CQJP 2014 January Block Purse

Small purse made from CQJP 2014 January block.

The January block I created for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2014 is now a small under-the-sea themed purse!  It is a tiny thing, measuring 7-inches long and 5-inches wide, but it turned out stinkin' cute, if you ask me. (I am biased, I know!)

If you have followed my blog for a while, you may remember I was very pleased with how well my little sea horse turned out, as I am not an artist, but I managed to sketch him and stitch him.  (A friend has asked me to share his outline.  As soon as I figure out which spiral notebook I drew him in, I plan to do that for her.)

Back of January CQJP 2014 January block purse.

Once again, I recycled denim from a good section of an old, very worn pair of jeans. Unfortunately, denim loops to hold the purse strap turned out to be way too thick for my machine to handle, so I went with blue cotton (matching the top section of the purse front.)

Inside, the lining is made from one of the sandy prints used on the front of the block.  The front pocket is divided into two sections.  One is smaller - to hold a couple of pens. The other side fits my phone or a pair of sunglasses. (Note: my phone is not a smart phone and is rather small.  I need to see if my hubby's iPhone would fit...)

The back pocket runs the full width of the purse.  A few people asked me if I added my name and the year to the purse I made for myself with my February CQJP 2014 block, in case someone years down the road may want to know who made it and when.  Of course, I had not.  For this purse, I thought of adding a label, but thought I would try using a Micron pen instead.  (I think I will go with the label next time.  At least this is hidden within the purse!)

Purse made from my CQJP 2014 January block.

I have been itching to make this little purse.  However, it took me a while to find a silver chain to use for the strap.  Well... I found several with much larger links, but they simply would not fit this tiny purse.  I could have made a different strap, but my heart was set on a silver chain. Why? Simply because of the silver chain I embroidered to hold the anchor.  It seemed a perfect fit.  One day, I was smart enough to look in the jewelry supplies - rather than the purse making supplies - at JoAnn Fabric, and I found this chain.  A couple of small D-rings, two metal clips on key chains, and this silver chain fit the bill perfectly!

This was truly a FUN project! If I ever start my own Etsy shop, I imagine this would be my first piece of inventory.  (Hmmm.... that would require putting a price on it though.  I'm not crazy about that idea - lol!)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope your day is as beautiful and sunny as mine (even if it is a tad chilly outside.)  I do not know about you, but I will be thinking about the beach!

Work In Progress Wednesday 4/9/2014

Winter/Christmas block progress as of 4/8/2014

Crazy Quilt Angel Seam

My Take A Stitch Tuesday (TAST) stitches are the only progress I have made on this block this week.  Using the Looped Cretan Stitch, Detached Chain Stitch and adding a seed bead, I created the angel seam in the upper-right section. (Click the photos for a larger image.)

(Please excuse the little bug on the white section of the block.  I took the picture outside and did not see him until after his impromptu photo shoot.)

Be sure to visit Sharon Boggon's PinTangle blog to see what others WIPW projects have been shared!

GOALS

Although I do not have a lot to share you yet, it has been an incredibly busy week. (Nothing has been marked off my list, but at least nothing new has been added!  The second list is identical to the first - if you delete my progress comments that are listed in blue.)

Last week's goals:

1. The purse I plan to make with my CQJP 2014 January block All of the pieces are cut out now!
2. The 6 blocks I need to piece for the CQI Heart DYB Round Robin Almost -  I hope to share soon!
3. My block to embellish from the CQI Winter/Christmas DYB Round Robin (seen above)
4. The wall hanging I plan to create with all of my CQI Winter/Christmas blocks
5. My CQJP 2013 May block - better late than never?! (It is referred to as Block 4 if you follow this link.)
6. A crazy quilted hexagon to participate in my first swap with the World Wide Crazy Quilters Yahoo! Group
7. A change purse for myself (to learn how to use a sew-in purse frame.) It is pieced and one seam is embellished.
8. Four gifts I hope to complete by the end of April 1 is almost done and 2 others have been pieced.
9. The purse I plan to make with my CQJP 2014 March block All of the pieces are cut now!
10. Complete my April CQJP 2014 block. (It has been pieced and a photo of the bare block is below.) One seam has been embellished
11. Type at least 13,367 words for CampNaNoWriMo novel. (1,667 words per day.) 10,131 is pretty close, isn't it?! (Sigh... I've been behind since Day 1, but I am persevering.)

