It has been snowing all day and is still going. We have at least 10" and I've not seen it snow like this for years.  My wonderful DH was able to stay home and we had a lovely time with Soup & Sandwiches for lunch and a lot of NCIS reruns. LOL!

I have been stitching on a RR block for the local CQ group, I have Marci's block this month and it is an underwater theme. She has 20 blocks and has made a plan as to how they go together. Not a bad idea, however, I have a block that is on the second row from the top, so no sea floor work. I'm working on an embroidered fish design and have an idea for a jelly fish and floating kelp.  Just can't seem to get into a good rhythm with this block. Oh well, it will come to me.

I had a very nice surprice, when I noticed my Orchid Bloomed yesterday. I just have to share.  I've had the plant for about 4 years now, and this is the 3rd blooming in that time. I'm thrilled that it chose such a day to bloom.

 



 I think she is just beautiful and had to put her in the Studio, so that I could really enjoy her all day. What a wonderful thing in the middle of Winter. Such a blessing.

Ready for February

Today is the last day of January 2013 and I for one am glad. I'm ready to start February fresh and ready to go.

It snowed Tuesday night and Wednesday most of the day. Only our second snowfall, and what a nice picture it makes out my studio window. I had to laugh the other day, because I noticed that my Orchid plant has decided to bloom this year.

I bought this plant 4 years ago, and it bloomed twice that first year. My uncle told me to throw it away, because it wouldn't bloom again. Well, I couldn't do that! It's a live plant and I can't intentionally kill it. That's insane! 

So, I've nursed it with food and water, making sure it was warm and had humidity. But until this past weekend, it only put out more feet and grew new leaves. Now it has a nice long stalk and has 5, yes, 5 buds. I can't wait until it blooms. I'm so excited. It's like Spring in the middle of Winter.

I finished up MerriKay's RR block and thought I'd share before taking it to the CQ Meeting this weekend.  MerriKay made all of her blocks using vintage Christmas cards her sister-in-law had given her. So, it is all about Christmas.  I must admit this one was a color challenge for me, as my Christmas colors are Blue and Silver, with a touch of White. So Red and Green seem plain and a little boring to me. Sorry, just can't do it. 

Moving on, I finished the block and here it is:    She wanted a Christmas word or saying, and I took inspiration from the card on the block.

I have to admit that MerriKay did not want large beads, but I couldn't resist attaching the candy in wrappers and the candy cane glass beads I've had for two years, wondering how I was going to use them.

A close up of the top: One of my favorite songs from my childhood. My sister's and I use to sing it every Christmas. A nice memory of simpler and good times. I used silver threads and #15 white seed beads across the top seam and attached a little beaded angel. Thought she'd look nice in the window. LOL!

 

 

The Right side:  I worked up the seam with gold thread in a Creton stitch and came back in the opposite direction with a verigated green petit princess perle by Glorianna.  The Gold bows are stitched with two Lazy Daisy Stitches and a Fly Stitch in 24 carte gold thread. The gold charm is a heart with "Merry X-mas" written on the front.

 

 

 

Bottom portion:   I used a size 12 perle cotton in white and red for the peppermint stick along the seam, and the Christmas Spider is on a silver web and was made of a crystal teardrop bead body with a pearl head. Since it is a Christmas spider, I thought it should be more decorative, so I used #15 seed beads on the legs.

 

 

 

Left side:  Ok, this is NOT my design, it is from an Alessandra Adelaide cross stitch pattern I purchased. I did the ornament in an outline stitch and added seed beads. The seam treatment is done in a cotton and metalic thread with Pink/Gold TOHO beads and topped with Gold thread Lazy Daisy stitches.

 

 

I hope you like the block. I'm pleased with the way it turned out and I think MerriKay will like the block as well.  At least I hope she will.

Well, Christmas with family was fun and a happy time. A niece married on the 21st of December and I wish them both a wonderful life together.

But, with the good, there is always the bad. How else would we know when things are going well? LOL! My mother stayed with my sister an extra week, coming home late on January 2, 2013. We had a great time together, as she spent the night at my home. We had lunch together the next day before she traveled the hour home.

She always calls when she arrives home, so I was expecting her call. I was not expecting her to tell me her home had been broken into while we were gone for the holidays.

The police were there and she was checking to see what was missing. Problem was that they carved obscenities on her piano as well as cutting her chair and pulling out the padding.

Jewelry items were taken, including her Class Ring, and my father's WWII medals.

We are just heart sick. This is an 83 year old woman who has always be the sweetest person God put on the earth. Worked hard all her life outside the home before the 60s and raised 6 children.

She was starting to settle into home life, when my father had a massive heart attack and she had to go back to work. He survived and lived another 15 years, but was never able to work again.

It was hard for them to save and what they had was hard earned and only made life a little easier. To think that someone could/would invade her home and take her memories is without reason and unfortunately speaks to the heartless and

callousness of the individual.  This was in a small town, so we know the person knows my mother.

She has neighbors that are keeping an extra eye on her for me, so she feels safe now that things have been fixed. But what a trama it has been.

Projects:

Ok! I finished with that. Now I'm on to the things that I've been working on to keep my mind occupied.  RR work is going well. I finished Pam's block and now working on Merri Kay's block.  

