Thursday Stitching

Due to the unseasonal heatwave, it was too hot to do all I wanted to do in the kitchen, so after lunch, I was able to do some stitching and get the next complete piece attached to the main cloth

 I added some prairie points to fit into the hexagons, and there is space to add knots later

 Piece as a whole

Close up of the latest addition.

I have one more piece in progress, but will need to measure and embellish some pieces to get this to the final size.  As I'm out all day, this will be a task for the weekend.

Another Section Complete

Wednesday was a good day for stitching and bit by bit, this next section was completed

As I was working, I had no idea what to do with the three sections on the left, but by the time I got there, I knew exactly what to do.

I even got some more Chinese knots made, this time, without inflicting torture to my fingers.

I am hoping to have time to attach this to the main piece today, but the kitchen is calling.  It needs cleaning, but then they boys want feeding, and there are pies to make, bread to bake and jam to jell.  Wonder if anyone will notice if I don't make it?

Tuesday Fun

 The lesson for today was Chinese knots.  To do this, you first need some covered piping cord.  The first one I tried, I messed up.  I panicked, it looked liked the end was sliding along the cord as I was pulling it back, so I stitched across to stabilise it, then realised, it was sliding down because it was doing what it was supposed to and was covering the cord.  With all the effort I ended up with a blister, but in the end it was worth it.

I have two Chinese knots.  I shall definitely make some more, finger permitting.

After that, it was onto something gentler, a hexagon making fest.

The little ones have already started appearing on the cloth, but there is more to do.

When I went up to damp stretch it at the end of the day, the first thing I saw was this:

a pile of pins where there shouldn't be any.

Apparently, Shylock decided this piece had finished damp stretching and he was going to help by removing the pins

I love Monday's

Especially when it's a Monday when everything goes to plan, and a lot seems to get done.

Pocket Flap attached

Inside Pocket

To the left of the pocket, prairie points further embellished with straight stitch and french knots

Narrow strip for filling in at right of pocket

With it own lift the flap

Stitching revealed underneath.

More cut outs reflecting the shape of the applique flower used before.  An old crocheted doilie was used to fill in the space behind.  This piece is a work in progress so will develop over the coming days.

Weekend Progress

A little more progress was made over the last couple of days.

 First, the embroidered points were folded and tacked ready to use

  The first was used at the side of the pocket, a decorated point was used on top of two plain ones.  This is the base of the pocket, the writing will be inside.  Top of pocket decorated with laced blanket stitch and french knots

This is the top of the pocket, complete with cut outs.  Hopefully, this can get attached to the main cloth today.

Embellishment has continued on this piece.  The french knots around the appliqued flower is now complete.  To the right is a line of laced blanket stitch and french knots. The piece at the top has been filled with cross stitch motifs.

All in a Day's Work

Yesterday was one of those days when I spent a long time doing something, but not a lot to show for it. I am sure it will become obvious later on in the proceedings.

The first thing on the list was to make a couple of hexagons, more will follow, but the first one was attached on the join between Daniel's piece and the main cloth,

 This is one of the pieces that is in progress with an appliqued "flower".

 And this one, is at the very early stages of construction, complete with prairie points,loops and pleated fabric.

 The day was spent mostly stitching on fabric for using later on.  This piece will be making prairie points, and a filling strip.

 This one will be cut up to make hexagons and  possibly a pocket.

All being well. more progress will be seen after today.  I still have to do cut outs, make the hexagons, and stitch them into place.

What a week!

It's been one of those weeks this week, I've had to go out several days for activities with Daniel, so stitching time has been at a real minimum.

I did get Jonathan's cloth added

Finished Daniel's cloth

And added to the main cloth.  This is the whole cloth so far.

I have two other pieces started and so far have used applique.  I need to do cutouts and hexagons this week and the new lesson is released today.  I'm hoping to have a good stitching weekend, and not a lot of going out time next week.

Giveaway Winners

Thank you to all those that entered for the giveaway and for all your lovely comments.  The winners are Nancy in Dallas, and Sue

As soon as I have the necessary addresses etc,  I shall post your goodies to you

Thanks again to every one that took part

Skill Builder Sampler-Beacon Light

A perfect block for using up more of my crumb fabric, but spot the not so deliberate mistake at the bottom!

Week Three

Time is certainly going quickly on the embroidery course and I'm enjoying every minute.  Here is a progress report so far.



 This is Jonathan's piece completed.  Jonathan wants me to make this into a book cover, though it would have to be a very special book, that didn't get a lot of handling, lol.  There are some quite open spaces, but these will be filled with rouleau loops and prairie points when it's joined to the main cloth.

