We Support You Blog Hop at Sew We Quilt

Happy Wednesday!  With Thanksgiving coming up, I do not have a Work In Progress post to share.  However, I wanted to let you all know I signed up for my first blog hop!

Madame Samm at sewwequilt.com found a blog hop theme I simply could not resist - a We Support You (or it could be I Support You) themed blog hop to support those in our lives with breast cancer.  I had just purchased some fabric to make a get well gift for a relative of ours that is undergoing chemo for breast cancer, and thought this blog hop would be the perfect opportunity to offer a little more support.

Speaking of support, the pattern provided by Madame Samm is a bra. As of yesterday, there were still a few openings.  HERE IS A LINK to the sign-up page.  I encourage you to check it out if you are interested in joining, or if you are just curious about the hop.

Pat from Scrapatches will be our cheerleader.  (This is my first blog, and I have only made a few (unintentionally wonky) quilts, so I hope I do not end up with too many questions!)  

For those of you that stop by for my WIP Wednesday posts, I will share my progress next week.  (I found out a few days ago I will be hosting our Thanksgiving dinner, so life has been busy!)  You may still see what others have been up to by following THIS LINK.

Thank you so much for stopping by!  If you will be celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, I wish you a wonderful day!  Personally, I am thankful for all of you I have grown to know through this blogging world.

Best wishes,
Renee

WIP Wednesday 11/19/2014

The good news is that I made progress this week!  The bad news is that it was not on my Winter/Christmas Wall Quilt.  (In the past, I did mention that I find it easy to set projects for myself aside while I work on items for others, did I not?!)

I did make progress on the Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED) Santa and the Mouse Ornament, as you can see above.

My crafty time has been incredibly limited this week.  Although I cannot show the rest of my projects, I can share a few details. I have been busy testing a placemat pattern for a friend. (I am the Queen of Wonky Corners, but somehow managed to get everything lined up - AND the pattern uses triangles.) I have also worked on piecing a few blocks for gifts and for my remaining CQJP 2014 blocks.

Oh, I almost forgot! I know I am months and months behind on my CQJP 2014 blocks, but I have nearly finished the July block.

Kathy Shaw has opened registration for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2015!  If you are interested in learning more about CQJP, or signing up for next year, just follow THIS link.  The rules have changed a bit this year, and blocks must be a minimum of 8" square (it was 6" square in the past.) However, the shape of the block does not have to actually be a square.

To see the progress others have made this week, check out the links in the comments left on pintangle.com.  Here is a link to this week's post.

Thank you for stopping by!
Renee

Last Week's List of Goals:

 Short-term:

1. Complete the wall quilt I plan to create with all of my CQI Winter/Christmas blocks. Complete quilting so it is ready to add the back and bind.
2. Make a TAST post. Done!  It is HERE.
   
   
3. Complete back for May CQJP 2014 block.
4. Freebie Santa and the Mouse Ornament -  Heaven and Earth Designs chart by Michele Sayetta and artwork by Scott Gustafson. (I believe the ornament is a portion of the chart "Santa and the Mouse.") Complete 100 x-stitches by next week. Progress may be seen above.
5. Embellish a snowball for Lynne by November 15th. If you missed the post, you may see it HERE.

   

   Winter Snowman Embroidery

6. Share pictures of the snowball I mailed to Lori after she receives it. (It should reach her by November 14th.) If you missed the post, you may see it HERE.

   

   Snowman Winter Embroidery

7. Make a birthday gift. I purchased the supplies I needed.
8. Create a block in exchange for the sitting fee for my son's senior pictures. (This will stretch my creativity, as the requested topic is out of my comfort zone.  I ordered specific fabric from an Etsy shop to help with the theme.  This should be fun!) The fabric arrived and I found a PERFECT set of charms.  I have almost finished piecing the block.
9. Embellish July CQJP 2014 block. This is almost done! (Finally...)

Long-term: 

1. Make a purse with my April CQJP 2014 block.
2. Make a purse with my May CQJP 2014 block.
3. My CQJP 2013 May block - better late than never?! (It is referred to as Block 4 if you follow this link.)
4. Have a count of at least 50,000 words for my CampNaNoWriMo novel.
5. Piece August CQJP 2014 block. Partially complete.
6. Embellish August CQJP 2014 block.
7. Piece September CQJP 2014 block. Partially complete.
8. Embellish September CQJP 2014 block.
9. Embellish October CQJP 2014 block.
10. Piece November CQJP 2014 block.
11. Embellish November CQJP 2014 block.
12. Piece December CQJP 2014 block.
13. Embellish December CQJP 2014 block.
14. Complete back panel and make a sew-in frame purse for my Etsy shop. 
15. Paint guest bathroom.
16. Make a thank you gift. Partially pieced.
17. Make a get well gift. Partially pieced.
18. Work on Christmas gifts.

