TAST 2012 week 3

This week the stitch was the feather stitch, another favorite of mine. I guess I have several. Again I worked on DGD's Crazy quilt. Not exactly exciting stitches but my imagination was limited by space and previous stitching. How is that for a really good excuse??? The quilt is soon coming to an end and then I will work on UFOs to practice my stitches.

 Be sure to pop over to Sharon B's blog to see what others are doing with this or to join in!! It has been a great boost to me and has gotten me motivated to stitch more!!
Blessings~~~

Season to Season CQ Blocks

I belong to Crazy Quilt for Newbies yahoo group and a year ago we started a project where we made a block for each season, starting with summer and embellished it half way. Then it was sent to a swap mom who sent it on to someone else to finish the last half of the embellshing. Then the blocks were returned. My last block, Spring came home this week!! Nina was my swap partner and she did a beautiful job on my block. Here on the right.

I thought I would share with you the rest of the blocks. I know that I have shown you before but it is so nice to see them all together.

The pink and largest block is my summer block and I guess I can't follow directions or measure (LOL). This was the first block and Veleta, who just recently passed away and we are going to miss terribly did the stitching. She was gracious enough to take on my extra large block and didn't miss a seam even though I told her not to worry about finishing the whole things!! Such gorgeous stitching!

Below those two are my winter block that Susan worked on and my fall block that Jenny stitched.

Can you tell I love them? They are all so different and wonderful. My plan is to make a wall hanging out of the 4 of them. I not sure exactly how I am going to accomplish this but that is my plan.  We are leaving for OH in the morning so until I have a chance to post again: Thanks for stopping by !! Blessings!

Stitchin'

I really hope on this my 4th or 5th try I can get this post completed and posted! LOL Not sure what or who is the real problem. I have a few things I want to share with you. These two odd shaped items are a purse, one in the inside (lining) probably the rose pirnt and the toile will be the outside of a purse. I found this cute idea on Craft Gossip. It is called a bias tape bag and so very simple. I wanted to pick up some solid color bias tape to use so that is why it is the half finished state. Stayed tuned for completion!Here is an updated picture of the garden/farm block. It just seems to have a mind of it's own and continues to need or want more added to it. I know it is not done yet as it keeps talking to me. The flowers in the upper left corner need finished and maybe a vine added to the fence. Then maybe maybe it will quit talking to me. I have been looking at CQ blocks in my drawer of UFOs and decided to finish some that are all of a close size and make a fabric book out of them. While I was looking I found this pink beauty that JK had made me last year. I decided that it was just too gorgeous to hide even in a book. I added a thin border (see on the right) and then ironed on Pellon so it would stand up on a plate holder. I am so please with how it turned out.

Thanks JK for such a wonderful piece of art!!

Hope you have a great weekend!!

Beading

This block is the Season to Season Block of Nina's that I am working on. She did some of the work on it and I took a quick picture before I did anymore work on it. So far here I have added a seam treatment on the lower right and added French Knots to the feather stitch on the bottom right. Also a buttonhole stitch to the upper right (doesn't show very well here) I am adding lace and some SRE that is not in the picture here. Also a butterfly that DD thought it needed!!This is the garden block for CQ4N that has some new work on it. Then the beading that I added around this cute little sunflower iron on that I just had to add. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. This is the first time I have attempted to bead around anything like this. As you may recall I am not a fan of beading, although I love the way it looks I do not like to do it myself. I sat down and started this and didn't want to stop!! Amazing!! I may find that I need to try doing this again on another block!! I am also posting it in the CQI challenge of the month which was framing, no it might not be very original but it was a big challenge for me. LOL

Have a sweet week my friends. I will miss you while I am off line!!!

Stitching FUN!

