Easy, Breezy Trees

I've been asked about the technique used to make trees like the ones in the Queen's Garden below. I use this technique often, and it is so easy...you just won't believe it!

To begin, hoop your project so your work area is nice and flat. For this tutorial, I just hooped a placemat as my work area. Next visualize where you want the bottom and top of your tree. The photo has labels to show my bottom and top points...but you can just remember where you want yours. You will need the thread you wish to make your tree trunk from. I have used all types of fiber, yarn, and threads for this technique. Your choice will depend on the type of tree you are considering...birch would be good in white and black yarn...pine would be in browns...etc. For the tutorial I have chosen white so it will show up well in the photographs. Next, you need to select your stitching thread...for the tutorial I will use green so it will show up; but, in "real life" I would have chosen the same white thread as the trunk is made of.

Here are my supplies:

 Next, take the threads you want your tree trunk made from, fold them in half and find the middle. Lay them vertically with the middle point at the bottom point of your tree. Stitch over this group, couching the bottom in place.

The amount of threads you use for your tree will partially determine how big it is. You can take several in your hand and just twist it to see how big around the trunk would be...too big?...take a few away; too little?...add some more. You want to have enough to create a good solid tree. Another trick, is to twist the trunk tighter to make it smaller...with a lot of threads used.

Next, bring the threads together and twist to form the trunk. Pin this vertical trunk at the top to hold in place. I pin a little on the right then on the left...like holding a corsage in place.

If you are left handed, you probably twisted your tree counter-clockwise...while right handers usually twist clockwise. Either will work...you just need to look at the directions of the twist for the next step.

Bring your stitching thread out at the bottom of the tree. If you twist clockwise, it will need to start on the right side. You want your couching stitches to follow the twist so they are hidden as part of the trunk. The bottom stitches in this picture below are a little to horizontal...while the upper ones are more in line with the "twist"..and that is what you want to achieve.

 Stitch the trunk down until you reach about 1/3 to 1/2 of the distance between your bottom and top. Now, start to open the threads above the last couching stitch...these will be the large limbs of the tree. Determine if you want to continue with a center limb or have all the limbs go "out" at this point. This will depend on the type of tree you are trying to depict...and the area you have to cover on your project. As you open the tree up...couch the major limb down.

Continue to couch all the major limbs down. You might have to use more than one needle/thread...or just move around on the back of your work. Next, open the individual threads up to make tiny limbs. These can be couched some.

Lastly, thread each thread individually into your needle and pull to the back so that the tip of each tree branch ends where you want them. Viola, you have the structure of the tree!! Now, stitch leaves...add leaf beads...add leaf sequins...add flowers...let your mind and needle bring your tree to life!

Try it!

The Queen's Garden

The past few weeks, I have been working on this tote bag. I could not post about it, because it was my entry in the Crazy Quilter's International Yahoo Group purse contest for 2010. But, the contest is now complete, so I can share a few pictures with my followers.

The contest had some super great entries, and it was a great honor to be considered in the running with these pieces of needle art. And, I'm blushing proud of my "lady" because she came home with the 1st Place ribbon. My mom was so proud! She saw the hours and hours of short-long thread work I put into the sleeves and coat. The hundreds of French knots and the bullions in the hair. The beads were a different story altogether...and are too numerous to count. Each was securely stitched because I plan on using this tote! It has already make a couple of trips to town with me!

So, hope you enjoy the photos!

Dying with Friends!

Yesterday, I spend a wonderful day...no babysitting...and just left all my other tasks undone!! I spend time with my friends...Pam and Francis...and my SIL (and friend) Tracy. We got out the rubber gloves, paper towels, and dye! These lovey little bits of lace are the end result.

Pet Jewelry! Who would have thunk it!!!

Yep, you heard me right!

I'm adding pet jewelry to my list of things to do!

Actually, my groomer asked me if I could do some doggie necklaces...and hey, why not! I have a head full of ideas now...and am going to expand my ever growing webpage to include pet jewelry. Well, if I ever get the website design finished and up!! My plate is so full, that I just don't have the time...but I have to, I'm giving myself a couple of more weeks...then I will launch what-ever-condition it is in!! So, look for that.

But, I digress...back to doggie jewelry.

Hey, what about cats! Or cockatoo! or ??? where will this take me!!

Here are a couple of photos of "wedding jewelry"...Buddy is my cocker, and Taco is my brothers little dog. Aren't they both too cute!

Oh, and if anyone would like one...they are $1.20 cents per inch..plus shipping. Measure the neck size of the pet, and I add 1/2 for ease. Several colors are available...just ask me about this. Hugs!

Round Robins

I've been busy lately...but more on all that for another post. These most recent few days I've been working on two round robin blocks. One for a Yahoo group and one for the HGTV group.

 Here are photos for your enjoyment..

Finished Tags

These tags are my entry to a swap on quilting lion's blog!!

It should prove to be fun!

TDiTM Stitch #95

 

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

The chart for this stitch is very simple. So, I decided to use different beads in place of the French knots to show how cute even a very simple stitch can be.

While seed beads are a favorite for use instead of French knots, because of their relative size, other beads can also add more texture. Changing up the shape of the beads within the stitch also adds movement and texture to your patch! Try combining different bead types, sizes, colors and create this really fast little stitch combination!

Also, laces that have scalloped edges could be a good candidate for this kind of stitch (at least one side of it)…to add extension to the lace piece. Let your mind imagine all the possibilities for stitches…and don’t just leave them for seams! Create a practice piece…or strip…and just play! You don’t have to show it to anyone else!! (unless you blog it to the world!; then all see your success and your failures!)…but that’s how we learn.

