Purple Painted Lady Purse Continued

I spent yesterday packaging up 1,000's of 2 inch quilt squares. I don't know what I was thinking the last time I made a postage stamp quilt! I had a rubbermaid container filled with them! I packed them up in groups of 400 plus and yes, I actually counted them all out! It took hours and hours. I'll list them over in the shop later today.

In the meantime, here's an update on my Purple Painted Lady Purse:



The row of sequin trim above the lace is actually a rosey pink color. It doesn't show up well on the scanner. I'm going to have to add something to the feather stitch along the right side of the lady too. That seam doesn't show up well even in person.

On another note, I'll be writing up the tutorial for the painted dryer sheets later today. I expect to have the tutorial ready to publish here tomorrow. I know everyone is busy with Christmas but I want you all to have what what you need in time for the start of Sharon's Take A Stitch project.

Our first project will be Dryer Sheet Pansies with my focus being on the Blanket Stitch. On Friday, I'll give you the supply list for actually making the pansies.

And, to help with the post-Christmas blahs (I don't have that problem but I know alot of people do), I'm going to host a contest next week. That'll give everyone something fun to look forward to. There will be a nice prize for the winner and although you'll have to do a bit of research, the answer is available on the internet!

Ok everyone, have a good day! I'll see ya'll tomorrow!

Purple Painted Lady Purse and Crocheted Ric/Rack

I started the stitching on this piece yesterday:



I had a good couple of hours to stitch on it and as you can see, have most of the seams covered with embroidery. I'm thinking of doing some cast-on stitches to the left of the lady but haven't decided for sure yet. I still find them a little fussy but I really like the way they look!

Susan wanted to see my pieces of crocheted ric/rack. I've been hoarding these, saving them for something special. I paid a pretty penny for them at a flea market a couple of years ago. I don't see crocheted ric/rack very often so when I do, buying them is pretty much a sure thing!



Quite honestly, I don't care if ever use everything that I have. Some of the enjoyment for me is in having it, esp. beautiful hand-crocheted pieces like this. Sometimes, I just open my lace drawers and pull pieces out just to look at them and admire them. The same goes for my fabric, beads and buttons too! I truly enjoy my stash!

Susan also asked me what my Redwork Cupid will be. You know me, I like making doorknockers so that's what I'll do with him. I'll probably border him with some red piping and maybe a bit of lace. I'll post another photo of him when I get him sewed up.

On another note, hop over to Allison's blog and take a look at her Crazy For Flowers quilt. It's complete now. What a stunning crazyquilt!!!

Ok, I'm off to package up some "charm quilt squares". I got a little carried away the last time I did a sane patchwork quilt and I know I won't be doing another one anytime soon!

Loads Of Finishing!

I had a very productive day yesterday! After running to Michaels to pick up a few supplies (I didn't need any, I just wanted some!) I parked myself on my sofa and I did the finishing on my 3 cellphone pouches:







They are just so cute! I hand-beaded the bottoms and added snaps for closure. They're big enough for a cellphone, a little cash and Driver's License! I've listed them already in my Etsy Shop.

When those were completed, I added the embellishments to my Redwork Cupid:



I sewed on a few of those little Forgetmenot flowers that are often used on shower favors. 3 orange seed beads hold them in place. Then I added some leaves made of mint green seed beads. Those leaves are worked like a detached chain stitch using 9 green seed beads. I added a few small light yellow pearl beads and this is now exactly what I wanted it to look like!

If you've never done Redwork before and would like to give it a try, 2 strands of DMC #498 is a very good red to work with.

I'm now off to stitch on my Purple Painted Lady piece. And that's my plan for the rest of today!

Purple Painted Lady Purse

Well, my cellphone pouches are all sewn together but I didn't get to the hand finishing yet. I still need to add the cords and a snap on each one. That's my project for this afternoon! I didn't get to the do-dads on my Redwork Cupid either.

I did however, sew up a new block:



It will be another purse. Have I ever mentioned that I love fancy purses? Once or twice, right?

Anyway, I have several blocks already sewn but didn't feel like working on any of those so I did a new one. And I have an idea for another one, all pieced in white and then the stitching will be done all in black. I'll do the beading in various colors. That should be interesting. But I only had time to sew one block yesterday so I'll start on this when my little cellphone pouches are done and hopefully I'll have time during the week to sew up my white block.

Pink Cellphone Pouch and Redwork Cupid Complete!

I did some serious stitching yesterday! I finished the stitching on the pink cellphone pouch:



Susan commented on how perfectly spaced my Buttonhole wheels are. I have a trick for that! I took a coin, a dime actually and drew a line down the middle using a ruler and a black permanent marker. Then I lined the black line up on the dime along the seam line. I used a pencil and traced around the dime. It's best to start in the middle of the seam that you want to cover. That way you won't have too much space on either side of the row you're working on.

If you want larger Buttonhole wheels, use a nickel or a quarter.

You can also use a quilters blue pen to mark your piece. That only works on very light fabrics though. If working on a dark fabric, try a white caulk pencil. And if working on a plush fabric like velvet, you'll have to use tissue paper. Using a ruler, draw a line on the tissue, then mark the line with your coin. Line it up along your seam on your CQ. You can baste it or pin it on. Do your stitching and then carefully tear away the tissue paper out from under your stitches. Now I know alot of stitchers use Press & Seal. I've tried this and I don't recommend it. I had alot more trouble getting it out then I do with the tissue.

I guess with my cross stitch background, I feel the need for my stitches to be perfectly and evenly spaced. Eyeballing it just doesn't work for me. I use waste canvas for feather stitches and fan stitches but it doesn't work for the Buttonhole Wheels so this is a nice way to do it. I hope these ideas help you to have perfectly spaced stitches too!

When I completed the cellphone pouch, I worked on the little redwork cupid that I started back at Thanksgiving and completed that:



Since I love beads and do-dads, I will be adding a few embellishments to this. Probably just on the heart. Stop by again tomorrow to see what I do with it!

I'm off to run my sewing machine. I want to sew the cellphone pouches together and then work up another CQ block or two. I have such a cool idea for one! I have to see what my stash offers in the way of white fancy fabrics first!