This is Daniel's piece that should be finished today, it just needs a couple of finishing touches, then it will be ready for joining to the main piece later this week.

As I've finished Jonathan's piece, and getting to the end of Daniel's, I need more blocks to work on. I have one started and in the early stages or embellishment.



 This one features appliqued pieces, and the centrepiece will eventually become a flower.  The other technique to be used this week is cutouts.  I shall be putting a couple on Daniel's cloth and the next cloth yet to be put together.

Earlier in the week, the first two pieces were joined together.

  The prairie points were added in the seam and then embellished.  After feedback from Karen, some button hole lace was added above the prairie points.

This is the final result on that section.

Crumb Along With Me

As if I needed another project at the moment, but I thought this one would help  to get rid of some of the crumb pieces I have stored in a bag. 

The patterns can be found atJo's Country Junction and here is my adaptation of the first block.

Giveaway

 I've decided to have a giveaway.  The reason, because I want to, and because I can.

There is an opportunity for two winners, and you have the choice of these table toppers I've just made

It's simple, the giveaway is open to everyone, just leave a message on this post.  If you have a preference, please state which one you'd prefer, otherwise you get a chance for either one.  I shall pick the winners next week.

Good luck to you all

Skill Builder Sampler-Ohio Star and September heart

This week, I managed to get all the pieces facing the right way, so I do have a star.

Actually, this went together quite easily and quickly, so even though, there are triangles, I quite enjoyed doing this block.

As it was done so quickly, I transferred the September heart to fabric and now have that stitched as well.

I need to get up to date with Stitched Sunday and the crochet blocks.

A New Wallet

I can't say I've been very impressed with a lot of the projects in Mollie Makes, but one in the current issue did take my fancy.  After my wonderful son decided to leave his bag, complete with wallet in a taxi,  and wasn't able to find it, a new wallet was soon top of the needed list.  Out came all my black fabric.  I didn't have much, but there was just enough to make this.

 There are four pocket on the inside to hold all his cards and a button to keep it done up/

Next time, I'll make the button loop longer, to make fastening easier, and I think some pretty ones might be in the making too.

This month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge is black, and, at the moment,  I think this may be my sole contribution.  I'm not sure what I can do with the little bits I have left.

Embroider, Embellish, Create-Progress After Two Weeks

Two weeks are now completed, the first lesson of week three is released today, so I thought I'd share my progress so far.

 This is two pieces  completed and the two I am working on.

 Daniel's cloth is here, already with his name and date of birth stitched.  He has always been a very tactile child, so this will have lots of texture.  I've left some rough, fraying edges around the padded areas at the top.  This is because Daniel is well known for coming out with the wrong thing at the wrong time.  The large circle, and the stitched piece at the bottom are representations of a couple of carnivorous plants that Daniel grows.

The hanky on the right has been ruched ready for stitching in place.  Before ruching, I added hearts, Daniel's nickname and words that describe him.

 This is Jonathan's piece, although I've only stitched on the left so far.

 His nickname takes the place of his name, as this is what we use most of the time.  The stitched words on the left represent the types of books he reads on bookshelves, and of course a heart.  To the right of there, the piece is bordered by two rows of chain stitch that have another thread woven through.  I thought this looked just like bike chains, and at the moment, Jonathan is doing a lot of cycling.

This is the handkerchief stitched in place, and well worth the sore fingers I now have.  The first thing Daniel did was to touch it, as I knew he would, and he even picked out the parts of the words that were showing on the top.

More details can be found on my flickr page

This week, the pieces will begin to be joined together which will change the look of everything again.  Can't wait for the rest of this week.

mystery Monday-Finish single block Two

This is the second block left over from the mystery Monday quilt top.  I managed to find fabric pieces large enough to add the borders, making this about fifteen and a half inches square.  The backing is the same as the first table topper, and I used some brown for the binding.  This one has a much more Autumn feel to it.

I've also managed to find buttons for the little jacket, so that is now completely finished.

From the same place that I bought the buttons, I managed to find another pattern for girl's jackets that I liked, so, sometime in the near future, another jacket will be appearing.  

Mystery Monday-finish single block one

Thank you to all those that suggested using this blocks in the back.  I had thought of that, but decided to make table toppers out of them.

  Again, I've gone through my scraps and stash to find the borders and backing.

 I added two borders, so now it's the right size for a small table topper.

Some of the backing was also used for the binding.  I quilted in the ditch to keep it simple.  Now I will have to see what I've got for the second block.