French Knots

O.K. Maybe now I'm over it. In all fairness it was a lot of small knots. How much prettier is it in a large scale. Plus the framing was cheap.

TAST

TAST

French knotted bear. The pattern is from a magazine I have used it as a sampler for tast.

TAST

TAST

French Knots

Photo Fun

So here's how my seahorse would look in a museum.

Photo fun

Helen Suzanne alexander of http://hebartjournal.blogspot.com/ has a neat link that lets you try your photo's on a gallery wall.
Here's the link. http://www.dumpr.net/

Funny picture of a plumber's truck

I saw this picture in an optical illusions site and it was quite funny so I've put it here to share. Just click to view. This site was so much fun to look through. Funny picture of a plumber's truck

Jetboat Ride

Last Christmas we couldn't decide what to get the boys for Christmas. I came up with a jet boat ride, well the oldest two were keen but the yongest didn't think it was his style. We purchased two tickets and the boys used their ticket last Sunday. Well we've had nothing but rain in Adelaide, but on Sunday the sun popped out and let us have a great family day out. Samantha my eldest's son's girlfriend decided to join them in the fun. Off they headed, from the shore it looked pretty awesome with the boat spinning and bouncing around out there. We go some good shot's and a good video clip but they were out a bit too far to get much.

Well the 20 minute ride ended and in they came. The eldest with a bag looking a little worse for wear, perhaps partying the night before wasn't a good idea. When his stomach settled and he felt better we went for a stroll in the sunshine. The vote was pizza for lunch at Mamma Carmellas, yum!!!

The boys and Sam decided to do some window shopping down the Mall at the Bay, so my husband and I ventured into the pokies. We put ten dollars in, got a free spin and won enough to cover what we spent on lunch, with enough over for a ice cream cone each.

Well we had a great family day together, with something for everyone. Who could ask for anything more. Merry Christmas boys.

Tast Wheat ear stitch

Tast Wheat Ear Stitch

Yesterday while at the hospital waiting for my son to have a MRI (dislocated his knee at football last week) a dear sweet old lady came to see what I was stitching. She told me if I drew lightly on my material that I might be able to get my stitches even and straight (LOL) she also said it might be a good idea to practice on evenweave until I got the hang of it. God bless her. Practice makes perfect so she told me.

Here's a link for wheatear stitch http://primrosedesign.blogspot.com/2007/01/stitch-school-wheatear.html

Butterfly Challenge

Butterfly Challenge Hand Embroidery Group

This is the butterfly I received from Marian who lives in South Africa as part of a swap. This is my first ever swap so I was so excited to receive a parcel in the mail, it came with a postcard from Canada. Marian is presently on holidays visiting London, New York, Smoky Mountain National Par, Calgary and leaving for London again soon before she returns to South Africa. She stitched this for me on her journey, so it really has been flying around. Thankyou Marian.

Satin stitch

Decided to have a go at a crewel sampler, for some reason it seems to be easier to do satin stitch in thicker threads, I was quite happy with this sampler the rounded edges finished quite neatly with a lot less effort and time than the previous sampler I posted with the shed and bushes. Stitch direction could do with a little more attention.

Tast Satin Stitch

Satin Stitch

I decided to try putting satin stitch into a design this week to see how it would work. As you can see in the first sampler the shed was horrific ,the bushes looked like it would work, and the grass was working. Tried again with sheer determination as satin stitch is one of the hardest stitches for me to get to lay straight especially on the edges. I tried some voiding in the trees to get a background look.
I don't know that I'll use sating stitch for the shed I think I can get a better look with split stitch for shading, we'll see where the design goes.

I have found a good tutorial for satin stitch at http://www.heritageshoppe.com/heritage/stitches/satinstitch2.html

Tast Crossed Buttonhole Stitch

Tast Crossed Buttonhole Stitch
Not my best week, a bit down in the dumps.
I can always add some more when I feel more inspired.

If only I could find that camera

If only I could find that camera. Well I found the camera seems my kids needed it more than I did. When I eventually found it's whereabouts it was naturally flat. When I found the charger for some reason in one of the boys bedroom there were only 3 batteries left. Again they must of needed it more than I did. Well the instructions say your supposed to have 4 batteries in to recharge so until I do some more investigating I guess photo's for tast etc. will have to wait. I think I'll sign off as peeved.

