Sew Biz, Marion, IN

There is a wonderful quilting shop in Marion, IN, where I will be taking a class - Paulette's Pincushion Class - Version 2, which is shown below. The class is set for this Saturday, February 2, 2008, so I will have to assemble my supplies quite quickly!



Apparently, a version of this class was taught before as I saw several samples in the shop when I visited some weeks ago. It is made on a CD and you can embellish the top of the pin cushion fabric in any way that you desire. I think I will love this class and, as a bonus, the teacher will be bringing beads for us to make some beautiful long decorative pins to stick in the cushion. This would make a great gift for any woman, and gives me many ways to use up some stitching ideas and embellishments. Check out the other classes - which are very reasonable - by accessing the shop's blog site from the shop's website @ www.sewbizmarion.com.

Turns out I am taking Diane Clements' Strawberry Lace at the GLR in April. Hope I get my lovely kit soon so I can start the pre-stitching!

This colorful, multi-stitch sampler is done in a 17th century style sampler in a book style sewing case. A wool-stuffed pin cushion, needle book with reversible stitching, scissors pocket, and fob complete the ensemble. The Punto in Aria design on the front cover features a petite, five petal strawberry blossom of cloth stitch surrounded by berries filled with knotted buttonhole stitch and accented by needlewoven lozenge leaves. The lace bits are supported by buttonhole and wrapped bars and a few Venetian picots add more detail to the design. Case is 3 1/2”x 5 1/2” x 1”.

This is the front of the needlebbook I designed and taught for House of Stitches in La Porte, IN, some time ago. The design is from The Work Basket. It used to be a freebie handout but now is included in one of two charts, called Quaker Odds and Evens.

Chihuahua Craziness

I just discovered a blog of note - Chihuahua Craziness. Since my son and his girlfriend have two miniature Chihuahuas, I thought it might be them. Sadly, it is not them but the site is very cute anyway. Here it is:

http://chihuahuacraziness.blogspot.com/

I have registered for the regional seminar being presented by the Great Leakes Region of the Embroiderers Guild of America. I hope to be taking the class shown here, which is entitled, The Perfect Forest, designed by Catherine Jordan. See more of here work here:

http://www.catherinesdesigns.net/index.htm

The brochure describes the class as follows:

Create a three-dimensional, layered “Perfect Forest” and rolling landscape so that some trees lie on top, others behind. This class explores planned thread removal with an emphasis on the re-weaving of side margins to make a perfectly finished edge to the opening. The class explores wrapping and weaving exposed weft threads to make trunks and a variety of raised embroidery techniques to give a wonderfully three-dimensional effect using over dyed fibers. Class time will also be spent custom-cutting and painting the acid-free foam core opening through which the forest is viewed and the trees multiplied when a mirror (not included) is mounted behind. (The piece must be worked on a scroll frame.)

I will be attending the seminar with another Fort Wayne guild member from Sunday, April 20th to Wednesday, April 23rd, and this is a 2-day class being offered. The event is being held in Madison, WI, a nice college town that I visited last Summer, while on my way to a wedding in Wisconsin. On the last day of my visit, we will be attending a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings or homes. Should be great fun in the Springtime!

Owning your needlework - musings on this subject!

The Drawn Thread design below is known as Toccata Number One and was done as a year long stitch a long with the Hoosier Stitchers. As you can see, the design has a sections in which the stitcher can insert the initials and the date of completion. Thank goodness, too, as I had no idea 2 years had passed since I finished that piece!


Many stitchers wonder whether they should stitch their initials and date on their needlework projects. I always think this is a good idea - if for no other reason than it helps you remember what you did in a certain year! There are some simple guidelines to follow:

1. When you view your finished piece, your initials/date should not be prominent. In other words, they should not detract from or take over, the design.

2. Stitch the initials and date close to the design - among the trees, under a flower or leaf, etc. Avoid altering the balance of the design by the placement of your initials and date.

3. Select a color that blends with the surrounding elements of the design. If the nearby leaf is dark green, use dark green.

4. Some stitchers will make a logo of a name or set of initials. Others use a cartouche (a rectangular or oval stitched frame with the name/date/initials inside). If the logo or cartouche are not obviously seen as the initials, name and/or date, some may wonder what that scribbling is all about!

5. If the design simply does not lend itself to having the identifying markings stitched, do write them on a card and affix the card to the back of the frame, making sure the paper is protected from wear.

And A Forest Grew Smalls

These three smalls were made from Karen Kluba's lovely design, And A Forest Grew. They appear in her book along with the finishing instructions. I started working on the large sampler itself and just finished about a full page - update soon!



This small is one of my favorites, since the little bird on the tree is so sweet!



The owl in the tree is an appealing motif which I made into a pin pillow.

The needlebook was fun to make and I just finished stitching that motif on the large sampler!

What time of day are you?

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

AFG - Progress

Despite the fact that Christmas stuff is still strewn about our house, our tax papers are not ready for the tax appointment in one week, and there is a bunch of unfolded laundry on the living room floor, I did get some stitching accomplished. This picture reflects the stitching I have completed since 1/1/2008, and is also most of section one (of fifteen) of this lovely chart. I am enjoying the spot motif technique and try to stitch one tree at a sitting!

New Year's Resolutions

While my resolutions seem to vary in principle, they all distill to one concept - FIND MORE TIME TO STITCH!

Eat Less - so I don't have to get up from my stitching chair so often
Cut down on coffee, particularly from Starbucks - so I have more stash money
Exercise regularly - so I have more energy which translates to more stitching time
Find serenity - so I can concentrate on stitching without making mistakes
Avoid sugar - so my hands are not sticky when stitching

Rather than fuss with how to achieve any part of the resolutions, I'll just dive into what I will stitch when I find all that extra time! My Challenge Project for 2008 is Rosewood Manor's "And A Forest Grew" (which can be found on the designer's website www.rosewoodxstitch.com). This is a large cross stitch design, for which I stitched and finished the smalls, shown on the front cover:



I started this project on January 1, 2008 and hope to finish it by the end of the year. Later this weekend, I hope to post my progress!

The Last Knit

My favorite part of this clip is at the end, when the knitter it trying to figure out what to do with her idle hands - perhaps she will want to learn to embroider, hmmmm!