Tatted Shirt Edging Continued

Well tonight I finished the second half to match the first and sewed it on! Now I can wear it while I tat the longer section that I estimate will be 26 repeats. I'm going to pace myself and try for a slow 4 a day and it should be done in about 7 days, until then, to be continued...

Tatted Shirt Edging

Recently I tried out an easy 1 shuttle "hen & chicks" tatting pattern and I really enjoy it. I've also been dreaming of tatted edgings on my clothes! Yesterday I had the idea to tat up the pattern in my new fine DMC Cordonnet Special in Ecru size 70 for my shirt I was wearing. It only took 3 repeats for the front of the collar, and that doesn't take too long, now I just need to do 3 for the other side and I can wear the shirt like that while I tat up the estimated 26 repeats for the long back part of the collar.

I was SO excited that I sewed this section on already with some sewing thread by the picots! I'm thrilled!!!!!! My first tatted edging on my shirt!!! And it looks just dreamy on! I'm even thinking of adding teal sweetheart roses to the corner of the collar too! OH I'm so excited!

Tablecloth FINISHED!!!

About a year ago when I was just starting out with embroidery, I started on a silk ribbon embroidery tablecloth and napkin set project. I used a practical pre-made stain resistant tablecloth and napkins that I got at Bed, Bath & Beyond so that I could use the set without as much fear of it getting ruined. I had finished all 8 of the floral motifs, 4 on the tablecloth and 4 napkins. The floral pattern is from an Anna Griffin Iron-on booklet but I used my own colors instead of the recommended ones. I had started on the split stitch border (my own idea) but didn't get very far...it was the same thing over and over and I had other projects that were more exciting calling to me...you know how it is! LOL So it became a UFO (Un-Finished Object) until I had the patience to sit and stitch it. As we were packing up our stuff I saw it and decided to keep it with me to work on...then I started working on it while waiting and today I finally finished it!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAY!!!!!!!!! I also learned my patience for doing the same stitch over and over has grown and it was very soothing for me during the stress of moving. It did seem like the border took more work than all 8 motifs in a way, because it's so big. The larger photo is the tablecloth spread out on a queen sized air mattress.
I think this is the biggest project I've ever embroidered and finished!

Once we are all moved in and unpacked I'll have to set up the table with this set and update this blog post!

Tatting Heartbreak

At the last Tatters meeting I was at I was sitting next to a lady (sorry I don't remember her name!) who was working on a beautiful doily about half way through the meeting she noticed she made a mistake on the dark brown outer round of the doily and wouldn't be happy just leaving it and must cut it out! Heartbreaking! Oh I would have cried if it was me! All the last portion of work to be cut out! I asked her if she was going to do anything with it and she said no. So I asked her if I could have it since I do crazy quilting and I might be able to use a piece of it so all her hard work won't have been for nothing! To a tatter this would mean heartbreak and trash...but to a crazy quilter it means treasure! I'm sure I can use at least one portion for CQ and a few smaller "flower" sections. Isn't it wonderful that in CQ we can use bits of things that would otherwise be ruined or trash and make wonderful treasures out of them? I'm excited to see what block this will end up on and I'll be sure to update when I do use it!

His & Hers Pillowcase Set

The past few weeks I've been off and on working on this His & Hers pillowcase set for me and my hubby. Today I finally finished, washed, dried and ironed them! The stitches I used were stem/outline, satin, lazy daisy, and silk ribbon embroidered sweetheart rose, I also used a few hidden tacking stitches to secure the sweetheart roses a little extra. I got the pattern from an Aunt Martha Iron-On. I'm so happy to have my very own set of embroidered pillowcases! I've never owned any embroidered linens before, but I've made some as gifts for others though.

Summer Breeze DYB RR Jo's Block: All Finished!

Late Friday night I finished the block! I loved working on this block and loved doing the elegant Victorian style! I got to try some new things that I've been wanting to try out too. Like it was my first time incorporating a cameo like this and some new stitches for seam treatments. I'd never done the buttonhole bows or half wheels before, and I don't think I've ever done the triple feather stitch on a block before also the fly stitch foliage! Another first was using some flat silk, and some rayon thread...both were difficult to work with! LOL

I added size 15 seed beads in amber to the outer buttonhole half wheel spokes and a clear brown to the triple feather stitching.