TDiTM Stitch #94

 

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

Rickrack is a good divider when two fabrics are very different in color. Then you could alternate the color of you thread to mirror the opposite fabric choice! For example, green and yellow with white rickrack could have green stitching on the yellow fabric side, and yellow stitching on the green fabric side! This is a great way to blend patches together…that normally, would not appear to work well in the same area.

Here, I’m using the same thread colors on that fabric because I’m trying to also use up excess threads (specifically perle cottons) in this challenge as well. The French knots have been replaced with seed beads in pink and yellow to show how changes in color add more movement in your design.

 Personally, I will be using this seam again as it really fills the space well! You could continually decrease the “stem” straight stitch to work into triangle shaped patches as well! Very versatile!

TDiTM Stitch #93

 

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

The French knots have been changed to blue seed beads in this stitch. The depth of the rickrack changes the stitch because the straight lines at the base of the detached chain line up instead of staggering.

I think this would be a good seam to use really thin rickrack in, and stitch the detached chains outside of the rickrack, with the straight stitch on the rickrack. Rocailles beads would be a great size to use with the mini rickrack.

I hope you are enjoying working with rickrack…we have several more seams to go!

TDiTM Stitch #92

 

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

I like this simple little plum seam!

It would be a good one to use and alternate perles and porcelain flowers in place of the French knots!

TDiTM Stitch #91

 

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

As you see by these rickrack sample seams…I’m tired of stitching on white fabric with black lines!

So, my model piece is now a long strip pieced multi colored fabric. I took 5 inch pieces of scrap fabric, cut them in half…and strip pieced them to a long piece of muslin about 6 x 24. The seams have been covered with large white rick rack to allow for these seams.

This little stitch is cute. The yellow is double thread because it is a smaller weight (perle size 12) than the red (perle size 8) so I thought it needed more weight to balance it out. The French knots would be great if changed to seed beads!

TDiTM Stitch #90

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

Rick rack isn’t just for your grandma’s aprons anymore! It can be a very beautiful seam treatment too! By the way, it can also make pretty flowers…or cabbages even!

But, I digress!

Seams can be really nice when done in rickrack. You have a wide selection of colors to choose from, texture is added to your project, and you have several widths available to you as well!

So, the next few seams will use rickrack! Now, don’t think that you have to limit yourself however, these seams will work just fine along a curved stitched line as well! So, if you don’t have any rickrack to play with…just stitch some continuous curves!

This first seam is very, very simple to do. One straight stitch, two leaves, and 3 little French knot buds! Enjoy!

New Template

I just loaded the 4th template onto the CQ Wiki Site. It is free after you log in. Scroll down under the CQ Lessons and Info and select the templates folder.

Any/all of the template sheets can be printed onto clear velum. If you don't have velum, print them onto paper...and take that to any local office supply store that makes copies. Request a "transparency" to be made...they are less than $2 each...some places charge less than $1 each.

After you have your clear velum print or transparent copy. Cut the page into strips, allowing each of the individual template to be a single strip. Use a tiny (1/16th size) hole punch (available in the scrap booking section of any hobby store)...to punch out the marked holes. Each marked hole represents the "spot" for the needle to enter the cloth to create the templates' stitch.

This is an easy process...and a great time saver! It also produces uniform base stitches for this challenge...then follow along and stitch all of these combination of very basic seam treatments for your Crazy Quilt projects!

The templates are at http://crazyquilting.pbworks.com

TDiTM Stitch #89

 

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

This is the last of the half-oval base stitch.

This version is done in variegated pink with perles. As I post the picture, I can see that it is a little wobbly…guess I should not be stitching these at 3 a.m!

So, hopefully you can follow the chart and not my example with creating this one!

The next few stitches will use the half-oval idea…layering that image on top and bottom, in alternating curves. The charts are drawn using the template…but the same idea can be done using rickrack as it has alternating “peaks and valleys”. So, watch tomorrow for ideas using rickrack as a seam base to stitch upon.

TDiTM Stitch #88

 Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

The base of this stitch is the shape of a half-oval again; done in a wrapped back-stitch. The straight stitches and detached chain stitches are done in pink; and the French knots in the stitch chart have been replaced with perle beads in a medium rose color.

TDiTM Stitch #87

 

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

The base of this stitch is the shape of a half-oval again; done in a wrapped back-stitch. The French knots in the stitch chart (larger than normal) have been replaced with perle beads.

TDiTM Stitch #86

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

The shape of a half-oval was done in a wrapped back-stitch. The curve and straight stitches were done in the same variegated green. French knots in bright pink were completed last.

TDiTM Stitch #85

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

 

The shape of a half-oval was chain stitched in bright blue. The straight stitches in green, and detached chain in pink were then added to complete this combination.

TDiTM Stitch #84

 

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

This stitch was done using the template for the oval; turned sideways and only using the top half to mark the curves. After backstitching along the shape of a half-oval, the stitches were whipped in the same color thread.

Plum detached chain stitch and French knots finished off the stitch.

If you are just checking the blog…the templates are available at no cost for the base stitch. Directions on obtaining them are at the link above to the first post of this challenge.

Crystal Beaded Dragonfly Motifs

Recently I beaded up a dragonfly motif for a project. I made several different colors and shapes which I plan on loading into my Artfire Studio Site if I ever get a free minute to call my own around here!

Here is a photo...with the prices as well. If anyone would like one before they are on my studio site, just send me a comment with your email (I won't post it publicly). Also, I'd be happy to make you one in any color you need...like the red one.

All are done with Swarsvoski crystal bicones. The wings are glass on the smaller and metal alloy on the larger; each have round glass or metal beads between the crystals. The tails and body have wire armature, not thread. The tails have been slightly curved, but could also "fly straight" if you wanted.

It is also possible to make them with a ring for hanging (from the top of the head) if you wanted to use them for earring or necklace drops.

Hugs to you all!