A Short Video of some Motifs/Techniques Learned in the Free Courses!
The symbol/color legend is at the start of this Monogram Monday segment...use the sidebar tags to go to all of the letters posted so far. Or, instead of waiting, purchase the pdf file of all monograms in this cross-stitch Rose Monogram series from my craftsy site for a small fee.
Today, unexpectedly...I got to cuddle little Brady. That's an odd thing to do on a Saturday as he is home with his mom and dad...but both had things that needed to be done today and so I got to entertain him. I love it...but it does cut into my stitching time.
I managed to accomplish one bit of stitching this week...a pitiful small thing...but I thought you'd like to see how the cross-stitch Rose Monograms stitch up...so here is the "T".
I also managed to assemble all of the charts into a single pdf file that can be downloaded on my Craftsy site (link at top right at the side bar). The file contains full color charts and B/W symbol charts for all Capital Letter Monograms so it works regardless of the type of printer you have available to you. The pattern is $5.00 and if you don't like to use your credit card or paypal for little things like this...you can mail the funds to me along with the email address you want me to send the file to. Send me an email at shaw.kathy@yahoo.com and I'll give you my mailing address if you don't already have it.
Sending hugs!
Here's the next Monday Monogram...this time the letter "Y".
The floss colors remain the same as the "Z" posted on the first monday. Or, you can use your choice of three shades of color for the rose, two shades of green for the leaves, white or a pale color (or beads) for the baby's breath, and a single color for the initial to match your own decor or style.
Today begins a new series on the blog...Monogram Mondays. Each week, (hopefully on Monday) I'll post a new monogram for you. The first series is already designed and will be cross-stitch capital letters with roses and baby's breath (or beads).
The color chart and the symbol chart will be posted. Legends for both will also be included. These will all be photos and you should be able to left click and save the image to your computer.
I recommend that you set up a folder just for Monogram Monday Shawkl so that you can put them where you can find them....just saying!
Hope you enjoy this series.
As is my current practice...I'll be combining all of the monogram files into a pdf file that will be available on my Craftsy page...after the holidays (I'll work to get it done sooner, but no promises). Of course, I'll post here and let you know when the set of patterns is available that way. Or...just stay tuned and download each photo free as individual files over the next few months.
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.
