Tatting for Block 2

While looking for something else, I ran across a page that my Grandmother had torn out of the April 1969 Popular Needlework magazine. It had patterns for 3 tatted edgings. I thought that it would be nice to include something that Grandma liked in my Fall Table Runner, so I tried one of the patterns.


I used Perle Cotton 12 and the #8 tatting needle. Beads, etc. to be added later.

A Start on Block 2

Yesterday, I got 1 1/4 yards of the hem edging completed for Aiden's baptismal gown. Today, I need to get another 1 1/4 yards made! Onward and upward...

I also made some time for stitching on Block 2 of my Fall Table Runner. It was very happy to receive some attention.


On the piece in the lower right corner, I embroidered the design in the fabric with a stem stitch using silk buttonhole twist. and the lace on the top left corner was based on. I still don't know how I will be embellishing the lace, but inspiration will come, I am sure.

The chocolate wrapper for the day says "Hey, why not?" Maybe I need to have another piece of chocolate!

Living With Block 1 For A Bit

Before someone asks (I get phone calls from friends), here is Block 1. It may be ready for its beads, buttons and pretties - then again it may not! I'm going to live with it for a bit.

Besides, the other blocks are feeling neglected and we can't have that! (Yes, my projects speak to me.)

The chocolate wrapper knows and speaks truth! "Friendship is a gift in itself."

Block 1 - Tatted Motif

Finally, I'm able to get this photo up!

I added this tatted motif to my block. The block seems to be mostly ready for beads and fancies, but I think I will live with it for a bit, just to be sure.

Block 1 - Slow Progress

I made a little time for stitching today. I added a nice trim that I found at JoAnn's to the block. The colors worked perfectly. The seam will need some beads, but I am not into sewing on beads just yet.

As you may have noticed, things seem to be going rather slowly with this block. I have never been a fast worker when it comes to my needlework. I very much prefer to go slowly and rip out as little as possible. I also don't always make enough time for my stitching. I am trying to make time every day for doing needlework, but it doesn't always work out that way. Often I plan to do it at the end of the day (when the house is quiet), but all too often, I sit down and the next thing I know - it is the middle of the night! Falling asleep on the couch is not a good habit, so I am going to try to make time during the daylight hours.

Are these chocolate wrappers trying to create mischief? "Wink at someone driving past today." Yes, definitely a mischief maker!

Block 1 - As It Stands Now

By request, I give you this photo of Block 1 in all it's uncompleted glory!


As you can see, it still needs a great deal of attention - a few more seams to embroider, a couple of empty looking spots to recreate and, of course, beads and buttons to add! I am happy with my progress and will just keep stitching along.

"Follow your instincts" - the chocolate wrapper wisdom of the day. (Do you know how hard it is to eat only one chocolate a day?)

Block 1 - A Braid Substitute

My stash of braids and such is still small and I didn't have anything that would look good on this block. As I was paging through my ever-present copy of Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches (by Miss Carole Samples), I found a solution to my problem. The green band on the lower seam is called a laced, stepped double-running stitch (p. 144) and I think that it is a great substitute for the braid I didn't have. I am very pleased with the result of my experiment. The running stitches were done with silk buttonhole twist and the lacing with Perle Cotton 5.

Just above and to the left is a seam of alternating blanket stitches. I know that some of my seams look a bit plain at the moment, but beads, buttons and other goodies tend to catch the embroidery threads at just the wrong times (very frustrating to me) so they will not be added until all of the embroidery is completed.

Today's chocolate is left over Halloween snack bars. No wisdom there, just calories.

Block 1 - Miss Carole's Influence

There is a little story to go with this motif. Last night, Miss Carole, as she will on occasion, emailed me about some eye-candy on eBay (a circa 1880-1900 crazy quilt). Several seam treatments caught my eye and I did some rough sketches. Then I noticed this motif. Having studied Miss Carole's Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches and having purchased her marvels of artistic engineering, the Dream-A-Seam Templates and the workbook that accompanies them, I got brave and decided to try out my newly learned techniques! I got out my graph paper and managed to draw out the motif. I got so excited that I stitched it before breakfast! Thank you Miss Carole!

Sorry about the fuzzy photo on this, but this little heart applique must be shy - it didn't want it's picture taken! I back stitched around the heart in 2 colors of Perle Cotton 5. The seam to the right is a stem stitch in Perle Cotton 5 wrapped in silk buttonhole twist.

The chocolate wrapper wisdom today reflects a part of my philosophy of life (oh doesn't that sound pretentious)! "Smile at yourself in the mirror." I believe that we must be our own best friend and remind ourselves that we like ourselves. I also believe that, no matter how rotten a day you expect to have, if you start smiling at yourself first thing in the morning every day, a positive thought process is set in motion and will soon be carried with you all day.

Block 1 - A Little More

Forty-five mile an hour winds today managed to clear most of the leaves from the front yard. While I am sorry that they are now in a yard somewhere else and someone else will have to rake the leaves, I did not miss raking leaves today! It was so cold out in that wind!

