Another Heart

Here is another picture of a heart that I made. I forgot to put it in the last post. I think this one would be considered vibrant with all those rich colors. And there is a picture in the center of a fairy.

More Chain of Hearts

I have been a little busy trying to make more hearts for the chain of hearts group. I am trying to use colors that I normally wouldn't use. For example red and yellow aren't colors that I would normally go for. Not that I dislike them. I really do love all colors.

Chain of Hearts

I am playing "catch-up" with my blog. Here are a few hearts that I received. I am really glad that I joined this group. I have no plans yet for these hearts because I have too many plans! lol I keep changing my mind.


The cream one is from Renea. I don't know if you can see that there is lace behind the silk ribbon roses. Great idea! Just beautiful.


This heart is from Jakkie. Another beauty! Look at the button cluster. I love it with the seed beads. And if you can see it she hand painted the center white button. And sent me another one. Wow!

Flickr Link

I just realized that I didn't add a link to my blocks for the DYB RR. They are on my Flickr site here. This is a picture of just one block. I made very bright blocks. Way out of my comfort zone so it was fun!

DYB RR

I haven't posted anything in a long time! My youngest son needed eye surgery. That is over and done with and his eyes are looking better each day! Thank goodness. Now I am able to breathe again. I was so overwhelmed by this that I wasn't able to do anything creative. I just couldn't make a decision. Not that that is ever easy for me on a good day! lol But I think I'm back now.

I am in a RR with CQInternational. This is a DYB one. You get to complete an entire block and then pass them on. There are 6 of us so there are 6 blocks. These blocks will be traveling to California USA, Oregon USA, Japan, Colorado USA, New York (me) USA, and Alberta Canada. I should be so well traveled!

Here is a picture of one of Leslies blocks that I was finally able to finish. I hand dyed the silk ribbon. And I made the needle tatted butterfly on the bottom!! It took a few tries before I had something that resembled a butterfly. lol My inspiration for this block was the butterfly charm in the center. The package says "Pure Allure Floral Inspirations" Floral sliders featuring Swarovski Crystals. They are beautiful. I also picked up some yellow ones. There are other colors but the store was out of them. I will be looking for more! The lace motif is painted using Lumiere by Jacquard. I think that there is a bit too much gold in the piece. When I dabbed at it to remove some, all that came off was more color. I will have to play with this a bit more. And that's not a bad thing!

I'll be back shortly with a few more pictures I have to share.

Heart Received

In yesterdays mail there was something just for me. I love when that happens. It was a heart from the chain of hearts group. This one was from Jo in New Zealand. Isn't it pretty! Of course the picture doesn't do it any justice. I am so glad I joined this group. I have to make more of these hearts.

More Hearts

I just realized that I didn't post 3 other hearts that I have completed. In fact, 2 are already swapped! These hearts are fun to make and it sure is fun to receive some in the mail too! I have a few more that are in varying stages just not completed yet.

Chain of Hearts

I received my first heart from the Chain of Hearts group at yahoo. This is from Susan. Isn't it beautiful!

It has been way too long since I have posted anything! And I thought this blog would help keep me focused and possibly complete something. Lots of things going on though. I will start with a picture of a block I have made for CQMagonline. It is aTeddy Bear theme and the blocks will be for Juvenile Diabetes. I had a lot of fun making this. I have to add a label and then get this in the mail!

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.