braid I used on the wall hanging. So, I'll try to do some pictures and a tutorial. Hope it isn't too confusing.

You need a piece of ribbon 8x the length that you need. Fold the ribbon in half making a loop going right over left. Take the ribbon that is now on the right and make a loop. Slip this loop thru the first loop and draw the ribbon on the left down snug. Not too tight. Now make a loop with the ribbon on the left and slip thru the last loop. Keep going back and forth until the braid reaches the length you want. If you have any trouble feel free to e-mail me.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Biscornu



Istopped by Camille's Place this morning and saw that she has found out about the biscornu. Aren't they cute. These are two that I have done. the pattern for these is at http://silepointcompte.free.fr/bricotruc/biscornu/pagebiscornu.htm
This page is also in french (I think) but it has pictures showing just how to put it together. Scroll down to bottom of the page and click on Mamounette and you will find the pattern.
I hope you don't mind my jumping on your bandwagon, Camille. These are fun to do and give as gifts.
I've started a new square. Will post a picture later.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Sources for motifs

Liliian has asked for my sources for the motifs. I guess I should have posted them. sorry. The fan in the middle I think is from Maureen Greeson. The buttonhole flowers on the left and the detached chain or lazy daisy on the right are from "A vintage Bouquet" by Indygo Junction. The butterfly and small flower on the bottom right are from " Ladies of leisure" Suzanne McNeill Design Originals. And I can't remember where I got the blue motif on the center top. The seam embellishment on the bottom left is from Sharon's 100 Details. Day 58.Whew! I remembered. In the center bottom , the tatting and butterflies are from a piece of tatting in my stash. And the braid at the top I made from a piece of 1/8" ribbon. Guess that's all. I had more fun trying to find the motifs and like I said before, I didn't realize I had so much vintage material until I started doing this. I just love all the vintage things that Pam has on her Kitty and Me site. And my books along with a box of neatly catagorized silk ribbon just slipped off the bed onto the floor. Nutz!! Guess what I'm going to be doing this evening.

Finished

This is the first block I've finished. Now I just have to make it into a pillow.
Still waiting for some silk ribbon, then I can get back to the wall hanging.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

More progress



Here are two pictures on my current project. I'm almost done with it. Although the morie fabric was easy to stitch on, it really takes away from the design. But as I said before. It's all I could find in my stash. I think next I would like to do a red,white and black square and one on an oriental theme. I find I'm spending far too much time finding designs to use.
I found some of these in the books I have and was amazed at how many designs I had.
It's going to get hotter here next week, going back up to 108. I hope it will cool off during the night though.

Friday, August 18, 2006

Fan Square 2


Here is the progress on my small square. It's a lot easier to work on. The braid at the top is one that I made with an 1/8" ribbon. On the left is a version of Sharon's Day 58.
The heat is suppose to return here in a few days. Not looking forward to that as last time we lost electricity for 4 days. And things where pretty bad. It was 92 degrees in the house at 3:00am. We finally had to move to a motel. We have a cocker Spanial who is 11 years old. We were really worried about her. We took her with us to the Motel with us.
I thought it was quite funny when the newspaper printed that the we wouldn't be charged for the electricity while we didn't have any. Let me see how do they charge for something we aren't using? But knowing our utilities they would probably find a way.
I'm waiting for some SR in the mail, hopefully it will come today so I can go back to working on the wall hanging.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Small square


I took the plunge last night and made a small square. When I went to look into my stash, I found I didn't have hardly any plain material. This is about all I could find. So here it is. I stitched it together by hand. Not bad, in fact if was kind of fun.
I love the vintage designs that Pan Kellogg is doing on "Kitty and Me". So I thought I would do this square with those type of designs. I dug around in my books and found some designs I could use. Then I went to auditioning floss and of course didn't have the colors I wanted, so guess where I'm going this morning. I will do this all in DMC floss and perle #8. Not sure if I want to add beads or not. So let's see where this leads me.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Victorian Needlecase


I did this about 6 years ago and thought I would post a picture because I'm at a stand still with the wall hanging. I would love to do something smaller. I'm really tempted to cut this thing apart.
I think I should have kept to doing just SRE in the wall hanging. It is getting kind of clutzy looking.
Maybe I will start a small square and give myself a break from the wall hanging. I would like to try doing a doorknocker, but don't like having to pull out the sewing machine.