TAST Butterfly chain stitch

Tast Butterfly Chain Stitch

This is my sampler for this weeks tast challenge http://inaminuteago.com/blog/index.php/take-a-stitch-tuesday-challenge/

It's a stitch I probably would never have bothered with, it was never a favourite of mine. I'm so glad I did this sampler as now I have so many ideas of ways it could be used and I've totally changed my mind about it.

Crazy block

I had abandoned this block along time ago. After resurrecting it I think I'll continue adding to it, don't think it's as bad as I first thought. Maybe some beading! An apology to everyone who had left comments on my blog, I typically didn't know they were there. I must of changed settings to moderate comments and then forgot to moderate them. Thanks to everyone for their kind words and encouragement.

Beading

Well it's grown a little. It needed some contrast so I added some french knots in brown to lift it it was getting too much the same. I'll probably do a little more tomorrow. Found some interesting sites for my beading challenge including CQ magazine.
http://www.cqmagonline.com/vol03iss03/articles/322/index.shtml

Beading

This pattern comes from the Caron Collection http://www.caron-net.com/patremem.html
and it called "Crazy quilt treasure pouch" compliments of Judi Kauffman.

I have decided to continue with beads but also to challenge myself with an unusual colour combination for me. My preference is always blue so I'll try to widen my horizons with some new colour combo's.

Beading

As I said I have done very little beading and was trying to work out the best way to lay the beads on lace .

I followed the directions from Rissa'a stitch directory at

http://www.prettyimpressivestuff.com/index.html and used the 3 beaded backstitch instructions. The beads then sat quite nicely on the live and there was not so much jumping around. Maybe it's practice as well.

Beading

Beading
I have never really dabbled in beads, since having the internet and through peoples blogs I can see what an asset they are not only in crazy quilting but in all sorts of embroidery. In order to improve my skill I have decided to explore and practice the possibilites of beading. These are some samples I took time to practice this week. I first noticed the little flowers in a blog from Jo in NZ http://nzjo.blogspot.com/2006/08/paisley-how-to.html thanks Jo for the tutorial I have given them a try. I also found other variations in a book from the library called "beautiful Bead Embroidery" "Country Bumpkin Publications" they are much the same as Jo's examples just using different amount of beads or sequens. I'm glad I tried because now I realise the actual size and beauty of the little flowers.

A Very Sad Story

A Very Sad Story.

This poor little unloved petit point guy was sitting so lonely at the back on the bottom shelf of a bookcase in an op shop. As I was walking by I spotted him at first I thought it was a card in a frame. When I picked him up to take a closer look I realised he was done in petit point. How sad after all those hours of stitching that someone had put in an op shop. I paid five dollars for him, and brought him home. I often wonder who stitched him and why he was abandoned, anyway he has found a very safe and appreciative home. There was no glass on him when I bought him so I had non reflective glass put in, I would have introduced him to everyone sooner but I couldn't get a good enough picture of him until today.

Tast Basque stitch

TAST BASQUE STITCH

Trial sampler for basque stitch. First getting the stitch right, then trying a different size. Reversing and intermingling different size stitches for a patterned effect. Angling the stitches. Angled and whipped. Varying directions if reversed it could be grass or flowers. Basque stitch back to back on angle as you can see I had trouble starting the second row of stitches when reversing I didn't correct it as it will remind me next time. Following a curved line. Even reverse, and scallop pattern.

Tast woven wheel. My photo's aren't turning out real well don't know why may have to resort to reading the instructions for the camera, it's probably quicker to ask one of the kids though. Anyway it's here if I can get a better shot later I'll repost. I have used a pearl vareigated thread it bounced around a bit but I liked the effect. The blue is a flat vareigated thread which I treated myself to this week. The silver I tried is a filament thread, it's quite natty in real life but the phot doesn't show it up well at all.

Hand embroidery swap challenge

This is the first swap I have ever done. This little butterfly will be spreading it's wings and leaving for South Africa this afternoon. It is sewn on dupion silk. I have appliqued the light blue on the wings and body. Outlined in chain. Filled the wings with coral stitch and beads. The flowers in chain, stem and straight stitch. I couldn't get a great photo of it but the beads and appliqued sections glitter and pick up the light beautifully. Only hope she likes it.

