HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Happy 4th to all those who celebrate.  I have my patriotic quilts displayed in my house.  Going to enjoy a barbecue this afternoon at my daughter Kristen's house, and look forward to getting together with my other daughter Katie too, their husbands, and all 4 grandchildren.  Hope everyone has a great 4th!

TAST-WEEKS 24, 25, 26

Before I get too far behind in the TAST-2012 I wanted to post my samples, which are just the basic stitches, nothing fancy.  You can find out more about Sharon B's Take a Stitch Tuesday here.  I am amazed and visually delighted each week to see everyone's wonderful work.  Right now, working full time, I am pleased to get the basic stitches done, because this was one of my goals this year, to finish the TAST to completion. 

This was my sample of the Buttonhole Wheel

This was my sample of the cable chain, which took me quite a few tries to get it.  For some reason I had difficulty with this one.

This was my sample of the Palestrina Stitch.  This one was another one I have never done and I like it.   So now I am caught up until next week. 






My brother and his wife are visiting the end of next week, so have been busy trying to get the house in order.  Cleaning up some of my stitching messes!~

CQJP-2012-May

I finally finished my Crazy Quilt Journal Project block for May.  This one is of my parents on their wedding day, January 14, 1950.

Now to get to my June block ...

Sumptuous Surfaces Class

The past 4 weeks, I have been taking Sharon Boggan's Sumptuous Surfaces Class and am having a great time.

If you ever have the opportunity to take one of Sharon's classes you should.  She shares a wealth of information and they are so much fun.  I am constantly amazed at the wealth of information she shares in her classes.  This was my first project in monotone.   My next 2-1/2 days off, starting today at noon, I need to get my second project prepped.  I am thinking about making a coordinating piece for my second project, framing them both and putting them in my newly redone bathroom.

TAST-WEEKS 21&22

Catching up on Sharon Boggan's Take a Stitch Tuesday. I wanted to get these posted before today's stitch comes out.  We had a week's vacation in Nevada, and opal mined 1 day, and I found some pieces.  Anyway for the stitches:


Week 21 was the Butterfly Chain, another new one for me and is posted below.

Week 22 was the Knotted Cretan, and it is seen below.  I added some chain stitches and French Knots to them also.  

TAST-WEEK 20-BULLION KNOT

The stitch Sharon B. chose for this week's Take a Stitch Tuesday was the Bullion Knot.  I have done these in the past and the examples below are some I did in a Brazillian Embroidery round robin I was in. 

Both of these designs I purchased  from JDR Brazillian Embroidery Elegance.

I am working on another sample of Bullion Knots, but am not quite finished.  Am also busy with my
Sumptuous Surfaces Class by Sharon B, and getting ready for vacation next week.  Only have 3 more days to work and I'm off for 6.

TAST-Week 19-Half Chevron

Last week's stitch for the Take a Stitch Tuesday being run by Sharon Boggan was the Half Chevron.  This was another new stitch for me.  I didn't get very far with it, just the basic stitch. 

Last week was a busy one.  In addition to working full time, I also am committed to doing the CQJP this year, so I got May's block made, which I need to get busy on.  Also I started Sharon B's Sumptuous Surface Embroidery class and have been busy working on my design in my little bit of free time.  Today I am heading
to jury duty and I don't mind serving this week if chosen, but next week is my vacation, and I sure hope I
don't get a long trial!  We'll see in a couple of hours.  Right now, I want to go dye some laces for my May
CQJP block before I head out for jury duty.  This month my block will be my parents' wedding picture.

TAST-Week 18-Crossed Buttonhole

The stitch Sharon B chose this week for the TAST was the Crossed Buttonhole.  This was one I have never
tried, and I liked it.  I chose to do mine sample on a piece of wired ribbon which I can add to my work at a later date.  I also added lazy daisy and some beads.  My picture isn't the greatest as the light is not so good
early this morning.

CQJP-2012-April Block

My April CQJP is the wedding picture of my dear inlaws.  My father-in-law was in the Navy,  and my mother-in-law cleverly made herself a uniform.  I always thought this was the cutest picture of them, and such happy  faces. 

The lace fan in the corner I was happy to purchase from Cathy's Crazy by Design Etsy Shop.

The hand-painted pansy button I purchased from Gerry Krueger's Older Rose Etsy Shop.

I had fun with this block, and fond memories of my in-laws. 

My May CQJP block will be my parents' wedding picture.  I got the block pieced today so I will be able work on it before I go to work tomorrow.

TAST-WEEK 17-WHEATEAR STITCH

The stitch this week on Sharon B's TAST was the Wheatear stitch.  I have tried this one before, but really never liked the way mine turned out.  I tried it again, and this one will I will definitely use in the future. 

I did it again with some beads on a block I am working on for
my sister for her birthday. 

TAST-WEEK 16, FRENCH KNOTS

Last week, Sharon B's stitch of the week in the TAST was French Knots.  I decided to put some in my wool basket I had previously worked on.  It's hard to photograph due to the basket being set on point. 

Peacock in Paisley

As I mentioned before, I had been taking some online classes from Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions.   The one I finished up this morning was Betty Pillsbury's Peacock in Paisley.  I had a lot of fun with this class, and the class kit was offered in my favorite colors!  Betty is going to be offering some more classes through Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions, and right now has a "Take it Anytime Class" on Faux Pearl Embellishment.

TAST, WEEK 15, Stem stitch

Sharon B's TAST stitch last week was the stem stitch.  This is a
very familiar one to me.  This stem stitch here is going to be part of something else on my April CQJP.  This was done using DMC Pearl cotton #8.

This sample was done using Kreinik  Very Fine Braid, which I have just started using for the first time.


Nothing too imaginative last week.  I have been taking some on-like classes as I have mentioned before.  Nancy Eha's Seed Beed Botany Class through Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions ended last week, but there is a new one starting May 22nd.

This week is the last week for Betty Pillsbury's Peacock in Paisley, also through Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions.

I have also signed up for Dyeing to be Beautiful- 3 Lessons by Christen Brown which starts in June.  I done some dyeing myself, but would like to learn more.

I really am looking forward to Sharon B's Sumptuous Surface Embroidery Class in May which is apparently closed.  I have been busy collecting my threads for that.

Today and tomorrow are my days off, and I need to get busy on my Peacock in Paisley, my CQJP and the
TAST stitch of this week, French Knots. 

Seed Bead Botany Class

This was the last week of Nancy Eha's Seed Bead Botany on-line class offered by Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions.   I have had a great time with this class, and sorry to have it end.  They are offering another class May 22nd if anyone is interested. 

This shows my sample of green and purple grapes, although
they don't show up too good on this patch of fabric.  

This was my first attempt at raspberries.  I need to
work on my leaves though.

This was my second practice with the raspberries, until I ran out of beads.  Will have to go look for some berry-colored beads this week.  I want to do some blackberries too.  This is on a very, very slow work in progress (VVSWIP).  It was the class piece I worked on a number of years ago in my first Judith Baker Montano Class.  One of these days I will finish up this because I really love it!

Time to go to work.  Happy Easter everyone who celebrates!

CQJP-March 2012

 I finally finished my March block for CQJP.  This is of John and I in about 1973.  He romanced me with Neil Diamond songs, and I embroidered him a shirt. 

This block has a lot several of my Seed Bead Botany lessons that I took on Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions by Nancy Eha.  The lesson today was about berries, grapes and wisteria, using the beaded satin stitch. 

This is a closer look at my wisteria.  Well I have played all
afternoon, and tonight we are celebrating John's BD which is tomorrow.  Just wanted to post this before I start fixing dinner. 

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