Never Ending Sampler Panel 5 Band 6

Happy Weekend everyone!  In case you're looking for something to do, here is the next band in The Never Ending Sampler:

This is Panel 5 Band 6.  Right click on the images and save to your computer.

Happy Stitching!!!

Never Ending Sampler Panel 5 Band 4

As we continue on with the Never Ending Sampler, today I have Panel 5 Band 4:

Pretty Rhodes hearts in 2 different sizes are the special stitch for this band.

Click on the images to download and then print.

White Peacock Purse

We had more snow last night and more is expected tonight into tomorrow.  This has been some Winter!  And I sure do hope that we're coming to the end of it!  Thankfully, the sun is out now. 

My White Peacock Purse is coming along.  I started doing some beading on it this morning:

The lime green patch on the left was just a little too intense so I added a lace overly on part of it which tones it down a bit.  The trim along the edge is a ribbon type yarn, gathered and hand sewn down.

Here are a couple of close ups of the beaded seams I was working on this morning:

I finished up a couple of pretty little Easter Bunny Brooches yesterday.  I'll have photos of those this coming week.  And mom made a few Easter door hangers so I'll share those this week as well.

Christmas Poinsettia Purse

I woke up at 1:30 this morning, sweating buckets!  Oh, does that ever end!!!!  So, since I'm not one to waste time, I got up, made coffee, put QVC on and stitched.  My Christmas Poinsettia Purse is done and ready to sew together:

I added some more Kreinik metallic to the border on the left.  I stem stitched around the leaves with a #4 Braid:

The leaves needed a bit more definition and I'm always up for more sparkle!  I love those Kreinik metallic threads.  Always have!  BTW - the free cross stitch design on Kreinik's main webpage is one I did for them a few years back!

And here is a close up photo of the antique lace piece at the top:

I had first used red seed beads on the antique lace but it was too much red.  I rarely take anything off once I sew it on but the red just didn't work so I replaced them with green seed beads and now it looks more balanced.

Finally, I added centers to the red Silk Ribbon flowers:

If you look closely at the photos, I scattered some clear snowflakes here and there on the block. 

I'll have to run up to JoAnn's tomorrow and get some purse handles for this bag.  I have a few sets here but nothing that works with this piece.  So, just twist my arm and make me to go to JoAnn's!  LOL!!!

And now for some more cute cat pictures.  Here's my little Cotton ball:

A rare photo of him with his eyes open!  He's on the top shelf of my garden window.  No, he's not allowed up there.  But I can't reach him when he's way in the back so instead, I grabbed the camera!

And apparently, Wrigley discovered the sink in the bathroom:

Oh, those little faces just melt my heart!  I'm still trying to get some new photos of Lucy but she's still a little crabby and fussy.  She's had a hard time adjusting to losing Nightmare (I know that feeling) and having 2 little aliens in the house.  Slowly but surely, she's coming around.  I'll try again later for some new photos of her.  She's always been a beauty!

Elegant Crazy Quilt Seam Treatments Volume 3

I'm pleased to announce that Volume 3 of Elegant Crazy Quilt Seam Treatments is now available:

I've done another 180 all new charted borders for stitching crazy quilt seams with my Waste Canvas technique.  Please note, there are no directions in this volume.  Full directions for working with Waste Canvas are available in Volume 1. 

Here is my latest project using the borders from my latest volume:

And here is another photo of the same borders with the beads:

Be sure to click on the photos so you can see the borders closeup!

Irish Lady Pillow Is Ready To Sew

My Crazy Quilt Irish Lady Pillow piece is complete and ready to sew together:

And here are close up photos of the seam stitching:

I also mentioned when I started on this, that I'm going to be experimenting with "fill in" patterns.  Here's a closeup of that:

I have to run to WalMart this morning and pick up a few things.  I may also pop into our new Hobby Lobby and check that out.  When I get back, I'll sew this piece up with some pretty lace.  I'll share a final photo of it soon!