Susan: May Block Finished

If you don't count beading, that is. I think two of these seams will have beads.  The two I'm showing today. The blue one will have some gold beads, probably. I don't think anything else will show up. I'm still debating adding something to the bottom of that seam, something that goes over into the top of the next one down. The red on beige is supposed to look a little like sparklers - so I will audition several bead colors and see what I like best.

And now the whole block.

Small May Reveal ~ Judy

At the beginning of the month I finished the first rabbit on this birth sampler which was started in "gasp," 1971, for my second daughter.  Somehow it got lost in the chaos of life and resurfaced this year. I hope to complete it in time for the arrival of said daughter's own daughter due in mid-August.

This past week I finished bunny #2 as well as a bit of its surroundings as well as a few other spots not shown.  It was quite a crazy week: we had our big concert, I developed a mysterious rash which is finally fading, and DD#2 had a health issue. (She and Baby Girl are fine thankfully.) We are going to be without computer access for the next week but I hope to find a bit of time to stitch as August will be here in a flash.  Hope you all have a nice week.  Back with you soon........

Deborah: TAST - Buttonhole Wheel and May Block

I have several examples of the buttonhole wheel, which I really like since it's easy!

I can still see possibilities for embellishment but they will have to wait since I really have to get going on Block 6. You can see the entire May Block on my blog,

Cy - TAST 22 & May CQJP block

Can I squeeze my reveal in here....had a busy 3-day weekend, so I wasn't around to post earlier.


TAST Week 22 Knotted Cretan Stitch

I didn't have much time to spend on this stitch this week as I've been in 'Digital Designing' mode and working in the orchard.

But that is a story for another blog post. I'll keep you in suspenders (haha) for now.

So here are two test samples for Knotted Cretan Stitch.

With the pink floss I was just playing with different stitch lengths, widths and stretches.

And with the green, well, it was meant to be a circle but I got distracted when one of the dogs decided it was time to throw an old shoe at me "oh come on mum, it must be playtime now".

CQJP May Block

I have got this block to a reasonable stopping point for now, and I'm calling it temporarily finished.

I need (at some point in the near future) to add something more to the left side because I can see that all the "weight" of embellishing is on the right, and the block is not balanced and not to my liking.....yet.

Detail pics......

Silver ribbon stitched to create a ruffle, and turquoise seed beads scattered around the folds.

Blanket Stitch half wheels in two strands of blue variegated DMC floss.

I've no idea what this is called, lol. How about "noughts and crosses".

A bit more added to my "V" exploratory seam. I like the effect of the turquoise/teal raised threads going from one 'knot' to the next. This stitch was one I made up. I think it may be something similar to the Scroll stitch, but this one is stitched differently.

Black cotton crochet scalloped edging lace, and a very short seam with detached chains, silver beads and blue French Knots.

Freeform Mandala with a shiny gold Shisha in the middle.

And my usual centre patch with a butterfly. Not one of my better butterflies I think. It looks more like a hawk-moth to me, probably because of the chunky bead body. 

I may 'frog' the green thread lines on the top as it just doesn't look 'right' to me.

So that's all for now sweet friends.

Back to work on the digital stuff for a day or two before I will allow myself time off to relax with needle and thread.

Carol - TAST, May Reveal

Sarah has had an amazing time in India.   Weaving her way through bazaars, teetering towers of pots and trinkets, experiencing the rich aroma of spices wafting from colourful spice pyraminds, rainbows of shimmering saris and rows of glittering gemstones. 

The purple motif and the yellow patch was overlayed with a scrap of purple and red mesh and couched v's and tiny red beads added.

Blossoms/kites whatever!

Half chevrons with beads off the trim and a button cluster on the purple ruffle.   The flower was made from a piece of braid which I ironed to fusible webbing, cut the leaf sections and edged with gold thread.

Folded and pleated silk ribbon decorated with bugle and sead beads captured with gold thread

Shisha experience!

Scrap of silk with a peacock feather design. which I appliqued, embroidered the design with red silk thread, before adding gold thread and beads.

Ends of gold braid secured with a cluster of beads that was once the beginning of a bead bracelet!

Really enjoyed India, which gave me a free rein to experiment.  Knotted Cretan Stitch is missing and will be carried forward into June making up the four stitches of TAST.

Susan: May Reveal of CQJP

Finished as it is going to be for now. When I join blocks, there is going to be more in the corners of all the blocks. There will also be a bit more beading here and there. It was a lot of fun to do some of these seams. Overall, I'm happy with it, though it isn't my favorite one. Too much pink!

Judy ~ May SBS ~ TAST, Knotted Cretan ~ Finis!

Somehow I just couldn't imagine using the knotted cretan on SGS's tulips, and thankfully the bird, my attempt at a painted bunting, was begging for something to carry, so, "voila!" The knotted cretan became a stem of daisy buds. The tulips are supposed to be those fancy red and white striped ones; my discovery was that the buttonhole stitch works around unusual shapes rather well. Whether it's the tulip-look, is your call. Happy June, everyone! How'd that happen so fast?

Cy - reveal - TAST Butterfly Chain - and.....

Here is my TAST Butterfly Chain

Strange that I used the yellow and orange colours too. 

I was going for a rustic look while using this stitch. 

And then I used it on ribbon.

And........

A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do....

My 'other' project for this week is - a Cross Stitch Biscornu pin cushion. Just because I want one (and I have been secretly envious of Angela's Biscornu since she showed us a pic of her workdesk).

I adapted and added to a basic one-colour chart for this cross stitch piece and made it 'mine'.

I wanted a jewel-like colour scheme to brighten the coffee table next to where I sit and stitch.

I have stitched some of my CQ too, but have not taken photos yet so you will have to wait for next weeks reveal for the finished photos.

So that's me for this week.

Happy Stitching

Carol: TAST - Butterfly Chain Stitch

Having finally sorted which way to wrap my thread I was good to go and found this a quick and easy stitch.   Tiny rectangles of silk were attached to my base fabric and linked with butterfly stitches and a bead then added to the silk.  Perle 8, size 10 bead.

 

Cy - Reveal - TAST & BJP

TAST catch-up & BJP

Here I am with another round-up of my stitching adventures over the last couple of weeks.

My online time had been drastically reduced to almost zilch, but all is well again now and I should be back into the swing of things again soon.

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TAST

I got a bit behind with my TAST stitching but I think I am all caught up again now with these following pics.

Whipped Spider Wheel

with Whipped Spiral & Whipped Fan Variations

Barred Chain Stitch

Satin Stitch

This fluffy stuff is actually fan shaped spider wheels, lol.

Spiral Whipped Wheel & Satin Stitch

Barred Chain Stitch

I totally lost the plot with this stitch and ended up just 'doing-my-own-thing' with it.

I might attempt this stitch at another time when I have the instructions actually in font of me.

Padded Satin Stitch

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BJP - February 

(yes, I know I'm a bit late)

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Progress on Cushion for Mum

Happy Stitching

Carol - March reveal

Well, here's March finished!
I've had great fun as Sarah's journey continues through sunny meadows and over misty mountains, listening to the music of waterfalls, resting by the waters edge and generally enjoying unimaginable scenery and natural beauty

and I'm sure I heard her humming "Take me Home country road" by John Denver

 (the cowboy's for Debra!)