I have finished up my work on the RR from CQI which was FFT#11. I finished early and sent it home to Michelle. Here is the last of the work that I did. The point of the corner I added SRE and then above the line of beaded flowers I added some lace and several rows of embroidery. She says she is very happy with her block so we must have done good!! I am anxiously waiting for mine to come home. It is not due until after the 15th of June and I will be on vacation so I told Ing to take her time and not hurry as it will sit here and wait for my return.  Speaking of vacation I will be offline the 15th through the 22nds, visiting family and friends in Ohio. I am taking a "break" from life, caregiving is getting the best of me. Hubby will be staying home with DD and I will be running away, this time. I am looking forward to family time with the grandkids and shopping with friends. I have a day planned in Berlin OH (Amish country) so lots of good food and shopping in fabric stores and antique malls. Then I have another day planned in a huge antique mall. Good thing I have the suitcase 3/4 of the way packed with things for the grands isn't it??? More room to pack things that I buy to bring homr. LOL

This green block shown here naked is a Garden/Farm block for CQ4N's. It will be a block swap so I have to get this baby embellished to send out the end of July. If time permits I have ideas for another one too. Below is the beginning of the work on it with a tree on the left side. I found the how to on Kathy's blog. So easy and cute when finished.I will share more pictures of this block when I get home !! Have a grand weekend, see you after the 22nd!!!

Tomatoes!!

Check it out!! The tomatoes are growing. There weren't even any out where they could be seen before!! There are still some hidden under the leaves that have been there for awhile and are growing.

Here is the thread rollup!! I also have been sewing today. I have my gauze dress hemmed. I need to add straps, just have to sew them on. I also have been "adjusting" some of my "old " clothes that are too big. Such fun!! It is helping to add to my wardrobe without spending any money.
It has been a productive weekend, hope yours has been too!!

Have a terrific week!!

Crazy Quilting Class DONE!!!!

I am so excited to have this class done!!! YIPEE!!! I started this online CQ class with StitchMap the end of Jan.  The other ladies in the class were about half way done with the class when they asked me if I would like to join in even though they were already started.

I was thrilled to be asked. Little did I know what alot of hard work was ahead of me. The two pieces were are finished. The thread rollup (I have been calling it a needle roll have not idea where I got that) is ready to finish up and will be done this evening while watching TV, like there is anything to watch, UGH!!! Just my 2 cents worth , they are cancelling one of my favorite shows: Ghost Whisperer, I am a big Jennifer Love Hewitt  fan, plus several others I like alot. Not sure what they think we are going to watch on Fri night now. It will be as bad as Sat nights I guess, hoping they come up with something interesting before fall.

Will share the thread rollup tomorrow. Have a great weekend!!

CQ Lesson Beading

I have been working like a little bee trying to complete Lesson 7 which is beading, one of my least favorite things to do. I maybe crazy but I think it is turning out pretty well. This first picture is a partial shot of my pincushion. I do not have the seam finished above the butterfly. Still a work in progress that I have ideas for.The second picture is the needlebook case with some beading added. It will still some SRE added to the right hand side that I cut off. Then we have the tin topper, I added pearls and the butterfly. It may get more this evening. A rose will go in the middle yet too.

Here are two pictures of Vickie's block. The top one is the whole block the second is a close up of the work I did. Below is my naked Season to Season block for CQ4N. I have to embellish half of it before I mail it on to Lesa for her to finish the other half and return it to me. This is the 4th and final block in the 4 seasons. Can't wait to get started on it.

Finally some goodies I picked up at JoAnn's. Bargains!! All of the trims were 25 and 50 cents a yard. The gorgeous glitter , more of a green then it shows here wa 50 cents. Love it!!!

Best of all these CQ classes have taught me to not be so uncomfortable with beading. I sat and beaded the other night and didn't want to stop to go to bed!!! How shocking!!

Hope you all had a great Mother's Day!! I got a card and flowers!! Also bought myself some gifts, new bathing suit and some new clothes, amazing the ones I have are becoming too big again. Can't beat that!!

Have a creative week.

Did ya ever????

