Raymonds & The New York Times

This post has nothing to do with textile art, embroidery, felting etc.  However, I thought the article would interest many of my local readers and maybe those of you who just might pay a visit to St. John's, Newfoundland. I must add that I am not associated with this business in any way, shape or form.

Raymonds is a local 'fine' dining restaurant that has gained worldwide attention for their unique menu of wild game and hand picked ingredients. The photos in the following article are great and gives you a bird's eye view of a tiny part of out port Newfoundland. I lived and taught out in this area for about 18 years. It is an interesting place.

Raymonds & The New York Times

Enjoy!! 

Experimenting

Yesterday, I took out my Inktense water soluble pencils and blocks. Before using them in a project, I needed to see how they react on cotton. Was the colour intense or washed out? Use dry or wet fabric? Use a fabric medium? Some questions to consider.

This time, I was only interested in how the pencils and blocks looked on white cotton. I marked on dry cotton and used a wet paintbrush to spread the colour around. Of course, without a textile medium, the colour ran with the water.

Here's some links to more information using the Inktense Pencils / Blocks:

• Inktense Fabric Paint Tutorial, another HERE, HERE, HERE & HERE
• YouTube using Inktense Pencils
• Printmaking with Inktense Pencils
• Quilting Daily (August / September issue)
• Using Inktense on Fabric

YouTube has lots of tutorials using these pencils.

Now I have to do some more reading and experimenting!

I've also linked up with The Needle & Thread Network.

Before adding water

Using a fabric brush with water

Inktense Blocks

Inktense Pencils

Inktense Pencils

Tuesday!

Saturday, I posted about the Caddy from Sew Can She. Well, the free pattern is posted on the web site HERE. I just printed out the pattern to file away for future use. I also saved it to my computer. Do you do that? I think I have quite a collection of free patterns filed away but few are made yet!!

It is also Linky Tuesday over at Free Motion By The River (I didn't forget this time).

This is another foggy day here in St. John's. Enjoy a bit of colour from my last years side garden.

Monday

Monday!!! It has been a busy day, however, little of it has been spent in my studio. I did take some photos (even though it was a wee bit foggy) of some buildings on the waterfront downtown. I have some great summer shots of the same scenes but I wanted to make sure the colours are still the same. My shots are several years old and colours change!

I don't have any of my work to show today (I did start another embroidery piece but that's for later), so check out these tutorials instead. Have fun!

• Nero's Post and Patch
• Retreat Bag
• Sun Bathing Companion (if warm weather ever comes)
• With Heart and Hands (lots of tutorials)
• Reusable Market Bag
• Casserole Carrier (check out the rest of the tutorials on this blog)
• Car Trash Bag
• Mama's Pocketbook (lots of tutorials)
• Totally Tutorials
• The Long Thread

Some images of downtown taken a couple years ago on a nice sunny day.

Eye Candy From Paducah Quilt Show (not mine)

I'm so glad other folks find it important to post photos from shows they visit. I was so glad to be able to share mine a few weeks ago of the International Quilt Show in Chicago. I've heard that the Paducah Quilt Show has quite the display of quilts this year too. Here's a few from Jane's Quilting Website.

The Quilt Show is also posting images from Paducah, and so is Quilt Week.

I did a search for Paducah Quilt Show 2015 photos and got lots of images. However, the images aren't all from this year but I thought I'd link them anyway. Check them out HERE.

I'm sure there will be lots of photos posted in the next couple of weeks by those who attended this great show this weekend. Wouldn't it be great if quilts from the various shows were posted on the web for everyone to see. As it is, only those who are fortunate to attend, see them all. Wishful thinking!! I know there are other issues regarding this, but anyway, one can dream and be thankful that others post photos for all to see!!

Enjoy!!

Show Off Saturday From Sew Can She!

It is very difficult to be organized all the time! These days, my organizing skills are hit or miss. I do have plastic see-through shoe boxes from Home Depot for my hand embroidery threads. They cost 99 cents last year. I also have those clear scrapbook cases from Michael's stacked to hold projects and various supplies that I use in my studio. Those I only purchase with a 50% off coupon or when they sometimes go on sale dirt cheap ($3.99). 

So needless to say, when I see projects that might work in a sewing room / studio, it catches my attention. One such case was a few minutes ago on Show Off Saturday, sponsored by Sew Can She. The maker of this little project is going to be posting a tutorial soon.

Also check out the Free Tutorial Archives at the top of the page on Sew Can Sew!

Here's my past post on Getting Organized.

Enjoy the project!

 

Stash-Busting Blog Hop - Almost Over

I realize that April is almost over but I just came across the Stash-Busting Blog Hop. Throughout April, bloggers are offering up their favourite tips and tutorials, running giveaways, interviewing the authors of some lovely new books, and more. Hop over HERE for the month's schedule! You may have to scroll down a bit in some of the blogs.

I'm sure you won't mind hopping around to see what others have posted and find out some ways to use up your stash!!

Enjoy!

Hand Embroidery

Last summer I purchased a Bird Brain Designs embroidery pattern. I finally got around to doing it. I chose some tightly woven muslin for my base and, using a light box, traced the design onto the fabric with one of my Frixion pens by Pilot. When heat is applied, the marks disappear. Here's my stitching. The pattern suggested using a backstitch which I did. However, I think I would use a stem stitch if I did another one.

This may become a table topper or wall hanging. I haven't decided yet!

An adjustable magnifier with LED light.

Hoop, needle case and light to go around your neck.
This light is perfect for night time stitching as you can direct the beam.

Needle & Thread Network / Pinterest

Today I joined up with The Needle & Thread Network. It's the place to see what lots of Canadian bloggers are doing these days.

