Cyra - a Crochet motif, CQ embroidery, & craft room

Here's what I have been up to this past week.

I attended an online workshop by JThouse to learn how to make her motif called 'Dione'.

I played YARN CHICKEN with it .... and lost. I ran out of thread just before the very last three picot edgings to the very last 'leaf'. 

How very annoyed I was (hah! I won't repeat here what I actually said).

But at least I now know how to make the motif.

 Embroidery on my Crazy Quilt block #8. 

Filling in details on some motifs.

Craft Room Organising

Since moving into our new home back in March, this room was 'earmarked' for my craft studio, and also as a spare tv lounge.

This part of the room is my sewing area. All my craft books will be on the bottom shelves, and then all my sewing equipment will be on the top shelves close at hand for my sewing/project table.

The three red stacked boxes on the floor on the left have more of my books yet to be unpacked, I hope they will all fit on the shelves ok.

I'm looking forward to having this place sorted soon so that I can plug in my sewing machine that I have not been able to use for well over a year now.

All this in the photo has been in storage all that time as well. Unpacking it is like Christmas and lots of birthdays all arrived at once and I am being reunited with long lost friends here too, lol.

I hope to have the table clear by next week and carry on sorting the other parts of this room, some of which will be the art & designing area. Lots more unpacking yet.

So that was my busy week.

Happy stitching

Deborah - Checking In

It is really amazing how fast time can slip away from you. Here it is two weeks since I checked in. I have been busy and the weekends just fly away.

If you remember the red and white CQ I worked on last year - I have finally put it together after stewing over it for a long time, trying to decide if it's done, and I would love your opinion on what border to use, the lighter red silk dupioni or the darker fabric (can't think of the name of this fabric). I won't tell you what I'm leaning toward.

I also did a little fun sewing on these pillow tops made from selvages. I didn't invent this but it is a lot of fun if you're just in the mood to sew with the goal of getting something done quickly. I made a small pillow out of one block and put four smaller blocks together for a larger pillow. I think my daughters will get a kick out of them.

Speaking of daughters, my younger one moves out next week into her own home. I'm very proud of her for taking such a big step but I have mixed feelings at the same time, the same ones I'm sure every parent has when a child leaves home. I'll miss her but I'm happy for her. And again - where did the years go? Seems like I just blinked and she was grown.

I took a week off starting Monday, and I hope I can sew until I drop. Sometime next month my older daughter and I want to take a road trip to Nashville where a friend says there's a terrific fabric store.

Have a terrific week, everyone.

Cy - A month of hearts

 My Free Form Hearts for the month of September 

For my  Straight From The Heart Quilt 

Metallic thread Kantha Quilted heart in contrasting halves.

Machine blanket stitch applique with hand stitched Buttonhole Bars edging.

A Crazy Quilt Patchwork Heart with Crochet flowers embellishments.

A cute 'fussy-cut' rose fabric heart, appliqued with small cross-stitches in a variegated thread.

I'm still trying to vary the techniques that I use on the hearts, and I think I'm still coming up with new ideas that I haven't tried yet. So much fun to be had in a haphazard free forming way.

That's my lot for September.

See you in October, lol.

Cy - An Encrusted Heart & more

Quickly posting this....before the bad weather hits us again and knocks our power out (like it has done frequently over the last two weeks or so).

Week 24 is finished.

 The Encrusted Embroidery Heart 

for my "Straight From the Heart" crazy quilt.

And here is my Week 25 heart.

Swirly Things & Stars

I have enjoyed my stitching time this week. Lots of lovely texture in the encrusted heart.

And I am still trying to make a different heart each week.

Crochet has taken a back seat this week, and I'm getting a hankering for the hook, so maybe it's time for another crochet heart of some description.

Happy Stitching

Deborah: CQ finished?

