Crazy World Sketches

I know that I still need to post Fall Retreat Pt.2, but with Bill home recovering from foot surgery, my routine has been disrupted. I will get it posted soon.

I have been knitting.  Kerry asked if I would make something for the new baby of a friend.  So I have knit a sweater, (pics and details soon) also knit a hat, but it would fit a 3-year-old.  So I have gone down two needles sizes and cast on again last night.  Guess the baby will receive two hats, one for now and one for later.  Hope to finish soon so I can get back to the Sivilla shawl, of which I have made it through the pattern, and started on the second repeat.

While I try to round-up more shades of blue for the background of A Crazy World, I have been doodling in my sketchbook.  I am going to go with the background sketch on the right and I know that I want to applique the pieces with some curves, but can’t decide whether to work left to right, out from center, or some yet unthought of method.

Sketchbook doodles

Happy Halloween

Skrappy Ladies Fall Retreat 2009, Pt.1

Yes, I know I’m slow.  Just can’t seem to get in gear, too much to do and not enough energy.

Today’s post will be the reveal of the panel challenges.  The challenge was that everyone supplied a pre-printed panel, pillow size, wallhanging, etc…..    Then envelopes containing clues joined the panels as they were prepared for the round robin.  When a participant received a panel package, they would open an envelope and add their part to the project.  Some of the clues consisted of:  four patch, stars, holiday, embellish, block of choice, wild card and even a chance to skip that month or draw again.  Those are only a few of the clues.  The part of the challenge that took the pressure off, was that you didn’t have to do all four sides of a panel and the clues were only suggestions and could be loosely interpreted, for which I am thankful and will elaborate later.  As always, you can click on the picture to embiggen and it will open in a new window.

The first panel I received was Cindy’s, and it was a pretty panel but very dark, so I did 9 patches in the corners and lighter fabric along top and sides.

Cindy’s Panel

 

I’ve lost my list, but I’m trying to remember the order in which I received the panels.  I know that Jan’s came next.  Jan’s came early in the challenge when I was having a patch of health problems and I could only muster up 9 patches again.  Originally, I had planned to do them down the side and across the bottom, but such is the way of best laid plans.  Looking back on Jan’s panel after going through the rounds, I like the blocks on just one side.

Jan’s Panel

 

I think Pam’s came next.  On Pam’s I drew the clue, ” piping or flange” .  When I received the quilt a flange wouldn’t have worked because it would have covered up the points of the previously added blocks.  So I opened up the seams around the panel and added a blue flange.

Pam’s Panel

 

Next was Marilyn’s.  When I received the panel it had a lot going on and needed a calm spot, so I added a border of various green squares.  Now this is where the ability to intrepet the clue in your own way came in handy.  On Jan’s and Marilyn’s panels I drew the clue “Holiday”, so given that their panels were Christmas panels, anything I added would fit the clue.

Marilyn’s Panel

 

About this time the docs figured out what my problem was, and with the new meds I started feeling better, the concentration improved and the old muse even returned.   When Cathy’s panel arrived I stared at it for a long time, my clue was “block of choice”.  The fabrics were bright, and again there was a lot going on.   As I stared at the fabric I kept seeing little swirls and dots in the print of the panel, so I decided to put dots in the border.  The red background of the border drew out the red/oranges in the panel and calmed it down a bit, then I added the reverse applique circles in a waving vs straight line.  The fabrics for the circles all have dots or swirls on them.

Cathy’s Panel

 

For Colleen’s panel I drew the clue “feathers”.  After looking at the work on the panel so far, I knew it had to be applique across the bottom.  So I decided to do roosters, but needed something else to make it work.  Then I discovered the perfect fabric in the ones Colleen sent along with the panel (Oh, I forgot to tell you that we could send up to the equivalent of 2 yds fabric with the panel).  Anyway, the fabric I discovered was a basketweave print in yellows and golds, which when turned in a 45º direction looks like ears of corn.

Colleen’s Panel

 

Then came Carol Ann’s panel.  When I opened the package and put the panel on the design wall, I thought “This is finished, what am I going to do?”  Then when I opened my clue, it was “4 patch”.  Here is where the loose interpretation of the clue came in handy again.  The panel itself, the buffalo strip, the arrowhead, and the feather strip are each a patch, there’s your 4 patch.

