Monogram Mondays - J

 

CQ Large Purse

During my spare moments over this last three weeks, I've been working on a larger crazy quilt purse.   

  My friends Thearica, Elizabeth (Ely) and I are going to a craft show in June...and I need some things to try to sale.   

  I'm happy with the end result...but this too SO MUCH time to create that I'll never get enough for it to even cover my effort.   

  I think I'll stay with the smaller versions of this type of handle!  

  Thought you might like to see the photos however...and it may find it's way into the Etsy Shoppe if it doesn't sale at the craft show.  

Stitching for Friends

  These past couple of weeks, my stitching time has been dedicated to helping friends with their different projects. Thought you'd like to see the results perhaps.  No pattern for these...but I did enjoy working on them.

Here's the pattern for the heart...

Hope these inspire you to create something today! Hugs,

Monogram Mondays - N

 

Monogram Mondays - L

 

New Oversized Change Purse

My little wallet is just so dirty, and has the little elastic loop about stretched out from putting too many things in that tiny little space. So, I decided it's time to make me a change purse...but a slightly oversized one. This is my first attempt at doing a hinged purse, but I'm generally happy with the result.  

  The purse is silk inside and out. The only thing that bothers me about it is that you can see the thread from the stitches on the inside. Although it is thin beading thread...and matches the color of the purse; it still bugs me.   

  Any idea on how to cover this up...without using any glue. I want this to be an all hand-sewn endeavor. I'd like to make my mother one, but don't want the stitching to show. My thought is to so some stem stitch along that inside metal part to cover it up...just not sure yet if that will be enough or if it is even feasible. I'll try it out on mine and let you know later on...but open for ideas! Hugs!   3/9/14 Edited to Add: So many have asked...the purse frame came from crazyquiltingsupplies.com...tell Thearica that I sent you. Ha!  

Beginner CQ Class --Closed

 

The class is now closed. Another class will be offered in the fall, please watch the blog for that announcement. Thanks to all who signed up before the deadline; we have about sixty folks!

Monogram Mondays - O

O is for Oreo Cookies, I need a chocolate fix!  

A rose.....

These past couple of days I've been working on a special cross-stitch rose project...one of the March challenges at StitchMAP. I love roses...so doing this was a pure joy. This year, Shari is having a hexagon challenge each month...three challenges actually...because each month has three different designs/techniques/etc to choose from. You can do just one...or all three. I'm helping out with some of the challenges...like last month there were two designs from me...and one from Shari. There will be different designers each month. The cool thing about this rose is that it is all one color (which I wish was a bit darker than the light pink I chose).  

  It starts with some 2-ply full cross stitch work...  

Then, some 2-ply half cross stitch work...see the needle? It is pointing at a sloppy stitch...one that I pulled back out and separated those threads in. I need a trolly needle...one that fits on your finger. But, I use my regular needle and pull the threads through with my left hand after beginning the stitch. The work is so much neater when the plys are laying side-by-side and not all twisted up. I'm stitching on waste canvas...water soluble...by DMC...what smart folks to come up with that product!  

  And finishes with some 1-ply full cross stitch, and 1-ply half cross stitch...to get the unique shading effect. The rose is outlined in backstitch of a shade darker than the other work. Very challenging to keep things straight in my head while stitching! But, also very easy to follow along...I just had to take my time and 'think'! It looks like a bit of a jumbled mess close up...with the full stitches going in the opposite direction on top than the surrounding half stitches...  

but back a bit you see that they adds in the shading effect.

Cabochon Turtles

The weekend and this week have been busy. I've been beading cabochons for my friend Thearica's shop...and put 34 of them into the mail this morning. I forgot to get a photo before closing the box(...bad blogger, bad blogger) but, in my defense...it was before 6 a.m. and I was trying to get the inventory sheet and package ready to mail before Brady woke up. You'll have to keep a watch at her shop, crazyquiltsupplies to see when they show up on her site for sale. Now, I'm working on beading up some turtles..aren't these cute?! I had forgotten about doing some...but putting the other supplies away reminded me.  

  This little turtle was done a couple of years ago...and he was in one of the supply drawers. My muse decided she wanted to bead just a little more...so I'm working some up for a few friends. Hope you are having a super day...and that the sun is shining! 

Monogram Mondays - P

P is for "Piecing Crazy Quilt Blocks!!)  

  I need to do a couple real soon....so best get to patiently piecing! Ha!  

Hope S-P-R-I-N-G-s Eternal!!

Looky, looky, looky at what I spied in the front flower beds today! The first buds of spring! And, today was a glorious day...so pretty here...and I turned off the heat and opened up all of the windows!  

  They are the first little buds to stick their heads up...and they are small...but THEY ARE HERE! Woot! Woot! Tomorrow will be cooler, and cooler yet the next day, and next week...but still...these little buds give me hope that Spring is right around the corner!   Thought you might need a little boost of hope too! Hugs,  

My Work Table is a Mess!

I've got four projects going at the moment...at the same time...which is how my muse is most happiest working it seems. But, it sure does make a mess of my work table! What a lot of clutter! And this photo is only about a third of the table.  

I've been working on cabochons obviously. Thearica at crazyquiltsupplies.com has them for sale; and they are going out the door faster than I can make them! That good...and bad! Ha!

Also working on an organizational item which will be a tutorial later on...when done. It is stitched on wool, and I'm liking it a lot so far. If you are wondering how I got the design transferred to a dark fabric...and wool...I didn't.   

  I traced it to the fusible interfacing on the back. Stitching on the front but using the back as a guide is a challenge!    

Nana Alert!

Aidan was here this past weekend and when she went home there was a little note on my pillow that said "Look on my bed". And on Aidan's pillow was this note.  Just made my day! It says "Thanks for the love and care that you have gave (given) me for so long!" Her handwriting is actually better than mine...which is horrible after 30 years with the Army and always writing in a hurry it seemed. Her verb tense needs some work...but for ten years old, I'm not overly concerned because she speaks better than she writes. We had been working on class Valentines which were not given out on Friday because most of the students forgot them...having missed several days of school that week for weather...and not being reminded to bring them. The note just made my whole week better. It is on my bulletin board now.