Wednesday 29 February 2012

Second Pebble

The second pebble is now complete.  Here are some of the secrets beneath the surface.
This is a corn cushion, which I then trimmed,

and trapped it with a few stitches between two pieces of calico.

Next, this tiny muscle shell,

goes next to the ring,  The embellishing can then commence.

This is the stitching complete, a button has been added too.

Made up into a pebble,

And a beginning of a collections.

Tuesday 28 February 2012

Embroidered Pebble

Over on Stitchin' Fingers, Deb and Marjolein posted a new challenge.  They asked if anyone would be interested in creating embroidered pebbles with them.  The idea came from an article in the Stitch magazine.  The instructions can be found here - http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/projects/encrustingcalico/index.html
The response has been amazing, with some wonderful examples of embroidery created.

Of course, I wanted to join in, and over a couple of days, my pebble was born.

This was so much fun to do, I am already planning another.  Next time, I shall post progress pictures to show how the various elements are made.  I had them covered up before I'd even thought about it this time.

Monday 27 February 2012

For Want of a Button

You would think it would be easy buying buttons, but it's always one of those things that gets forgotten, or only done when it fits in with something else.
I did go and buy buttons for this little jacket some time ago, but due to a brain malfunction, I came home with one too few.  The extra button has taken a long time to find it's way back home, but it's done now.  Eventually!

I like the style of it, it's like a dress jacket, perfect for a little lady,

and the sleeves follow the same pattern on the cuffs.

This mohair jacket has been waiting for a somewhat longer period of time for it's buttons.  Just let's say a lot was going on at the time this one was finished.  It was before I moved, and as you know, time flies.  We've been here five years!  This poor thing has been folded in the drawer waiting patiently.  Now, the buttons are on, and I have a new blanket with sleeves to keep me warm.

De Stash page has been updated, more magazines and some buttons!

Sunday 26 February 2012

In Full Bloom

Now all the stitched pieces are up to date, it was time to catch up on cutting the fabric and making a start on making the blocks.
First, all the fabric was cut,

Then the stitched pieces were trimmed, tacked and appliqued onto the background blocks.

Lastly, the Broken Dishes Blocks were made up.  More of these will be done each month, as long as I keep up, that is.

Saturday 25 February 2012

Hexagon Mat

I couldn't give up on trying a hexagon mat, so I thought about sewing it to some fabric, right sides together, adding some wadding and turning to the right side.
That was rather fiddly, and may not have been helped by listening to Bat Out Of Hell by Meatloaf!  However, eventually, I got it turned all the way through and then machine stitched around the edge to close the pocket, and make it all sit neatly. 

I did it, but I think I prefer it appliqued onto fabric, but you never know until you try these things.  The crumb block was much more satisfactory.

Friday 24 February 2012

Hexagon Flower

After the slight detour, I did get to make the green hexagon flowers.
I even made an extra one, not in the photo to make a candle mat to match the red one.  However, I didn't have any green fabric, that was enough of a contrast for the background.  Never mind, it will go in the bag, and will wait for a brain wave or find it's way into the quilt at the end of the year.

Thursday 23 February 2012

Hexagon Needle Case

On the way to making the hexagon flowers for this month, I got a little distracted.  You know how it goes, you read a blog that then points you to something else.  You click on it, and think, I just have to do this.

Well, I got put in this direction- http://www.designsbyfee.com/2011/10/hexagon-needle-book-tutorial.html.  As I like hexagons, and little needle cases always come in useful, I had to give it a go.  I used the last of my tiger fabric.  (I can't remember where it came from, but it's has seemed never ending!)
Inside is lined with felt for the pins and needles, and the ribbon fastens it all closed.

I had to use a complimentary fabric on the back.

Be warned, it's an easy enough project to make, but it's very easy to get into a sticky mess, I even managed to get glue in my hair.  Gaynor, if you're reading this, you would have been proud of the mess I made!

Now the first one is out of the way, the next one will be easier to do, I'd love to do some with "pretty" fabric.

As an aside, I've had to enable comment moderation as I've been getting unwanted, spam messages advertising inappropriate products.  As soon as the problem dies down, I shall remove it.  It's not something I like doing, but sometimes these things become necessary.

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Green Hearts

The green just keeps on coming.  To match the red hearts of January, I now have green hearts for February.
I didn't have enough of the bottom fabric, so it has a contrasting piece across the back.
Now, onto the hexie flowers.

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Flower Pots

This is the last of February's stitchery blocks for the Lynette Anderson BOM.  Now to catch up on cutting fabric and making up blocks.

Monday 20 February 2012

Rice Bags

Back in December, there was a brilliant tutorial on Sew We Quilt for rice bags. They're fantastic to use as heat pads, and also ice packs. I thought they'd be perfect to use up some of the scraps in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, and to keep as gifts.
This is the inner bag, sealed and part filled with rice. This fits perfectly into it's washable pillowcase.

Definitely more flexible than a hot water bottle.




De stash page updated

Sunday 19 February 2012

Green Pincushion

In between the stitching, I haven't forgotten to continue using my green fabric for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
I now have a green pincushion to go with the red one.  Certainly easier to do the second time around.

