Rags

Well, here she is. This is "Rags" short for "Ragamuffin" which is what she looked like when I finally caught her. She was only 5 weeks old when she followed Marshmallow and Lucky home. (The 2 cats we already had) It took me a week to catch her too. But she kept coming back to eat and sleep on the porch.
She likes to play with my stuff. I think her favorite is rewinding my threads under the dining room table! I started to hide things from her by putting a towel accross the table. That lasted a few days before she discovered what was under the towel!!
She also has a partner in crime. That would be Pepper, our cocker spaniel puppy. Pepper is actually a year old now and still chews anything she finds. Rags shares my stuff with her by knocking it off the table! Of course this is when they aren't chasing each other. Too funny.

Apologies and Thanks

I want to apologize and thank everyone who left a comment on my blog. I just found them!! Apparently I am moderating my comments and have to approve them before they get posted. It took me a while to find them. Thank you Iris for telling me you commented or I never would have gone looking for them. I think I am going to have to go change some settings here.
Thanks again for making my day!

Adventure in Tatting

This had been a very unproductive week. I'm glad it went fast. It certainly wasn't uneventful though. There is so much out there to learn and I finally gave in and tackled tatting. I went to Michaels with my 40% off coupon and picked up the book "Learn Needle Tatting Step- by- Step" by Barbara Foster.

Thursday evening was spent playing with this. Just before bed I thought I had "got it". You will never guess what I woke up to on Friday morning. My dining room floor was "decorated" with my spool of dmc pearl cotton that I used for the tatting. Tatting still attached of course. Yup, that cute little innocent looking kitten must have been up all night playing!! This thread was so entwined with every chair and the table that I had to use sissors to cut it all off. I wanted to take a picture but of course my camera batteries were dead. Sorry I can't share this image but I know I will never forget it. And it's not the first time she has played with my threads either. Now she knows how to get them out of my hiding spaces. I'll have to put some pictures of my 4 legged babies. They are all an adventure in some way or another!

As for the tatting, last night I was able to make a butterfly and a medallion. It really isn't as hard as I thought it would be. I think my background in crochet and especially in crocheting with thin cotton thread has helped. Now I'm looking foward to making more.

Now I can get back to my block from Sharons class. I wanted to add some tatting to itand now I can. I have added more to the seams and am up to some silk ribbon embroidery. Hopefully my next post will have an updated picture of my block and it won't be too long from now!

Hearts

I was busy stitching yesterday finally! It was about time I got started on making hearts for a group I joined. These are 6 inch hearts that are traded amongst each other. They have been trading some beautiful hearts. My fear is that they will be all traded out by the time I am ready. Well, that and that no one would want one of my hearts. I am such a critic of my own work. I really have to learn to relax!!
Now I just have to get faster at making these little things. I have a hard time deciding what to do one each one. For example, should I put a herringbone stitch here or a chain stitch? What color thread would be best? Decisions, decisions, decisions!!! lol This next heart (not pictured yet) is going a lot faster. I looked at it and picked a seam line. Gave myself the option of 2 stitches and just "did it". And it worked! Well, so far.
Anyway, here are my three finished hearts. Hearts 1 and 2 are in my favorite color scheme. Golds, burgundy, greens, tans. Autumn colors. Well, this years favorite! And the third one with the pastels was fun. I was really suprised. I thought it would be hard to work in those colors. And heart #4 is also in pink and green. Are pastels going to be my new favorite? I don't think so. When I went to the store to get some more I came home with a new suprise. Really really bright colors. We shall see what I do with those. It really is fun to work in a different color scheme.

Class Block

Here are two pictures of some seamwork on my class block. It is a 12" block so I have to scan it twice.
Beads should be added last and that makes so much sense. The threads won't get caught on them as you embroider more.And this has happened to me in the past. But... these unfinished seam treatments are really distracting me. They aren't done and I'm trying to figure out what I want to do next. My eyes just keep going back to the unfinished ones. A few beads here and a few more there. {sigh} We will see how long I hold out.
Today I want to dye some lace motif's to add somewhere. Not sure where yet. Or which ones. Decisions decisions decisions! lol I guess I'm going to have to go play.

Second Charity Block Completed

My scanner has been driving me nuts this morning. It kept telling me it was in use... well yeah! That was me trying to use it. lol Anyway, here is a picture of my second charity block completed. It was slow going as is everything else. I somehow cut my left thumb. Right in the middle. I don't know how I did it but it sure hurts everytime I use my finger. I never realized just how often I use it.
Since embroidery, beading etc. hurts my finger I deceided to do some piecing yesterday. What a mess I make. I had to pull out most of my fabrics so I wouldn't leave out something good! One of these days I will get organized!