Did ya ever feel like a project had drug on so long/needed so much more work than you planned........................ seems like it has taken over your life??? I have one of those, it is a new problem for me. I usually have inspiration and know when something is finished. This one has become a pain in my backside. I think I HATE it at this point. I could easily walk away and not ever look at it again much less want to finish it.

Maybe my problem has been I let too many other projects get started at the same time. I had been doing so well, just one project at a time until it was completed. Then on to a new one. This was working just great for me and look Ma no UFOs.

Then I agreed to start the CQ class and then I jumped into an RR. Well you might get the picture here, oh let's not forget moving and being a fulltime caregiver. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Guess I need to sit back and get things in order here, prioritize needs to be the word of the day.
Number ONE: finishing my CQ class piece. so I can move on to lesson 7
Number TWO: working on Vickie's block for the RR
Number Three: finishing the doily pillow
Number Four: good question as I have two embroidery pieces going, do I pick the table cloth back up or finish the table runner. Will figure that out when I get there I guess.
Maybe by the end of the week the question will be answered.

The sewing room is progressing. I got THREE new plastic thresss drawer containers, two are full of mixed media goodies. One is still empty. (imagine that)
I have found the floor in the closet again, cut up clothing from the Goodwill that was taking up alot of space, folded and stored all the fabric on shelves and even got some folded and packed into the fat quarter storage units I got from JoAnn's online. They are Marie Osmond ones and I love them. I need to completely fill the first one and start on the second one. They hold 60 fat quarters and havve handles so you can take them with you. Love this idea. I have also emptied ALL the boxes in the sewing room and got them out of there.
Here is Vickie's Block, isn't it beautiful? Beisde it is another embroidery piece I found that is not finished, to be added to the above list (LOL) Next is the embroidery piece that I started on after finding it in my stash. Below that is the needle book and the needle roll, these are the pieces from h***. Last  is the picture of the fat quarter storage I talked about.

Not bad for one month here. I thought it was going to take much longer than this. I am thrilled that I can actually (maybe) go in there and get something done without thinking I need to move things or unpack things.

Hoping you have a blessed week and Don't forget your MOTHERs this week!!!

Working Away

Here is an update on my CQ needlecase for StitchMap. It is coming along pretty well I think. I have added fill in on the butterfly and a vine with the purple flowers at the bottom. I need to finish the spider's legs and some more of the seams need to be completed.

Scarey but I taught myself to crochet tonight. No it is not great but I am sure with some practice I can do better. I didn't enjoy this....................made me tense and on edge but the future will tell. Hoping my BFF Louise doesn't pass out when she sees this! She is such a wonderful crocheter and tatter. She taught me CQ but I have always been afraid to ask her to teach me to crochet as my mother told me I was the only person she ever saw who could make their crochet work get smaller instead of larger!! Leave it to me, couldn't have been the teacher could it??? LOL

On the left is another vintage embroidery that I found and finished up. The clouds and large tree on the right need to be finished. The next one I am working on is not vintage, because I started it many years ago, LOL I found it and the matching piece so I have removed the stitches that I had started and then  started over with the colors that match the first one. They will not match but they will certainly be close.

I spent alot of time in the sewing room today trying to find things and trying to get more of the fabrics on the shelves ! I got some more boxes emptied, almost no boxes left in the sewing room. I would be in good shape except for the mixed media goodies that I have. They seem to be the sticking point in getting the room settled but where there is a will, there is a way so I will keep on going!!

Crazy Quilt Block returns Home

I was so pleased to get my Season To Season Block, winter back this weekend. It had been in the mail, getting forwarded!! Susan in Iowa did half of the work on this block. The close up shows the heart she did and a piece of lace she added. I just am thrilled with what she did for me.

The next two pictures are of Gayle's block from the FFT#11  RR. I shared a picture with you before but here is my finished work on it. I added the word joy, some tatting, rayon seam binding, buttons and a seam treatment. I hope she will like the work that I have done. It was a little tough to work on a Christmas block when there is Spring in the air but I got it done!!