I want to call this done but I see some areas that I think need more work. I have a crocheted doily that I'm going to use for the center, with a red backing - I have some red dupioni that I'd like to use.  I could not get my hands on the doily, imagine that. 

I'l leave it up for a few days to see what develops.

Cy - Heart Crazy Quilt wk 16

I have finished the Mandala from last week and created a monogram of my daughters initial for this week.

A few more patches have been added to my Boho skirt as well but no photo update of that yet.

Cy ~ Crazy Quilt Mandala

 Straight From the Heart Crazy Quilt 

Week 15

A stitched Mandala (not complete yet).

I have had another try at needle tatting. Still not totally got the hang of it.

Something got a bit twisted in the wrong direction somewhere along the line, and its all a bit uneven.

I shall persevere.

Sorry if I'm a bit short on photos this week.

I have actually accomplished a lot more than just these two offerings this week, but I am not able to show you my other things yet as they have to remain a secret for a little while longer.

I hope you can find some patience while we wait for deadlines.

Happy Stitching

Cy ~ Heart CQ, Boho Skirt & Kumihimo

 Straight From the Heart Crazy Quilt 

Week 14

A few variegated leaves added to last weeks ruffle flowers, and I don't think it needs anything else now.

A crocheted purple and white flower has been 'planted' in a flower-pot.

________________________________________________

 Boho Skirt Update 

Wohoo, I have finished the front middle panel of the skirt.

Rough, raw fabric edges, uneven and sometimes wonky stitching (I love it).

I am not embellishing every fabric patch, just an occasional one here and there.

Love that musical fabric.

I might have to add more stitching to tone down the orange fabric to the left of centre bottom. It just seems a little bit bright for what I'm wanting here, or I may even froggit.

Now to carry on around the back of the middle panel.

________________________________________________

 Kumihimo Necklace 

Had a bit of a fun one afternoon and created this Kumihimo necklace.

Yet to add the fastening though. Still pondering on that one.

Cy ~ Heart Crazy Quilt Catch Up

This week I am playing catch up with my Straight From the Heart Crazy Quilt.

Here are three weeks worth in one post (is that good value, or what?)

Week 11

Machine work - haha - something you don't see very often from me.

Playing (experimenting) with free-motion quilting and also practicing with metallic threads.

Pink and purple satin fabric, only the purple one is the shiny, slippery little devil.

Hand stitched to the black rose fabric with buttonhole stitch.

Week 12

Reverse applique heart with a fly stitch decoration and a fabric 'ruffle' flower for the centre.

Week 13

Two more 'ruffle' flowers (just because I was enjoying doing them) and a Suffolk Puff flower (I am English so that's what I call them, you may know them as Yoyo's).

The stamen are made with Cast-on stitch.

The Suffolk Puff looks somewhat black in this pic, but it is actually a deep aubergine.

I may add some hand stitched embroidery in places on this, I'll just have to see what time I have spare.

 Quilt Show Photo Album 

The quilt show photos that I mentioned last week are on Flickr - all 108 photos.

You can catch them here

....and don't be shy, say hello over there...

There are too many to post to this blog sorry, but here's a taster for you....

Deborah: CQ progress

I'm afraid it's been another week without much to show for it. But here are some details from the CQ which is progressing about as quickly as pouring molasses in January:

Judy, my sister-in-law and I had a great time at the Sewing and Quilting Expo where we spent the day on Saturday. Some photos of the quilts that were on display - a nice mix of traditional and modern. The traditional quilts were older tops that had been machine quilted.

This one was one of my favorites.

I saw this quilt and it's "sister" at the Georgia Quilt Show last fall. I really love the textures.

Photos were taken with my phone (totally forgot my camera) so they are just so-so.

One more photo. Last week was my birthday and here is what I asked for:

Ha. I'm a cheap date, right? Shelving from Ikea. There's still a full closet and a bunch of plastic tubs. to empty out. Oh well. Back to Ikea on Sunday I guess. 

Have a great week!