First CQ Messenger Bag Post 4

I found myself inspired by a birdhouse in the Whispering Willow Garden motif in Joan Gordon's The Silk Ribbon Embroidery Bible.  Although I changed the colors, the birdhouse was created the same.  Using brown 7mm silk ribbon, I made a vertical straight stitch.  Three more straight stitches were made using 4mm brown silk ribbon for the base and roof of the birdhouse.  I used 2 strands of DMC #310 black floss and 2 wraps for a French knot to create the entrance.

My pole is not the same as the one found in Joan Gordon's book.  Using 2 strands of brown DMC #420 floss (because it matched the brown silk ribbon I used), I ran a stem stitch from the birdhouse down to the black chain-stitched seam below.  Then, I stem-stitched my way back up to the birdhouse, to add more width to the pole.

Had I created the pole first, it would not have intercepted my short flower stem below.  (Yesterday, I added alternating short and long straight stitches about 1/4th an inch apart along the seam line using 2 strands of green DMC #989 floss.)  However, this will simply mean there will be a flower at the base of the pole.

I do have a much larger dilemma...

What dilemma?  My birdhouse is too large for my tree.  They are not to scale at all.  Had I planned this better, the tree would be about 2 inches taller, and the top would be bushier.  However, the birdhouse was not planned.  It was an impulsive addition.  I decided this morning that it would help fill the void to the left of the tree.  So, it did.

Luckily, I am making this bag for myself and I can happily pretend to be oblivious to my own blunder.

Now, I am off to the library to sign my boys (Monkey & Mutt) up for the summer reading program.  While I am there, I will be checking out books on painting with acrylics.  I still have a few fun ideas for my Winter/Christmas themed round robin coming up in July.

I do hope I find more time to work on this more later today.

Have a great day!

A Snowball for Andrea!

Landscape "snowball" for Andrea in India.  Flower & trees from Diana Lampe's book.

My second CQI Snowball Swap is with Andrea.  On June 12th, it began its journey all the way to India!

Andrea requested a 4"-square landscape with natural colors.  This was the perfect opportunity to finally make the Magnolia Tree in Diana Lampe's book, Embroidery for all Seasons.  (I had been itching to stitch this tree since I first laid eyes on this book!)  The daffodils, forget-me-nots, and the snail were also made from directions in this book.

I added a little bluebird using 4mm light blue silk ribbon and a tiny straight stitch of orange for the beak.

A tiny pink butterfly decided to visit the daffodils.

A small snail made his way through the flowers.

And a few lily pads (lazy daisy stitches filled with a straight stitch made with two strands of pink for the flowers and green for the leaves) were in the water.

I had so much fun stitching this block!

A Snowball for Donna!

A snowball for Donna in Montana

This is for my third snowball swap; this one is with Donna in Montana.  One of the themes she mentioned she liked was a pond with cattails and critters.

Swan pattern from DMC Collection: Mini Motif Designs by Mary Bartley Stockett

 I have seen swans living near lakes.  I decided this one liked ponds.

A few lazy daisy stitches using green and pink 4mm silk ribbons was all it took to make a few lily pads.

Directions to make this snail were found in Diana Lampe's Embroidery for all Seasons.

This was my first attempt at using a woven picot stitch.  The cattail leaves are not quite perfect, but they are far better than the practice one I made!  I used a strand of variegated green Perle Iris # 8 (color # 5062.)

The tips of the cattails were made with gathered brown 4mm silk ribbon.

No pond scene is complete without a dragonfly, is it?  I love these shimmery blue beads.  I used 4mm light blue silk ribbon for the wings.

I do hope Donna likes it!

-Renee

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

Evening Star Designs 2013 Challenges

There is something I have really, really wanted to create using crazy quilted fabric.  Ideas have been simmering in my mind for nearly a year.

So, when I discovered Evening Star Designs was offering two challenges and I saw one of the challenge packages, I knew I had to give it a try!  I just ordered the 2013 Winter Challenge Package.  (Special thanks to Nicole from the CQforNewbies Yahoo! Group for bringing the challenge to my attention!)

I was very tempted to order the 2013 Miniature Crazy Quilt Challange Package, too.  However, I really do need to work on some of my UFOs and I signed up as a coordinator for a CQI round robin that will begin next month.  So, I opted not to over-commit myself.

While at the Evening Star Designs site, I also discovered some wonderful trims, beads, buttons and ribbons.  (If only my budget matched my wishlist!)  I do not anticipate winning the challenge, but I would have no problems spending the $100 gift certificate offered for first prize.

I will show you pictures of the package when it arrives.  However, photos of my work will be safely tucked away until after the challenge.  (All entries are due on September 15th.)

Will you be joining one of the Evening Star Designs Challenges?  If so, please let me know!

-Renee