This week's goals:

1. The purse I plan to make with my CQJP 2014 January block
2. The 6 blocks I need to piece for the CQI Heart DYB Round Robin
3. My block to embellish from the CQI Winter/Christmas DYB Round Robin (seen above)
4. The wall hanging I plan to create with all of my CQI Winter/Christmas blocks
5. My CQJP 2013 May block - better late than never?! (It is referred to as Block 4 if you follow this link.)
6. A crazy quilted hexagon to participate in my first swap with the World Wide Crazy Quilters Yahoo! Group
7. A change purse for myself (to learn how to use a sew-in purse frame.)
8. Four gifts I hope to complete by the end of April
9. The purse I plan to make with my CQJP 2014 March block
10. Complete my April CQJP 2014 block. (It has been pieced and a photo of the bare block is below.)
11. Have a count of at least 25,000 words for my CampNaNoWriMo novel. (GULP!)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you all have a wonderful and productive week.

TAST 4/8/2014

Take A Stitch Tuesday (TAST) is a stitchers challenge offered by Sharon Boggon on her blog Pintangle.com.

I am not doing the stitches in any particular order.  For the most part, if I see a current stitch that fits a project I am working on, I will learn (or practice) that stitch and share it with you here.  At the end of this post, I will list the stitches I have completed so far.  The links take you to the directions on Sharon Boggon's blog.  To see my other TAST stitches, click on the TAST label at the end of this post, or on the menu to the right.

Note: for a larger view, click on any image.

TAST Stitch #1: FLY STITCH 

TAST #1: Fly Stitch

Last week, I thought I should probably try to accomplish stitch one.  I spent about fifteen minutes trying to figure out how to use the stitch and ended up laughing at myself.  My Winter/Christmas block needed a snowflake seam and snowflakes are my favorite way to use the fly stitch!  It is worked with size 8 perle cotton above and a pearl bead covers the spot where all of the stitches meet.

TAST Stitch #106: Looped Cretan Stitch

TAST #106: Looped Cretan Stitch

Stitches 106 and 107 were introduced last week.  As soon as I saw the Looped Cretan Stitch, I knew I wanted to add it to my Winter/Christmas block.  It fit in so well after adding some beads and another stitch (as you will soon see.)  I still need some practice on evenly spacing the stitches...

The stitch is worked with white size 12 perle cotton.

TAST Stitch #107: Beaded Looped Cretan Stitch

I thought the beaded version of this stitch would look nice on my April CQJP 2014 block. (To learn more about the Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) and see lots of pretty eye candy, CLICK HERE.)

TAST #107: Beaded Looped Cretan Stitch

To be honest, after I finished, I was not sure I made the best combination of beads and threads for this stitch (as seen in the picture on the right.)  However, after I added my final stitch to the combination, I LOVED the results.  (Wait, did I really just admit I doubted this stitch combo? I could have had you all believing I knew how great it would look all along.  I share my hubby's opinion that this seam ended up looking, "Really cool!")

Oops!  I started adding yellow beads before I remembered to take a picture of the basic stitch.

This stitch is worked with a strand of yellow size 8 perle cotton and TOHO blue size 11/0 seed beads.

TAST Stitch #7: Detached Chain Stitch

I needed this stitch to complete my plans for the seam I embellished with the Looped Cretan Stitch, pictured above; so, I thought I would add it to my TAST stitches.

