Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2024 January Block

 

CQJP 2024 January Block

One of the things I love about crazy quilting is watching a bare block like this transform.

I was not happy with the tree stump as it was, so I carefully added satin stitches under the back stitch trellis with size 8 brown perle cotton.

Snow drops were added with 4 mm white ribbon. I put a ribbon stitch in the center and two straight stitches for the outer petals.

Green size 8 perle cotton was used to create stems with a stem stitch. A French knot was added to the center petals and where the stems met the blossoms.

Straight stiches of green 4mm silk ribbon created leaves.

I threaded a needle with two strands of size 8 perle cotton - 1 white and 1 green - and worked two rows of crossed buttonhole stitches from the bottom to the top to make whimsical little trees. 

Small silver flower sequins were attached with clear Mill Hill Petite Seed Beads using a single strand of DMC floss #762.

It is so nice to be able to spend time relaxing with embroidery again. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Renee

TAST 2022: Weeks 1 & 2

 

Sharon Boggon of Pintangle(dot)com is offering a new round of Take A Stitch Tuesday (TAST) this year. Every week, Sharon shares instructions for two new embroidery stitches. TAST offers basic stitches and Beyond TAST teaches a more advanced stitch.

Although I may not have time to complete every stitch this year, I decided to begin working on a fabric book with samples from the 2022 TAST and Beyond TAST stitches. (Click on any photo for a larger view.)

TAST Week 1: Chain Stitch

Chain stitches worked with white DMC size 5 pearl cotton created a snowman. Straight stitches with 2 strands of orange DMC embroidery floss added a nose. A single strand of black DMC embroidery floss was couched down to create a smile. And black size 10/0 beads created buttons and eyes.

Beyond TAST Week 1: Linked & Beaded Linked Chain Stitch

A sample of the linked chain stitch was worked with 2 strands of DMC Coloris #4514 variegated embroidery floss. 

The beaded linked chain stitch was worked with the same floss and clear size 10/0 beads.

Ice-crusted snow was added to the snowman scene with the beaded linked chain stitch using a strand of white DMC size 12 pearl cotton and clear size 10/0 beads.

TAST Week 2: Fly Stitch

A single fly stitch was worked with 2 stands of Breezy Artiste variegated satin floss #769331. 

A fly stitched leaf was worked with a strand of green Anchor size 8 pearl cotton.

A single snowflake was created with a strand of DMC silver metallic thread.

Snowflakes were also added to the snowman scene using 2 strands of white DMC metallic floss. Clear Mill Hill Petite Glass Seed Beads added a little sparkle.

Beyond TAST Week 2: Italian Border Stitch

A sample of the Italian border stitch was worked with 2 strands of the Breezy Artiste variegated satin floss #769331. Clear blue size 10/0 beads were added where the two rows of the border stitch met in the center. 

If you are interested in learning hand embroidery, I strongly encourage you to check out TAST. You may find the TAST FAQs here or Sharon's Stitch Dictionary here.

If you are participating with TAST 2022, I would love to know!

Thank you for stopping by.

Renee

Winter/Christmas Crazy Quilt July 2020 Update

One of my goals for the year is to finally finish this crazy quilted wall quilt. Way, way back in 2014, I completed a round robin with 5 very talented crazy quilters through the Crazy Quilt International Group.

After embellishing the final block, I pieced all six blocks together to create a small wall quilt. Then I came up with the brilliant idea of quilting the borders with hand embroidered and beaded snowflakes. 

I love the look, but began to dread stitching the snowflakes after a while. As a result, this has been sitting in a bag for years. I made a tiny bit of progress in February, and set it aside again. 

This month, I worked on it a few days during my lunch break at work and actually made some visible progress. In August, I hope to be much closer to a finish! 

To push me along, this is my current project for the 1 Xmas Item a Month Blog and it is #9 on my 2020 UFO list.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you are all enjoying some relaxing crafting time.

Renee

Crazy Quilted Christmas Stocking

Creating this stocking has been such a joy!

This was project #10 on my 2017 UFO Challenge through allpeoplequilt.com. It was the June project. Clearly, I took my time finishing it.

This is how it looked when I shared my 2017 UFO List last December. 

"Magical Ride" from the Stoney Creek Collection: Cool Friends Book 211 was cross-stitched in June. 

A woven zig zag chain stitch from TAST was added to embellish a seam of holly.

Oops! It looks like I shared the Christmas tree seam near the bottom on Instagram, but forgot to share it on the blog in October.

Chevron stitches were used to couch down a blue ribbon, straight stitches filled in the "trees", bugle beads became tree trunks, and yellow beads became stars.

