Intermediate Crazy Quilting Class - Task #6 - Monogram

Man it is hot, hot, hot outside. It is about 34C on my back porch with a humidex of over 40. Canada is the only country that uses humidex. If your interested in what it means you can go....here:)

We are not used to this heat as we have had the worst summer ever...cool and wet. Today is the type of weather we should get in August. Go figure. It's almost September and now we're getting summer? Better late than never I guess. But as I type this the sun has disappeared and clouds are moving in....again:(

I'm speeding along with my CQ class with Kathy Shaw and am almost caught up with the assigned tasks so far.. I have just done my very first monogram. At one time it was very common to monogram various personal items but I guess the fashion gradually died out. For CQ work though, monograms are perfect for filling up an empty space.

I found some free alphabets on Mary Corbet's site and used a simple script for what I planned to do. Nothing complicated as my embroidery skills don't go there.

Yes I know I said back when that I was going to do TAST on Pintangle but I got side tracked. I am definitely going to do it so I can use more that four stitches....or is that five?

I decided to do my monogram on my "Grape" block....I'm calling it that for obvious reasons:)

I had some fibre that I bought at Michael's in the scrapbook section. I tacked it down using matching embroidery thread. I then added some pearls which I may or may not keep.

There you go...."M" for Mary Ann or Mum or whatever:)

I'm joining up today with The Needle & Thread Network where my fellow Canadians show their current projects. I haven't done so in ages so I thought I'd go over and see what's up....see you there:)

Take care:)

Intermediate Crazy Quilting Class - Task 3: Trees, Task 4: Spider's Web With Vine and Task 5: Spider - Completed

I decided to do my twisted tree on the "verging on ugly" block. I used chenille for the trunk which I twisted and then couched down. Chenille is not the easiest material to work with but I persevered. I chose it because I thought this block needed substance....nothing too lacey:) I then tacked down my silk leaves. 

Still verging on ugly.

The embroidered tree was a piece of cake after wrestling with the twisted tree and the chenille. I used two strands of embroidery thread and some seed beads.

There will be other stuff added later:) I might also add more leaves.

Task 4 and 5 were done together as they are a unit....a spider's web with vine and the spider to go in it:)

I'm going to add a few flowers to the vine but I thought I'd wait to see what else I'm going to put on this block. I had originally chosen the beads you see as my spider's body but in the end I decided to use a much smaller bead for the head. It suits the scale much better.

I wasn't enthused about putting a spider on my CQ block but it's a traditional motif.  I absolutely hate spiders with a passion ever since I had a run in with a Tarantula. A friend had one as a pet and as a joke put it on my arm when I wasn't looking. I think everyone in the neighbourhood must have heard me scream. I cringe every time I think about it. Yuck!!!!!

So I'm off to do Task #6 which is a monogram.We've been given lots of choices and we have free rein on method and materials.

Take care:)

Intermediate Class Crazy Quilting.....Tasks 1 and 2 completed and Task 3 in progress

I'm SO behind in my CQ class. I have a lot to catch up on so I better get my act together....eeeek!!!

Task #1 Colour and how to use it

Kathy gave us a mini course on colour. Very very interesting. Here is what I showed the class after reading the material she provided.

Photo 1: Using  A Focal/Focus Fabric
I often use this method when choosing fabrics in my doll making. The selection below is for a doll I'm making at the moment. The focus fabric in the middle is her body and I've gathered fabrics and trims to compliment that fabric. I won't use all of them of course:)

Photo 2: Using Colour Schemes
I chose the Monochromatic Scheme. The colour and texture of the fabrics appealed to me.

 Photo 3: My Personal Choice
I love autumn colours...shades of the forest:) I tend to use lots of rusts, greens, browns and such in my creations.

 

Task #2 Piecing:

Here are my three blocks that I'll be working on.

The first one is just random pieces of fabric......

I'm not in love with this block. It verges on ugly but I will stick with it:)

The second has a "silkie" in the middle. I really had some trouble getting the picture that we were given to print dark enough. I have a new cartridge so that wasn't the problem. Not to worry. This is really only a practice block to learn new skills.

 The third is a bit more formal in style. A traditional Fan block.

Task #3  Trees: 

So next I have to do two types of trees. A twisted tree that I have decided to put up the side of block one. I'm going to use rusty brown chenille for the tree trunk.

What an artiste...hee hee...you get the idea I hope:)

I also have some silk leaves to use on my tree...

and.....I will be doing an embroidered tree on block two.

Kathy suggested that I do my tree in the upper right hand corner in whites, pinks and silver. As soon as I finish both of them I'll post pictures so you can see how I did.

Did I say I was behind in this class?......eeeek.......LOL


Take care.

A Personal Note......

I don't often talk about personal stuff on here because it isn't my thing but a recent occurrence really made want to share something that happened to me.

I don't know why or what triggered a sudden influx of letters addressed to me directly about Endometrial or Uterine cancer. It might be my age and the fact that effective January 1st, 2015 I officially become a senior citizen...according to the government that is:) I sort of ignored the letters and tossed them out.

After about the sixth one I did a wee bit of research and discovered that the most common age for this type of cancer to occur was between 60 and 70 years of age.

I asked my family doctor to send me to a specialist. That was in June.

You've guessed it......I had a problem. The doctor told me that he was very happy that I went to see him when I did. A biopsy was done and then the real hard part. I had to wait three weeks to find out the results.

The tests came back negative.....sigh of relief. I was very very lucky.

It wasn't over for me yet though. There was a benign polyp that needed to be removed. I had that surgery yesterday. So from now on my condition will have to be monitored. That's okay. I don't mind a bit.

So what I want to say to you all is go and get tested for cancer no matter what age you are. I was very blase about the whole issue but not anymore. It really came home to me about how very fragile we are.

Take care:)

Update.....

We brought Deva home yesterday as really there wasn't much sense in leaving her in the pet hospital. They did everything they could for her and she wasn't very happy there. We are giving her the medication they gave us so we'll wait and see.

Personally I see a huge improvement in her already. She's eating and drinking water which is good. Plus she gave us heck...LOL

Oh boy did she ever....sheesh.

She was so happy to be home. Now we have to keep her away from her brother Smokey for 7 to 10 days. He is not amused just in case she's getting something to eat he's not.

Talk about drama....sigh.

Take care:)

My Sick Little Cat....

My little cat Deva is in the pet hospital. She wasn't eating and was very listless so we took her in on Wednesday. So far they haven't found anything wrong with her so they think it might be viral. They are giving her antibiotics. She is also being fed by syringe because she still won't eat.

They sent this picture to us last night.......:(

She was a feral kitten so this whole experience is very stressful for her. She's not fond of people except for us and doesn't really tolerate any changes in her environment too well.

Please send her some positive thoughts because she is only little. Despite her being a total diva we love her:)

Take care:)