First CQ Messenger Bag Post 3

Chain-stitched tree with lazy daisy leaves (filled with a straight stitch) and pink French knot flowers.

Most of my stitching time has been spent working on my third snowball, which I hope to send to Donna in Montana next week.   However, I finally took the time to finish my tree! 

The leaves were all stitched with two strands of DMC 92 cotton floss (a variegated green.)  Each "leaf" is a lazy daisy stitch filled with a straight stitch to help hide the pink fabric beneath.  The tricky part about using the variegated floss was trying to spread the leaves out so the tree was not fully dark green in one section and light green in another.  As the thread color changed, I worked my way back to fill in the blanks I had intentionally left behind.

Nicki Lee of Raviolee Dreams made a great suggestion for this tree - add pink French knots as berries or flowers.  Using a single strand of EdMar Iris #218 floss, I clustered groups of three French knots throughout the branches.  I love the addition!

As one of the first people to comment on this blog, Nicki Lee once pointed out that there are so many techniques to learn with crazy quilting.  Every time I begin a new technique or stitch, I smile as the truth of that comment comes to mind.

As I am brainstorming ideas for six 6-inch blocks I will be making for my second round robin, I find myself thinking about that comment.  If time allows, I may make my first attempt of painting on fabric with acrylic paints.  First, I have a snowball to complete.  And, I am still 3 blocks behind on my CQJP 2013 project.  Oh, and I have decided to make another glasses case gift.  All in time... LOL!

Thank you for visiting!
Renee