TAST, Week 12, Barred Chain, Alternating Barred Chain

Sharon B's stitch for the TAST this week was the barred chain, or alternating barred chain.  I decided to try the latter version, which was a new one for me.  I also added cast on flowers and a bead and am quite pleased with the result on my CQJP block for March.  I've got to get myself into gear to finish this one!

Seed Bead Botany Class

The past several weeks, I have had the pleasure of taking Nancy Eha's Seed Bead Botany on-line class offered by Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed this class, and look forward to the 2 more to come.  Here are a couple of my samples.  I even worked a beaded feather stitch with sequin flowers on my March CQJP block. 

On this block I also have my vines, and flower centers, all ready for next week's lesson, the flowers. 

TAST, WEEK 11, WHIPPED WHEEL

Seems like I am running late again, but I did do last week's whipped wheel on Sharon' B's TAST.  

For some reason, I have been too dense to get the instructions to do this stitch, but the lightbulb finally went off in my head.  I did a sample in purple. 

Then I did a couple on my CQJP block for January, the beach scene. 

I am loving the clear, precise pictures my I-pad-3 is able to take!

TAST, WEEK 9 COUCHING, WEEK 10 RUNNING STITCH

I didn't want to get too far behind on Sharon B's TAST .  Last week's stitch was the couching stitch.  For my example, I decided to make a paisley.

I started out by couching down some yarn with some
beads attached.  Only 2 beads ended up showing on this small sample though.  I used a herringbone stitch to couch this down.

My lighting is poor as am trying to get this posted before I go to work
this morning though. 

Next I did a pink chain round, then I couched black striped yarn down.
The next row, which is hard to see is a herringbone in a multicolored thread, then another chain round in another glizy thread. 

Finally I did a few running stitches in the middle.  Didn't have much
time to explore the running stitch this week.  On one of my days off
I had the pleasure of watching my almost 18-month-old grandson John.

Tomorrow I will share my naked March CQJP block.  I couldn't take any decent pictures at all of that block. Will try this evening when
the light is better

TAST, WEEK 8-CHAIN STITCH

 Last week's stitch was the chain stitch for Sharon B's TAST.

I am late posting this, and I have to admit that my example is something I did years, and years ago, specifically in the 1970's.  I had met my husband, and he romanced me with Neil Diamond songs on his guitar.  On one of Neil's albums, of which I had them all, he was wearing a shirt that appeared embroidered, and I embroidered my sweetheart this shirt.  This is only one side of it.  This is almost all chain stitch, and the chain stitches are so close together I can barely tell the stitches at all. 

I think he wore the shirt once, and someone took a picture of us.  That picture is going to be the subject of March's CQJP, and that was why I pulled this shirt out and took a look at it. 
Hard to believe that this is probably around 39 years old!

Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012-February

I finally finished my block for the CQJP for February.  I am really, really happy with this one.  I might go back to add more to my January block, but for today and tomorrow on my days off, I need to get busy with my March block.  Down near the big purple flower, I was so happy to receive my order from Gerry, of her hand-painted buttons.  I had always admired these, and was thrilled to be able to add one to this block of my maternal grandparents. 

I  think this one I embellished to the hilt, because they never had anything fancy, living in rural Arkansas in poverty in the 30's and 40's.  Out of eight children, my grandmother had 2 babies die in infancy, one after she had walked numerous miles to take her to the doctor.  Another son was murdered when he was 19 or 20, probably because he just got paid.  My mother was the baby of the family, and her mother died when she was 10.  She was subsequently raised by her older sister, who was 10 years older than my mother.  So I never met this grandmother, and saw my grandfather maybe 3 times in my early childhood.  I would have liked to have known this grandmother Mary Ellen as she was a quilter.  She made them mostly out of flour sacks but she did make quilts.  My mother always was saddened by the fact that her mother never got to make her a quilt, as she did some of her brothers and sisters.

TUSAL 2012 -February 2012

In January I found out about the TUSAL (Totally Useless Stitch A Long), and I kept seeing ORT jars being posted (Old Raggedy Threads).  I had been keeping my own jar all along of old threads.  Then Pat Winters kindly offered some ORT Labels to download, which I did.  I was too late to post last month, but I have my picture of my ORT Jar this month, which is posted at the new moon.  Doesn't look like I did much, but I have been stitching everyday.

TAST, WEEK 7, DETACHED CHAIN STITCH

This week, the stitch for Sharon B's TAST was the detached chain stitch.  I found quite a few examples of my previous work, plus I used it on my CQJP for February last week.

