A Short Video of some Motifs/Techniques Learned in the Free Courses!
INGENIOUS? INSANE? LAZY? or a bit of all 3?
Here's the story...
Just started working on my I Believe In Snowmen quilt, designed by Bunny Hill Designs. It's a redwork quilt, but I'm trying hard this year to use of some of this fabric stash that I have. There is a piece of Thimbleberries winter style fabric that I've had for at least ten years...and I love it. So, I reworked the idea of the quilt and am using that. I'll post more on this later on as I get a section complete...but today, I wanted to share with you how I prepared my linen for the embroidery work. Yes, I'm using linen instead of just quilters cotton for the embroidery blocks...mostly because I had about seven yards of this oatmeal colored linen...and it matches perfectly with the Thimbleberries fabric.
If you go to the Bunny Hill Designs link above and check out the quilt...you'd see that it is full of embroidery blocks. And these are about six inch blocks...so a lot of tracing.
My time is precious, and I was not looking forward to tracing all of those designs...so, instead...I printed them on the printer. (well, technically...I put the pattern page on the glass and hit the COPY button...so, really I copied them instead of printing them...but, you get the idea.)
First, I prepared my linen by washing, ironing, and starching. Then I cut a piece of freezer paper (waxed paper used to wrap meat at the butchers)...and ironed it with the wax side against the linen. The paper and fabric was about 10 x 12 at this point.
Then, I trimmed the newly created linen/paper piece to exactly 8.5 x 11.0 inches since that's what my printer likes to take.
I fed this into the single-feed area of my printer. (NOTE: My printer like the paper to be face-up for printing...so the linen is on top. Some printers like this to be face-down...so if you try this...mark a piece of fabric...then feed it in (remember the way you face the marked side) and copy something...when done, look to see what side of the paper the copy image was put on...is it the marked side or the other side? This will let you know how to feed your fabric/paper piece.)
Now, here's where it gets scary...the blocks printed (this one is now in my hoop ready to stitch). Of course, there is a lot of other information of the pattern page that I didn't need...but, I'm okay with the waste of that bit of linen. I only wanted the center image with the embroidery on it. BUT, I was mortified when I saw that the linen had also picked up a shadow image. You can see that at the bottom of the hoop above. This occurred I think because the image was on the DRUM when it turned the first time and it kept printing. My laser printer is at least fifteen years old...although the drum is only about a year old. Your print might or might not do this...and mine didn't do it on the snowflake block as you can see from the first photo above.
But, all is well...because I stitched one snowman block...and soaked it for about 15 minutes in dish-washing detergent after a quick little scrub of Borax washing powder too. Rinsed...and all of the printer powder came out. Whew! (Laser printer use a dry powder...not sure if this will be true if you use an ink-jet printer because the liquid might be more easily absorbed by your fabric.)
Then, I designed some snowflakes to add to the pattern...and since I was creating them for printing...I could make the ink color dark gray...instead of black. These printed and did not have any shadowing (see first photo)...so, this technique saved me hours and hours of bending over my light table and tracing...but if I was limited in my amount of linen I would have stopped after seeing the first "shadow print" as that was scary!
It was worth my time to continue and hope that the extra image washed out...and it did. So, use caution...but this might be worth you time to test out on your printer...and see if it washes out.
I'd test each fabric before doing this...but, I'll certainly consider it if I have some fabric to waste in the test. Thought you might think it worth your time too.
A member over at the HGTV Message Board Group was looking for help creating a quilt for her Aunt and Friend now living in Assisted Living. She asked for blocks of any style, and indicated that her aunt liked teddybears and strawberries. Well, I had a piece of pretty little dainty strawberry fabric...and looked for it for three days...but never found it. (Sound familiar?)
But, I found a second piece of strawberry that I didn't even remember owning. (Again, sound famliar?) It was in a stack of fat-quarter bright fabrics, so I think that I must have gotten in during a swap of fabrics. Anyway, it is really bright...that yellow is like a school bus yellow.
Thinking that it would over-power any other blocks being created, I searched for a matching fabric in the stash...and found a green and a white tonal. So, decided to do an entire top...so that the strawberries would not be 'gauty' but spring time and pretty instead.
Here is the design I sketched out...looks like a real mess doesn't it?
Ha, that's how my muse works...just hit and a miss at an idea and she's off and running.
I'll show you the finished patchwork when done...it will need borders I'm thinking...but my cyber friend will deal with that before she quilts is. A red border I'm thinking...
Here's Barbara's (I thought it was Shelly...looked at the wrong address...edited to correct) tree...now covered in snow. Fitting considering the weather most of the country has had the past few days (weeks, months). And once this was completed...it was short notice to get the remaining seams done. You can see in the photo above that I almost forgot to take the shot as I was eager to get those seams started!
And here is how the areas worked out...lot's of sparkle just like a wonder land of snow brings.
And more...
And finally, the total picture.
Makes me almost wish we had loads of snow here too...but the cold temps have been enough. I'm good...but neighbors have burst water pipes which are no fun.
Here's the letter 'W' for you. I put the entire alphabet up on my Craftsy site for sale...but so far, no sales. I'm not sure if everyone is just willing to wait for each letter to come out on Mondays...for free...or if they are just not liked. But, I enjoyed creating them and have liked my stitched letter 'T' so far and plan on stitching more. So, hope you'll give these a try sometime...and if you do, please send me a photo and I'll post share it too.
Here's the symbol chart for the W.
The next round robin block for my attention is Barbara's winter block. She specifically asked for a tree on each of her blocks; and this if my favorite version to stitch. I'll be adding some snow to the branches and a wee little bird's nest. Then the seams on the block will need some embellishing...but, thought you might enjoy seeing the basic tree traced from my book Embellishing Crazy Quilts to tissue paper...pinned down...and stitched over. Running stitch and stem stitch are the only two types of embroidery stitches used here.
It looks a little "blah" right now...but will improve as more is done to the block...so stay tuned to see the transformation.
I promised to show you the finished fan block for Shelley when done...and here it is. Simple and bright and cheerful! It goes into the mail today...to the last person stitching in this round robin group...so will be home to Shelley before very long.
Today, my January block for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2014 was completed. I decided to do octagon shapes and joining squares this year...and am using some beautiful silk images gifted to me by the artist, Annette Graves of Texas.
All of the images are of fairies...and I love them so why not use them for a special project?...no reason at all...and I'm so very happy to start this year's challenge off with them. My twelve blocks are already pieced and ready for stitching...so, let's hope that this year will have me finishing the next eleven on time!
These colors are not my normal pastels...but they are festive and make me think of dancing. Well, of other folks dancing...as my own efforts are not very festive...more like "somebody get a doctor". These are the colors requested by Shelly for her set of fan blocks. As you can see above, I'm only laid down some base stitches and trims so far. Lot's more to do. But, today...I thought I share the other blocks already stitched in this set of round robin blocks.The ladies stitching before me have done a great job and I'll try to create a fourth fan block that works well with their fans.
This one was stitched by Ritva in Finland. She has very delicate stitching and I love the orange and yellow tatting piece!
This one was stitched by Colleen in Nebraska, USA. The symetry of her work in this is just beautiful and I'm wishing I had a bucket full of those lime green buttons.
And this last one was stitched by NickiLee in Massachusetts, USA. She used some really pretty trims but my favorite part is that button cabochon...(yes, you know I love those!)
I'll be back with more when my stitching is completed.
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!