New Block

The kids were supposed to go back to school today after having the last week off. 2 went back to school and 2 are still home with me. That darn stomach virus attacks again. grrrr
Since I still didn't mail out the Charity CQ Block I thought today would be a good day to make another one. They are small and fast. Once you get it pieced that is. lol This one went pretty fast too. The colors are completely off on this scan. Each patch is in that dark olive green family. At least the different textures show up.
Now wouldn't it be an accomplishment if I could post later today with a completed block!

Round Robin Block

The kids have been home this week so I haven't been able to be on the computer long enough to post anything.

I found this picture of another RR I was in. This one was "Les Coquettes" a Victorian RR. Here are my before and after photos. What a difference huh? It is so pretty!

This is just hanging on a wall in my sewing room with my other completed RR blocks. Not sure what I will do with them but it will be something special.

My Block

Here is a picture of my block. I only ripped it apart once. Not bad! I wonder how many blocks I have to make in this lifetime before it becomes "easy"?

Round Robin Block

Here is a picture of my block from my first RR (Round Robin). I love it! I was so nervous starting this but you have to start somewhere. I have now completed 4 RR's. I recommend these to anyone who has never tried one. To see a block up close just doesn't compare to the best pictures you can find. The different stitches, threads, motifs, etc.. And when a block comes home with stitching on it from your online friends just makes it so much nicer than one you could make yourself. So, just go for it!

I decided to show my block before it was sent out and then the completed block. Big difference huh!

Another day I'll post pictures of my other RRs.

Today I'm off to go play with my fabric for Sharons class. Fun!

Online Class

I took the plunge and signed up for an online class at Joggles. It is the encrusted crazy quilting class with
Sharon B. For anyone who hasn't seen her website it is not to be missed. The class starts today and I know that I will have a great time. I'm off to go read lesson #1.

Eye Candy

I had a few minutes and added a new link. This will take you to my webshots page. It worked for me and I hope it works for whoever cares to look.

Finished CQ Charity Block

I finished this block yesterday and am finally getting a chance to put the picture here. Unfortunately the beads don't show up in the scan. It is very hard to get a good picture on these colors. I was just in a RR with these colors. My block that came home is unbelievable! Maybe tomorrow I'll get a chance to post a picture of it.

Almost done

Here is a little update on the block I'm working on. I took this picture yesterday and have since added a bit. Still not done though. Getting there! I should finish this by this afternoon.

CQ Charity Block

Again, it's been some time since I've posted. I created this Blog to help motivate me to complete projects but if I don't post them I don't see how this will help! Hopefully I'll get into some sort of routine eventually.
My newest project is to make a CQ block for the The Crazy Quilt Benevolent Society. This is a fundraiser for breast cancer research and the advancement of crazy quilting. Doing something that I like and for a good cause too!
My block is all tans and will perhaps have all tan embellisments. I started to embroider before I remembered to scan it. Now wouldn't it be nice to see me post a completed block later in the day!!

Almost completed pouch

It sure has been a while. I was working on a crazy quilted pouch and have sewn it together. This picture doesn't show how "glitzy" this is. I have to sew up the sides and add a chain for the handle. I am very happy with it. Lets see how long it takes me to get this finished up! Now I'm thinking I just might need more of these in different colorways.

Motifs Completed

Well I did it! I finished my required three motifs for the swap. I hope whoever receives my motifs are happy with them. I'm looking foward to seeing what everyone else made.

Motif Swap

I have a project to work on today and thought I'd talk about it here. I am a member of a few online groups at Yahoo. These groups are a great way to meet and chat with people who have the same interests. I cannot say enough about the inspiration and encouragement that they offer!

At one group I have signed up for a Motif Swap. This requires everyone to make 3 different motifs approximately 2-4 inches. They will all be mailed to the swap hostess who will then "swap" them and you will receive 3 different motifs in return. That is the basic idea. I have completed 2 motifs and todays project is to start my third. There are sooo many possibilities the hardest part is to choose one. I "think" I will try my hand at a trellis with flowers. We shall see....

Here are the pictures of my first 2 motifs. An orange tree (If you couldn't tell!) And a Victorian Lady.

Beginnings

Hello and welcome to my blog. There are so many great blogs out there I don't really think that this one will compare. This is my own experiment. I am hoping that by creating this I will actually be tempted to complete something! I love to try new things or new ways of doing something. Unfortunately that seems to take me way off track of getting aything done.

My goal is to update this space at least once a week! And with an update on one project or another.

Wish me luck!!