So far this year, I have managed to post every day! WOW!!! I didn't think I'd manage to do that. If you visit often, you will notice I'm not much for writing a lot of 'stuff'. I like to focus on the topic for the day. I also try to keep personal things out of my blog and just focus on my work and the work of others. Finding freebies and tutorials for most craft (quilting, embroidery, felting, sewing projects, knitting, some crochet), is like a game. I have 41 Pinterest boards and pin to it when I have a spare moment!

Thanks for visiting and leaving comments! I do try to reply to all comments when possible.

I forgot all about Linky Tuesday, Freemotion by the River, yesterday! There are lots more to see there.
Enjoy!

Quilted Bins, Baskets . . .

Tonight at Cabot Quilt Guild, the program committee presented some tutorials / patterns on quilted bins / baskets. This first one with the elephants, is a Cloverleaf Bag Tutorial found on Sew Mama Sew. The fabric is the same as on the tutorial. It was purchased on a trip to the Houston Quilt Festival back in the fall.

The next fabric box tutorial is from Seaside Stitches. 

 

 

 
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The stacking bins are next. The tutorial is from Birch Fabrics

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The last, but not least, is the Fabric Tray. For travelling, instead of machine stitching the corners, sew snaps there instead. Undo the snaps, so it goes flat, for travelling.

Enjoy!
 

Photos

My camera goes with me wherever I go. You never know what might spark an idea.  Here's a couple of shots I took while in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. I like taking photos of trees without the leaves. That way, it's easy to see its structure.

Freebies For You

Spring! We still have bits of snow in the northern exposures around here. A couple days ago, I did see some plants poking through the ground. Silly Plants!!! See the snow in the left corner?

 

 To celebrate the very first sign of spring in my garden, here are some free Spring patterns for you:

• Fiesta Flowers Wall Hanging
• Rise and Shine Quilt
• Bug-A-Boo Quilt
• Hens and Flowers
• Chickens in the Coop
• Bee It Ever So Humble
• Pin Cushion With Blossom Applique
• Live, Love, Laugh
• Needle Wallet
• Mug Rugs with Flowers Search (eye candy!)

Enjoy!

Stitch Samplers

A while back, I posted about my stitch sampler and a photo of one I did a number of years ago. Today, I'm showing you what I've done so far. I get at it periodically to practise stitches and to experiment with various types of threads, ribbons and some yarns. I think some of my stitching will be used for some under water themed pieces.

Before showing my sampler, have a look at theses from Mary Corbet:

• Stitches and Samplers
• Jacobean Jumble
• Basic Embroidery Sampler
• Stitch Fun: Lattice Sampler
• Stitch Fun Index
• Embroidered Spot Sampler
• Sampler Archives

I also did a search for Embroidery Samplers showing lots of PHOTOS.
For those of you interested in a bit of history on samplers, check HERE and HERE.

As I posted before, my intention wasn't to embroider a 'pretty' one but try out various stitches and embroidery threads, floss, yarns . . . I am making it colourful and I use a hoop for most of the stitching.

Enjoy!



Note the magnet to the right corner holding needles.

The green ribbon is not silk but it works well.

The two variegated flowers are done in an eyelet stitch.
I used an awl to poke a hole in the center for the yarn.

Embellishments

Yesterday, I showed you the new yarns I purchased in Toronto. When I buy yarns, I always look at them to see of they can be taken apart and used in surface embellishment, if it can be felted and if it has good coverage to use in my Fibre lace Scarves. I'm pleased with these.

There are also three balls from Michael's that I bought yesterday. I included these as I wanted you to see how many different fibres make up one ball.
Have a look:

The yarn on the right separates into two different fibres:
 a soft, variegated eye lash and a thin ribbon.

Scrumptious fibres! I can see flowers in small embroideries.

These will work well in felting.

From Michaels for $3.99

I took apart the lime green one (from Michaels). Look at the
various embellishment threads!





These needle felt very well.

Yarns! and more yarns . . .

On my way back from Chicago, I had an overnight in Toronto. So last Monday, I took a cab from my hotel to Ronmi Wools on Queen Street West. This shop is a must visit if you are ever in downtown Toronto. Well, my purchases arrived today. The yarns are scrumptious!

You will notice that I have quite a number of reds with a blue tone. These are usually harder to find.
Have a look:



I just opened the box!

 

My selection of reds with a blue tone as well as pinks . . .



Can't you see the flowers in those clumps of colour?



More potential flowers?

For hand embroidery



For hand embroidery

More scrumptious yarns!

The Needle & Thread Network

I've linked up with The Needle & Thread Network this week. It's a weekly blog hop to check out what Canadian quilters are doing.

For those of you who are interested in making Modern Quilts, I found a link, Blog Her, with lots of free patterns for Modern Quilts. Don't forget to check out the other free tutorials and patterns on this same site.
Enjoy!!

Bits & Pieces!

We had a lovely spring day here in St. John's. A lot of the hard packed snow has melted. YAH!!!! To celebrate, I have a few links for you to view.

• The Floss Box - Stitching Tutorials
• Fabric Bird Sculpture
• The Quilt Store - Free Projects
• Eye Candy from Art Quilts Around The World
• Deborah Babin - Contemporary Artist - interesting blog
• Doughty Designs - Fabric Art & Landscape Quilts
• Ruth O'Leary Textile Art

Silk fabric with machine stitching
 

Have a Latte Blog Hop!

Today is the start of another blog hop. No, I'm not participating but I thought it might interest some of you. It's the Have a Latte Blog Hop and you can find the schedule HERE.



Enjoy!

This is a needle felted piece I made for an exhibit years ago. The photo is a bit fuzzy. It was sold at the show.