This Week's List of Goals:

 Short-term:

1. Complete the wall quilt I plan to create with all of my CQI Winter/Christmas blocks. Complete quilting so it is ready to add the back and bind.
2. Make a TAST post. 
3. Complete back for May CQJP 2014 block.
4. Freebie Santa and the Mouse Ornament -  Heaven and Earth Designs chart by Michele Sayetta and artwork by Scott Gustafson. (I believe the ornament is a portion of the chart "Santa and the Mouse.") Complete 100 x-stitches by next week. 
5. Make a birthday gift.
6. Create a block in exchange for the sitting fee for my son's senior pictures. (This will stretch my creativity, as the requested topic is out of my comfort zone.  I ordered specific fabric from an Etsy shop to help with the theme.  This should be fun!) 
7. Embellish July CQJP 2014 block. 
8. Make a purse with my July CQJP 2014 block.

Long-term: 

1. Make a purse with my April CQJP 2014 block.
2. Make a purse with my May CQJP 2014 block.
3. My CQJP 2013 May block - better late than never?! (It is referred to as Block 4 if you follow this link.)
4. Have a count of at least 50,000 words for my CampNaNoWriMo novel.
5. Piece August CQJP 2014 block. 
6. Embellish August CQJP 2014 block.
7. Piece September CQJP 2014 block. 
8. Embellish September CQJP 2014 block.
9. Embellish October CQJP 2014 block.
10. Piece November CQJP 2014 block.
11. Embellish November CQJP 2014 block.
12. Piece December CQJP 2014 block.
13. Embellish December CQJP 2014 block.
14. Complete back panel and make a sew-in frame purse for my Etsy shop. 
15. Paint guest bathroom.
16. Make a thank you gift.
17. Make a get well gift.
18. Work on Christmas gifts.

TAST 11/18/2014

This week, I completed two TAST stitches.  (TAST stands for Take A Stitch Tuesday, which is a stitcher's challenge offered by Sharon B. at pintangle.com. To learn more, please check out the FAQ page by clicking HERE.)

TAST #12: Barred Chain Stitch

I used the Barred Chain Stitch to create a row of stems using size 5 green perle cotton.  Detached chain stitched "flowers" were added with size 8 pink perle cotton. This is a seam I can see myself using again and again!

TAST #16: Wheatear Stitch

Sharon showed some beautiful uses for the Wheatear Stitch.  Here, I made a very simple seam using size 12 black perle cotton.  It is a stitch I would like to play around with more; although, I am very slow with this stitch.

To see what others have been up to this week, check out the links in the comments on THIS POST.

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Renee

A "Snowball" for Lori F. in Ontario, Canada!

Winter snowman "snowball" for Lori F. in Ontario, Canada

Earlier this month, I completed a "snowball" to swap with Lori F. in Ontario, Canada.  Lori had requested a snowball theme of my favorite season.  It took me a while to decide, as fall is my favorite season.  I love the crisp cool mornings, the beauty of leaves changing color, and that it is finally pumpkin season!  However, I just love to embroider winter scenes and I was itching to make another button snowman.  Winter won!

Embroidered Winter Tree

This tree was created with size 5 green variegated DMC floss and with size 5 white DMC floss for the snowy evergreen section.  Size 5 brown DMC floss was couched down with a single matching strand of DMC cotton floss to create the tree trunk.  I fell in love with the wonderful texture the size 5 floss gave the tree.

Size 8 and 12 white DMC flosses were used to create the snowy hills and snowflakes.  Mill Hill petite glass beads were added as accents and as additional snowflakes.

Button Snowman

Before I began stitching on the snowball, I used black and orange acrylic paints to create a face on one button and to add buttons to another.  The "twig" arms were couched down, as was the scarf.  I originally planned to add black seed beads to the holes in the large button at the bottom.  However, they were too small.  The larger black beads I found were just too big.  So, I decided this snowman was perfect just the way he was.

Snowman "snowball" from Lori F.

I do hope Lori likes this little winter scene!  If you missed the snowball she sent me, it is pictured above and you may read about it on this post.

What I forgot to mention is that Lori supports the National Inclusion Project.  I had the opportunity to work with some wonderful students in our school district, and I have memories that will last forever from the experience.  However, I was not aware of the National Inclusion Project.  I encourage you to check it out, you may reach their website HERE.

Thank you for stopping by!
Renee

A "Snowball" for Lynne F. in MA!

Winter Themed CQI "Snowball" for Lynne F. by Renee Y.

Yesterday, I mailed this snowball to Lynne F. in MA.  Lynne requested a wintery-themed block using blue, white and silver. 

Button Snowman

I love making these little button snowmen, so I had to add one to this block.  I had the perfect silvery-white button in my stash for this one.  The face and small black buttons were added using acrylic paints.  (I paint them first and allow them to dry while I embroider the block.)  I did opt to use size 5 brown DMC floss for the arms - rather than white or silver.

Embroidered Winter Trees

I just loved the little tree seam and the white tree I added to my Winter Stocking last year, so I incorporated similar ones into this snowball.  (The tree somewhat follows the Easy, Breezy Trees Tutorial on Shawkl Designs.) 

Embroidered Snowflake

Although my sky fabric has snowflakes within the print, a few embroidered snowflakes were the perfect finishing touch.

Wintery "Snowball"

Photographs make it so tricky to capture the texture the embroidery creates.  I tried to capture a bit of that with the photo above. (You may click on any photo for a larger view.)

I had great fun making this snowball for Lynne.  I do hope she likes it!

Thank you for stopping by,
Renee