Blue Painted Lady and Questions Answered

First, I want to share an update on my Blue Painted Lady CQ block:



I've added alot of beads and still have plenty more that I want to add. I'm thinking of doing a spiderweb on this but haven't decided for sure yet. When I finish my post for today, I'll be working on it some more so I expect to have another update for you tomorrow.

I was asked several questions this week and I thought I would answer them here. The first question is what fabric dye do I use?. I've been using DynaFlo by Jacquard. I've always purchased the small packs at Michaels but now that I'm dying larger quantities of things at one time, I'm ordering them online in larger quantities.

The next question is since I use my graphic software alot, do I have any tutorials? Actually no, I never thought of doing tutorials on how I use my software. I can tell you that I use the Corel Graphics Suite 12 on this computer and I use Paintshop Pro (whatever the newest version is) on my laptop. Quite honestly, I've heard that Corel software is challenging to use. That's all I've ever used and I guess I'm just used to it. To me, Paintshop Pro is too fussy. That might be because I don't use my laptop alot. I much prefer this computer which my brother in law put together for me.

As for tinting the Painted Ladies, what I did was to create a new soft brush with 99% transparency. That gave them some color without changing the image. I just ran the brush over the areas that I wanted colored. For the sepia tone, I simply altered the "Hue" to golden brown.

I hope that answers your questions. I never use the tutorials in any of my software. I just click on buttons until it does what I want it to. I know that sounds silly, but that's what I do.

If anyone else has any questions for me, please drop me a note and I'll be happy to answer them.

Ok, I'm off to answer email and then to stitch the rest of the day. DH is making dinner tonigh and we just bought the new Superman movie (which we saw in the show last Summer and loved) so we'll be watching that later. I love action/adventure special effects movies!

Vintage Lace & Painted Ladies Mystery Kits

First, we just got dumped on with a foot of snow! I know I can't do anything about the weather but that much snow at one time makes me climb the walls! I just can't stand it. I feel so totally trapped and confined. It's so overwhelming. It looks now like the storm has passed and the sun is trying to come out. Sunshine always helps my mood!

I distracted myself this morning by getting my lace packs listed in my Etsy shop. I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to leave me comments about how I should package it up in the future. I'll definately be doing variety packs with the next batch. It never occurred to me until now.

As for shipping internationally, yes, I will do that!! I've changed all my listings but I'm not sure I have it right. If you order from me and the shipping seems too high, drop me an email and I'll send you a PayPal invoice. The "multipal item" shipping thing at Etsy seems confusing to me. Maybe it's just me. Anyway, you can always find my email address on my main Kitty & Me Website.

Ok, now onto my next crazyquilt project:



I sewed this block up the other day and started stitching on it last night:



I have a ton of these little images of Victorian Ladies In Hats. They're so pretty but I thought they would be even prettier with a bit of color in them. So, I scanned them all into my computer and handtinted each one in my graphic software. Then I gave them a sepia tone. Time consuming but fun! I've always liked pretty hats although unlike purses, I wouldn't be caught dead with one on my head! Anyway, I'm sure you're wondering what the "mystery" is that I mentioned in the title of today's post. Well, I must blatently plug my Etsy shop again and tell you that you'll have to go there to find out!

Can't Part With This One!

Isn't this pretty?



It looks like something off a Victorian Wedding Dress! I don't think I can part with it. I can see it on a purse. Of course, I can see everything on a purse! You know they're a weakness of mine!

My lace is all starched and pressed and ready for packaging which I'll be doing shortly.

I'd like to ask my readers a question. What would you prefer if you were to purchase some of this lace, would you prefer packages that have a variety of small pieces such as 6 inch or 8 inch pieces or would you prefer large 1 yard pieces? I'd love some input so I know how to package it up in the future.

We're supposed to get alot of snow this afternoon and evening. They're calling for 12 inches or more. EWWWWWWW..........quite honestly, it hasn't even started yet and I already feel like an animal in a cage. So glad I have lots of fabric, threads, beads and buttons to place with!

Old Lace, Cupid And A Nightmare!

I didn't manage any stitching time last night. When I finished up my regular design work, I hand-painted the lace that I bought last weekend. Here's the before photo:



And here's what it looks like now:



It's all ready now for starch and pressing. I hope to get that done today but I have this need to run my sewing machine for awhile so I'll be doing that first today and then I'll see how much time I have after that.

PatternNuts asked me yesterday if I would be willing to show the back of my Redwork Cupid. She's going to be stitching a redwork design and wanted to see what the back should look like. I don't mind showing the back of my work at all so PatternNuts, here's the photo you asked for:



Stitching a redwork or outline embroidery design is not all that different from counted cross stitch in the sense that you shouldn't carry your threads too far and you can weave the tails in under near by stitches. I never clip my threads close until I've completed the stitching. Now, my grandmother always knotted her threads on the back. Technically, they should be woven in under other threads rather than knotted but I'll admit, I tie knots because that's how my grandma taught me to do it.

On a final note before I head off to my sewing machine, I thought you would enjoy this photo of my Nightmare kitty taken on Thanksgiving. He loves turkey and yes, he begs! And yes, Mommy spoils him rotten!

Redwork Cupid

I don't have anything too terribly exciting to share today. I worked on my current charted design project until about 6:00 last night and by then was kind of tired and didn't feel up to stitching.

I started on this redwork cupid last week:



I really want to be crazyquilting but I have to sew up a few things to stitch on and won't have time until my design work for the week is done. If I complete it today, I can run my sewing machine tomorrow!