Morris Hexathon....Blocks 14, 16 and 17

Three more to do and I'll be caught up with the Hexathon. Number 19 has curves. I have no idea how they are done but I'm sure I'll find out.

14. Canterbury

16. Hammersmith

17. Folly

Linking up with Books and Quilts for........

and....The Needle and Thread Network.

Take care:)

Morris Hexathon......Blocks 9 and 10

I was behind as I started late but now I have only six more blocks to finish and I will be caught up with the Morris Hexathon. 

It has been an interesting experience. 

As I make each one I'm gaining more insight as to the best technique to get my points to match up. I notice that some quilters put together units and then stitch them together. I found I wasn't as happy with the result. I'm more successful when I add each paper piece unit one at a time. Definitely it's a skill that only comes from lots and lots of practice.

Block 9:  Red Lion

Block 10: Thames Path

Wait til you see block # 12.....some really itty bitty pieces....eeeek!

Today I'm joining up with The Needle & Thread Network. I haven't joined them in a long while but then I've been pretty quiet in the sewing department in the last 12 months.

Come on over and see what my fellow Canadians are up to this week:)

Take care. 

A Finish and a WIP......

For those of you who do not follow my doll making blog or my Facebook page I thought I'd show you my latest effort. This is the first doll I've made since last August 2014. When I looked back and saw that I was a bit shocked.

I made this doll for an online challenge with a Facebook doll club I belong to called Cloth Doll Artistry. The challenge was called "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend".

We were to make a cloth rabbit at least 20 inches tall and dressed for a charity event.

I used a pattern by Teresa Pietras called "Lilly: A Fantasy Rabbit". She turned out much better than I expected as I was a bit rusty in the doll making department.

A tiny bit of bling:)

I've also started another CQ block for CQJP2015. A tad behind schedule but I hope to get caught up and finish all 12 eventually.

This one is in shades of brown and peach/orange primarily.

Today I thought I'd participate in The Needle & Thread Network WIP Wednesday link up. I haven't done that in ages.

Come on over and visit.  Take care:)

Intermediate Crazy Quilting Class - Another Raised Applique

I thought I'd do another raised applique to add to one of my CQ blocks. I decided to do the little cat that was part of the class material.

It was not easy turning the little head and trying to get it through that little neck. There was a bit of swearing done:)  I used felt again which wasn't really a good choice. Next time I think I'll use a very thin knit...a t-shirt weight maybe.

The Intermediate CQ class is made up of several individual task units. At the end I hope that my three practice blocks will end up looking somewhat complete and with a certain amount of flow. Here is my "silkie" block so far. I still have a lot of touches to add.

I thought I'd join up with The Needle & Thread Network today.

The N&TN is a forum for Canadian textile artists and today is their 3rd year for weekly linkups. Please come over and visit and see what my fellow Canadians are up to.

Take care:)

WIP........

More about my crazy quilting sampler on line class with Kathy Shaw.

I'm finding that the silk ribbon embroidery is not my forte.  It looks pretty though. Anyone who can master it rocks in my books...LOL I would say it takes lots of practice to get it right.

I found it was very difficult to keep the soft integrity of the silk ribbon while pulling it through the two layers of fabric. Pliers were needed when doing the vine. Bad planning on my part. A lot of my leaves are over areas where the seams meet and there are four layers of fabric. Ah well this is how you learn stuff...what not to do.....right?

We have now been introduced to Fly Stitch Roses and French Knot Wraps....eeeek !!

Thank goodness there are videos.

I'm posting the videos here so I can find them again. Also you might like to give SRE a try.

Fly Stitch Rose

French Knot Rose

 
Rosebud Made With French Knot and Beads

Twirled Ribbon Rose.....

Anyway, here is my effort. I think I may be done with this. I'll finish the edges and put it in my stitch diary book for further reference. I've learned quite a bit from this class and I'm considering taking Kathy's intermediate class when she offers it.

If you're interested in cloth doll making, I have also started a new class with Angela Jarecki called The Traveler: Anya and Baba. You can find out what I'm up to over here.

I'm joining up today with The Needle & Thread Network...come on over and see what my fellow Canadians are up to.

Take care:)

WIP.....

I have done all the seam treatments except one on my block for Kathy Shaw's class on Crazy Quilting. The final seam will have ribbon flowers and leaves which we will get "how to" info on hopefully soon.

It's snowing here today so no light for a decent picture.

I'm supposed to add lace motifs now to a few spots here and there but as yet I haven't done that step. I haven't got any lace motifs....ha ha. I couldn't find any that I liked in the right size. I checked out some sites on line but the cost for shipping three or four little lace thingies was twice the actual cost of them. I'm too cheap:)

So I guess I'll have to go with a plan "B". 

After we do the sik ribbon stuff we will be doing beading and adding some charms. I have a few that I might use. Then again maybe not. I like the dragonfly but not in silver so much.

So that's where I am with this block.

On my other seasonal wall hanging crazy quilt project I had a rethink about the fabrics I was using for Summer. Not enough variety in colour and that butterfly bit had to go. What was I thinking? So I'm making a new block which I will show you soon:)

I'll be back soon.

