Thank You to Phyllis and Anna

The postman delivered this beauties to me yesterday afternoon...aren't they so pretty!  

My pal Phyllis sent them to me...and she did them in all these colors! Wow...she really surprised me. She told me she was sending me a few butterfies...and I thought "Oh, I love butterflies...expecting to get a card with 4 or 5 butterflies...not an entire field full of butterfles. I was doing the happy dance when I opened her envelope! Had to phone and tell her how happy they made me.  

Then, my sister showed up this morning with these ribbons. Spools and spools of satin, growgrain, cotton, and some poly too I think. Hundreds and hundreds of yards!  

These were obvious ends from a mill run...as they are on wooden spools. One says "Talbott" on the end...so perhaps from past clothing items for the Talbot brand.  

Here are some of the bunched up ends that came off the spools...They will need a pressing with the iron before use...but that is for another day. And, the best part...they were free to me! It sure is nice to have friends and family that help support my "habit". Ha!  

More Organization...and Bargains Too...

Last week, I shared the tapestry pill box (bead organizer) I received from Miles Kimball. I had also ordered a tapestry zipper double eyeglass case...that was backordered.  

 It arrived this week and I'm so happy with it. Look at all the room! The cost is very reasonable at 12.99 for a zippered case. My sunglasses are huge...and the other side holds two reading glasses. I like the elastic bands that hold things in place...and there is a mirror (yikes, scared myself!)...and a little net pocket on the divider. And, I tested it...it closes completely with all of these in there.

Think organizer...and you could pack a few things into this little case! I also think that eyeglasses on one side, keys on the other...credit card and drivers license in the pocket....Viola...mini purse!   

Look at all the supplies that were in there!   

THEN...as if organization was not enough this week...I got some cool bargains at my Dollar General store today!  

 These dish towels were 4 for $5...a great buy. One brown one will be "saved" to be used for teddy bear fur...and look at the ribbon that the bundle was tied with! It is so soft...and all cotton. I'm thinking I can make woven roses with this!      These are men's handkerchiefs...not fancy, but wonderful cotton linen fabric. The size is huge at 16 x 16...and being cotton I can dye them any color I want! I'm using these for embroidery backgrounds...and at $2.50 for FOUR of them...I got four packages...16 handkerchiefs. I wanted them all but then thought of that poor man who really might need a handkerchief but could not find one...because I bought all 20 packages!...so left with four...might go back tomorrow. I mean, he only needs one package...so I could get 15 more packages...ha!  

 Lastly, I needed pony tail holders...these were also $2.50 and I got ten in the package...a good deal in itself. But I can only use nine of them because one will be cut to remove this wonderful black crystal filled rose slide! It belongs on a CQ Block...not in my hair. Again, I should have bought them all...and that's a second reason to go back tomorrow! Ha!
So, walk around your local "dime store" and look at everything...you'd be surprised what you might find!

Coming up roses...

 

  This might be a rose you remember...as it is a couple of years old. This was done for an SRE journal. The ribbon for the rose is 13mm bias cut silk ribbon with 7mm silk ribbon for the leaves.  

  Yesterday I stitched it again with 7mm silk ribbon for the rose and 4mm for th leaves. It is one of the silk ribbon flowers in my Intermediate CQ Class...and I needed to re-write that module. Thought all of you might enjoy the photos.   The turning shades of the grass and leaves (getting a bit "yellow" looking around here) have reminded me that roses are soon to be a thing of the past for this year...as more rain and cold weather begins to drop down into the southern states soon. Some years, it's freezing to go out at Halloween! Roses are my favorite flower to photograph and admire...and I miss them every year beginning about now. Good think we can stitch up a reminder whenever we want!    

Bunny Block

This block was both fun and stressful to do. Why do we always worry over what our peers think? It's a social thing I suppose...but it makes me sometime second guess if I like or dislike an aspect of my work. However, after a smidge of time living with this completed block...I have to say that I'm pretty happy with it now.  

 

So much so, that it is framed and sits in my entry way. (There is no room on the wall for hanging...but I like that it sits on the hutch along with framed photos of my grand-parents, parents, children, and grand-children. A place of honor in my home.

 

   Thought you might like some closeups...here is the central part...my dimensional Bunny. When Pam sent me an email asking if I'd like to contribute a block...she specifically asked if I would do a dimensional bunny...knowing that I contributed a mini-lesson in this technique to Pat Winters magazine before. I was honored and readily agreed. Of course, then I freaked out! Ha! He sits amongst some tiny French Knot flowers made with 2mm silk ribbon. The larger flowers at his base are porcelain teensy beads and 7mm SRE French Knots. The little bunny tail is a rick-rack rose.  

  This blue flower is from an embroidery design found on Mary Corbet's site. I had done this in acrylic bell flowers once before and liked them so much...but thought that ribbon was a better choice for this block. And as a nod to tradition CQ work; I added a wee little spider and web.  

These ants are a very favorite little group of critters that I enjoy adding to many blocks. The idea is not mine, they are inspired by the blog header on Allie's site. I do  mine in different beads, but the original "genus" idea is all her's. Thanks Allie!

This little hedgehog is all bullion stitch on a bed of felt. A simple child's coloring book shape was reduced to about 1.25 inches wide...and covered in embroidery. He is not hard to do at all...just begin at the rear with bullions...and continue to full until you reach the front. Add a seed bead for the eye and he is done. The thread is a variegated brown/black. He travels through a flower bed of irises. The little rose cabochon was beaded by me...and gifted by Maureen Greeson. Thanks again Maureen, isn't it just right at home here?!  

