1 Year Blogiversary

Well here it is! My one year blogiversary! August 22 2006 was my very first blog post! My blog has grown with me as I have learned more and more about embroidery, crazy quilting, along with learning tatting. I have a few spin off blogs for my garden and my dogs. I love sharing what I'm working on and following other online crazy quilters, tatters, and embroiderers. I've made a ton of friends, been inspired left and right, explored fiber arts, and am continuing on my journey loving every step of the way!

Summer Breeze DYB RR: Jakkie's block finished

I love how soft and romantic this block is with a feminine feel.

I love how the yellow rose brings out the lavender color in the block.

The dangle is an earring part that I salvaged and thought it looked nice on the block. I made spiderweb roses in lavender and sweetheart roses in 7mm ivory and 4mm pink. The fern are made from the Caron Rachelette thread.

This seam is a single feather stitch with 3 ribbon stitches done with 2mm silk ribbon on each prong, then I added purple flower sequins to the seam. I also placed clear lavender glass flower bead to the fabric since I wanted to keep the soft watercolor feel of it.

Click Here to see all the posts Summer Breeze Blocks

Wendy's Blog

I wanted to let everyone know that Wendy has now started her own blog! It's Wandering Rose, so if you'd like to stop by and welcome her to blogland, I know she would love it! It is all of your sweet comments and encouragement that has inspired her to begin blogging.
She is also working on her 2nd crazy quilt block and will soon be blogging it too!

The Beautiful Desert!

I just love desert mountain views! This one was in New Mexico, I just loved the way the sun rays were shining from the clouds!

These were in the wonderful high desert of California! I missed the wonderful views! I teared up seeing them again! I missed the beautiful desert mountains so much! One of the awesome things about them is the view changes with different times of the day or if a storm comes through! God really is an awesome artist!

Wendy's First Block Finished!

Wendy finished her block last night! LOL She couldn't put it down and kept coming back to work on it! LOL Oh yeah she's totally addicted now! I really think it is stunning! I taught her what I've learned from the Encrusted CQ with Sharon B.

I love how she trailed the pearls from the button/bead cluster.

I also love that pink button, it brings the pink around very nicely.

This seam treatment she saw in one of the Judith Baker Montano books, and I told her about the element of surprise with how the flower beads kind of blend in but when you look over the block a few times you suddenly notice them and are pleasantly surprised. She loved the idea!

Here is her stunning SRE motif all finished! She just took off with this! All I had to do was show her the stitches and some photos of motifs and she just ran with it!
I am so excited to see what she will do next!

Summer Breeze DYB RR: Jakkie's block

Lately I've been slowly working on Jakkie's block, I love the soft purple, lavender, pink shades in the block. It's very soft and feminine. I've done sweetheart roses with ribbon stitch leaves at the points of a zig zag chain stitch with bugle beads on the opposite side. Then I added some buttons and beads below that seam treatment. Then I worked on the other seam which is a five to each side feather stitch with lazy daisy leaves and Czech glass bead flowers. I stitched in a few different butterflies making each one with different stitches and added little pink colonial knot flowers which aren't complete yet.
To Be Continued...

Wendy's First Block and SRE!

Okay I have to brag on my sweet friend!!! Look at what she's doing!!!!! I taught her some Silk Ribbon Embroidery stitches and she's off and making her own motif!!! All this in only 1 day! She says she's totally addicted to working on it and can't put it down...we all know how that is! LOL Also the seam treatment of beads and sequins is from salvaged beads from an old shirt! She's totally a natural CQer has the brain for it totally! At one time she had done sane quilting but it seems going crazy is more fitting. She says she wants to make 6 of these blocks like a sampler of different types of things she can do and to practice to join in a RR. I personally feel she could already join in an RR!

Chihuahua T-Shirt

I finally worked on and finished this T-Shirt for my Mother-In-Law and got to give it to her when we visited! I only stitched in the 2 Chihuahua's and the heart between them but decided to skip the rest. The paper is difficult to stitch on with a large complicated design and I should have used a different transfer method but I think it turned out pretty well anyway.

Look, look who I got hooked!!!

Now that I'm back in CA I showed my dear friend Wendy all my CQ and Silk Ribbon Embroidery, and guess what!?!! She wanted to learn! I'm so excited she pulled out a bunch of fabrics she had saved that she didn't know why she had saved them (oh yeah she was a crazy quilter in waiting) and I started teaching her how to piece and this is the result! Isn't it awesome! It's a 6 inch block, I felt 6 inch is a good starting out size perfect for learning and not overwhelming. There is only one little spot that got missed but it's the perfect spot for a SRE motif so not a problem at all! I'll try to get an updated photo up soon to show her progress! She's totally a natural CQer! I'm having such a blast with her it's the best! It's my first time getting to share what I know with someone in person too! Nah I'm not excited at all!!! (yeah right!) LOL

Tatted Shirt Edging Finished

Here is my completed collar that I added tatted edging to! I've been wearing it too, and I just LOVE the nice touch it gives! I am definitely going to be adding more tatted edgings to my clothes. It took me 5 days to complete the back section, I ended up doing more than 4 repeats a day but I was enjoying tatting it on our car ride across the country. Also it ended up being 25 repeats across the back instead of 26 as I originally estimated.Motif #14 of the 25 Motif Challenge

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!