Here's the fly stitch foliage I added to the SRE motif. I used a fine gold Kreinik thread, I love how it sparkles and looks delicate. I think this photo shows the color of the silk ribbon well too. Ecru with a tinge of pink and green the name of it was called Light French Artichoke! LOL I had gotten it from Hand Dyed Fibers.com but it's been discontinued.

I added green size 15 seed beads to the picots on the chains of the tatting to bring the green around a bit more. I didn't want to add too much green to the block since it's primarily white/black/gold/cream but I did need to balance it a bit from the green vine. I felt if I added any more to the block it would be too much.
Also I added more of the fine gold feather stitching in the cream patch area and feel it works a lot better now.

Here's a nice shot of the cameo I love the way it turned out and the sweetheart roses around it look like a part of the cameo. I love the gold rose applique with beads and pearls on it too.

Click Here to see all the posts for the Summer Breeze Blocks

Tatter's Meeting, Earwigs, and Split Ring Joins!

Today at the Palmetto Tatters Meeting we learned how to make Jane E's earwig earrings. I messed up the one I started at the meeting so tonight when I got home I sat down and figured things out! One thing I had to finagle was a join on the split side of a split ring...not sure exactly how I did it but I think I could repeat it! LOL I think it has something to do with considering the fact that the joined part needed to flip so the thread would be in the correct position so I tried again and wah-la! It worked! I was thrilled! The pattern is pretty tricky, but I got through it. I had a few tough spots and some scares with splitting thread even though I used Olympus thread. Since I don't wear earrings I decided to make it into a pendant. I can't seem to take a photo that does it justice though.

So this will be motif #13 of the 25 Motif Challenge

Summer Breeze DYB RR Jo's block: Almost finished!

I've been having computer and camera troubles lately so I haven't been able to blog my progress as gradual as I usually do. Here's how the block is looking right now! I've done a ton! I don't know where to begin telling about it!

I tatted some clover edging that would be Motif #13 of the 25 Motif Challenge. I alternated pearls and metal heart beads on it and added a tiny bead cluster in that corner.
Near the cameo I added gold feather stitching on a seam with a gold button near, I still need something else in that area. I also added black buttonhole bow ties in DMC rayon thread with gold beads in the centers.
Around the cameo I embroidered cream sweetheart roses in 4mm silk ribbon and added size 15 gold seed beads around them. I also antiqued a lace applique and embroidered gold size 15 seed beads on it with some pearls. I added a triple feather stitch in black size 12 perle cotton thread. I made half buttonhole wheels in gold silk buttonhole twist and added 4mm darker cream sweetheart roses and 7mm cream ribbon stitches.
The upper right silk ribbon embroidery motif I made using a variegated pale pink/ecru/green 4mm silk ribbon for the spiderweb roses adding pearls to the centers. I used 7mm cream silk ribbon for the sweetheart roses. The gold pearl flower and dangles are earring parts I salvaged for crazy quilt stash. I feel that the motif needs a little something more so I'll be testing out some fly stitch foliage in the fine gold thread.
I need to add little touches here and there in order to complete this block, which I just love!!!

Little bits of Tatting and Patterns

Motifs # 9-12 of the 25 Motif Challenge
I tatted up the basket pattern in size 20 DMC Cebelia thread, that Laurie W created even though she's a brand new needle tatter! I think she did an awesome job with it being that she's only been needle tatting for under a month!!! The basket is just perfect for using in crazy quilting to add flowers to! I adjusted only a few bits, and in order for the pattern to work for shuttle tatters I added in SLT in a few spots.

Here is the section I'm referring to:
"Do Not Reverse work.
Ch 2+2+ (draw needle through)
R 2+2+2+2+2+2+ Close (1 picot remaining)
Ball thread will cross the center ring so it closes snugly for last chain:
Ch 2+2 (draw needle through)"

I made it (1 shuttle and ball):
SLT
Ch 2+2+2 SLT
R 2+2+2+2+2+2 Close SLT (1 picot remaining)
Ch 2+2+2

Then I got inspired to try out making a heart with a clover leaf...what I did was chain and shuttle join around the clover, since it's so simple I'm sure someone has already done it somewhere, but for me it was fun creating my own thing! I think they look like leaves and might be good for adding to crazy quilt motifs too.