Here is another spring garden bed...with tulips. When I think of spring...flowers are the first thing to come to mind. I wanted to include many in this block...without them being the main focus. Hopefully that has been achieved.  

Lastly, my most favorite part of the block. The basket of flowers. I began with the basket shape from a photo of a basket. The flowers are perle cotton french knots (Seam #12 in my book) and the roses are made in 2mm gold silk ribbon. The leaves are 4mm silk ribbon, and the bow is 7mm. I just love that this really looks like a basket...so will call it a success! So, there are the closeups...hope you enjoyed the block as near as I could get you! Can't wait to get my calendar...and see all of the work by the other ladies too!

Yea! Calendar Time is here!

 

  Today, Pam Kellogg's crazy quilt calendar is ready for purchase at MagCloud! Yeah, can't wait to see this entire calendar.  

She asked me to contribute a block, and I was very honored to do so. My little bunny is ready for Spring! I'll show you some details tomorrow... The ladies that contributed works are some of my favorite stitchers! I'm so eager to see all of their blocks! Come on mailman...bring me my calendar!       

Gecko is complete...

It took most of the day...but he is done. And, I enjoyed the process, even though I was tired because I was pushing to finish.  

  I used a lot of beads to cover the cabochons and to fill in space here and there. More bullions, French Knots, and back-stitches were worked around the beading. To add some shading, I used longer back stitches in the pretty knitted rayon from Color Complements throughout.  

I changed my mind on the head bead as it seemed to conflict with the eyes as I started working. So, I covered it with five spokes and did a wrapped rose in rayon perle.     

  These darker beads are called twin beads...I put an extra one in the photo (on it's side) so you can see what they look like. Strange little beads...and I thought that they might be too dark. But, when the gecko was finished...they were fine. Sometimes things don't look "right" because there is so much empty space around them...but after you have worked more into the area...they make themselves at home. Ha!  

 

I worked around the cabochon on the left...but these other two were too close to the sides. So, what you can't go around...you go over!

I like the little three beads on their ends...but the beading thread will be covered some with green sewing thread. I thought about using a green marker to color the thread...or removing and starting over. But, the green thread worked enough to make me happy. All of the background was filled with back stitching in the yarn fiber.

The final gecko has some good dimension and I'm pretty happy with him (or her).

Gecko Begins

This has been such a very busy month with classes...mine and StitchMAP's. So, I have not had any time to stitch this month's HEX Challenge...and only have two days to get it done! So, I began last night with the outline of the gecko and the brick behind. Both were done in Stem Stitch.  

  Stem Stitch is not the first choice of many people for a design that has such tight curves...the instructions actually said Back Stitch because of this reason. But, I like doing my own thing with designs...and rarely (as it never most likely) do exactly what instructions say for anything. And, Stem Stitch can be very easy to work around inside and outside curves...even tight ones...if the length of the stitch is just shortened. For these tight curves, the inside curves stitching is reduced to only a couple of threads for each stitch...and it works around the line perfectly!  

  Next was to select some beads and threads. I pulled a whole bunch of greens from my stash. But, most of this will not be used as the gecko is too small to hold ALL of this.   

  I did find some tiny cabochons in green. These were part of a MIX of cabochones that I bought and wondered what in the world I'd do with these teensy ones. Goes to show...don't discard anything! Ha! These will be temporarily held in place with a tiny drop of E-6000 glue until I can encase them with embroidery work or beading.  

The eyes are first to deal with. The gecko has "bulging" eyes...and I didn't want them to be green like the body. So, I went with a 4mm round black bead. Olive green bullions, stacked on top of each other, create an eyelid for each eye.  

The next area for consideration are the feet. This gecko's feet are pronounced, like a tree frog. I placed a little bead near the end of each toe.  

These beads look like round beads probably...but, they are actually drops. These are tiny, about 3mm, and I purchased them for tiny spider bodies.  

Each toe is rounded with one or two bullions...which mimic the eye lids nicely...and French Knots to fill in the foot. Well, that's the progress so far...now, I'm off to stitch some more!
 

Colorful Butterfly Charms

Lately, I have been on the computer a lot...tons of writing! Last night, I just needed a creative break...but was too tired to stitch. So, I pulled out the box of fingernail polish bottles...and painted some butterfly charms.  

  Then, I dug out the Ranger Alcohol Inks and painted some more!  

  Now, I had a great stack waiting for me this morning...all dry and ready to be put into the charm draw...just waiting for their home on a crazy block!  

Bead Organization...Traveling?

Crazy quilt projects can use up a huge variety of beads. So, when you travel...do you just leave them off until later...or take the beads with you?  I've traveled by car with trays of beads before...they are heavy and take up a lot of room. I also have a circular bead carry case...which is great.  

But, I found this and like it even more...and it is cheaper! A win win! It's for medicine...it a pill keep. Each little compartment is actually four compartments...each open independently of the others. And there are fourteen of these...so room for 56 types of beads. Yes, you would only get abut 1/2 teaspoon of beads in each...but, that's a lot of beads if they were seed beads or little pearls.  

And the tapestry cover is too cute! I found this version at Miles Kimball online, and it was only $8.99 before shipping. So, think outside the box...the next time you need to travel with a crazy quilt project. And, another little traveling tip for you. If you are afraid that cases will "open" when traveling...put a little piece of surgical tape (like you get for holding gauze over a wound) over the lid and down the sides. It is easily removed and re-applied over and over again...much better than clear or packaging tape.