TAST Running Stitch

TAST Running Stitch

Stitch Sampler
Fabric Calico
1. Running stitch
2. Running stitch variations
3. Whipped running stitch
4. Threaded running stitch
5. Tuareg double laced

Danish flower thread pink & black

Koala or Possum

Not your average photo I know but we've had a visitor. Found these droppings on the road this morning under our gum tree. No sign of life in the tree though we'll have to keep our eyes open to see if it's nocturnal activity. Koala or possum I wonder.

Just relaxing with a cup of tea. This was sewn at football trial games. I have three boys all of whom play footy so I usually take something easy to do along, even if I just do a few stitches. Any way this was my pre season effort. Tomorrow is the first real game of the season, we start with a home game. My husband was the secretary of the club last year, but this year he's taken a step back to just a committee member, as the committe for this year is all new we've been helping them get started, and boy is my head spinning. I've made eight sets of goal flags this week, plus ice bags that they needed sewing up and have picked up vouchers from sponsors, cooked barbecues. It's a huge day tomorrow we'll start at 7.00am but on top of all that it's also our 30th anniversary so after all the games doing the barbie and after preso's we've got a live band so we'll dead on our feet. Sunday this week will be the same as our mini's start and our under 14's have a second side. We'll be recruiting parents to help because as usual it's always the same people doing the work, too many jobs and not enough people, and don't worry I'm used to all the armchair critics they can say what they want it won't upset me, so wish us all the best. There are some very nice people at the club, but you get all kinds, we'll stick with nice and go in with the right attitude. Anyway I've got 5 kilos of onions to cut up so I best get on with it.

TAST

Palestrina stitch. A few experiments with this weeks palestrina stitch, just trying some beads not totally successful. Following a curve which it does beautifully. Trying two colours again not that successful. "You'll never know if you don't have a go"

Deerfield Embroidery. This is a sampler I completed a while back from a magazine but I don't know which magazine. Again it's been shoved in the cupboard for ages. Although it's pretty and the stitches are good (it was a great way to practice and get buttonhole stitch sitting in the right direction) and I enjoyed researching the history of Deerfield embroidery, instead of thinking it through I've put the design right in the middle of the material so if I did use it on a table the lamp or bowl would sit on top of the embroidery so you couldn't see it. I suppose I could do some add on's in the corner's giving it a bit of flow, or again it could go in a frame. I'd like to thin it down and add it to the border of a nice pillow case. It was really quite relaxing to do once I got the hang of the curves. Turning your work and holding it towards you really helps.

I am a chronic unfinisher. This piece of stumpwork, learnt from Jane Nicholas's book Stumpwork Embroidery has been sitting in my cupboard for ages. I finally mounted it and put it under glass. It's my first piece of stumpwork and I'm quite pleased with it. Next time I'll take a photo before I put it under glass to avoid the reflection.

Tast Oyster Stitch

This is one that I've used before. I'll play around with it

during the week. It's a pretty stitch if you can get it right.

Today I had a play on another piece of material but just

couldn't get it right. I guess I'm out of practice for this

one.

Bonnet stitch

Tast bonnet stitch . Not much time to work on this one this week
as Easter was busy. Have managed at least to have a quick
try. I did however like the way the stitch could be manipulated
on the curve.

Sampler

Have been playing around with felt, layering and dyes just lately. Had an attempt at needlelace, this was the result. It's probably worth another try, I might follow some instructions and do some samplers in needlace first instead of being so ambitious. When I drew him I forgot his fins poor fellow. Anyway he kept me busy and out of trouble for a while.

http://needleandthimble.blogspot.com/ is a wonderful site that I've just stumbled across. She has podcasts on her site. One of which I've just watched by Bonnie McCaffery aat the New Zealand quilt show. I recommend taking a look.

More pictures of the quilt in last blog.

This is one of my favourite quilts. It catches the light beautifully, wherever you put it, it changes mood. We used to have a shack at Milang on the river front and for the year 2000 Karen (who's business name I would mention if I knew it) one of the local's at Milang dyes silk. She made scraps for us all to wear as scarves for the street party. They were beautiful with firework images and all sorts in the background see photo above. I was lucky enough to grab a bag of her offcuts from the little craft shop at Milang and so began a new quilt. After piecing and machine embroidering all the squares it sat in the cupboard for years. It was stitched on batting and the magazine I was using with instructions on how to make it went missing. It's a quilt as you go type pattern. Well time passed and every now and then I'd get it out and spread it on the floor thinking what will I do. I finally decided to zigzag the patches together, lay down the backing then stitch the borders down and finally handsew the other side of the borders. For what was supposed to be a quick and easy quilt it was quite a truama. Never mind it's turned out to have lots of memories and to be one of my favourties.