The pattern is:
Clover: R 3-3-3 cl DNR
R 3+(to last picot) 2-2-2-2-3 cl DNR
R 3+(to last picot) 3-3 cl. RW
Variation 1:
Ch 5+(to 1st p)5+(to 2nd p)7+(to 3rd p)5-5+(to5th p)7+(to 6th p)5+(to 7th p)5 join to base of clover
Variation 2:
Ch 10+(to 2nd p)7+(to3rd p)5-5+(to 5th p)7+(to 6th p)10 join to base of clover

I think a Josephine knot (1st half of ds only) chain for a stem would look nice too. I also thought about adding some picots to the chains and keep going around the motif to create bigger things. I am by no means a designer but I do think it's fun to play around and be creative.

Lastly I tatted up my favorite clover edging in the green variagated quilters thread that I just love and when I got to 8 I made it into a circular motif. I figured I could use it as a foundation for a silk ribbon embroidery motif in CQ.

Lace Cuff

I wanted to make a little token of love for my sister and I had the idea to make a little lace cuff!
I folded down the raw edges of the vintage lace and hand stitched it then I stitched on a vintage Mother of Pearl button, cut a buttonhole to size and whip stitched around the raw edges.
Then I added some of my tatting to the top with a pearl bead. Wah-La a cute cuff! Now I want one!

Summer Breeze DYB RR Jo's blocks: Getting started

Well I got started on Jo's blocks for the vine I couched down a green cord for the main stem along the curve then I added the gold metal flowers with pearls in the center, then started adding ribbon stitch leaves using the new edge dyed silk ribbon I got from Evening Star Designs. I like how the color of the ribbon has a gold tone in the center! Then I realized I needed branches vining off the main vine! LOL So I stem stitched some in using green Kreinik flat silk. Then added more ribbon stitch leaves and another gold/pearl flower!

I like the little gold butterfly there too, but haven't stitched it down yet. I did stitch on the cameo and I changed my plans for it a little since Jo mentioned she would like some of my SRE on her block. I'm now thinking of putting sweetheart roses around it with pearls interspersed.

Oh and the seam treatment I have so far is one strand DMC floss in a cream color in the herringbone stitch with gold silk chenille french knots at the points. I feel the seam still needs something in the open spots but I haven't figured out what yet.

White on White CQ Block

I've done a little more on this block by using the Caron Rachelette thread. I whipped the buttonhole seam with it, added straight stitches of it in-between the fuzzy spots on the lace, and couched a bow with the tails wandering in the upper left corner. One tail wanders to the little button cluster and the other tail will wander to the motif where the tatting will go.
I'm also tatting up some fern with some fine cream sewing thread. I wanted to add a bit of tatting to the block somehow! That sewing thread is really tiny though and it's hard to close the teeny-tiny rings. I have to tat very very gently with it so it will close easier. It seems like the smaller the thread the more gently and lightly you need to tat...I wonder if thats where the saying "The gentle art of tatting" comes from?

Summer Breeze DYB RR: My work on Jo's Blocks

I got Jo's blocks in the mail today and I'm excited to start working on them! I remembered Jo blogging about a piece of jewelery she got with her 6th block in mind when they are returned to her and that has been my inspiration for this block. I love elegance so I'm really excited to be working with an elegant theme using the tones of the block. I picked this block because of the radiating lines, I just love the look of blocks pieced like this. It will challenge me a bit since it's asking for seam treatments so I'm excited to push myself in that area. I plan to bead around the cameo with white pearly beads and make it a pretty focal point. I'd like to make some tatting for the block but I'm not sure exactly of what I'd want yet.

Toddler Embroidery Idea

I wanted to share with you all a wonderful idea that a member of the Hand Embroidery Group had for her toddler to play embroidery. She was so kind to write up instructions on how she made it for the Hand Embroidery Group Blog. I hope any of you who have toddlers in your lives will enjoy the idea too.

