Opening Day!

I wish I could say that it's a beautiful day for baseball. Unfortunately, it's cloudy, rainy, dreary & damp. On the news this morning, they did say that the Cubbies should be able to get their opening day game in. Whew! For over a month now, I've been counting the days for baseball season to start!

My dear husband has already set the TV to change the channel to WGN at 12:30 my time. I will be parked on my sofa and will start the beading on this block during the game:

Update On Button Blocks

I finished up on this button block yesterday:



After pulling the waste canvas out from under that leaf border at the top, I found that the leaves didn't show up well. The color I used looked fine before I started stitching. I solved the problem by outlining the leaves with 1 strand of DMC black embroidery floss. Now they show up just fine!

I was asked, "what is the best way to sew on buttons?" Well, I use 2 strands of bead thread and I go through each button several times. In fact, I use bead thread to attach almost everything. The only exception is for lace and trim. I use sewing thread in a coordinating color to attach those but for everything else, bead thread is the best choice. If sewing thread is used to attach beads and other do-dads, it will eventually loosen up due to the weight of the items whereas bead thread stays put!

This is my next block:



I'm thinking of working the borders with burnt orange and rust. I have a beautiful new Watercolor thread from The Caron Collection and I think it will work nicely against these light yellow-greens.

Little House Pattern

Last week, I received a package in the mail from Melusine. It was a package filled with sunshine in the form of vintage iron-on embroidery transfers! I know I've mentioned it many times here, I love them! I have been collecting these vintage patterns for years and years. They are absolute treasure to me!

My mom came over yesterday for a few hours to play with my treadle machine. She enjoys sewing on it as much as I do! She left just before Scott came home so I didn't have much stitching time and that's okay.

Since I don't have an update on my current button block, I thought I would share one of the pretty little patterns that Melusine sent to me:



Click on the image to go to my Flickr site where you can download the large version. This one isn't dated but most of the patterns are from the 1930's.

Thank you Melusine, for thinking of me! I love these patterns!

More Button Blocks & New Autism Charity Design

Here's my completed red & black block:



Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version at my Flickr site. All of the buttons are antique metal buttons and they are quite lovely!

Once that one was completed, I started on this one:



I was recently asked what my personal preference for waste canvas size is. Generally, I use 10 count and 8.5 count. I reserve 14 count for small projects like my Comfort Cat dolls. The red block was stitched entirely with 10 count and the blue block so far, has been stitched using 8.5 count. If you're interested in working with charted borders and waste canvas like I do, you can find my E-Book here.

Finally for today, I've added a new Autism Awareness design to my Etsy shop:



All proceeds from this design will be donated to Our Children's Circle Autism Group.

Button Block 12

Just a quick update on this block:



I got caught up in some Civil War Documentaries yesterday that I borrowed from my dad and didn't get in as much stitching as I had planned. I'm sure I'll have this one finished up later today.