Valentines Day ATC's

Valentines Day ATC's
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

I made these ATC's for my kids for Valentines Day. I wanted to do something a little different. I saw something on TV and it caught my eye. Well, this is different! And fun too. I used a stiff interfacing material. I really wish I could remember what is called. I picked it up at Walmart. Anyway, I cut a piece 5 X 7. I used a piece of cotton fabric that was made to look like a batik as the background. I then laid down some fancyish crochet trim. Just randomly laid it around. I cut out some freehand small hearts using a purple and bright pink fabric. Oh, and some pink snippits. I added some red tulle on top of this to hold everything in place. I did some free motion sewing throughout the top and zig zag stitched around the edges. I cut it into 4 pieces and stitched around the edges that were left and wa la!! 4 ATC's.
Of course the kids don't know what to make of them. ha ha But that's ok! I told them they all now have a little piece of art work from Mom. I'm sure if I looked close enough at least one of them rolled their eyes! Kids.. gotta love them!
Hope whoever reads this had a lovely Valentines Day!
Oh and if your are in a rut like I am, want to do something, have plenty to do, just not sure what you want to do, well, try something different! It sure was fun. And isn't that why creative people like to create things.

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.

Lesson 2 Sampler 001

Lesson 2 Sampler 001
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

This picture should link to flickr.

Embroidery Sampler

I finally completed my sampler from lesson 2. This was a lot of fun. I used crewel wool to make the woven (whipped) wheels. These really stand up off the fabric! I used wool, pearl cotton 5, and 6 strands of floss for the fly and chain stitches. I used wool for the french knots. There are seed beads in the center of the wheels and a few trailed along also. I love to add sequins to my CQ. Here I used one strand of floss using straight stitches to hold down the sequins. I then wove around the spokes to create the center. I can see I will be having alot more fun with my sequins in the future!
I'm not too sure that I actually followed lesson 2 but I am off to read lesson 3 now. I don't want to get too far behind. And there is so much in each lesson I will be going back and forth for some time! Thanks Sharon!!

gold heart christmas ornament

gold heart christmas ornament
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

I finished another gold Christmas ornament last night. Now I'm thinking that I'd like to do another shape. I'm going to have to go play for a while and see what I come up with.

gold heart christmas ornament

gold heart christmas ornament
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

Here is a picture of my latest Christmas ornament. For this one I chose gold on gold. The threads that I used are pearl cotton, edmar rayon frost, dmc floss and dmc rayon. And of course beads!

christmas exchange 007

christmas exchange 007
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

I was in a Christmas exchange with the CQInternational yahoo group. This is what I made for my swap partner. It is a pouch, needlebook and a pincushion. I had such a great time making these until it came to sewing the pouch together. I kept putting it together wrong! Very frustrating! But well worth it as my partner has received this package and likes it!
I made up the pouch and needlebook patterns on my own but the pincushion pattern I found here.
Sorry if that doesn't link.

Sampler 2

Sampler 2
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

Here is a picture of my second completed sampler. This is different variations of the feather stitch. And again I used different threads. Pearl cotton #8, wool, floss, rayon and silk.
The class is up to lesson 3 and this sampler is still from lesson one. I'll catch up eventually.
I'm thinking of trying something new for the next sampler. These 2 are a bit structured. I'm going to try something more "fun" next. And I wanted to work on something not counted. I'm tired of trying to count threads. I'd rather just eyeball it. I found another fabric, a bit stiffer. It is white and I might try to paint or dye it tomorrow. See, more fun already!

Imagine That

I can hear Grandma say those words! Imagine that... The missing walking foot is exactly where it should have been, in that compartment that holds the extra feet.
While tearing apart my sewing room looking for this I came across some waylaid bobbins. I just sat down to sew together 2 more Christmas ornaments and figured I'd better put these bobbins away "before" the cat gets them. There it was. You would have thought that I looked there first! Now if I would always put things where they belong I'd get a lot more done in a day.

Christmas Ornaments

Christmas Ornaments
Originally uploaded by sewquilty.

I kept my fingers pretty busy yesterday. I finished this ornament. This is the last white on white one that I made. I know my younger sister is going to go for these white ones.
Next up are the 2 gold ones I've made. One is all embellished and the other is just waiting for a few more beads. Then I can sew them up. Wouldn't it be nice if I get to those today. I'll be back with pictures when I get them done.
It really is a great feeling to start and finish a project in such a short time. I think this is the best I've done with Christmas ornaments ever! Well, actually the year I crocheted little stockings for the trees and put those small candy canes in each one. Now, that was fast!