Book received and Book made

This is a CD book that I made at a class last weekend.
We used 2 blank CD's and we used a special Craft tool to punch the holes in it to hold the coil binding and for the life of me I can't remember what it is called---I know I know I can hear you all shouting out the name but you are just too far away for me too hear.
After we had the holes punched in we then stamped the images on and coloured the butterfly in with Twinkling H2o's--we then embellished the back as well but I haven't shown you that.
There are 5 pages of card stock inbetween the CD's to form the pages.
When this was finished we inserted the coil and added ribbons.
A great little project for Christmas -you could add your favourite recipes or poems to give to a friend-oh and the blob in the bottom left hand bit is UTEE .

And this book that I ordered from Dale at the thread studio arrived as well but I haven't had time to read it yet.

TAST Week 47 Thorn Stitch

This weeks stitch is Thorn stitch and oh thank goodness it was an easy one(thanks Sharon)Today was our Workshop on the Web groups day at the Embroiderers Guild and I thought I would take my TAST sample piece along to finish instead of my sewing machine --I really wasn't in the mood for the machine today.
Well I stitched away merrily creating my version of Corin Forest in Canberra (before the bushfires in 2003 that is) and this stitch says trees-trees and more trees.
I had a great piece of hand felted fabric that made a fabulous background for it. Well we only have 5 more weeks left and if you want to know what Sharon is planning for next year just read my previous message.

A new Challenge for next year

Sharon Boggan is working on a new Challenge for next year as the TAST challenge draws to an end in 5 weeks time.
I have enjoyed the TAST challenge and have learned a lot of new stitches that I had never heard of before.
Sharon has asked us to give our opinions from two options that she has suggested--so if you would like to see what they are and maybe take part next year visit the link listed below and leave a message on her blog
http://sharonb.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/take-a-stitch-tuesday-week-47/
If you haven't visited Sharon's blog before it is well worth a visit and I hope you like what you see and join me next year.

TAST Week 46 Chain Braid Stitch

By George I've got it----Chain Braid stitch that is.
This is not a stitch one would want to do in a hurry and one that I will probably never attempt again.
I imagine like the chain stitch sewing machine if you pulled the right thread the whole thing would unravel but in saying that I am not game to attempt it.
I did manage to get the last row with the pink and green thread to look nice and tidy but I nearly tied myself inside out getting it that way.
I used Perle 8 cotton thread on an even weave linen.
Thanks Sharon for introducing me to a lot of stitches that I would probably never have learnt before.
It has been a very interesting and enjoyable journey - One that I am glad I went on.

Trees and Squares

Outside my front door is this magnificent tree and it is in full bloom at present.
It is a native Australian tree commonly known as a bottlebrush(I think it's a Callistemon) and my husband says it's name is Captain Cook and who am I to argue- all I know is that it is beautiful.(I'm no gardener and I will be the first to admit it)
This is a close up of the flowers--there is only one problem with this tree and it is that when the flowers are finished it drops the spikey bits and leaves a carpet of red all over the path leading up to the front door and in through the front door if I am not careful.

I can now show you the crazy patchwork square that I did for Sandy because she has contacted me to say it has arrived as well as her "I've found it" postcard.

I enjoyed doing this square as I haven't done any crazy patchwork for years--I think I will do some more next year---

More Gifts in the Mail

I recently answered a posting on Anna's blog whereby she would give one of her pouches to the first 10 people to leave a comment.
Well you know me never one to be backward on the opportunity to get a freebie and especially if it was a piece of Anna's creative work.
The pouch is made from silk pods and is one of the class techniques that Anna teaches.
Thank you Anna I love it.




Next is the Crazy Patchwork square that Sandy and I swapped with each other.
This is my square that Sandy pieced and embroidered.
Honestly I have never seen so many stitches and beads on one square.
I don't know how long it took but I reckon her hands were sore by the time she finished.
I can't show you my square that I sent her as she hasn't received it yet.
And Sandy doesn't have a blog yet so I can't link you to her.

And I also swapped a postcart with her from the "I found it" fabric -I don't have a photo of the one that I sent to Sandy but it is the same as the ones I posted several blogs ago.
Sandy also included this lovely Tag as well.


Thank you Sandy--as usual you have given me much pleasure with our swaps.

A great day today

Today I went to my favourite shop again and spent the day making Christmus stuff.
This morning we made Christmas cards and this afternoon we made decorations..
All the Christmas messages on the cards came off one sheet of 12 x 12 paper which meant there was no stamping involved.
These cards were quick and simple to make and the idea was to show us just how easy it is to make your own simple Christmas cards.


The ornaments were made from a kit with all the craft wood pieces for all 3 ornaments included in the kit.
The first thing we did was to paint the embellishments that went on the baubles and the back of the baubles as well.
Next we put Gesso on the unpainted side of the baubles and covered them with the papers.
When these dried we used a foam distressing pad to make the edges look aged.
We then assembled the embellishment pieces and glued them together and when these dried we glued them to the baubles.
The last thing to do was to tie the ribbon through the small holes at the top of the bauble.

Another very successful workshop with lots of good ideas.