Saturday 18 February 2012

Birdhouse

These are coming along quite quickly now, helped by the fact, they're all stitched using the same threads.  This will really tie them together throughout the whole quilt.  One more to go for this month.

Friday 17 February 2012

Tree

Here's the next stitchery for the Lynette Anderson BOM.  That's January's stitching complete.

I had to laugh, Daniel was looking at the packet this came in, and started talking to me about BOM's.  How wonderful is that, a 13 year old boy who knows that BOM stands for Block Of the Month.  His only complaint was that it should have been 12months not six!

Thursday 16 February 2012

The Garden Bench

I decided to treat myself at the beginning of the year and bought myself a Lynette Anderson, BOM.  It involves two things I enjoy, stitching and quilting.

The first part came at the end of January, followed very quickly with the second part the first week of February.  Each month has two little stitcheries, so guess what?  I'm catching up with something else.  I want to get the stitching done first, then I can start cutting fabric to make up the blocks.

This is the first one, The Garden Bench, and once I started, it was quite enjoyable to do.  All the stitches are ones I know and enjoy, so no stress involved at all. 

There are two more weeks to this month, so hopefully, there will be plenty of time to do the other three.  The next one has less stitching to do, so should be quick to do.

Wednesday 15 February 2012

The Last Four

I am now caught up with the blocks, the last four are done.  Trouble is, I'm sure the next delivery is due in the next week or so.

Tuesday 14 February 2012

FMQ-Feather

This months design was a feather stitch, and it looked so easy in the instructions.  However, looks can be deceiving.
This is definitely a practise block, it looks like a child's scribble!  I was just beginning to get the hang of the movement when the phone rang, and it was like starting again from fresh.

It doesn't look as bad as I thought when you look at the back.  The initial shape, I can do, but I find the hard part is mirroring the shape coming back and keeping to the same distance from the stitching.  I think I shall have to keep practising, that's what challenges are all about!

Monday 13 February 2012

Three More

The catch up continues, three more blocks completed.   I've decided I don't like doing the bobbles.  They are easier than knitting them, but I still don't like doing them, lol.  Must admit, they do look good in the overall pattern of the afghan.

Just to let you know, the de stash page has been updated

Sunday 12 February 2012

TAST 2012-Chevron Stitch

This is another stitch I quite like working, but usually do it in rows.
For this hexagon, I did the rows together to form a diamond pattern.


I also did a line of up and down chevron stitch, finished with a couple of detached chain stitches on the straight stitches.  They looked like little men, standing in a row.
This is how the one piece looks now. just three more hexagons to be filled.

Saturday 11 February 2012

A Finish

It may have been a bit later than I was expecting, but I got to it eventually.  I used a darker red for the backing and binding,  The quilting was done free motion, and it didn't turn out as bad as I was expecting.
The quilting is seen on the back easier than the front.

This is the finished article.  It can be used as a table topper, or hung on the wall. so very versatile.

Friday 10 February 2012

Five Down......


.....Seven more to go!
It's catchup time again for the crochet blocks.

Thursday 9 February 2012

Small Quilts

Over on The Small Quilt Talk Yahoo group, Kathleen Tracey of A sentimental Quilter is posting a monthly challenge.  Each month of this year, she is choosing one of the quilts from her books for the group to do.  Those that have the books can follow the pattern, or the one Kathy has adapted and posted to the group.
I don't have a copy of her books, so I just adapted it, and did it from the picture, choosing my own sizes.  The fabric I used, was from a red and white fabric swap I did last year.

The top is done, now I need to get it ready to quilt and finish. 

Wednesday 8 February 2012

More Green

I am trying to mirror the blocks I made in red to end up with three rainbow quilts at the end of the year.
With that in mind, I have a green string block,

And three crumb blocks. By this time, it was beginning to get dark, so the colour is distorted, but you get the idea. There is still plenty of green, so I think I should get some bookmarks, and hexagon flowers made too.

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2012-Green

When it was announced that green was the colour for February, I didn't think I had much green to play with.  However, it seems I was very much mistaken.
I have six green blocks to go with my six red blocks, and there are even some extra squares leftover.  I shall have to decide what to do with them another day.

On a side note, the de stash page has been updated

Monday 6 February 2012

Orange Houses

This month, Terry and I, and several others are building orange houses.  This month, I have two houses the same.
I like these ones a lot better than the red.  Next month is yellow, so I shall be looking out for some fabrics.

After building the houses, I even managed to get another bonus crumb block.  Keep going like this and I shall soon have enough for a quilt.

Sunday 5 February 2012

TAST-Herringbone Stitich

Herringbone stitch is another I like, possibly because of it's resemblance to cross stitch.
I used a line of it to couch down the edge of the lace, and then put in a french knot in each of the spaces of the little cups.

On this hexagon, I did two rows of double herringbone in a thicker thread.

I am now all caught up, unless I get another flash of inspiration and add something else, otherwise, I am waiting for next weeks stitch to be revealed.