Good Bye May!

The last day of May! Can't say I'm sorry to see it go as it means the days will (I'm optimistic) get warmer. That's not to say we haven't had some nice days but this definitely has not been a warm month.

This month was also a milestone for me with blogging as I reached 1000 posts and had a winner in my giveaway. The gift is on its way to Nova Scotia. I hope she gets it soon. Congratulations again.


I did find a few more projects for you to check. Some of them great for summer!

•  Kids Activities (for parents and grandparents) Now that school is almost finished for the year (at least in Canada), activities to keep kids busy are sometimes necessary.
• Color Block Keys This looks interesting however, my only concern: will the nail polish peel off? It's worth trying with so many keys these days. Colour coding is a good idea.
• Pyramid Pouch This one is done in Christmas colours but just think summer. What fabulous combinations you could have!
• Sewing for Beginners Sewing Bag Tutorial (something to use with a young sewer?)

Enjoy!!

Even weeds can be beautiful! Think embroidery or quilting - so colourful.

In Full Bloom!

A few days ago, my tulips looked like this:

 
Today, they are in full bloom.

• I did a search for quilts with tulips. Check it out HERE.
• Amish Tulip Quilt
• Patchwork Tulip Block
• Twinkling Tulip
• Folk-Art Tulips
• Tulip Quilts - Pinterest
• Tulip Time
• Spring Tulips
• Tulip Garden
• Tulip Quartet
• Applique Tulip Quilt

I hope you enjoy all these links devoted to tulips!

View From Signal Hill

It was sunny but cool today. There was an iceberg off shore so I decided to go have a look. It was far off shore and I didn't get a good photo. However, the view was worth the trek up Signal Hill. You can see where Newfoundland gets the nickname 'The Rock' from the first photo. A large portion of the landscape is exposed rock.

The farthest point is Cape Spear, most easterly point in North America.

Cabot Tower

The tiny white speck  just off the point, is a small iceberg



Looking west toward St. John's harbour

Stitch Sampler

I bought several courses from Craftsy last year (I waited for their 50% off sale). One of them was Carol Ann Waugh's Stupendous Stitching. It is quite interesting to see her method for using the decorative machine stitches and incorporating basic hand embroidery stitches with these. The finished pieces are quite colourful. 




Carol Ann  recommends couching satin cord for some of her work. Check out her quick video demonstrating couching cord (scroll down).

I found some satin cord at Wal Mart (of all places). They had different colours but I liked the lime green and hot pink (below) best as they will 'pop out' in a piece. In fact, I use a lot of lime green for accent in my fantasy fabric and in some needle felting.

The satin cord will be a good one to couch in place on a future piece.The lime green in my sample below is yarn and works quite well.

After viewing the Stupendous Stitching Course, I experimented and did a small sample piece.  I added some French Knots and seed stitches. I quickly realized that I need to spend more time exploring the decorative stitches on my machine as some work better than others. Colour is also a factor to consider so having a colour wheel handy is a must! I also have a couple of books showing lots of colour combinations. Some people have an intuitive colour sense and can put together a fabulous colour scheme in no time while others struggle with it. Practice, practice, practice! I think that needs to be made into a quilted piece for the wall as a reminder.

Enjoy!

The Tea Cosy

I was inspired to write about tea cosies when I happened to see a hand embroidered cottage cozy on line. See it HERE. The embroidery (back & front) is simply fabulous!

In case you are interested in the history of this household item, it can be found HERE. I was getting a bit muddled with the two spellings of this word until I found that cosy is the British version and cozy is American English.

Here are a few more tea cosies, in case you would like to see more:

• I love this sheep as it reminds me of Shaun the Sheep, a crocheted toy I made for my granddaughter
• A Christmas Pudding (crochet) is perfect for your Christmas table
• Tipnut has lots of free patterns
• Stitched tea cosies on Pinterest HERE & HERE
• Free Insulated stitched tea cozy
• More Tea Cosies
• Quilted Tea Cozy
• Quilted Drawstring Tea Cozy
• Reversible Tea Cozy Set
• Teapot Cozy

Below is a Tea Cosy I designed a few years ago. It sold at one of the annual Craft Council of Newfoundland Labrador Christmas Craft Fairs.

Projects for Canada Day 2015

I'm posting this today just in case you want to do something quick for Canada Day. Maybe a mug rug that you can use all year . . .

Here are a few links to get you started:

• Canada Day cross stitch motif
• Canada Day Mug Rug
• Quilt Block
• Canadian Flag

The following links are to previous posts I wrote for Canada Day:

• Canada Day 2010
• Canada Day 2011
• Canada Day 2012
• Happy Canada Day 2012

Enjoy!!

Winner in my 1000 Posts Giveaway

WINNER!!

I wish to thank everyone who participated in my 1000 Posts giveaway.

The winner is Sheila from Sheila's Quilt World. I have already sent Sheila an email announcing that she won.

Experimenting!