Speaking of Spring the pollen is finally settling done. The great yellow dust that covers everything is gone. I had never experienced this before so it was a bit of a shock to find everything covered in yellow dust!!! The roses are in bloom and so many of the trees are just gorgeous here!!

Below is a seam treatment that I worked on for this month's challenge for CQI. We were to have used 5-6 different stitches in one combination of stitches. I used French knots, straight stitch, cross stitch, back stitch, and chain stitch.  It is so nice to be back to stitching. I have done some more work on my needle roll for StitchMap's CQ class. I need to get the rest of the pieces unpacked so that I can get on with that class. Hard to believe that they are still packed.

The unpacking and settling are getting better each day. I will soon have most of the boxes unpacked. Still have the china cabinet boxes to unpack, wash and put in the cabinet. Maybe this week.

Have a terrific weekend.

Embroidery on Needle Roll

Here is the latest embroidered motifs on my needle roll. This is not the actual one I am using for the class but the second one that I pieced. I am practicing on it before I start on  the real one!! I made some spider web roses, using the drawing provided in the class info. These are the first ones I have ever made and I learned that it makes a difference if the spokes are not even, hate that they show where I couldn't finish filling it in. Learning experience. Guess I will be more careful with the next set I make. I used a varigated perle cotton #5 from DMC and like the way they turned out color wise. Below are the butterflies that I had just outlined earlier. I filled one in with satin stitch and the other one with French Knots. I don't think they turned out too bad!

Remember that posts maybe come infrequent or stop for awhile while I plunge into the big move next Thurs. Between exhaustion, not being able to find the camera and who knows when I will have computer service!! LOL So many variables to being able to be  online and post. The other thing is there will be little or no time to stitch so I won't have much to blog about anyway!! Hope your week is creative!!

Embroidered Lady

I thought I would share with you the embroidery that I worked on yesterday. This is the second needle roll that I pieced for the CQ class at StitchMap. This lady was an embroidery outline that came with the class and I couldn't wait to get to work on her. I wanted to give her some texture so I used chain stitch to do her dress and French knots for her hat. She will still be getting some SRE for a bouquet for in her hands.

Here I added some black lines to both the skirt and hat to give it some highlights and break up all of the pink!! As usual, it is pink!! LOL

Have a super week!

Spring Sunday!

Today I have lots of pictures for you.The two pictures here and the Valentine below were picked up at the flea market. Not cheap but I couldn't pass them up!! Aren't they too sweet??

The chains above right I got at Micheal's on clearance. I have been wanting to try some of the necklaces seen on many of the blogs and Craft Gossip where they take lace/or flowers and make a necklace out of it with chain to hold it together. We will see how successful i am at this! Again the mailman surprised me with the cute cards from Shari to use with our upcoming move! They are great Shari, THANKS~ The next pictures are more fun from Micheals!! The manniquin  was 50% off and could I resist pink, not a chance! Should look perfect in the new sewing room or somewhere else....The oink chicks I bought some last year and fell in love with them, had to have more this year too. Aren't they just the best? Then there are the beautiful rose colored bottles and rose garland, Micheals at 50% off. Sweet trimmings for the new home, maybe on top of the kitchen cabinets, they are dark so anything that will brighten them up will make me happy. The Shamrock windchime is a gift for DD #1, who's birthday falls on, yep you are right: St Patrick's Day!! I love the way this is made and it is glass so there is extra sparkle. Another half price goodie, hoping she will love it too.This is more work on the block for StitchMap. Hoping this ribbon will be the contrast that Shari is looking for here. Covers up my goof and brings some different color to the block.

Last but not least is the most expensive purchase at Micheals. This punch was seen on Dawn's's blog.

She has the most wonderful and creative ideas and this was one of her ideas that I really wanted to work on. I love to make tags and I thought if I could punch my own on paper I picked out it would be some much more fun and turn out better than I expected.Her blog just calms  and inspires me. If you have never stopped over please do so, you will love it.

Have a terrific Sunday dear friends!!