Pam's blocks have all been about sewing. A fun topic and everyone has been having a great time adding some unconventional items to the block. Here's what I mean. Take a good look at the Pins & Needles potion of my block.

 

                               Entire Block

 

 

                             Pins & Needles - Yep! A real pin and needle.

 

 

                              Had to add flowers, my studio faces the garden.

 

 

I don't have any pictures of Merri Kay's block yet, but I do have pictures for you of my latest project, a pincushion. It is NOT your everyday pincushion, it also houses my CQ pins, those long silk pins. They needed a special place, so I made a Hobbit House for them. Take a look!

 

                                Left Window

 

    

                              Front of home 

 

 

                              Right window

 

 

I found the felt in Joann's and I knew it would be perfect. The grass roof is the pincushion. Made from a circular plastic container.

 

                              Before the work.

 

 

 It's been a rough start to the new year, but we are moving on and still creating!

 

I was so excited to have finished the Christmas cracker for my CQ Group and the Reticule Bag for my Uncle’s Friend’s daughter, that I have just been relaxing the last couple of days.  So, here they are:

The outside of the Christmas cracker was supposed to be a Hussif. However, I wrapped fabric around the outside, and had to wrap the Cracker in paper, because the Hussif would no longer fit around the paper towel roll. LOL!

Since we do a dirty Santa, my Cracker was chosen and then stolen twice, ending up with the person who drew the last number. I must admit that I was pleased that it was a desired item.

      Front Cover

Inside Front Cover with pocket and Needlebook.

Inside Center with pocket and scissor keep. 

 

Center pocket and scissor keep.

Right Inside cover with pincushion and Thimble Keep.

 

Inside cover and back.

 

Back and front cover.

 

Now! I am so happy with the way the Reticule Bag turned out. I Crazy quilted the four sides and couched a purple and metallic piping along each of the seams. I lined the bag with a pale pink linen fabric, to help stabilize the bag and keep the internal wear & tear to a minimum.  Hope you like how it turned out.  

Open bag with Little girl and butterfly.

 

Open bag with mother reading to daughter.

 

Closed bag, two little girls playing music.

 

Closed bag, little girl with dress skirt full of blossoms.

Today I finished up two sides of the purse I’m making for my Uncle’s friend’s daughter. LOL! A lot of people involved.

I’m trying to keep it pretty simple, as it is for a child. And although it does have beading, she is a responsible little girl and takes pride in her treasures, which is what I hope this will be for her.

A lot of French Knots make up the flowers in her apron/skirt and in the tree to the left, just a hint of flowers.  Some variegated Glorianna (Princess Perle Petit) silk thread in the Creation stitch on the ric rac with size 11 seed beads.  I decided to add some silk ribbon flowers to a fan charm and I think it works well.

 

On the second side of the purse, I decided to follow the interest of the little girl in the photo. I added a butterfly charm to the flowers on the fabric and then added the spider for luck, since they are both insects. Using 2mm silk ribbon, I put a little cumber bun and bow on the print.  Finally, a strip of ric rac with the same Glorianna silk thread as on the first purse side, and added some metallic pink Mill Hill beads.

 

 

I’m pretty happy with the way this is going. Hope you do as well.

I started this project earlier this week and now to finish for Christmas. My wonderful uncle has a friend that lost his home to Sandy and has 4 children. This uncle has been organizing a group of friends and family to help them out. They lost everything!

Anyway, my uncle wants to give the little girl a handmade item for Christmas, and has asked me to make something that the child can use for a couple of years to put her little treasures in.  I decided a Reticule Bag might be nice.  So here is the work in progress:

This little one discovering Insects, gives me a chance to add a well-placed spider web for luck. I think it would be cute in the purple area. Also thinking about adding silk ribbon to the comber bun and bow on her dress.

 

Two lovelies who love music playing and enjoying the Spinet and Mandolin. Hopefully this will give the little girl a sence of growing up and trying new things. Still thinking on this one for a while.

 

Most little, and big girls, have a love of flowers. So, I just couldn't leave this one out of the project. I'm using French Knots for the flowers. Although it is not completed, I think it is taking shape.

 

And what girl doesn't like to have story time with Mommy. I love this picture, it reminds me of when my mother used to read to my sisters and I before bed time. It is what has made me an avid reader. So of course I had to add it to the collection. Also and older child here. Trying for an item that can be used for a longer period than just one year. I want the purse to grow with her. 

 

So, now that I've shared, it's back to work. Got to get it done before Christmas.

 

Well, I finally finished up on the Redwork Course I've been taking. Although it has taken a little over 6 weeks to complete, I'm happy with the results.  I learned a lot and improved my stitching skills as well as getting something out of this course other than just more knowledge.

I now have a lovely set of Fabric Weights. Take a look! Nice, right?  I took the little Flower and Scroll motif and made a scissor fob. The strawberry was made into an emery for my needles and pins.
I'm pleased with the outcome.  But take a look at the next picture-

 

 

You just have to have something to hold those fabric weights. So, we got to make a bag to put them in. I chose the Poppy Motif and tried my hand at some threadwork. I'm pleased with the reslults for a first try on the threadwork. And, I got to use some of my stash. Bonus!! LOL!

 

 

 

Every one of the ladies in this class did beautiful work and I'm happy to have taken part. I learned a lot of new information.  Thanks to the ladies of StitchMap.