Raised Herringbone Band from TAST was added in November. 

An angel seam, inspired by An Encyclopedia of Crazy Quilt Stitches and Motifs by Linda Causee, was added December 3rd.

A simple snowflake seam was next.

No stocking can have enough embroidered snow, so I added more snowflakes.

Every stocking needs a Christmas tree, right?! 

Inspired by the work of Nicki Lee Seavey's block featured on the Crazy Quilt Quarterly Magazine, a bit of JOY was added. 

More trees decorated a seam.

A wreath earring...

...and a button seam were next.

A poinsettia was inspired by the work of Michelle at Moosie Stitch.

A snowy night with a Christmas Star and a snowman were fun to embroider.

The crossed buttonhole stitched trees were inspired by TAST and the work of Anneliese at Stitching Lady. 

A few more snowflakes and a polymer clay snowman completed the stocking.

Thank you for joining me in my stitching journey!

If you celebrate Christmas, I wish you a very Merry Christmas. For those of you with differing beliefs, I wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Our Christmas is looking a little crazy (quilted!)

Warmest wishes,
Renee


The American Patchwork & Quilting 2018 UFO Challenge has been announced at allpeoplequilt.com. You may learn more about it here. The January project will be #12.

TAST stands for Take a Stitch Tuesday. It is a personal stitching challenge offered by Sharon B. of pintangle.com. The next round will begin in January 2018. You may read about it here. 

This is Day 24 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by www.muppin.com. You may learn more about it and find other participating bloggers here. 

Note: I will not be posting on Christmas Day.

Polymer Clay Snowman Motif

The polymer clay snowman I made is now attached to my son's 

crazy quilt Christmas stocking!

After sewing him on, I added a few simple snowflakes 

with size 8 white perle cotton.

He looks so cheerful!

I added a few more snowflakes around the cross-stitched snowman at the top and that completed the embellishing for this stocking!

Note: for the cross-stitch, I reversed the "Magical Ride" pattern in the Stoney Creek Collection: Cool Friends Book 211, so the snowman would fit on the striped fabric.

Thank you for visiting!

Renee

This is Day 22 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by www.muppin.com.

You may find more details and other participating blogs here.

A Snowy Night

A snowy scene with a Christmas Star was added 

to the crazy quilt stocking I am making for my son.

Click any photo for a larger view.

First, I used a strand of white and a strand of green thread to create snowy crossed buttonhole stitches trees. 

The trees were inspired by the work of Annelise, a member of the TAST Facebook Group. You may see the trees she made on her blog, here. My first attempt is here.

Next, using size 12 DMC B5200 perle cotton, I stem stitched a blanket of snow beneath the trees.

A large pearl bead and 2 smaller pearl beads created a snowman.

It was a little tall in comparison to the trees, so I placed it in the foreground to put it in better perspective.

More stem stitches were added beneath the snowman to make a little snowy hill.

A star bead went on next. Metallic sewing thread straight stitches were placed around the star.

Size 12 DMC B5200 was used to add French knot snowflakes.

I asked my husband's opinion and he agreed the snowy ground should be filled in.

Size 5 DMC B5200 perle cotton French knots were added to fill in the snowy hill for the snowman.

Size 8 Anchor white perle cotton was used to fill in the background blanket of snow with more stem stitches.

This completed the little scene.

Thank you so much for visiting!
-Renee



TAST stands for Take a Stitch Tuesday. It is a personal challenge hosted by Sharon B. of Pintangle to learn a new stitch each week. You may learn more about it here. A new session of TAST will begin in January 2018. It is a great way to learn new embroidery stitches and you may go at your own pace - no pressure!

This is Day 21 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by www.muppin.com. Find more details and other participating blogs here.

Note: Edited 12/22/17 to add a link to see the inspiring trees Anneliese created.

Another Snow Seam

Another snow seam was added to the crazy quilted stocking I am making for my eldest son. 

Three snowflakes were created using silver metallic floss and straight stitches. 

A silver bead was added to the center of each.

Thank you for stopping by!
Renee

This is day 9 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by www.muppin.com. You may find more details and other participating blogs here.

Stocking Snow Seam

This snowflake seam was very simple to stitch.

Using straight stitches and size 12 white perle cotton, I stitched a "+" and then made an "x" over that.

There are 3 seams and 7 motif areas left to fill in this week on the stocking I am making for my eldest son.


Thank you so much for stopping by.
-Renee

Today is day 8 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by www.muppin.com. You may read the details and find other participating blogs here.