A Short Video of some Motifs/Techniques Learned in the Free Courses!
The set of blocks is finished for the HGTV 6-inch Block Set Round Robin. One of the six is to be completed by the owner...so I decided to go ahead and start on mine. I already posted about the stitching, and now have finished the beading and silk ribbon work. So, it is ready to go along with the five blank blocks...to the next person in the rotation.Here are some close-ups so you can see the specific beads and silk flowers...and such.
As you can probably see, the block has three primary floral clusters...each made of clay, porcelain, and silk roses...and silk or glass leaves. Some random crystals and pearls are added in. All the seams have also had beads and/or sequins added as well. 
Yea! Look what came yesterday! The Stitch Journals!Some of these will be going out in the mail today...thanks for your patience! I'm sending them all priority mail...so you don't have to wait any longer.Hugs to all!
I already showed you the size blocks made for the round robin on HGTV...didn't I. Well, here they are again just to remind you.
And, I could not help but start stitching on one of the set before mailing. Here is the block after lace and basic embroidery. I'm working on beads now, and will show you that when complete. Here are some closeups of the seams.
All of the blocks are 6 inches square.
We don't see much fuchsia around here...but I love to look at pictures. Such a delicate and pretty flower. Here is my rendition...as my second Silk Ribbon Embroidery journal page.
So, it joins the Rose...and I'm loving this process. I can really concentrate on a single flower...and can use glorious 13mm size ribbon...which I love!
Hope everyone had a great Easter Sunday today...mine was great! Breakfast with my daughter and granddaughter and spend a good part of the day with Mom. I stitched and she cooked...she wanted to do chicken and dressing...and I did not argue with her! It was tasty!Then, she asked me to go back to Family Dollar and get her two boxes..."like you got yesterday". Ha! I knew she could not resist!So, off I went in search...and got the last two! AND, look what else I found while there! The little chests are just adorable, and I love the trash can too. There was a larger one, which would be great with towels rolled up inside...or fabric! But, I settled on the smaller one. I'm thinking that it is small enough to fit behind my machine, and catch all of my strings and such.Treasures...just treasures!
Well, first off...my muse and I actually agreed on something today! Two things....first, we hate yard sales!...not going to them, Having Them! And, actually WE didn't have one...my sister and sister-in-law did...in my (Mom's) front yard. I didn't even help out...and I'm just tired from walking around all day! My muse is just upset because she didn't get anything done..and none of the clothes fit her!Second thing we agreed on, is that we love sales!
And especially when they are sales on cardboard boxes...pretty cardboard boxes and cardboard trays!
Wanted to share...if y'all have a Family Dollar store near you...then, RUN, do not walk...and get some of these! (sorry to all the ladies that don't have this store near you...especially you international girls. But, you can drool over these and then reciprocate by sending me photos of all the luscious lace and pretties you can get that I can't....hugs!!) I went looking for Easter Candy sales...but got little of that. Found these boxes in four sizes...and got the smallest two sizes only. Then when I went to check-out...saw this lovely matching trays...got four of them!
Smallest Lid Box is 8 x 10 inches. ($4)
Medium Lid Box is 10 x 12 inches. ($5)
Trays are 9 x 12 inches ($2)and DID YOU SEE THE PRICES!
Run before these are all gone!These are so pretty holding your threads, ribbons, and fibers...and keep them together.(they also are good to stash candy in; so hubby (or granddaughter) can't find it...just saying!)Oh, and if you have a desk...these trays would make lovely IN and OUT boxes!
I know...I said that I was not going to sign up for any more swaps...but my MUSE is insane! Seriously, she needs medication....and my doctor refuses to give her any...just looks at me and makes little notes on my chart when I talk about her.Here are six 6-inch blocks ready to embellish...in an HGTV CQ Swap that Nickilee has organized...hush, stop laughing...seriously...I'm concerned about my muse!
Here is one of my monthly Block of the Month items...completed for April. We are on Block #4; and this will be a large quilt once completed as each block has been about 22 inches square.
If you don't follow Susan Elliott's blog..."Plays with Needles"...then seriously, you should. Her work is an inspiration!Want to see?Check out this recent POST,I promise that you will be inspired!
This morning, I finished up my stitching on Beryl's round robin block, "Wine". Thought you might like to see the end result before I mail it out.Here are the closeups...two simple seams...
two bottles of wine...
and some embellishment of the fabric that Beryl used in her block.
Here's a free cross-stitch pattern for you. It is posted as a PHOTO, so you can print it as large as you need. Just save on your computer; open a blank word document and insert or paste the image. Drag the corner to make it as large as you need...to see the little color squares. The chart also works for beading.
If you like this design...click on the link in the toolbar above for CROSS-STITCH, there are links to three more charts there.
The Kraft family in Saalfeld, Germany has been decorating an easter tree in Volker Kraft's back yard for decades. It started as a sapling with just a few dozen eggs...and as the tree...and the family grew it became hundreds then thousands of eggs.
Each egg is prepared by a family member, most are real (blown) eggs that have been painted, some are crochet, others have glued pearls and sequins. Each is a work of art.
This year, 2012, the Easter Tree will have 10,000 eggs on it! Amazing!Check out their website. (Click on egg #11 to watch the video of the tree being decorated in 2009.)
All of these photos are borrowed from their website. There are many more there for your viewing. It's a little early still for Easter eggs...but, never too early for inspiration!
Their decorating starts four weeks prior to Easter Day, and the tree is cleared of eggs one week after Easter.The beauty is not only in the eggs, or their decorating of the tree...but in the family itself.
Got the March block finished yesterday...just under the wire! Also, wanted to thank ya'll for such a warm reception to thepost yesterday about the Sketch Books. From the number of ordersreceived last night...seems that I'm not the only personwho needs to get their Design Ideas and Project IdeasOrganized! Ha!
Hugs!!
