seasonal II

walking in december

The last Saturday of the year was remarkably warm here so took time out to stroll out in a preserve not too far from me: Morton Arboretum.  Finding my beloved Quercus at arms length is not a challenge here and enso magic in a little waterfall.

one more round of circle game

The center of the last 9 patch for 20-13: traditional 9 patch covered with scrim and further embellished with some split stitching. 

A good time to listen to Joni Mitchell.  

Respectfully, 2013 wanes. 

seasonal

Bringing you seasonal greetings at year's end. 

Remembrance of all our joys and loss during the passed year 

Wishes of good fortune and wellness during the coming year

Hopefully I will be back here in 2014.

Thank you for those who might find themselves here. 

Warm regards. 

i'm still here!

Happy fourteenth of February Two Thousand and thirteen 

last year ended with a heart and so this year begins with a heart...

i've been away, yes.  

issues have been coming up 

but hopefully things are on the mend.

I've been buzy...and I'll post again 

to share my stitches

over the weekend. 

so, if anyone still drops by here...

hello and thank you. 

cheer for the holidays

Wanted to wish all of those who drop by, a warm and joyful season.  I've been stitching away without completing too much however, 

this is the piece (well, one of the many UFO-WIPs) I'm working on at the moment.  The text is in process.  It will read, "two sided story, once told."  It's stitched on an old vintage quilt.  The heart is made from some scraps of fabric samples.  It needs work on the edges as well but it's nice in the hand. 

Last week Karen Ruane's "embroider, embellish, create" class EEC had it's last on-line lesson. (The link is the the flickr group so you can see how wonderful the work was from that group.) 

My cloth is not completed.  It's a piece I'm working on for my mum.  I don't know if I'll get it ready for the upon gift day but her birthday is in January (she'll be turning 92) so by then it should be put together. 

Here's where it's at - the pinned stage:

and the last little piece I'm stitching upon now:

This work has been very different for me.  First the colour is white, for the most part. Also, there is a lot of "fancy" stitch work going on.  But, as different as this is from the things I usually show - it is closer to a picture of my mother - soft, vintage cloth that has known something of life - and hopefully representing the beautiful life that I see in her face. 

Well, happiest of holidays - and until the New Year - thank you. 

May I be a better blogger in 2013.  

another long absences brings you a show and tell:

Happy November 5th.  Guy Fawkes day for the Brits among us.
And yes, I've been away again but keeping busy.

Here are a few show and tells of what I've been up to.

My sister sent me a sweater set to embellish.  So far only the "shell" is done:

It's a basic little paper  pieced triangle with some embroidery added.

I also made a needle case.  I've been  admiring the ones that others have done, for example: Deanna at eclectic-meanderings (scroll down a bit),  and so was inspired to try and make one:

This is the cover.  It reads needles pins.

This is how it looked while being assembled.

And the interior for all those tools of the trade.

I also started playing a little with my version of a sampler.  Practicing my stitch work basically.  It has now become one long long sampler fit enough for Dr. Who  (almost.)  I think I started it in anticipation of Karen Ruane's currently running class, Embroider, Embellish, Create. The sampler is growing and going.  It probably about 7 feet long at the moment so I'm showing it to you in two parts:

And I still have all my other WIPs going too...you see I really do stitch while I'm away.

I'd also like to take the time to remind everyone to keep positive thoughts going to all the storm victims out East.  In particular for Jude and her family and neighbors.  The word is that she is doing okay but still thinks it will be another two weeks before the power comes back on.  The days are getting colder and shorter so let's keep hope alive by donating to a relief fund to bring needed aid to the area.

Hopefully I'll be back sooner then later.  Stay safe and warm.  Thank you.

WIP:wednesday, nothing finished/a lot started

I can tell the days are getting cooler.  My kitties are starting to snuggle - and it is comforting and warm but they also think my thread is a toy...

Nevertheless.  I feel like a squirrel putting away her inches, paper pieces and base cloths readying for a long cold winter.

So without delay: what's awaiting the needle.

This exercise was to try and piece together an oak leaf, the subject of most of my work this year, using paper piecing into shaping the "patches" together.  First I created the drawing and made the template which I them cut to use for paper piecing..

I then stitched it to a base cloth and coupled it with an outline of the leaf.  It too is divided (pencil lines) into a nine patch which will just be stitched.  

Here is another version of a nine patch...just using triangle templates and the leaf for inspiration.  The 90 degree angles are fine to stitch but the 45 degree angles - well, it rhymes with stitch (the word I'm thinking of.)  This is just a little sampler to try out ideas. 

And now for the true nine patch inch by inch method.  Some are tacked and basted and some are just pinned.

 And just in case there is nothing else to do, make more paper pieces.

 I'll keep the progress reports going. Still working on my other projects too: the jacket and a few more patches for holes I've been finding in my jeans...and embellishing a sweater for my sister and the owl is still hooting, "what about me, what about me...i'm still waiting to be finished....what about me...."

Keep warm if your weather is getting cooler - Oh, my October already!

tuesday preview

Hello Lancashire, Leicester calling...

I will be doing a WIP Wednesday but in the meantime:

There was a hole that needed plugging.  Only three hexies with a little kantha like stitching.  Your modern day boro.  If you are old enough to remember Nancy Sinatra's "these boots were made for walking..." you can hum the quote in the picture to that...

So til tomorrow...