A Short Video of some Motifs/Techniques Learned in the Free Courses!
Finished up some seam work on Arlene's block, Dragonflies and Butterflies Round Robin over at CQI Yahoo Group.
Next, finish embellishing the lace butterflies and add a bead dragonfly or two.
Got the Dresden Plate template done. I is small enough to get 3 from a 5" square...so you ladies that swapped nickles with me can use your "50-cents worth". I'll put the template in the files along with a tutorial by Monday.There are twelve segments in this Dresden, and it meets in the center.
You can cover the middle with the plate center (or a button like in the first photo)
The model is stitched with a package of the brights I swapped. It would look good...well better...on black fabric than on white I'm thinking. But, when in a hurry...it is what it is. Hugs!
If you live here in Dixie...you might know this right away. But it not...well, here are some hints...* Southern Comfort Food* Elvis like his grilledand, here's another hint..
Got Arlene's block to work on this week. And have picked out my lace for it; and that is stitched down. The center block has two morning glory blooms and the center turns them into a butterfly. Two lace ones help to fill the air. The blue rose is a machine embroidery piece that I have had for a while, and you just can't find a lot of use for a blue rose! But, on Arlene's block it is perfect! A wonderful home.Now, it's on to seam treatments...and beads and SRE!
Finished up my work on Carol's block for the Wine RR on CQI.
Added some silk ribbon work and a couple of tiny hand dyed butterflies; and a little grape seam to my monogram finished this week.
Well, I did. I mean, I have a lot...but like diamonds...you can never really have enough! Especially when you find glorious colors like these...at a great, great price too!
And, check out the candle...lace...and charms! Love all of my goodies!Oh, you want to know where I got such a great deal!Sure, I'll share...www.crazyquiltingsupplies.comNow, isn't that easy to remember!
The tomatos, beans, corn, and peppers are planted. Mother is still looking for some other pepper plants...so the garden is not completely planted yet...But Almost! Days are busy...and the evenings are spent stitching. For the past couple of days, I've been working on a round robin crazy quilt block.
Carol's block in the Wine RR.Started with a "C" in backstitch. Filled in with chain stitch starting at the inside curve of the letter.
Then, created some grapes from purple silk, little Yo-yo's...with a flat round bead tucked inside the center.
More sead beads for the leaf...and the monogram is complete. Next, need to stitch some seams...
I love spring...but the pollen is clogging up my throat!
Thankfully, it usually only lasts a couple of weeks. With the pollen comes lovely flowers in the beds too...
And then...my Mother gets her annual drive started...
to open up some earth...
So, my brother comes and makes her happy. See the tomato plants?
They will be going into that patch of newly turned ground soon enough...before Wednesday for sure! It is supposed to rain on Wednesday...So...here's a toast to all the Mom's...and keeping them happy!
Just took Buddy out for a walk, before we start thinking about all the "evening tasks" that have to be completed before putting Aidan to bed later on.
Our last moment of Peace and Quiet before she arrives...and look at the lovely flowers. These are in Mothers measly little front flower bed; but they are glorious in their beauty...even sparingly.
I took the photos with my trusty cellphone, with flash turned on as it was already dusk. Ten minutes later...and no light at all! These are not as great as my friend Tom's Magical Camera could take...but, it will just have to do. Thought y'all might like these shots too.
Okay...first off...it really doesn't take much to make me happy. Secondly, I am not an artist...so yes, this could be better...Thirdly, I didn't draw it anyway...I created it in Illustrator...Fourtly, I'm not a GEEK, and I have no training...Fifthly, I'm pretty dang proud of figuring this out all by myself!Sixthly...I have hope that I'll get even better at this!
These were the worst looking ones! They were the last to be eaten...I almost forgot to get y'all a photo! Charlyn make lucious chocolate covered strawberries when I was in Mississippi, I watched from my kitchen stool perch...and took mental notes! Then, Aidan and I made our own last night...we made enough to snack, to add to her lunch, to give to Mother and Tracy/John...and still we had some saved in the fridge for tonight! Sadly, they are now...all gone.....But, me have more in a few days. 1) Purchase berries and pkg of chocolate morsals.2) Wash strawberries and dry them3) Put morsals in a microwave bowl, and heat on high for about a minute4) Stir chocolate until smooth (reheat for 15 seconds when it gets hard)5) Dip strawberries and place on wax paper (otherwise they stick to whatever you place them on when cool).Eat! And Share!