Spring Challenge Prize!!!

Today my Prize from the Spring Challenge by Carolyn Cibik of Evening Star Designs came in the mail!!!
OH WOW!!!!! When I saw the silk ribbon she sells!!! It's just exquisite!!! Shiny and the color is wonderful, the variegation is just beautiful, I'm so excited to try them out! And the Antique Buttons!!! Just stunning! They sparkle and shine!
Oh and the threads are just beautiful, and I'm already using the Caron Rachelette thread on my White on White block it goes just beautifully!
The little green leaf beads are some of my favorites! I adore the little strawberry sew-down, and check out the Battenberg Lace Leaves!
Thank you SO much Carolyn!!! I love everything and you can bet I'll be buying some more of everything! LOL

White on White CQ Block

I finally picked up my White on White block that I was working on for the Encrusted CQ online class I had taken late 2006. Well it got set aside for quite some time but I've finally come back to it! Here is a photo of where I left off. Here is a link to the previous blog posts for it.
Now that I have more experience under my belt I've had an easier time embellishing it. One of the things I've found out about myself is that I don't like waiting to add beads and buttons and such until the very end...it throws me off. So I now embellish with them as I go, yes I have to be careful as I continue to embroider after that but for me it really works better and I rarely get caught or tangled. Crazy Quilting is really a wonderful thing since there are no rules you have to follow so you can do it however works best for you! Isn't that great?! We can try out other's methods, keep what we like, change what we don't! Each of us has our own method of Crazy Quilting much like our Crazy Quilts themselves, unique! So I'd like to take a moment to thank Sharon B. for helping teach me that lesson. She is always so encouraging for us to relax try our own way and reminds us that there are no rules, while teaching us design principles that will help us in the long run. I'm always using what I learned in her class, I really enjoyed it! If you ever get a chance to take the Encrusted CQ with her, you won't regret it!

Here's what the block looks like tonight! In the upper left I added 7mm cream sweetheart roses, and I just love them! Next I'll be adding beading to the Silk Ribbon Embroidery motif. Also I need to add a little something to the two open spots in the upper left.

I recently bought some vintage Mother of Pearl buttons on Etsy.com and I've used a lot of them in this button/bead cluster. You can click on the photo to get a closer look at them, I just love them. The carvings, the color, and even the buttonholes! I may add some seed beads to it too.

Then I added a few of the vintage MOP buttons to that small spot, I thought it looked nice and helped bring around the buttons more. I added some ivory glass leaf beads and some ivory silk flower heads.
This block is almost finished now! Yeay!

Online Victorian Magazine

I came across a really neat link for a free online magazine called Victoriana Magazine and thought I would share it! Enjoy!

Summer Breeze DYB RR: My Work on Leslie's Block Finished

I believe the block is finished! It's always hard to know when to stop or keep going but I feel the block has reached a nice balance and if I add anything more it would be thrown off.
I had a lot of fun working on it and it was my first time incorporating tatting into a Silk Ribbon Embroidery motif. Also my first time dying my tatting for a block.

I finally finished stitching in the gold thread to the wings and I love how it's turned out. A nice delicate shimmer.
Click Here to see all the posts for the Summer Breeze RR

Summer Breeze DYB RR: My work on Leslie's block

I'm almost finished with this block, I think it's coming along nicely! As I said in the last post something was bothering me about the empty space around the print so I printed out a photo of the block and got the idea to doodle "garden" to see how it would look. I loved the way it helped add some interest so I stitched it on the block, and I added some lazy daisy leaves and a pink colonial knot around it to kind of frame "garden".

I also added in the button-bead trail. I used an earring finding that is a porcelain rose I had taken apart for CQ stash since I never wear earrings anymore they bother my ears. It looks great and adds another rose to find on the block.

Then I felt the fabric that had the dragonfly on it was weak and needed something to bring it out more. So I started adding straight stitches along the inner area of the wing in long and short stitching but leaving space between stitches using a fine gold metallic Kreinik thread. So far I only have 1 wing filled in, I think it adds a nice delicate shimmer.