I frequently refer to the Detached Chain Stitch as a Lazy Daisy, as that is its label in some of my embroidery books.  It is one of the stitches I find myself using again and again.  Just look at how it transformed these seams and you may understand why.  It is a simple stitch and it is very versatile.

By adding a white seed bead and two Detached Chain Stitches to the triangles created with the Looped Cretan Stitch, I created angels on a seam on my Winter/Christmas block.  (My apologies for the photo, the lighting this evening was not the best.)

And, by adding a yellow seed bead and 5 Detached Chain Stitches with a single strand of EdMar Lola #034 rayon floss, I created flowers at the top of each yellow triangle formed with the Beaded Looped Cretan Stitch. 

Like I said, this nifty stitch can really transform a seam!

I just LOVE how cheerful this seam turned out.

TAST stitches I have shared (click on the name to see Sharon's directions )
#1: Fly Stitch
#7: Detached Chain Stitch
# 95: Linked Chain Stitch
# 96: Beaded Link Chain Stitch
#97: Shell Chain Stitch
#98: Beaded Shell Chain Stitch
#103: Beaded Butterfly Chain Stitch
#104: Buttonholed Cable Chain
#106: Looped Cretan Stitch
#107: Beaded Looped Cretan Stitch

Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out what I have been up to!  

Have a wonderful week!

Work in Progress Wednesday 4/2/14

Wow!  It is WIP Wednesday again already.  Time certainly does fly!

To find out more about WIP, CLICK HERE to read the faqs at pintangle.com.

This week I finished outlining "Dream" and embellished two more seams.

Looking at the progress on this block and on the list of goals from last week, it feels like I have not achieved much.  However, I have also been working away at a couple of gift items that I cannot share yet.

To see what others have been working on, check out the comments others have posted on Sharon Boggon's Work In Progress Wednesday post HERE.

Last November, I planned to participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), but my schedule was so crazy, I think I gave up after day one.  (I did actually type over 50,000 words for NaNoWriMo 2012.  But, I was so unhappy with what I created, not even my hubby has been allowed to read it.)  This month, I signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo. My thought being, April would be far less busy than November; so, I would actually have time to dedicate to writing.  Hmmm... that was before my hubby changed jobs and began working from home (which requires the use of our PC - there is a reason I have not posted often recently!)  And, I was not thinking about the many projects I hoped to finish this month.  That being said, even if I fail to meet the 50,000 word goal, some progress is better than no progress. Right? Right!

GOALS:

This list is pretty much to help me be accountable - but it seems to be growing each week.  Hmmm...

Last week's goals:

1. The purse I plan to make with my CQJP 2014 January block
2. The 6 blocks I need to piece for the CQI Heart DYB Round Robin
3. Complete my March CQJP 2014 block. (It has been pieced and a photo of the bare block is below.  I hope to finish embellishing it this evening!)
4. My block to embellish from the CQI Winter/Christmas DYB Round Robin (I will share what little progress I have made on Wednesday.)
5. The wall hanging I plan to create with all of my CQI Winter/Christmas blocks
6. My CQJP 2013 May block (better late than never?!)
7. A crazy quilted hexagon to participate in my first swap with the World Wide Crazy Quilters Yahoo! Group
8. A change purse for myself (to learn how to use a sew-in purse frame.)
9. Four gifts I hope to complete by the end of April.

This week's goals:

1. The purse I plan to make with my CQJP 2014 January block
2. The 6 blocks I need to piece for the CQI Heart DYB Round Robin
3. My block to embellish from the CQI Winter/Christmas DYB Round Robin (seen above)
4. The wall hanging I plan to create with all of my CQI Winter/Christmas blocks
5. My CQJP 2013 May block - better late than never?! (It is referred to as Block 4 if you follow this link.)
6. A crazy quilted hexagon to participate in my first swap with the World Wide Crazy Quilters Yahoo! Group
7. A change purse for myself (to learn how to use a sew-in purse frame.)
8. Four gifts I hope to complete by the end of April
9. The purse I plan to make with my CQJP 2014 March block
10. Complete my April CQJP 2014 block. (It has been pieced and a photo of the bare block is below.)
11. Type at least 13,367 words for CampNaNoWriMo novel. (1,667 words per day.)

Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST) 4/1/2014

TAST Stitch #104: Buttonholed Cable Chain

The good news is that I have been working on TAST (Take a Stitch Tuesday) Stitches I am learning from Sharon Boggon's blog Pin Tangle.  The bad news?  My computer access has been so limited, I have not been able to share them.  (By the way, there is a Pintangle page on Facebook now. If you frequent Facebook, I encourage you to check it out!)

I am working TAST stitches where I think they will fit into projects I have pieced.  For that reason, the stitches I use will jump around a bit and the projects may as well.  I have a list of stitches I have shared at the end of this post.

TAST Stitch #97: Shell Chain Stitch

(To see a larger image, just click on the photo.)

I worked the Shell Chain Stitch onto one of the seams of the Under the Sea ornament I made as a wedding gift for a friend of mine from high school.

It is a little tricky to see it, buried beneath seaweed, but it is the set of tan links running diagonally from the upper-left corner to the lower-right corner.

TAST Stitch #104: Buttonholed Cable Chain

The photo Sharon shared of this stitch was so pretty, I knew it would be the next one I would tackle.

The stitch requires the Cable Chain Stitch as the foundation.  Let me just say, it took me a few attempts to get the hang of it.  The thing about a chain stitch, is that if I mess up, it means pulling out just about everything I have done because the previous stitch collapses on me as I remove the error.  In this case, the fourth time was a charm!  I simply needed to hold the thread taut with my thumb after making the knot and while making the next loop.

I still need to practice on making the stitches more even, but I am happy with the results!

Beads are not required for this stitch, but they dress it up so nicely! I did practice three links on my doodle cloth with a strand of size 12 white pearl cotton and confirmed the links were large enough for the beads I planned to use.  Then, I changed my mind about the thread and used this pretty size 8 pink pearl cotton. Note to self: using a larger thread leaves a smaller opening. My pretty pink pearl beads did not fit. Oops! Thankfully, I had enough of these small white pearl beads that fit perfectly!

This is another stitch I see myself using in the future.  It took me a while, but it is just so, so pretty!

TAST Stitch #103: Beaded Butterfly Chain Stitch

TAST Stitch 103: Beaded Butterfly Chain Stitch

I had just looked through the last 3 pages of TAST stitches, wondering which one would fit well onto one of my current projects when I stumbled upon a blog post (oh, I wish I remembered which one! If it was yours, please leave a comment with a link to your blog!) that included a link to ideas for couching down rick rack and ribbon.  Curious, I followed the links and when I saw the double cross-stitches couching down the ribbon in this photo at Soseptember.blogspot.ca by September House, I thought it would look lovely with the beaded butterfly stitch.

In the past, I have only run ribbons and trims along seams that begin and end at the edge of the block.  I finally gathered enough courage to pull a few stitches from the foundation of the block in order to lift the blue fabric within the block and tuck the glittery blue ribbon underneath.  After carefully tacking it back down (from the back without going through the top of the fabric), I tacked the ribbon down again between my seam-line and cutting line, to hold it steady.

Originally, I planned to just add the bugle beads, but there was so much extra space, I opted to add some sparkly blue seed beads as well.

I would love to thank Sharon Boggon for teaching so many beautiful stitches.  I encourage you to visit her site, even if you do not plan to work the stitches.  It is so much fun to stroll through the comments and follow the links left there to see the variety of ways other readers have used these stitches.

TAST stitches I have shared (click on the name to see Sharon's directions )
# 95: Linked Chain Stitch
# 96: Beaded Link Chain Stitch
#97: Shell Chain Stitch
#98: Beaded Shell Chain Stitch
#103: Beaded Butterfly Chain Stitch
#104: Buttonholed Cable Chain