Just mailed out my work on Susan's block to the next person in the block's rotation. Arlene worked on the block before me, and did a wonderful job of adding some lovely pearls (and gorgeous Silk Ribbon!). So, I thought that more lace was what was needed...and not a lot of beads in the area I wanted to work. Hopefully, you'll agree...and if no...well, don't tell my muse; cause she can get a "real" attitude sometimes! And, I'm just not up to dealing with her right now.
My first step was to find the right lace...and I selected a really pretty large blue heart; playing off of the little heart beads that Arlene had already put down on a seam. The heart was really pretty...but how to adorn it? It was just not enough all alone. More silk ribbon seemed the obvious choice, but that would not work because it would just "fight" with the lovely silk ribbon already next to it. And, another issue was that there were a lot of seams meeting where the center of the heart would be. So, I decided that the heart needed a solid white center to cover up those seams. I stitched the heart to a piece of white satin, then put a "S" in the center for "Susan".
A little blue heart with song bird helped to fill in some space and balanced out the area. I thought about adding pearls to the lace areas...but, there were already enough and balance was achieved just with the lace. Hopefully, Susan will agree when she receives her block; and if not...she is welcome to add more or adjust anything that I stitched. I'm a firm believer that once a block is "yours" you should change it until it makes you happy. You, after all, are the one who is going to live with it from now on.
Finished up my March block...all this white is making me go blind! My muse wants color, but I have told her to sit down and work the plan! Three down...and nine more to go! I hope she doesn't up and quit on me! Luckily, I have plenty of "colorful" projects to work on this week...so, she should stop pouting by tomorrow! (Ssshhh...I still think I'm gonna go back and satin stitch that "S"...don't tell her however!)
I know that this is a sensitive topic...but, we're Bestest Friends...so thought you'd like to know of a GOOD THING! I Am NOT a Doctor...and I DO NOT Play One on TV!However, I have had a "condition" and now...it's gone.I have been "sluggish" for the past few months. I was using different over-the-counter remedies...then...
I started eating Chobani Greek Yogurt (and yes I have tried other types too...no luck). It took a couple of weeks to get me back to normal...And, I've been continuing to eat the yogurt for a total of about five weeks now. I'm back on track, and regular as a clock...and...my waist is smaller too! Not small...I said small-ER. Ha!
No more pills or powder cocktails for about 4 weeks now! I have a container for breakfast (or before or after breakfast)...and another for my afternoon snack. It took about a week to get my train going good...and another week to completely get me back on the right track...but, ever since that week...it has stayed on track! Yea!See all the little tubs stacked up...they should be good for something! I'm thinking little dye cups...but you just never know what ideas I might come up with. If Chobani would start using lids...instead of the peel off aluminum thingies...I'd be estatic!! Just thought the info might help someone else. Now, I have to go pick my Mother up off the floor...cause she can't believe that I posted this!!
This past weekend, my muse just wanted to let her mind wander...and day dream.Nothing of any real significance got accomplished as a result. We did spend some time "piddle patting" and came up with this little blue tassel. Thought y'all might like to see it.
It starts out simply as most any tassel might. We cut a piece of cardboard about nine inches long; then wrapped some perle cotton around the cardboard...over and over again...longways. When we had enough, we cut one end of the "circle of thread". Then we took a length of the same kind/color of thread and tied the top section to create a loop area.
Next, we did a cast on stitch around the loop section....many times...to hold all of the loose loops together. This creates a nice little "button hole" area.
Then, we added some bugle beads and 4mm round glass bead...just stitched them right to the tassle, through the cast on stitches.
Added some more round beads and 6mm bicone crystals by weaving these through the previous 4mm round beads. Then, we went back through all of the beads a second time, just to make sure they were nice and tightly secure.
My muse wants to use this tassel as some sort of purse closure...and created a bead-dangle thingy to act as the button for the closure. She is quite proud of herself...but, I have many things that need to be worked on...so she had better "get with it" today...or we're gonna have WORDS!
