Leaves sampler

Leaves sampler
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

I just had to sit and try this. I marked the outline with pencil and filled in using different stitches. For the top row I used cretan stitch on the left and on the right I used herringbone stitch. The bottom row I used my old favorite the fly stitch and then the chevron stitch.
I sat down and did the cretan stitch and fly stitch to compare them. I had a little time yet and decided to catch up on some blog reading. While at Jo's blog I saw a leaf she did in herringbone stitch and loved it. I just had to try that one also. And then the chevron. Unfortunately I can't do this all day but I will hopefully continue trying this shape with other stitches. So, thanks Jo for the inspiration! What fun!!

Cretan Stitch Sampler

Cretan Stitch Sampler
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

I think this is the first time I have ever sat down and started and finished something in one evening! This is my Cretan stitch sampler. Cretan Stitch is for week 4 with Sharons TAST. I very rarely use this stitch as my brain just can't seem to grasp it. I have to have the directions in front of me and even then I have to do some frog stitching. However I do like the first row I've done here for CQ. It is great with the spacing to add sequins, beads etc.. and then the point going up or down is great for adding onto.
To do this sampler I had to pull out Elegant Stitches by Judith Baker Montano. I could have used any of a few other books I have but this one was the first that caught my eye. I'm so glad that I did. On page 50 is the directions for this stitch but on page 51 was directions for using the cretan stitch to make a leaf. I love the way these came out. I tried it with three different spacings. I have always used the fly stitch to make leaves. I'm going to try to make some more today both ways and compare them.

Detached Chain Stitch Sampler

I finally finished my detached chain stitch sampler. This is week 3 from Sharons TAST. I am trying to stitch to one stitch on each sampler. This is getting harder and harder to do. I think I'm going to have to make up some CQ blocks that I can work on simultaneously. I really didn't want to do start that since I know just how distractable I am. While I make up my mind I'll go start my next sampler.

Snowman Stitchery Wallhanging

Snowman Wallhanging
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

Isn't this a cute little wallhanging. Since it is cold here in NY I was finally motivated to finish this. I'm not too sure where I got the pattern from but I think I just googled snowman coloring page or something like that. I used three seed beads for the berries with the holly leaves on the snowman's hat. All the stitching is done with 2 ply embroidery floss. The finished size is 10 by 11 1/2.
This is now hanging where the scarecrow wallhanging was. I'm going to have to come up with something to replace this for the spring. I would love to have something with hearts for Valentines Day but am sure I wouldn't finish it in time.
Tomorrow I will have some sitting time in the Dr. office so I need to have some small stitching to keep me occupied. Off to google bunnies and tulips!

Flower Basket Quilt

Flower Basket Quilt
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

This is a quilt I made for myself. The background fabric was given to me by a neighbor. It was in a box in her moms garage with other fabrics.I think it is a soft cotton like flannel. Is that called brushed cotton? Anyway, I only have a small piece left. The basket fabrics were from my stash and of course I only have a small piece of the yellow and blue left. Nothing is enough for a border. That is how this became a UFO (unfinished object). I need fabric for the back of this quilt. I really should learn to piece my backs.

Ohio Star Quilt

Ohio Star Quilt
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

I mentioned that I rearranged my sewing/laundry room the other day. I came across this quilt I made many years ago. It was going to be a gift for my Great Aunt Rose. The quilter in the family and the inspiration to all the quilters in my large family. It was the first quilt that I machine quilted. I sewed on the diagonal criss crossing over the entire quilt. I thought it was coming along quite well. When I was done I looked at the back for the first time. I just cried and cried. Every intersection had puckered. That was a lot of intersections. I had ruined the quilt I made for my Aunt.
Well, through the years I would pull this out and pull out those stitches. I just finished pulling out those last stitches last night.
After this quilt I purchased a walking foot. And of course I don't have any white thread so it is back to the UFO pile for this quilt. I hope it doesn't stay there too long.
I showed this to my Mom and I think it will go to her. She already has one I made at the same time which is a similar pattern. That one was machine quilted with a walking foot so there were no problems. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of it. I'll have to try to remember to take a picture when I'm there next time.

DYB RR

DYB RR block#5
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

I was rearranging my sewing room again. It just wasn't working the way I had set it up. I even sat on the floor and sorted my fabrics by color. Well, my quilting cottons that I keep in a big tub under the table. Joanns had a good sale and I picked up more fabric to make a quilt to match the wallhanging that I finished. If that room wasn't such a mess all the time I could have pieced a quilt by now!
I finally found my blocks from a DYB RR that I was in. This was a great RR!! A lot of fun. I am planning to put my blocks together into a wallhanging. I laid them all out and was intimidated by them! They are such great blocks I really didn't know where to start on the one I have to finish. I was actually thinking I would just use the 5 completed bocks. Chicken that I am! I'm going to have to hang these blocks up until I get inspired to finish the last one.
This weeks stitch in TAST is detached chain. This was the first stitch I learned as a child but I called it lazy daisy. And I am sad to say that I can't remember who taught it to me. I hope it was a book and that is why I can't remember. I haven't started that sampler yet. Behind already! Seems to be the story of my life.

Buttonhole Stitch Sampler

Buttonhole Stitch Sampler
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

Sharons TAST for this week is buttonhole stitch. I use this stitch frequently in my CQ also. There is so much you can add to the bar of this stitch. Here is a picture of my sampler so far. I'm not adding anything for this sampler (I think). I am trying to stick to working just the stitch for a fabric book of stitches. I have so many ideas of what to do with these but so far I am leaning towards this one. Perhaps make another one with stitch combinations. These are only 6 x 4 so if I sit long enough I can finish these up. Sounds easy huh!! LOL

Herringbone Sampler

Herringbone Sampler
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

I finished my Herringbone Sampler. I only used DMC Pearl Cotton #8 for this sampler. I was trying to keep it simple and just show the stitches. I used a varigated green and then added a little yellow and purple. My outline is very crooked. I went the lazy way and didn't mark the edges. Oh well, live and learn.
This is a great stitch and I like to use it in my crazy quilting. It has lots of openings for other stitches and beads or especially sequins.
I'm looking forward to the next stitch!

Happy New Year!

OK, I'm a little late. But it is the thought that counts. I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year! 2006 ended here with some health and family issues. Hopefully 2007 will be better.

My family loved the Christmas ornaments that I made. I forgot to bring them for Christmas but my sister had the family over her house before New Years. Everyone picked one. I am planning on sewing up some more and just having them on hand when I'm in the mood for something small and fast. I have quite a bit of Christmas fabric and was thinking that a tote bag of some sort would be a great place to store something like this. Something that I can hang on the wall behind the sewing machine would be perfect. Otherwise I will lose it. lol Besides, out of sight, out of mind!

Sharon has started TAST. I love the herringbone stitch and have started a sampler. I'm almost done and will get a picture up. I have to connect the scanner. Fingers crossed that it will not become a time consuming thing.

While not one to make new year resolutions (since I won't keep them anyway! lol) I am hoping to accomplish more this year. My problem is that I enjoy too many things! I tend to project hop. A little more focus would be a good thing. Hopefully there will be a lot of pictures this year of all the things I create!

Happy New Year from a very warm and spring like New York!

Jones Beach

Jones Beach
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

Yesterday we took a walk on the boardwalk. It was a beautiful day here in NY but a bit chillier at the beach. I was sorry I didn't bring my scarf. There were a few people out walking too. We walk one mile and then it's one mile back to the car. Much better than walking around the block. One of these days my husband will be able to walk a bit further. He tires before I do.