As you can see, my Pink Peacock is coming along nicely! I added more beads, lots more! I covered the seam to the right of the peacock.
I also worked up my usual plain tatted edging for the bottom left seam and added some gold sequins to that. The tatting is worked in DMC varigated perle cotton #8. I don't know why I do the same tatted edge over and over. I have other patterns. I guess I do this one because I know it by heart and don't have to stop to follow the pattern.
Anyway, now when I look at my blue peacock block, it seems to me like it needs a little something more. When I finish this one, I may see what else I can do with the blue one. I will of course post photos of any more additions!
I also started the stitching on my apron yesterday. When I adapted the sheet & pillowcase border to fit the apron, I managed to get 4 of the repeats on it. So, I've just about stitched the first motif. I plan to make time for some stitching on that later today as well.
Cross Stitch Patterns inspired by nature, animals, holidays and scripture by Pamela Kellogg
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Garden Jewels Cross Stitch Mystery Part 1
One more quick note to my cross stitch followers, I've sent out Part 1 of Garden Jewels now. If you signed up for the project and didn't receive it, please drop me a quick email. I apologize for posting here but since my chat board is down again, I need to make sure that everyone has their chart.
EZ Board & Garden Jewels Mystery
Just a quick note to my cross stitch followers and those looking forward to starting on the Garden Jewels Mystery today, yes our EZ Board is down again. It appears to only be the server that our chat board is on.
Garden Jewels will begin today as scheduled. I have some chores to do first, like go outside and water plants since we've had almost no rain this Summer! Anyway, I expect to have Part 1 sent out by noon today (Central time).
You can always reach me via email if you have any questions. If Ez Board is not back by the time I send GJ out, I will post here to let you know that Part 1 is on it's way.
Garden Jewels will begin today as scheduled. I have some chores to do first, like go outside and water plants since we've had almost no rain this Summer! Anyway, I expect to have Part 1 sent out by noon today (Central time).
You can always reach me via email if you have any questions. If Ez Board is not back by the time I send GJ out, I will post here to let you know that Part 1 is on it's way.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
I've Been Bit!
Well, I was going to stitch on my peacock block yesterday, but first deciced to do the finishing on a few projects. Before putting my sewing things away, I took a look at Tie One On blog and guess what? I got bit! What bit me? The apron bug!
I suddenly had to make an apron! So, I pulled out some of my fabric stash to see what I had yardage of. Much of my stash consists of fat quarters. Anyway, I had a pretty white on white piece, more than enough for a 1/2 apron.
Then I remembered, this beautiful vintage applique and embroidery pattern from 1946 that I found back in February at an antique mall! The pattern was never used. Anyway, I had some of that lovely mint green fabric and decided I would adapt the pattern to fit the bottom of the apron.
Well, it kind of took me all day to do this. I've never made and apron before and I didn't use a pattern. I took measurements from my Chicken Scratch apron and worked from that.
The green border took awhile as I did needleturn applique by hand. Once I finished that, I completed the piecing. All I have left to do now is to handsew the waistband down on the backside and do the embroidery. I've already traced the pattern on.
Sometimes, I just don't know what possesses me! It's not like I don't have anything here to stitch on. I just get this bee in my bonnet and I have to drop what I'm doing and whip something up. Even if it does take me a whole day!
As soon as it's complete, I'll get out my digi camera and snap a photo so you can all see it. It's so pretty!
I showed my husband last night and he laughed at me. Asked me what in the world I was going to do with it! I reminded him that although I'm not one to cook big lavish meals, I do make salad, I do cut up fruit, I do make bread and cookies and heaven knows I'm the dishwasher around here!
If you'd like to see more vintage patterns, there are a ton of pretty vintage apron patterns here. They're expensive, but cool to look at! If you're on dial-up, go get some iced tea while the page loads. It'll take awhile!
I suddenly had to make an apron! So, I pulled out some of my fabric stash to see what I had yardage of. Much of my stash consists of fat quarters. Anyway, I had a pretty white on white piece, more than enough for a 1/2 apron.
Then I remembered, this beautiful vintage applique and embroidery pattern from 1946 that I found back in February at an antique mall! The pattern was never used. Anyway, I had some of that lovely mint green fabric and decided I would adapt the pattern to fit the bottom of the apron.
Well, it kind of took me all day to do this. I've never made and apron before and I didn't use a pattern. I took measurements from my Chicken Scratch apron and worked from that.
The green border took awhile as I did needleturn applique by hand. Once I finished that, I completed the piecing. All I have left to do now is to handsew the waistband down on the backside and do the embroidery. I've already traced the pattern on.
Sometimes, I just don't know what possesses me! It's not like I don't have anything here to stitch on. I just get this bee in my bonnet and I have to drop what I'm doing and whip something up. Even if it does take me a whole day!
As soon as it's complete, I'll get out my digi camera and snap a photo so you can all see it. It's so pretty!
I showed my husband last night and he laughed at me. Asked me what in the world I was going to do with it! I reminded him that although I'm not one to cook big lavish meals, I do make salad, I do cut up fruit, I do make bread and cookies and heaven knows I'm the dishwasher around here!
If you'd like to see more vintage patterns, there are a ton of pretty vintage apron patterns here. They're expensive, but cool to look at! If you're on dial-up, go get some iced tea while the page loads. It'll take awhile!
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
When Is A Block Done?
I was asked "how do I know when a block is done?". And it's funny that this question came up because I was thinking of posting about it.
When is a block done? Well, it's kind of a "feeling". After working on a block for so long, I'm sort of "connected" to it. I've noticed that after awhile, a block usually tells me what it needs. I'll be stitching along and suddenly I'll think of something in my stash that would look good on it. Something that I forgot I had. So I pull it out and try it and yes, it usually works great!
And as with stitching on it, it seems to tell me when it's done as well. I'll look at it and it'll appear to be balanced perfectly or there won't be room for anything else without it looking overdone.
The challenge for me is to balance it without completely covering up my fancy fabrics. That's not to say that I'm not attracted to extremely encrusted CQ blocks. I've seen some absolutely breathtaking blocks, almost completely covered with embroidery, SRE and beads and buttons and I love them! For me, the brocades that I use are just so beautiful, I don't want to cover them up with embellishments so I do try to use some plainer fabrics along with the fancy ones on the blocks. Things that I don't mind covering with embellishments.
It's really a "knowing". You get a "feel" for it. You'll just know when enough is enough.
When is a block done? Well, it's kind of a "feeling". After working on a block for so long, I'm sort of "connected" to it. I've noticed that after awhile, a block usually tells me what it needs. I'll be stitching along and suddenly I'll think of something in my stash that would look good on it. Something that I forgot I had. So I pull it out and try it and yes, it usually works great!
And as with stitching on it, it seems to tell me when it's done as well. I'll look at it and it'll appear to be balanced perfectly or there won't be room for anything else without it looking overdone.
The challenge for me is to balance it without completely covering up my fancy fabrics. That's not to say that I'm not attracted to extremely encrusted CQ blocks. I've seen some absolutely breathtaking blocks, almost completely covered with embroidery, SRE and beads and buttons and I love them! For me, the brocades that I use are just so beautiful, I don't want to cover them up with embellishments so I do try to use some plainer fabrics along with the fancy ones on the blocks. Things that I don't mind covering with embellishments.
It's really a "knowing". You get a "feel" for it. You'll just know when enough is enough.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