I decided to make a Scrap Bucket Basket from the free pattern on Craftsy.  Mine didn't turn out exactly like that one at all. For one thing, I used one piece of batik fabric and I didn't have any grommets and cotton rope for the handle (I didn't bother with a handle)! I also had to do some alterations to the length of the side so it would fit the bottom piece. The Pellon 71 F, single-sided fusible ultra firm stabilizer worked perfectly! I guess I could have used a different fabric for the lining but . . .

My light weight bucket is going in the Motor Home to hold my knitting. It might not be pretty, in fact, it's quite plain, but it is functional and I like the colour. This was an experimental piece. If I do another, it will be slightly smaller. Pockets could be made for the inside and outside. Something else to consider. However, when I made this one, I was in a hurry and wanted to feel as if I had  accomplished something. Do you ever feel like that?

Another idea for travelling with this Basket / Bucket, would to attach a top piece with a drawstring closure that could fold over the top toward the outside. To do that, make the lining longer and finish the top the same as for any drawstring bag. The outside top would fold inside about a 1/4" and then top stitch to the lining. Make sense?

Guess I'll have to make another one.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend. It's sunny here but a tad chilly. 

I decided to fold down the top. Now I wish I'd put a different colour for the lining!

This is too plain but it's a good size for holding knitting projects.

The yarn does blend in with the fabric colour I used.

Close-up showing the stitching. Does this qualify for modern quilting? Just joking. . . maybe!

Blogger's Quilt Festival

This is a few days late as the Blogger's Quilt Festival started on the 15! But, better late than never and you still have time to view the quilts on display. I copied the links from Amy's Creative Side for quick access. Have fun as there are lots of quilts to see. In fact, have a cup of something and have a relaxing viewing time. You might find something to inspire your next project.

Quick links to categories :

• Mini  
• Small
• Large  
• Appliqué  
• Art  
• Hand Quilted
• Home Machine Quilted 
• Modern  
• Original Design
• ROYGBIV
• Scrappy
• Viewer’s Choice

Enjoy!!

Fibre Art Pendants

My latest Fibre Art Pendants. You will see that most of these were made from the same sheet of needle felting. Extra decorative yarns were added after the glittery threads were stitched on. I've added silver beads and extra stitching were necessary. Click on the image to get a close up of the work.

For the Knitters

I bought some Sakura yarn at Fiber Lilly here in St. John's. This yarn is 50 % silk, 30 % cotton and 20 % acrylic. My sister knit me a gorgeous scarve from this yarn and I just love it. It is so soft and warm. This yarn will be used in my summer knitting.

I'm using a free pattern by Estelle Yarns called Seafoam Scarve.

Find more free knitting patterns below:

• Ravelry, a free site for knitters and crocheters (lots of patterns)
• Estelle Yarns
• Knitting Pattern Central
• Canadian Living - 140 easy and free knitting patterns
• Knitting Help - free knitting patterns
• Lion Brand Knitting 
• Knitting Patterns on Craftsy 

Enjoy!!

CQA - Canadian Quilters Association

Lovely warm day here in St. John's - YAH!!! Yes, I'm excited as we haven't had many of those so far this spring. In fact, what is spring? This year has been a terrible one weather-wise.

I hope you are checking on my giveaway post of 1000 posts. Some one will win and it might be you.

I follow along with the Canadian Quilters Association website and blog (two different spaces). The blog has lots of interesting posts. For example, It's Time For Colour has lots of very interesting quilts on exhibit.

Today, on their Facebook page, they linked to 30 Free Tote Bag Patterns from Quilt Inspirations. It's worth a look! They also have 42 boards on Pinterest. Again, worth a look!

Enjoy!

Linky Tuesday

I've linked up with Linky Tuesday on Freemotion by the River. Please check out all the links. Lots of interesting posts!
Go HERE!!

Victoria Day

Happy Victoria Day!!

Victoria Day is a Canadian statutory holiday celebrated on the Monday preceding May 25 (that's today!) in every province and territory. It honours Queen Victoria's birthday. So far this weekend, the weather has been so so. Saturday, we had sun and warm temperatures, yesterday it was partly sun / cloudy and cool. Today, it's cool and cloudy with some sprinkles thrown in. However, according to the radio forecast, that's just on the Avalon Peninsula as the rest of the island is having lovely weather.  It has also been known to snow on this weekend too!

This holiday is usually when all the campgrounds and parks are officially opened for the summer and the fishing season opens.

Check HERE and HERE for previous posts on this holiday.

Now, get a cup of something and check out a few links:

• Images of art quilts with fish
• Quilting Fish  More HERE & HERE - Pinterest
• Making a Small Art Quilt - with fish
• Fish Patterns
• Quilts Inspired By Nature & Fly Fishing
• Under the Sea
• By the Sea

Enjoy!


Flow is part of the art collection, Government of Newfoundland Labrador 

Taking The Day Off!!!