I'm linking up today with Needlework Tuesday.





I'm also joining up with the Needle & Thread Network as I  haven't done so in a while. I'm not a traditional quilter but I figure when I do participate at TN&TN  it's to bring something different into the mix whether it's about my doll making or now my new venture into crazy quilting.



Take care:) 

WIP......................

I'm a bit later this week with my post.

Winter lethargy set in me thinks. Snowy but with bright blue skies that make you long for spring.....sigh.

And, I also forgot to recharge my camera:)

Never mind......here is my Winter crazy quilt block. Just a wee bit more work on the motif  in the left hand bottom corner and I think it's done.

Double click to enlarge. 
 

I've also have been doing a some repairs which I hate....coat zippers. Two of them.....argghh.

One had a 36 inch zipper. I was lucky to find one on Etsy from a Canadian supplier.

The other is a very very bright hot pink. I could not find a replacement and had to make do with a pinky red. Not to worry though. It's for a three year old and if she gets some more wear out of it this winter all the best because next year it won't fit her.

I'm joining up with The Needle & Thread Network and Needlework Tuesday (late again).

Take care:) 

WIPS.....

Well Saturday was Grow Your Blog day and what fun it was and still is:) I have visited maybe a third of the almost 600 blogs that were involved. There are some really wonderful blogs out there and if you are interested and want to know what the heck I'm talking about go to my blog post here.

I'm having a giveaway that is open to everyone and will run until February 15th.  So go to my post and leave a comment to be entered.

I also want to send a big thank you to my new followers for joining me here....and, a thank you to all of you that visted my blog to take a look see:)

Now on to WIPs.  If you have looked at my previous posts you will know that I have just ventured into the realm of crazy quilting.

I read somewhere that you should do your block in stages.

• do the piecing
• add laces
• add trims
• do the embroidery
• add beads 
• and, then buttons if any

Sounds like a workable plan. I thought I'd give you peek at what I have done so far.  I added some bits of lace and trim. Some of it is just placed and not sewn on as yet....still pondering.

Rotten picture colour wise:(

You haven't done much you say.......well I have been visiting lots of blogs.....and doing some genealogical research.

Here's the latest.

I had this uncle named Henry but called Harry born in Glasgow in 1911 who was my mum's oldest brother. While I was able to find out about my mum's other siblings I have never been able to find out anything about Harry. All I knew was that he was married....to a war widow with a daughter....and had two other children.

WELL!!!!

My second cousin who is my research buddy lives in Scotland. She went to the records office in Glasgow on Monday determined to find anything she could about him.

She hit the mother lode.......I was speechless and for me to be speechless....well that never happens....LOL

Yes Harry was married but not to a war widow with a daughter......where that story came from I have no idea...my brother I think. What til I see him...ha!

AND......he had FIVE children. How about that then? I have five cousins born in Glasgow who I have never met and who probably know nothing about me. My family lived in London. We came to Canada when I was 4 1/2 and Harry's children were all born after me. That was strange to find out as Harry was the oldest so you'd think his children would be older but he married when he was 38.

His oldest daughter was married in 1974 to an American soldier. How she met him in Glasgow....who knows? She lives somewhere in the USA now...so close yet so far.

So that was Monday....hopefully the rest of my week will be less shocking:)

I'm joining up with The Needle & Thread Network so come on over and see what my fellow Canadians are up to. 

Take care.

A Finished Make......

I decided to make myself a Stitch Diary as a place to keep my odd little bits of embroidery and crossstitch that I do.

I made the cover using plastic craft mesh that you can buy in craft stores. I bought about 10 of them eons ago when my favourite craft store (White Rose) was closing. Ten plastic mesh for a dollar. I finally found a use for two of them...LOL

I then covered the mesh with a thin padding on one side...almost like a very heavy Pellon interfacing....and regular quilt batting on the other. I had this gorgeous fat quarter with a Lily of the Valley pattern to use for the front book cover and a plain fat quarter in a matching green for the back. I believe it's a Robert Kaufman fabric.

The pages are fabric too. I had bought some packs of Pellon stabilizer....4 packs for $3 at Fabricland. It's supposed to be used for appliqueing, embroidery and monograms but what the heck. I used it as a stabilizer for my book pages. I covered the pages with some broadcloth that I inherited from my mum's stash. I was glad I finally found a use for it:) The pages are just a plain pale green and a very pretty pale blue that I can embellish on both sides. It sounds strange but they do match the book cover.

So now I have this nice soft squishy book...very tactile.....

Everything that I used came from my stash...bonus:)

Vintage lace and trim....and vintage buttons too.

A pretty dancing fairy pin..

I'm joining up with The Needle and Thread Network......come over and visit and see what my fellow Canadians are up to today.

Take care.

Year In Review.....

I thought I'd review what I have made this year just for the heck of it. I never realized how much I had done.

Here in no particular chronological  order are my makes for 2012...I think I may have missed a few but whatever....I think I'm safe in saying I was productive.

Unfortunately there are a couple of largish UFO's :(

I'm joining up with The Needle and Thread Network today......I've been a bit lax in my participation recently but I intend to get with it this year.....take care:)