TAST knotted cretan

Knotted cretan is a stitch I have never tried before. In fact I looked in my stitch books and couldn't find it. This is why I find the tast challenge so good as Sharon's ideas take us on to a new level. I struggled with this stitch as I couldn't work out how to knot the bottom of this stitch. Sharons dictionary of stitches is great but my brain wouldn't let me flip it to form the bottom knot. Finally go there.

For anyone unfamiliar with TAST of take a stitch tuedsday it can be found at http://inaminuteago.com/blog/index.php/take-a-stitch-tuesday-challenge/ it has flickr site and is fantastic to browse through.

I have been digging around in my stash for this piece of material. My hunting finally paid off. I wanted to include this for interest in tast couching last week. The picture probably doesn't do it justice. Silky wraps are coiled and couched on net. I don't know how I would use it as it is quite heavy and bulky, but it is quite fascinating.

Small Mountmellick project

My finished mountmellick project. It took a while to do the fringing and due to the heaviness of the canvas type material I had to do it in stages as it actually hurt my hands pulling the threads through. I love it anyway and think it needs a larger one to go with it perhaps with the knitted fringe.

Mountmellick work stitch sampler.

I love to try different types of embroidery, mountmellick work is one that appeals to me. I also like to learn about the history linked to the work and why and when it was popular. Mountmellick is a form of white work embroidery that originated in Ireland. There is a very good article about mountmellick at http://islandireland.com/Pages/folk/mountmellick/embroidery.html

tast week 12

Tast week 12 couching

TAST Up & Down buttonhole stitch

Up & Down Buttonhole Stitch

I like this stitch as it can be manipulated in so many ways.

As a straight line it can be added to. It follows a line nicely.

I experimented with shading, it would probably make a nice

fill in stitch for birds feathers.

I can also see it appearing as shells and sea urchins in an underwater scene.

I have used it before in Crewel Work.

Dorset Feather Work

Having started the TAST challenge late I felt it unfair that I have not been able to share my work but have been browsing everbody elses. I was deciding wether to start from week 1 and try to catch up when I stumbled across some samplers from my level 1 surface stitchery folder which was done with Embroiders Guild S.A.

I will use them for feather stitch week 7, and buttonhole week 2, cheating a little I know but it will help me catch up.

Dorset feather Work "Trial and error sampler" book "Dorset Feather Stitchery Olivia Pass"

These samplers are worked straight from the above sampler book found at the embroiderers guild S.A.

Sampler 1) My first attempt at this style of embroidery was very primitive. (Threads used DMC).

Sampler 2) A little neater. (Threads used-rayon on silk)

DMC rayon 4 threads 33608 feather stitch

Maderia 3 threads 554 buttonhole scroll

DMC 4 threads 210 buttonhole scroll

DMC 4 threads 553 feather stitch

DMC 2 threads 553 satin stitch

pine cone

DMC 4 threads 554 inner buttonhole

DMC 4 threads 554 outer buttonhole

Well we finally have the internet and it just blows my mind. I didn't realise how much info was out there, nor how much time I would spend just looking and reading.

Naturally one of the first things I looked up was crazy patchwork and landed straight in Sharon's Blog. WOW!!! I just had to be part of that group.

BUT HOW?????

After many trials and loads of frustration I uploaded a picture to flickr, not the one I wanted to of course, but I got there, I,m still not sure how.

Just joining Sharon's group was hard enough I sent my message and thought it got lost in cyberspace, so I sent another. Thank goodness I gave up because lo and behold looking through her blog the next day there I was TWICE. How embarrassing. Just imagine a whole page of Hi. I'm Annette. Never mind I'm sure it's happended to others.

So I,ve been learning, learning, learning. My needlework has been sitting, sitting, sitting as I promise myself to look at only one more site. Thanks everyone for being out there and sharing your work it's fantastic and inspiring.

Hopefully I'll be out there soon sharing and learning.