Monday, August 14, 2006

Long and Short Stitch


I did this block about 5 years ago and I look at it now and think How did I do that? The pattern is from a JP Coates book on embroidery stitches. This block has a variety of stitches on it. The long and short,fern, buttonhole,satin,feather,french knot and a couple of others.
I've kind of reached a stitching block on the CQ. I would like to work on something smaller. Maybe I'll pull out my fabrics and put some blocks together.
I spent the weekend viewing the newletters on Maureen Greeson's site. Whow!!
What wonderful ideas and eye candy. Didn't get much stitching done.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

100 Details/Day 36


I kept looking and looking for a treatment for this seam. I didn't want anything too big or that would take away from the motif on the bottom. I was checking out Sharon's twisted chain directions and saw this as another embellishment. then realized it was the Day 36. I've spent more time trying to find embellishments to fit.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Keeping track of needles



Ithought I might share how I keep track of my needles. After finding them hiding in my blocks I needed to do something. This is a needle book from a book called "Needle Books and other gifts for Quilters" by Debie Boyink. I have made several of these for gifts for my friends.
In the second picture you can see that I have labled the different needles with type, size and the initials of the manufacturer. My favorites are Piece Makers.
The needle book has 3 pages in it. I could have used some more.
When finished using a needle I try to remember to put it back in it's place. When I am working on a cross stitch piece I have the needle, usually with some thread in, stuck in the top of the 3"x4" baggie that I keep my threads in. I have the threads for each project in a plastic container, so I have all the neccessary things in one place.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

The second panel


This is the second panel I have to work on. I have few things to do on the first one yet, but thought I would post the second. I'm looking for a frog charm or pattern to put on the lily pads. I found some already made flowers to form a water lily. I don't remember where I got the pattern for the embroidered strip at the top. I was about 5 years ago when I did that. Above that on the seam I stitched a bunch of butterflies. I have the grandkids go on a treasure hunt to find a number of things, like at Christmas I have them find all the nativity sets I have around. So I thought I would have them go on a hunt to count the butterflies on this.
One of daughters had looked in on my blog and wanted to know if I was going to do a wall hanging for all 5 of them. I just laughed. usually when I make something I do one for each one of them.

Love Blogging

I love this idea of blogging. Want to thank Sharon and Kitty and Me for the inspiration. Debbie R. for helping me to set this up. I belong to several chat groups and kind of get tired of hearing about others problems. I like the idea of being able to post my things without feeling like I'm in a competition.
I know there are alot of blogs out there and try to view a new one each day.
Have to keep my computer time down so I have time to stitch.

Pansy Motif

Ok, Debbie,
Your wish is my command. Here is the Pansy motif. I wanted that saying on here, because pansys are for rememberance, but I'm not good at backstitch so I just wrote this on there. Probably not the right thing to do, but then I guess it would be the same as painting something on.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Something different



This is a project I've been working on since February. Its an alphabet sampler from Rainbow Gallery, designed by Erica Michaels. Each month a letter of the alphabet is posted to the free cross stitch site at Rainbow Gallery. Each letter has a different stitch starting with that letter. When all the alphabet is finished, sometime next year. Erica will have the directions to make this into a book. I thought this would be a fun project to make into an heirloom project. I am using different evenweave fabrics and threads so I can learn about all the different threads that are out there. Right now I am working on the letter F and am a little behind because the letter G was posted the 1st of August.

Monday, August 07, 2006

The Chevron Stitch


Today I had started out to do the chevron and embellish it the way Sharon had on Day 25. Well, after getting in the chevron and part of the detached chain and straight stitch. I couldn't find any buttons to top them off. So I played around and came up with this.
The chevron is done in #5 perle, the detached chain and straight stitch are #8 perle and they are topped of with Antique Champagne beads. If I can stay away from my CGing, I have another project I'm working on. Need to get caught up on that. Will probably post a picture of that tomorrow.

After looking at this in the photo, I realize I should have centered the chevron over the seam. Oh well, this just shows I'm not perfect. And I just learned something else.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Easter Egg Hunt

I used to have an Easter Egg Hunt for my grandkids before they all grew up.
Some times we had as many as 30 people at the hunt. So I thought it would be a nice memory to include that in this wall hanging.
the butterfly is from a redwork pattern, I think. I did this part so long ago, I've forgotten.

Saturday, August 05, 2006

100 Details/Day 40


The embellishment along the right hand side is from Sharon's Day 40. I used #8 perle and the green is hand-dyed floss.
The embellishment on the left bottom is simply a piece of braid.
The white motif is from "Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches" by Carole Samples.
I used both 8 and 12 perle.
WOW!I did this all today and had company for lunch besides. Maybe I'll get this done yet.

Friday, August 04, 2006

The BIG Picture


I wanted to show you what I'm working on. This is one of the squares in the wall hanging. Each square is 15" square and there are 4 of them. (more pictures later) I have done a little embellishing on all of them. I had taken a class in a quilt shop and the only other CQ I had done was a small Victorian needlecase. This is rather unwieldly to work on. the fabrics I have chosen are also kind of difficult. I will be posting pictures of the smaller blocks as I work on them.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Using a Rubber Stamp

This is an image from a rubber stamp. I was an avid stamper and this was one of my favorite stamps.
I used ribbon embroidery and the outline stitch in floss.

Trying to post a picture


Hurrah I made it with a some help from needlelilmoretime2sew. Thank you Debbie.
This is a picture of part of my wall hanging. I have been following 100 Details in 100 days by In a Minute ago and Kitty and Me. What a lot of inspiration there is there.
I will be posting more pictures tomorrow.
The button cluster looks like maybe it could use some more work. Have to see about that.

Day 1 of my blog

Well,here I am with my own blog. I wanted to create this so I can share some of the stitching I do with others. Hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to post pictures also.
So here we go.