Fan Block 1

Well, here is block 1 . I made the mistake I so often do when cutting the block,,not using my big square ruler, I cut the block and it wasn't square, so by the time I got it squared it is going to cut off some of the lace, so either I will add the border and restitch the lace to where it won't be cut off, or save this block for a needle book or something and redo that block for the quilt. I have 8 more fans to go and I will not make that mistake again,,,(I hope) lol

Build A Seam Week 7

This build a seam was a little tough deciding what I could do with it. The main stitch was the woven stitch
I had a little difficulty deciding what to do with this seam. But below is my results.

Delphinium and Rose

Flower #9 is the Delphinium elatum.Stitches used are French Knots. It's been a while since my last post on these..so much I want to do,,so little time.



Flower #10 is Rose (Standard). Stiches used were bullion stitch, and the leaves are lazy daisy. I forgot to take a close up but you can see how my garden is growing.

Build A Seam Week 6

I have gotten behind on my build a seams. Here is week 6. I forgot to take a pic of the original seam, but you can see Kerry's sample here
I then added a cross stitch with straight stitch in the center of these stitches. I used the different colored threads to help give contrast to the stitches.

Daddie's Ties are Momma's Now

As most of you whom follow my blog know, I had posted previoulsy the ties I had cut out from DH stash of ties he had accumulated. I also had two ties that belonged to my two youngest sons. Well the last day of the retreat in Wichita, Miss Carole taught us how to make the blocks for Daddie's Ties are Momma's Now quilt. I finally got my blocks stitched together,,,all by hand..only thing done with a machine was the zigzag stitching around the edge of the block to keep my fabric from fraying while I do the embroidery work. I can't wait to get started working on the lace on these fans. I may get to excited and do the lace before I do the seams. lol The very last block is the one I had done in class, I decided to use black silk dipioni instead of the cotton, so I will use that block for something else. I can't wait to get the stitchin done and get it all put together. I think I will do this quilt in handdyed fabrics too. I think it would look awesome.

FFT#4

In the CQI group I signed up for a round robin. This block belongs to Tami, it's the first block in the RR. Being the first to work on this block I was like,,ok what can I do. So I'm waiting for the block to start speaking to me and I see the paisley in the center motif. I had just purchased Carole Samples Paisley Template and thought,,that's what I'll do , add a paisley.

So here is my paisley. I also added the seam to the right side using stem stitch, chain, and colonial knots. The threads and ribbon is from the Montano Series I purchased at the retreat.

Of course I had to add the good luck charm to the block, and added a web and spider.



Here's a pic of the block after my additions. Hope you like it Tami.

Victorian Stichery Retreat 2008

Val, from the Pink Bunny in Wichita Kansas, got three wonderful teachers gathered together for three days of absolute fun. It was great to get to meet Val.Val is pictured on the left holding the Piecemakers quilt up. Such a beautiful quilt. It sparkled so when the light was shining on it. Of course of all times for my camera to mess up on me so the pictures aren't the greatest. Val done a terrific job organizing this retreat and I have been told that Betty Pillsbury and Judith Baker Montano will be coming back in 2009. Now I'm not for sure about Miss Carole, she told me and Val she wants to come back as a student..so who knows, someone may have the pleasure of sitting right beside Carole in one of the classes.

Here are some close ups .

The retreat was awesome. I had been anticipating and waiting for this event for a year. If at all possible you should try your best to attend a retreat. You learn so much. And it was so awesome getting to meet Miss Carole, Judith Baker Montano, and Betty Pillsbury and Val. Wonderful ladies indeed. And we can't forget Charlie,,Miss Carole's DH. He and Miss Carole are two of the most wonderful, sweetest human being's on earth. It was a joy and pleasure getting to meet them and talk with them. Charlie, you need to talk Miss Carole into coming to Arkansas,,I know DH would love to take you fishing. He's not a golfer but he loves fishing. I had Barbara snap this pic of Miss Carole , Charlie and myself.

And here's Miss Judith with Carole. There just wasn't enough days in this retreat, I would have loved to been able to take one of Judith's classes too. I would loved to taken her embellishing class.

And here is Miss Betty with Carole. I would have loved taking her motiff and long and short stitch class.

Here's the beauties we got to drool over in class. The beautiful lacing done on the top of these fans. BEAUTIFUL!!!

And here is Daddie's Ties are Momma's Now quilt. Absolutely beautiful!!!

And in class Miss Carole kept us busy. I couldn't stay caught up. lol But I do have everything she taught in my notebook, so it will easily be done on a seam. Here's a pic of what I did get done in class. Below will be close up pics of each stitch. Remember, these stitches are done using the dream a seam templates.

I'm not really satisfied with my butterflys. I used a really thick thread,,wanted those colors to go with my block. These butterflys are nothing but the buttonhole stitch. With the body in bullion and head colonial knots and straight stitch for the antennaes.

Here is one completed stitch with the one above not finished yet. I will get it finished soon,,,I hope.

And here is some more buttonhole stitches. Not finished yet.

This is like the cretan stitch except using straight stitches on it, you do a detached chain. And of course there is the feather stitch. Still have some more to do with that one too. And there's a little fan that I am going to take out and redo,,I didn't even get it centered on the patch and it doesn't look right where it is.

And here is some goodies I bought. From Judith Baker Montano I bough a little collection of her Montano Series threads and ribbons.

And Val had a shop set up in one of the rooms and I bought these beautiful laces and trim from her.

I met so many wonderful ladies at the retreat. It was so awesome meeting them all . Here are some pics of Show and Tell.

And here are just a few of the nametags that were made. And for the life of me I can't remember who won first place. Martha Green,,(don't know if I spelled her last name right) won 2nd, can't remember who got 3rd and Debbie from CQI won honorable mention for her Texas nametag.

This is De,,a wonderful lady whom has collected cig silks and all kinds of silkies. She sells them on cd's .I bought two of them from her.