Carol Ann’s Panel

 

Jean’s panel was the last one I received.  When I opened up the panel, to me the center panel was lost in all of the reds and light areas.  At the top and bottom of the panel were blank light areas that were ripe for applique.  I decided to do the little cabin on top and the bear below.  I started in trying to applique directly on to this large project and quickly discovered that it wasn’t going to work.  After trying to figure out a way to accomplish the stitching on such a large piece, I finally came to the conclusion that I would have to remove those blank strips, do the applique, and then sew the strips back in.

Jean’s Panel

 

Finally, after many months, I got to see my finished panel and I am so happy with the way it turned out.  The fan on the left side has lines drawn for the fan panels, and I will do some type of embroidery to make them stand out.  I love the bamboo strip that Jean did to the right of the panel, from a distance it looks like part of the print.

My Panel

 

Next post, Retreat Pt. 2. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recovering From Retreat

I had a great time at retreat over the weekend, it was so good to see everyone and I actually accomplished a lot,  but I’m not bouncing back very fast.  Arrived back home Sunday afternoon and finally finished unpacking the car yesterday.  Without going into the boring details, there has been a lot of sleeping and the taking of pain meds for the past few days.  

The retreat photos have been uploaded to the computer and just need to be edited before I can post them.  All of the panel challenges turned out fantastic.  

I do have pics of a couple of projects finished last week.  First of all there are two Dear Jane blocks,

Dear Jane blocks G3 and K7

 

then there is the needlebook that I made for a Bunco prize.  The needlebook design is my own, but the embroidery pattern is one that I saw made up somewhere, and did a hasty drawing in the sketchbook I’m never without.

 

Wool needlebook, won by Jean

The needlebook was won by Jean.   I won a collection of fat quarters and a pincushion pie.

That’s all for now,  Bill is having foot surgery in the morning and we have to be there before the sun comes up.

Touching base

This won’t be a long post, I just want to check in and let everyone know I’m still around.

I have finished my work on the last part of the panel challenge.  We will reveal the finished quilt tops at Skrappy Ladies Fall Retreat, this weekend.  So expect lots of pics next week.  Actually retreat falls at a great time this fall, it starts on Friday, which is my birthday.  What a great birthday present, a weekend of quilting with my friends.

Two more Dear Jane blocks were finished, but the pics are still in the camera.  Also have frogged back the North Star scarf.  I made it almost through the first repeat, but for me, the pattern is one that has to have my full attention, that means no evening TV watching, which is when I knit.  So I have started the Sivilla shawl pattern that I found on Ravelry.  The pattern is interesting but easy enough to follow while I watch TV.

There are three books sitting on the end table next to my chair,  An Echo in the Bone,  The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë , and The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken.  Am I the only person that reads more than one book at a time?   Which book I read depends on my mood.  I have really been enjoying The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken, reading about her quest for family and the recipe that started it all.  Then just a few minutes ago the UPS guy dropped off a package, a birthday present from my daughter, a pasta machine.  Thank you Kerry.  Now while Bill is recovering from his foot surgery in the coming weeks, I will play in the kitchen, and try making fresh pasta and ravioli.

I Like Bread and Butter……….jalapenos

I’m still working on SSSS * but between doing that, a fibro flare, and running out of spoons **,  I managed to make 7 pints of Bread & Butter jalapenos, one pint that was ½ jalapenos and ½ okra, and one pint with just okra.  Now the torture of waiting 6 weeks to see how they turned out.

Last weekend I traveled down to Lawton for Skrappy workday, had a nice visit with friends, ate a wonderful salad & dessert potluck, and managed to almost finish an applique Dear Jane block.  That now makes two in progress DJ blocks that will have to wait until I’m finished with all of this panel challenge, retreat stuff.

*- Super Secret Skrappy Stuff

** – Spoon Theory

Thrift Shop Lacemaking Supplies

It’s becoming a habit to stop in at the thrift store, before going to the grocery store.  They are only a mile apart so it’s very convenient.  Most days I walk out empty handed, but lately I’ve been fairly lucky.

At the thrift store yesterday, while rummaging through a bunch of cross stitch kits, I found two small kits for Battenberg lace projects.  I don’t particularly care for the 80’s type projects, but I wanted the supplies.  So since yesterday was senior day, with my discount, I got a total of 6 yds of Battenberg tape and over 30 yds of linen lace thread for $1.85 including tax.  Now I just have to learn how to make Battenberg lace.

