Time for a catch-up

Sometimes when life throws you lemons you just have to make lovely lemonade.

I've had a 'bit' of a busy couple of months (and the next few will be more of the same, lol), but I have still been stitching away whenever possible.

Here is a catch-up on some of the things I have made since my last post here.

Freeform crochet scrumbles. Getting ready to make a headband or hat.

Wet felting. I attended another workshop and made these two flowers.

Stamen embellishments are yet to be added.

Crochet miniature tablecloth, 6 inches long.

Fiberart Guild Presentation

The International Freeform Fiberart Guild has one of my fiberarts published in the 2017 book.

The theme this year was Pattern In Nature, and my piece is all about the pattern of life of a Leaf 

The Life Cycle of a Leaf

This is the book cover for 2017, and clicking on it will take you the book sale where you can also see all the other fiberarts too.

There is also an online gallery HERE if you prefer to view the fiberart on their website with larger pics.

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I went to a wet-felting class last weekend, and here are the two flowers I made there.

The orange one is huge, and for The Great Opunake Yarn Bomb project later this year.

The black/purple flower is waiting for beads to be added and for another project.

Well, I think that's it for this week.

Be sure to check out the fiberart online show because you will not be disappointed with the eye-candy there. Some wonderfully talented people all over the world.

A YOP finish & 'My Week'

Another YOP finished object to add to my list on the YOP-FO tab

I have finished the Christmassy Cat decoration- what a little cutie. 

My 'someone special' is going to love it.

It's about 6" high and embroidered with DMC floss.

An enjoyable and quick project to stitch. I might do a whole load for next Christmas, lol.

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My Summers End crochet mandala has not progressed any this week, but

I have started another 2 crochet projects, but can't show pics yet because they are for Christmas presents.

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I enjoyed a lovely Christmas dinner with the Embroiderers Guild group that I belong to.

Lovely company and great food.

 (or should that read)

Lovely food and great company.

Either way works for me.

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I went to my local church fair this week. Plenty of nick-nacks for sale, and lovely music provided by a couple of teenagers from the high school, singing and playing guitar and keyboards. They were very good, and certainly in the Christmas spirit. Isn't it good to see the youth of today enjoying making people smile.

One of our junior schools in our little town also had a Country Fair, which was very fun entertainment for all the children. I do so enjoy listening to the happy little voices of children playing and having fun. It was another day of smiles for me.

There is a Market Day at the High School tomorrow, and an evening Crafty Christmas Fair event later in the week. I shall happily be attending those events too. I try to buy locally if I can, and I do my best to support local events and fundraisers. 

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The garden has taken up some time this week, so with a lack of stitching related photos to show this week, here are some of my lovely blossoms and blooms purely for your enjoyment too.

Well, that's it for this week folks.

I hope you have a great time if you are attending any functions.

This has been another Year Of Projects post

Silk Ribbon Embroidery Flowers

Just a couple of little additions to the crazy quilt block.

Irises

and roses

September Hearts

 My Free Form Hearts for the month of September 

For my  Straight From The Heart Quilt 

Week 28

A Crazy Quilt Patchwork Heart with Crochet flowers embellishments.

Week 29

Machine blanket stitch applique with hand stitched Buttonhole Bars edging.

Week 30

Metallic thread Kantha Quilted heart in contrasting halves.

Week 32

A cute 'fussy-cut' rose fabric heart, appliqued with small cross-stitches in a variegated thread.

I'm still trying to vary the techniques that I use on the hearts, and I think I'm still coming up with new ideas that I haven't tried yet. So much fun to be had in a haphazard free forming way.

That's my lot for September.

See you in October, lol.

Heart Crazy Quilt wk 18 ~ Crochet ~ Flowers

Here we go again, I've had another week of fun stitching for my

"Straight From the Heart" Crazy Quilt.

Four Crochet 3D flowers for scattering around the quilt.

Five Crochet Hearts and a bunch of textured embroidery.

I seem to have a 'thing' about pink and orange lately.

And a Checkered Heart with Crochet Lace edging that I stitched onto the blanket stitch surrounding it.

A strange thing happened this week.