Today, I've decided to take the day off! No sewing, no creating, no knitting, no anything in my studio. However, I'm still blogging. And by the way, don't forget my giveaway. Check back to last Wednesday to leave a comment to be eligible to win some of my work.

Check out some of these links:

• Bee Tree Designs free patterns for hand stitching
• Clover & Violet - Embroidery 101
• Let's learn Embroidery - Free Patterns & Tutorials
• Cloth Dolls by Stitch 'N Stuff
• Art Journal Tutorial
• Bags, Carry Cases, Wallets Tutorials
• Tea Pot Mug Rug

Now for a few random photos from my collection. Each one could be the subject for a piece of art. Think about it. I can see hand embroidery, printing on fabric and making a collage, photo realism using fabrics and applique . . . Endless possibilities!

What do you see? Why not take out some of your photos and see where they might take you. They might be a jumping off point to get you started in another direction.
Enjoy!!

More Japanese Temari Balls

A couple of friends had some more finished Temari Balls at our stitching group yesterday. The first three were made with variegated threads. These were made by the same friend who has made over 100 of these Japanese ornaments. Check HERE, HERE & HERE for others she has made.

The silver, red and green Temari Ball was made by another friend.
Lovely work, ladies!!

view 1

view 2

Pincushions

I made a couple of pincushions yesterday. I had an embroidery design that I wanted to try on some batik fabric. It worked out fine. The red one with the thimble was done on linen ages ago. The thread colours chosen for that one are a bit dark. With the other two, I opted for lighter, brighter fabrics. The pincushion at the bottom is a lot brighter than what you see here. I didn't bother with colour corrections this time. 

These designs could also be used on a quilt label or in a small wall hanging. 

Check previous posts HERE and HERE for more pincushions.

If you haven't entered my giveaway yet, please leave a comment on 1000 Posts before May 24th.

Enjoy!

Hand Embroidery

Thanks everyone for the fabulous comments on yesterday's post. If you haven't entered my giveaway yet, please leave a comment on 1000 Posts before May 24th.

When I was at the International Quilt Festival, Chicago, I purchased an embroidery pattern. It was one of those that required little attention. No counted threads, just follow the lines using the backstitch. It's relaxing to do and can be done when stitching with friends. One of these days, I plan to design my own.

This one was stitched on a bit of muslin and will probably become a small quilted wall hanging.

I just noticed that I forgot to stitch the titles on the three books by the basket. I'm putting the words, quilting, sewing and crafts on them instead of what's on the pattern: reading, history, and arithmetic.

Enjoy!!

1000 Posts! To Celebrate - A Giveaway!!!!

Post 1000 today!!!! YAH!!

To celebrate, I am having a giveaway open to anyone, anywhere! To be entered, just leave a comment, any comment is accepted. Maybe you can let me know in what part of the world you live. It's up to you. You don't have to be a follower but you will get an extra chance to win if you are. You can follow via email or bloglovin. Just send a second comment telling me how you are following. That's it! Good luck.

The giveaway will end on May 24,2015. I will remind you during the next week or so when I post.

Oh, yes, the giveaway prize will be three of my shimmers and an art card. If you aren't familiar with my shimmers, you can see a few of them HERE & HERE. Lots more throughout the blog. I do three types of art cards: embroidered flowers, iceberg and felted abstract.

I'll let the winner decide which type of card and shimmers (if in stock) they would prefer.

Here's some sample cards:

Sample Card

Sample Card

Samples (not finished)

I've also linked up with The Needle & Thread Network. Drop by to see what some of the Canadian bloggers are doing.

Work in Progress

I'm working on some more needle felted sheets for my Fibre Art Pendants. I just finished adding some sparkle with Sulky Sliver threads. Hand embroidery and /or beading will be added before the pieces are inserted into the pendant trays.

Here's the before and after photos!
I'm also linked up to Linky Tuesday, Freemotion by the River. Please check them out!

These first two are the same pieces.

I think I flipped them when the photo was taken.

Tutorials

Today, is a simple post. I'm sharing a few tutorials with you.
Enjoy!

• Baker Street Bag
• Triple Zip Pouch
• Road Trip Pillow
• Matryoshka Bins (stacking)
• Divided Organizer Bucket
• Catch-All Tutorial
• Pincushions

Happy Mother's Day

My four year old granddaughter in Chicago, insisted that Grandma have orange and red flowers for Mother's Day. The smaller roses have orange centers. The florist did a fantastic job!

I hope everyone has a great day.

Embroidery on Pendants

Since Mother's Day is tomorrow, I thought I'd post a few Fibre Art Pendants with embroidered flowers on them.

Also, one of my heart pendants has been highlighted today on Face Book by the Craft Council of Newfoundland Labrador. Thanks for the extra promotion of my work. The scarf is also one of my creations.

Here's the caption copied from Face Book:

What a lovely way to say "Mom, you are pretty great!" Come in to see our full selection of these

beautiful fibre pendants and scarves by St. John's crafts person Judy Cooper