I used it 1 places on this block, it is hard to see because of the poor lighting this morning.  I am trying to get this posted before I go to work.  There are the light blue ones at the ends of the feather stitch, and the gold ones along a seam.




This next one has it at the ends of the lace, cluster of 3 detached chains.








This one has detached chains at on parts of the maidenhair stitch.


And this one, above the brass butterfly has a row of detached chains sitting on top of a string of pearls stitch. 

Well I want to get this posted before the next stitch is given. It will probably be up by the time I get home tonight.  I am getting close to the finish of my February CQJP block.  My next 2 days I am off, so I hope
to get my March block made and this one finished up.  Till next time...

TAST, WEEK 6, Chevron Stitch

Sharon B's stitch for TAST last week was the Chevron Stitch.  I don't know why, but this is not my favorite stitch, although I can see a lot of different things can be done with it, that I might like better than the basic stitch.  I only have one example this time, but I did take it beyond the basic stitch and I like what I did.  I stacked 2 rows of different colored Chevron on top of each other and put a bugle bead in between. 

Gypsy Feather

Another of my absolute favorite Etsy shops is Gypsy Feather.  Liz has delightful collections and bits of lace, trim, vintage jewelery that can be used in CQ or scrapbooking.  I always love visiting her shop, and get in trouble quite often!

Cathy's Crazy by Design

Cathy also has an Etsy shop here that I also recently purchased some golden-dyed laces and they came several days ago, and I am again thrilled with the beautiful laces.  Again my picture does not do them justice. 

NICKI LEE'S RAVIOLEE DREAMS-

I just wanted to plug some of my favorite Etsy shops.  Nicki Lee has some beautifully dyed laces, of which I bought some recently and am quite thrilled  Her Etsy shop is here. 

My photo does not do them justice, they are better seen on her site.  

TAST, WEEK 5, HERRINGBONE STITCH

Time got away from me this week, I had my stitches done, but my computer was not cooperating downloading my pictures. 

Sharon B's stitch for the TAST, week 5 was the Herringbone stitch.  I use this one frequently and have some samples from my WIP (works in progress) and my CQJP-February block. 

 This one is really hard to see, but the herringbone is in a cream-colored thread with blue beads.

 This is a double herringbone.

With detached chain stitches

This is one from my CQJP stacked on top of one another with beads where they connect

From another WIP, with elongated chains and wotj straight stitches crossing the herringbone stitches

Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012-February

Today, as it is my day off, I wanted to star working on my block for February for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project.  This is actually a re-purposed block.  It started out life as my block for one of Sharon B's online classes in Encrusted Crazy Quilting.  With the exception of my grandparent's picture, this was as far as it got, before life got in the way.  So for the month of February, I added their picture and am going to embellish this one.  But first thing I think I am taking off the turquoise bit of lace, or maybe it is the stupid looking ribbon flowers that are bothering me beneath it.  Something has to go, and I am going to figure it out first thing this morning and get going on it. 

TAST-2012, Week 4, Cretan Stitch

Sharon B's choice of stitch this week on Take a Stitch Tuesday was the Cretan stitch.  This is another one of my favorites and my examples this week happen to be on my Crazy Quilt Journal Project for January block.

Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012-January

I finished my January block for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project.  Mine is going to be all about family.  This was with my mother and 3 siblings.  I am the tall girl with the ugly bathing suit on.  I had a sullen look on my face that day because my picture is being taken in this really ugly bathing suit, while my little sister with the lovely curly hair has a pink bathing suit on with little ruffles!  This was a fun block to work on and brought back memories.  I made a first attempt at the same block but it was too pastel for me.  I am thinking of finishing that one and giving it to my sister for her birthday this year. 

TAST-2012, Week 3, Feather Stitch

Sharon B's stitch last week was the feather stitch which is absolutely my most favorite stitch. 

This is another example with feather stitch using my friend Rengin's 
beautiful oya flowers.

These pictures are all from a work in progress I am slowly working on.  I thought I took a picture of the whole piece, but apparently it didn't come out.  

TAST-2012, Week , Buttonhole Stitch

Week 2 of Sharon B's Take a Stitch Tuesday was the Buttonhole Stitch.  I use this a lot in quilting, and I love making buttonhole flowers and leaves.  The variegated thread I used didn't show up too good, but I didn't want to start over. 

TAST, Fly Stitch, Part 2

I added some more to my fly stitch from last week.  This is a weekly challenge from Sharon B's Take a Stitch Tuesday.  I decided I was going to put my little samples in a plastic sleeve and keep them in a notebook, so I went back and did a sample I could keep in the notebook.