Novice Round Robin Update

It's been a few weeks but I forgot to do a blog post about Sarma's block!

Sarma asked for an asian themed block with no lace or plastic.  I think she plans on doing a bed quilt.

I did a very simple feather stitch with lazy daisy stitches on one seam.

 Then, I added a rose vine to the spider web that Lynda made.

Not a great picture, I really need to stop being lazy and grab the camera.  Not my phone.  But, I love the paisley.

My favorite is the golden feather.  I interwove metallic gold through the back stitches.  Then used perle cotton and gold beads to couch the black rick rack down.

The whole block, including the beautiful tree and flower cluster that Lynda stitched.  I'm excited to get the next one but have to admit as we get further in, it's harder to mesh with the last person's vision.  It's a challenge, for sure.

Kinda, Sorta Getting Going

I apologize for the really terrible pictures but I was too lazy to go get my camera... The iPad is great but doesn't take amazing pictures.

I wasn't going to do the Splendid Sampler, I was just going to follow along and see what others were doing.  Then, I forgot and did the first 3 posted blocks.

I decided to make them purely from my stash.  All pinks and reds.  Pink/red has been on my to do list for a long time.  The idea is that I'll just use any shade of pink or red on any block.  By the end, I'll have so many different brights and darks that they will all blend together.  It's a grand experiment.

These 6" blocks are ideal for a stash buster.  I'm hoping the whole thing doesn't end up being hearts, though.  That might be perfect or it might be too much with my color scheme.  There will be 100.  I'm not commiting to that.   I'm just going to do what I want and then see what I've got when I decide I'm done.  I have to admit, it's nice to have a pieced project going.

If you're interested in following along, you can find them at TheSplendidSampler.com.  They have tutorials and pictures for everything.

 For TAS, I chose my 2016 challenge.  I'm going to work on the Art Nouveau quilt bonus blocks.

 This is a terrible picture!  But, you can still see how pointy my curves are.! I might revisit this one to smooth it out.

Also in TAS, we've been making some needle books.  I demonstrated the "how to"  but they were so simple, very little instruction was neccessary.  In Jan, we transferred the pattern and started the embroidery.  Then this month we added ribbon roses.  Most of the girls did momograms but I already had my monogram and chose to do a birdhouse. Simple, simple but I think it's very sweet.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope to see you soon!

The Final Round Up

This week I headed back to work full time.  It's bittersweet.  I love the people I work with.  I realize how lucky I am just to have ANY job.  If I'm totally honest with myself, I have to admit I'm just a homemaker at heart.  The things that bring me the most joy in life are all domestic endeavors.  However, I live in the real world.  In that real world, I have 4 kids that live at home.  That means 6 cell phones, 10 cars, college tuition and butt loads of groceries. Therefore, I work full-time.

So, I made a mad dash to finish my fun things up before I headed back.  I worked ahead on CQJP 2016.  I did Feb and Mar, just incase things got too busy.  I learned a new stitch in the Feb block.  I'd never done a bouillon chain stitch (peach flower on vine) before, that was exciting. I was able to use my new hand painted button on March's block.  That's a terrible picture of it.  Trust me, the button is beautiful!

 I finally dug in and finished Twisted Mystery 2011(?).  Don't you love Hunter's face.  He gave me several really great expressions to choose from.  I call this one, Mommy Says I'm Special... I waited a few weeks for the designer to get back to me on the inner border size.  She never did, so I had to figure it out on my own.  Then, I remembered that I did the whole thing wrong from the beginning.  That center medallion was supposed be different but I screwed it up.  Which made all of my measurements wrong at each section.  Which was probably why I stopped working on it to begin with!  So, really, if she'd given me a number, it probably wouldn't have worked anyways.  Alas, it's finished now!  I've spoken to Jane Hair about quilting it for me.  She can't work me in by June, so it's not going to be a wedding present after all.  All the other kids loved it, so someone will probably get it someday.

 So Many Plates to Fill got sewn together.  I waited and waited on inspiration for the setting on this quilt.  I was stuck thinking it needed sashing and borders but couldn't decide on anything.  Then, out of nowhere, I decided to just sew them together and leave off all the borders.  I like it, it feels more modern this way.  So, now I just need to quilt it.  That's a total of 3 empty project boxes!

Last but not least, I DID start a new project.  I've got a story tell you about my epic road trip,too.  I think I've mentioned how I want to learn all forms of needlework.  I had done a few Hardanger projects but knew I couldn't call myself proficient.  Then, I was reading a blog  I follow called Sewing After Seven.  Super talented lady!  Look her up.  She's participating in Mabel Figworthy's Round In Circles Stitch Along.  So, I decided to as well.  It's your basic stitch along.  They post a Hardanger pattern each month and then they explain how to do it in 2 bi-monthly installments.  This is January.  There is supposed to be a circle around it but I suck.  The white lines are my feeble attempt at a grid to keep track of my stitches.  As the months progress, so will the difficulty.  Not looking good for me so far.  I think I had to frog and re-stitch everything twice.

So, about that road trip.  You've read 'If You Give A Pig A Pancake', right?  I needed to find Hardanger fabric and was hoping for something more interesting than white.  The embroidery supply stores are limited in this area.  I googled, and could only find 3 that I could confirm were still in business.  I started out at the First and Last Stitch.  A lovely store with great threads and a delightful owner but she's exclusively Needlepoint.  Then drove to Needlepoint Clubhouse, at this point I'm realizing Needlepoint is NOT a poor man's hobby.  Even more beautiful threads here but still no Hardanger.  I knew that my 3rd store was also Needlepoint and decided to skip it. Seriously, 3 Needlepoint stores in St. Louis...?  Weird, right?  So, I decided I was half way to Three French Hens (a designer/ decorator store, heavily advertised in my area).  I'd never been there either and was curious.  Turns out, not my favorite place.  It's basically overpriced imported, pretty, crap.  But, now I know.  Also, now I'm an hour away from home.  But, only 1/2 hour from the Quilted Fox.  Another store I'd never been to.  They ARE worth the trip.  She stocks my silk appliqué thread and I had just run out of light green...But, no Hardanger.  Fine, I give up.  6 hours after leaving the house, I get to Joann's in Fairview (my regular destination).  I buy the Hardanger in white and a packet of green dye.  Head home, dye my fabric and some silk ribbon while I'm at it.  Ta da, I have hand dyed Hardanger fabric for my new project.  It only cost me $6 in supplies and a full tank of gas.  Now I know why everyone buys online.

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll catch up with you soon!