Getting Backk

Hello!  Although I haven't posted in awhile, I have been busy.  I entered the contest for the Alliance for American Quilt.  The theme was based on new favorites from old and this is my entry.  The contest is over, so I am thinking it is ok to post my entry on my blog now.  You can see all of the entries, which are absolutely amazing, on their website www.allianceforamericanquits.coml  This quilt kept me really busy because it is so heavily stitched, mostly by hand.  The buttons were pretty time consuming to add, as well.

Now, what, you may be asking yourself, does this quilt have to do with the theme of the contest?  Well, the theme could also represent things other than a specific quilt block or pattern.  My idea was based on how my thinking regarding art has changed over the years.  As an eager high school student, I thought there was no better painter than Andrew Wyeth; however, Time has taught me many lessons and I can now appreciate much more abstract work.  So, I drew and painted the flowers from a photo I took (my love of realism) and then attempted to make the surrounding area much more abstract.  I titled the piece "Evolution" to represent my change of thought.  I hope you enjoy seeing it.

I really have to share that this was very difficult for me to do.  I have no trouble making things for myself or my family; however, sharing with others is much more difficult for me.  And to enter something into a contest nearly put me over the edge!  I think that's why I haven't posted in such a while.  But I have been busy working on my crazy quilt star.  So, here are some photos of how that work is going.

These ae some of the points of the star I have been working on.  The one on the right in the picture above is not quite done, but I am out of ribbon and have to order some more.  Here is a picture of how the finished points look when placed next to the main block of the star.

I hope you enjoy seeing this.  Keep quilting!  It's the cure for what ails you!

Little Purse for a Special Gift

I received a special gift from my son this Christmas- an IPod Touch.  This wonderful little gizmo is actually a small, hand-held computer, for those of you who are not into all things Technical or Apple related.  It is wonderful and I have been learning to use many of the functions for school, such as the calendar and the notepad.  I was nervous about keeping it in my pocket, however, so decided to make myself a small purse that could be worn around my neck to keep it in.

The purse is made of two small rectangles of felt.  I first embroidered the front of the purse.  The larger flowers are made of stem stitch worked into a spiral using perl cotton.  The centers are french knots.  I again used stem stitch for the actual stems and some detached chain stitches for the little leaves worked with two strands of floss.  Lazy daisy stitch makes the other flowers, again using french knot centers worked in perl cotton.  Fly stitch is used for stems in two strands of floss.  The background is filled in with fly stitches worked in one strand of floss.  Some straight stitches worked as crossed stitches also help fill in the background and some beads are added for sparkle.  The rectangles are then stitched together using two strands of floss and the blanket stitch.

This was a fun little project.  It didn't take long to complete, and I now have a more secure place to keep my wonderful Christmas gift!  Keep stitching in peace and happiness.

Having Some Fun

Well, I've been  busy bee, learning more new things about blogging.  I'd give myself a big pat on the back for managing to post the blogs I currently follow on this blog, except that it only took me several days to figure it out!!!  Once the light bulb finally went on over my head, it was very easy.  It just takes me awhile.

Here is a picture of something that took me a lot less time.  I have painted and stenciled fabric almost from the time I began quilting, but I never tried painting thread before.  So, yesterday, I measured and cut some #8 DMC pearl cotton into six foot lengths.  I bundled them into little skeins and got out some paints.  I used  Jacquard fabric paints and a small brush.  I wet each skein (unknotted) and mixed my paints on a paper plate, then went to town dabbing the paint on with the small brush.  They turned out nicely variegated by using more or less paint.

When the skeins were dry, I was disappointed to find them very stiff; however, by running them through my fingers several times, they began to soften up.  Pictured below are some french knots and a length of thread that I have already used.  The threads were actually very soft to work with by then.  I was very happy with the results and had a great time painting them.  hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoyed painting them.