I made time for a little stitching this evening and completed 2 more seams. Again, I was using Perle Cotton 5. On the left is a row of alternating chain stitches. The chevron stitches on the right are woven with 4 mm silk ribbon.

Joyful stitching to all!

Progress on Block 1

Today was a grey, gloomy, cold and wet day, just the kind of day to stay indoors and stitch. I completed the stitching on 3 more seams this afternoon and evening.

The top right seam is sheaf stitch alternating with a cross stitch, both done in Perle Cotton 5. The cross stitch is crossed with another tiny cross stitch in orange silk buttonhole twist. This tiny cross doesn't really show up in the photo, but it is there!

The center seam is a herringbone stitch unadorned and waiting for some beads. I'll be adding beads after I complete all of the stitching on the block. In the bottom right hand corner is a woven running stitch. Both of these seams were stitched in Perle Cotton 5.

A friend of mine, Miss Freda, warned me (as did several others) that this crazy quilting was addicting and I was a bit sceptical. I now have to admit that all of you were right and I am now addicted!

The chocolate wrapper must have known about today's weather! "It's definitely a bubble-bath day" it says!

Block 3

Today was spent on an unsuccessful hunt for a dress to wear for my brother Jim's wedding down in New Orleans next month. (sigh) I did, however, manage to find an outfit to wear to the rehearsal dinner. So the day was not a total loss.

No stitching today, but I did finish sewing Block 3 for the table runner. The machine embroidery design is from the Husqvarna Viking Colors of Autumn #153 embroidery CD.

Chocolate wrapper wisdom of the day "Follow your instincts."

Block 1 - Adding Texture

I love the swirls in the fabric on the bottom right of this block. I could not resist using embroidery to add textue to the piece. Using silk buttonhole twist, I stitched the outline stitch over every swirl printed on the piece. It took some time, but I am very pleased with the results.

Ah! My chocolate wrapper speaks wisdom again! Make "someday" today.

Block 1 Update

Two days of working on this cascade of colonial knots and I am not quite sure if it is completed. I think I will live with it a few days before I come back to contemplate it again. I added a splash of red, but it could be that it needs a bit more of the fall red. Yep, better live with it a bit. The leaves are all variations of detached chain stitches and all stitches today are using perle cotton 5.

I also added just a bit of orange to the seam treatment below. It just seemed right (no pun intended). The seam that is partially in view at the top right is only just begun. More on that seam later, since I have no idea right now where that one is going!

My chocolate wrapper is telling me - "Be mischievous. It feels good." Ah yes, but that has gotten me in trouble before. Not everyone understands my sense of humor.

Can there be blogging without chocolate?

Just Get Started!

I took a deep breath, then took the plunge and just started stitching. Once I got started, everything became much easier. Maybe I was thinking too hard about what to stitch!

The seam to the right of the pumpkin is an unadorned feather stitch. To the left of the pumkin are blanket stitch wheels with colonial knots. At the lower left corner, I tried mirror-imaging an uneven line of blanket stitch. I have used Perle Cotton 5 for my stitching

So far, I like my results. At the same time, I ask my readers to remember that I am very much a newbie at crazy quilting. Costructive suggestions will be listened to, but I will always tend to stitch as the spirit moves me.

I have had an e-mail from Mom - Thank you! I'm glad you like my blog. And from my daughter Caitlin requesting a CQ project for her (one project at a time for the moment, my dear). And from Miss Carole - Thank you so much for your encouragement and kind words!

Joyful stitching to all!

My Second Block

All sewn together and waiting for attention! Here's my second crazy quilt block! I really like the way that the colors are coming together. The lighter brown print is reflecting a little more light that I wanted but then, I am just happy to be able to get the photos taken and posted! It is a little darker in real life.

The centerpiece is machine embroidery from Husqvarna Viking #51 Countryside Treasures. Another stray piece of fabric has found a home!

Yes Kyle (my son who graduated from U of IL, got a real job, and moved away), Mom can do this internet stuff!!!

A Beginning

Here begins a new adventure for me and for anyone who wants to join in.

I love fabrics, laces, and threads. Coming from a long line of needleworkers, I suppose that it must be genetic by now. Sharing my love of the needle arts on this blog will be an extension of what I have been doing for years, both as a student and a teacher of various needle arts. I hope to share with you my new projects and learning experiences along with the never-ending task of trying to complete some of the UFO's (unfinished objects) that seem to be constantly increasing (sigh).

My newest project is crazy quilting. This wonderful artform allows me to combine all of my loves in one project!
Building my stash of fabric (so you guessed that I already have a head-start on this one), lace, buttons, fancy threads (that's right another head-start) and all kinds of useful goodies is all part of the joy.

This is my first CQ patch, waiting for embroidery and embellishment. I think I am listening for the block to tell me how it would like to be dressed. I decided that I wanted to use some of my machine embroidery stitch-outs (it keeps them from just hanging around with nothing to do). The design is from the Anita Goodesign Fall Splendor embroidery CD. This block will soon be joined by three others. It is hoped that they will all play nicely together and will become a table runner, at least by next fall. (I'm being very realistic here! I have decided that the days of tall tales in needlework projects are over for me.)