I started reading a book that I found in a very old 'back up' file on an old computer hard-drive.

The story was great, and as I was reading it I started getting that de-ja-vue feeling about it, which made me think I had read it before, but I just couldn't remember how the story ended, and it was so good that I didn't want to stop reading. So I carried on, and you'll never guess what happened next (or maybe you have already).

There wasn't an ending. It stopped abruptly half way through Chapter 12, with me wondering what on earth was about to happen to those great characters.

Then it dawned on me. This was my book. The reason I thought I had read it before was because I was the one who wrote it.

Sad I didn't finish it though. If I ever complete it, I'll be sure to let you know.

Crazy Quilting wk 17 ~ Tatting ~ Crochet

What should I show you first this week?

How about the little birdie on the "E" monogram, updated this week with a flourish of floral vine twirling away in the background, and the little birdie now has a 'body' to help it sing its little heart out.

It is a fabric patch on my "Straight From the Heart" crazy quilt.

Simple, yet effective. I hope Emma likes what I did with her initial for inclusion on the quilt.

And here is a crochet flower motif. My own design. 

This is also going on the Heart Quilt.

 Tatting Update

 I have been practicing my tatting once more and made this motif. 

Still wonky, still mistakes, still learning, lol.

And..... for those of you who didn't get to see my excitement on Facebook....

Hold your ears while I sing a loud WAHOOOO.....

(American friends insert 'Ye Haaaa' if you wish)....

....... I ....... CAN ....... TAT .......

Oh my goodness, I can tat. At last. I finally get 'IT'.

Good old Percy did it again.

(Percy = perseverance)

Lesson learnt. See, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.

I've had a great week.

I wonder what the next seven days will bring.

Heart CQ ~ Boho Skirt ~ Kumihimo

 Straight From the Heart Quilt 

Week 14

A few variegated leaves added to last weeks ruffle flowers, and I don't think it needs anything else now.

A crocheted purple and white flower has been 'planted' in a flower-pot.

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 Boho Skirt Update 

Wohoo, I have finished the front middle panel of the skirt.

Rough, raw fabric edges, uneven and sometimes wonky stitching (I love it).

I am not embellishing every fabric patch, just an occasional one here and there.

Love that musical fabric.

I might have to add more stitching to tone down the orange fabric to the left of centre bottom. It just seems a little bit bright for what I'm wanting here, or I may even froggit.

Now to carry on around the back of the middle panel.

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 Kumihimo Necklace 

Had a bit of a fun one afternoon and created this Kumihimo necklace.

Yet to add the fastening though. Still pondering on that one.

Heart Crazy Quilt Catch Up

This week I am playing catch up with my Straight From the Heart Crazy Quilt.

Here are three weeks worth in one post (is that good value, or what?)

Week 11

Machine work - haha - something you don't see very often from me.

Playing (experimenting) with free-motion quilting and also practicing with metallic threads.

Pink and purple satin fabric, only the purple one is the shiny, slippery little devil.

Hand stitched to the black rose fabric with buttonhole stitch.

Week 12

Reverse applique heart with a fly stitch decoration and a fabric 'ruffle' flower for the centre.

Week 13

Two more 'ruffle' flowers (just because I was enjoying doing them) and a Suffolk Puff flower (I am English so that's what I call them, you may know them as Yoyo's).

The stamen are made with Cast-on stitch.

The Suffolk Puff looks somewhat black in this pic, but it is actually a deep aubergine.

I may add some hand stitched embroidery in places on this, I'll just have to see what time I have spare.

 Quilt Show Photo Album 

The quilt show photos that I mentioned last week are on Flickr - all 108 photos.

You can catch them here

....and don't be shy, say hello over there...

There are too many to post to this blog sorry, but here's a taster for you....

Crazy Quilt Week 4

 Straight From The Heart 

Crazy Quilt Week 4 

A 'broken' heart gets mended. 

A crochet flower with bullion stitch and French Knots.

Another crochet flower with French Knots.

Buttonhole wheels, French Knots, whipped chain stitch, and couched braid.

I am still searching for the perfect backing for these stitchery's.