Saturday, December 27, 2014

Christmas Sampler

My niece, Judy, was having the Christmas dinner this year - there were about 30 of us!  I found Red Brolly's Christmas samplers this year and decided to do this one for her.  This was was titled "Christmas Home".

I was originally just going to put it into a picture frame, but I had not left enough at the sides - so I quilt framed it instead.  It is about 9" x 10".  

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Butterfly Sampler

Butterfly Sampler
Finally got the background completed (almost, except for the green one as the thread is on backorder) and ready to start embellishing each butterfly.

This is the Butterfly Sampler by Sue Spargo which she is offering via Craftsy.  The base is about 16" x 24".  Each shape and butterfly has been appliquéd down and I have done some embroidery on the shapes - will do more when the butterflies are completed.

Next I will appliqué cotton shapes onto each butterfly and then I will add embroidery stitches - lots of.

I do so love working with wool - as opposed to just appliquéing on cotton.  The BOM I have been doing with Sue Spargo, "In Full Bloom", has been a great learning experience and my stitches have definitely improved.  I cannot post a picture of this wall hanging yet, as we have to sign an agreement NOT to post any pictures during the year, so face expulsion from the BOM!!

I have also signed up to do next years' BOM with Sue Spargo, so I can work on this sampler while I am anxiously waiting each month for the next step.

2014 BOM
2015 BOM

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Mug Rug Swap 2014

Mug Rugs & goodies I received

Mug Rugs & goodies I made & sent

This year I was asked to join the Quilting Gallery Mug Rug Swap through Stitching Cow website.  The idea is to join the group, receive a swapping partner (they ask if you are willing to post overseas), make two mug rugs and send them to your swap partner.

This swap's theme was 'Friends & Neighbours Live Here' - Butterfly Cottage & House on a Hill were patterns designed by Lenna Green of Stitching Cow.  Mug Rugs are 5.5" x 10.5" mini quilts.  Usually they just create a theme & the partner designs mug rugs based on this theme, but this time they went with a pattern.  I appliquéd the pieces on with blanket stitch and did the hand embroidery.

It was fun creating a gift for someone else (one who actually understands the amount of work and effort that goes into these pieces).  My swap partner was Diane Graham who lived in New Zealand and moved to Pomara, Queensland, Australia when it came time to post my parcel.  We corresponded by email and she sent these two lovely mug rugs and souvenirs of New Zealand.  Along with the mug rugs I also sent two Christmas potholders I had made, some snowflake buttons, and some lucky stones and beach glass that I had gathered from my walks on the beach, as well as a picture card that I had taken of Gimli Harbour

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Bertie's Winter

Yeah!!  Finally finished Bertie's Winter by All Through The Night.

Final measures:  28" x 34" - looks good in the front entry.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Bertie's Winter

In The Holly We Can Build a Snowman
Finally finished the last one and I have already sewn them together with the borders - now to decide how to top quilt it - stitch in the ditch? echo?

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Bertie's Winter Wall Hanging


Skating Around


Winter Heart
Sleigh Ride

Hello



When I was in Calgary this summer, I went to a fabric shop called Out of Hand.  I saw their monthly sample of "Bertie's Winter" wall hanging - by Folk Art Designs. The finished size should be 28" x 34".   So I naturally signed up.  There were four packages/parts - total of 5 designs that make up the wall hanging.  They supplied the pattern & material - I did the cutting, appliquéing and some basic embroidery.  The first 4 are ready - 1 more to embroider and then I can put them together.  Then buttons & beadwork will be added.

Hopefully I can get it ready before the first snowfall.

Oops, just realized that I forgot to fix the star in Skating Around before I put it together...

Thursday, October 16, 2014

October 11th

October 11th was a workshop at the Gimli Art Club on Acrylics & Oils given by Melanie Rocan.  We were supposed to illustrate a piece of fabric.  Started with the background in acrylics - blending purples,  reds, whites, etc.  Let it dry over the lunch hour.  After lunch, we were to use oils (water based oils) on top.  I tried to create the fabric pattern - but started using the fan brush and mostly blended all the colours in.  Created a very abstract look - tried to get a picture, but came out too dark - will try another, brighter, time.

October 6 & 7, 2014

 October 6 & 7 at the Gimli Art Club was a 2-day workshop with Pippi Johnson - working with Abstract Acrylics.

She had us work on developing our 'strings' of colour - mixing up the colours before starting the painting.  Painting using the analagous colour wheel and complementary colours and the triad on the colour wheel.


My Apple - looking at the various tones, using only red, blue & yellow mixings.






My Rooster  - what can I say...

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Watercolour & Pen

I started painting when I retired.  Taking lessons at our local art club.  I have enjoyed the process, but I know that I will never be a great painter.  I have yet to frame one of my paintings and put it up on display in the art club.

Saturday, September 20, 2014 Charmaine Watt came to our art club and presented a workshop on Watercolour & Pen.  She provided the drawing, so this is not an original piece of art - but it is one of the few paintings that I have actually finished.  I really enjoyed this process and I will use this technique again.

I have promised myself to complete more of the paintings I work on and to put them on this website.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Sumptuous Surfaces Monotones

I have been taking the Sumptuous Surfaces Embroidery course from Sharon Boggon at Pintangle - this was the last time she was teaching this course online, so I had to take it.  Over a six week period students are guided through the process of developing their own design,  as well as being introduced to techniques used in freeform textured hand embroidery.

Students are encouraged to create their own design and make one or two small hand embroidered panels. Sharon suggests students work on fabric postcards as this size enables students to complete a small design exercise. However if people want to work larger it is their choice.
This was my project for part one of the course - Sharon gave us notes on where to look for design ideas and how to develop them using composition, shape, geometrical and organic shape, space, handling positive and negative space, scale, density, weight, line, movement, direction and texture. Key principals of design are covered in order to develop a design for a monotone piece of embroidery.  
Mine is 6 x 6 and is representing my granddaughter running & jumping on the beach.
I also joined the Flickr group of other Sumptuous Surface members - https://www.flickr.com/groups/464263@N22/pool/

Monday, May 5, 2014

Embroidered Birds




For my Easter display this year - I made these embroidered felt birds (had great plans for making lots more, but ran out of time…).  I had them hanging from a branch.

My Shiny Happy World had these two lovely patterns this year - these are created from her Flora and Daisy patterns.  I enjoyed creating these - maybe next year I will make a few more.  My daughter has already snaffled one of them...


Under the Stars Quilt

Quilt Front
Quilt Back
























I just completed this "Under the Stars" quilt in March, although I started it last year.  It is from a Craftsy workshop and I used the recommended 36 Fossil Fern fabrics - I do so love Fossil Ferns!!

It measures 64" x 80" and is machine sewn and machine top quilted.  My daughter has just purchased their first home and this was their 'congratulations on your new home' gift.  They love it.