36 days until Skrappy Ladies Fall Retreat.

Thrift Shop Treasure

I like to browse through thrift stores, but rarely walk out with more than just a paperback book.  Thursday I decided to check out a shop close to the house.  While looking through the frames and framed art I came across a piece of silk embroidery that had been professionally framed by a gallery that has long since closed.  The price sticker read $4.99 and items marked with that particular color of sticker were 50% off for the day.  So how could I not buy it.  Besides, it’s silk, and embroidery, and oriental, and hand stitched.

After removal from frame

 The silk background is actually closer to a dusty peach color instead of the bright orange in the pictures.  The above picture is just after I removed it from the frame.  I think this piece was from a home that had fire damage, because of the mat board damage on bottom and the back has dark smoky looking stains.

After removal from mat board

 There is better detail in this picture, taken after being removed from mat board.  This embroidery piece must have been framed years ago, before people thought much about what damage tape, glues and glass could do to needlework. 

mat board after removing needlework

 

The needlework was pressed up against the glass and had been taped and glued to the mat board.

Back of embroidery piece

I removed the tape from the lining but there is still a sticky residue left on the silk, besides remnants of glue where it was adhered to the mat.  I’m wondering if the adhesive might eventually bleed through to the front and cause damage and whether or not I should replace the lining before re-framing the piece.

Showing fading

Here I am holding back the edge to show true color of silk background, the color reminds me of a dark pomegranate.  It was a little while before I realized that the upper right stitching was a butterfly.

Butterfly

Below is a more detailed shot of the stitching.

Detail pic

In the center of the above flower just under the dark blue stitching there is a row of tiny, tiny knots.  After studying this piece I’ve come to the conclusion that this was made from a larger piece of embroidered silk.  The stitching on the left side goes down under the ribbon border and on the right side, part of the fabric is peeking out from under the ribbon.  Also there are areas where the  embroidery looks as though it has been rubbed as though from wear. 

I am really glad that I decided to go thrifting, and rescued this beautiful piece of needlework before someone bought it just for the frame. 

Silently Stitching

Oh, how I wish I could post about the panel challenge.  I especially like the way my work on the current panel is turning out, even better than I imagined.  There will be one more panel arriving soon and it will be the last.  The reveal is still 2 long months away.

The Skrappy Ladies have decided to have a Christmas “cookie” exchange at our fall retreat.  The cookies will be 5″ squares of Christmas fabric and we will bring 5 squares for each person participating.  So far there are 12 people participating so we will need to bring 60 squares.  I’ve decided that I’m going to use up my old vintage, circa 80’s, Christmas prints, hoping that I won’t need to purchase any new fabric.  The project for fall retreat is to bring a pattern and other fabrics needed to use with your cookies.

Speaking of fabric.  Donna came by the other day and I sent her home with another trash bag full of fabric.  We were talking and she mentioned suiting, which reminded me that I had a bunch of suitings in the cedar chest that I had inherited from a friend that worked at a menswear factory.  I even, although it nearly killed me to do it, gave up some corduroy yardage that I had been hanging on to.  The corduroy has a nice hand and is the most beautiful deep shade of ruby.  Oh well, at least I know Donna will use it and she loves corduroy as much as I do.  My fabric stash is shrinking.

Not sure how long it will last, but the creative part of my brain is actually in gear.  I’ve already decided on the next motif for A Crazy World and have ideas for a couple more.  I’m also thinking that it is about time to attach the world to the sky/space background.  Which means sorting through the tubs of fancies and picking out blue fabrics that range from very light to very dark.

Not much going on with knitting.  I usually knit in the evenings while watching TV and lately Bill’s been watching a lot of the Discovery and National Geographic channels, especially during shark week, which means that I have been dozing off a few minutes after sitting down.  Don’t get me wrong I like a lot of the programs on those channels, but in the evening when I’m tired, the calm voices of the narrators put me to sleep.,

Well I’m off to the sewing room for more Super Secret Skrappy Stitching.

Family Photo

I’ve been sorting through the family geneology books, papers, photos and I came across this picture of my Great Grandparents.  They were married in 1899 and the picture on the wall was taken on their first wedding anniversary.