TAST Week 45 Pekinese Stitch

This week we are doing Pekinese stitch-- I have heard of this stitch but I have never done it before.
The base row is backstitch and then the loop stitches are formed around the backstitches.
In the first two rows I have worked a single row of back stitch and I rather like the look of these two rows.
The third row has two rows of back stitch and then the loop stitches are worked between these two rows.
In the last one I have worked two lots of three rows of back stitch separated by a couple of rows of linen thread.
I then did the loop stitches over the three rows of back stitch which formed two braid like rows of Pekinese stitch.
I then laced them together in the lime green thread.
I know this looks different from Sharon's sample but this is how I interpreted the lacing when I read the Batsford Encyclopedia of Embroidery Stitches that I borrowed from the Embroiderers Guild Library.
To me it looks upside down to Sharon's but I don't think the Stitch Police will come and take me away--well I hope not anyway.

I have used a linen fabric and Perle cottons.

"I found it" Postcards

I decided to make the "I found it" piece of fabric into postcards as it was only the size of an A4 sheet of paper.
I managed to get 3 postcards and one ATC out of it.
I have sent one postcard to Sandy and these two are for Dianne and Lynda and the ATC went to Dot.
I didnt add any further embellishments to them as I thought it would detract from the overall piece.
I know they haven't received them yet but they already
know what they will look like so I thought I would put them on my blog now.




I hope you like them girls.

A bit of this and a bit of that--but not much at all

I have been making lots of things this week but unfortunately I can't show you any of it because it is for other people and I will put it on here when they receive them.
So I have decided to show you Ebony's Potato man.
While I was preparing Saturday nights dinner she was busy making this creature all done by herself.
He has coloured head pins for the mouth etc. and wool scraps for his hair and I think he is held together with tooth picks because she asked me for some.
The stick goes completely through the body for his arms - but no legs--you could say he doesn't have a leg to stand on.




I think she did very well..........

Wonderful Art in the mail

Recently I have been involved in several swaps and I received in return these great treasures.
Firstly this beautiful postcard from Barbara in Germany.
It is made from Lutradur and lace and is painted/dyed blue and has gold painted sections as well as gold glitter sprinkled throughout it.
The texture is amazing----Thank you Barbara.


Next I have this absolutely outstanding piece of art from Julie.
I swapped her two of my tassels for this masterpiece--how lucky am I.
I forgot to take a photo of the tassels but if you visit Julie's blog you can see them.
The depth of the embellishments on these ATC sized pieces is incredible and I can't stop touching them.
Thank you Julie you are indeed a wonderful artist.

Great Reading

I picked up these two magazines today from my local Needlework store and wow they are fantastic.
The Quilting Arts Gifts magazine is loaded with wonderful ideas on making fabulous gifts by some of the most talented artists around.
Then there is the latest Cloth Paper Scissors but I must admit that I haven't looked at it yet because I can't put the other one down.
Oh well there goes my creating for a couple of days.

Sorry about the poor photo but you get the idea as to what I am talking about.

Crazy Corner

Back in May My friend Sandy from the US sent me in a parcel that included some fabric scraps.
I suggested to her that I could send her some of my pieces and that we could make a crazy square and embellish it and then send it back to each other.
Well Sandy has had her crazy square finished since June and has been waiting for me to do mine so we could swap--so don't faint Sandy it is done---but I'm only showing you a tiny section so you can see that it is finally done.



I hope you like it Sandy (when you get it that is)

TAST Week 44 Zig Zag Spanish Knotted stitch

I can't believe it but I am a week early not a week late.
Sharon B is away in NZ for a short time and has posted both week 43(this weeks stitch -see below) and also week 44(which is next weeks stitch) and I have finished both of them.
I decided to do this sample while I was in the mood and it was no use keeping it to post next week so here it is.
No matter what I did I couldn't make it look neat and tidy and I tried to keep it even but to no avail so what you see is what you get.
I also found there wasn't much I could do with it as well.

The fabric is a pale blue linen and the thread is Perle Cotton

TAST Week 43 Drizzle Stitch

This weeks stitch is Drizzle stitch.
I think that I have done this stitch before-once- when I had a day with a friend who was trying to teach me Brazillian embroidery.
I find this a fun stitch to do but I have problems using rayon threads-they seem to find every little piece of skin that may be sticking up on my hands and I am forever pulling the threads.
My sample of the cluster of stitches is worked in Broder Cotton- and believe it or not it measures only 4 cm---the single stitches to the right were worked in a thick silk and I used a chenille needle with a bit of effort to pull the needle through the stitches--just to see what they would look like.
Altogether I am pleased with this sample.

TAST Week 42 Twisted Satin stitch

I am a bit late with this --life has been a bit hectic this last 3 weeks but thank goodness I can now get back to doing the things that are fun-which includes the TAST challenge.
Week 42 was Twisted Satin stitch -a fun stitch to do.
I kept wanting to go on doing more stitching which is unusual for me because I normally do a few designs and that is it.
Once I started putting the beads into it -well there was no stopping me.
I found it easy to get movement with the stitch as well.
These are the samples I have chosen to show you.
I have used a linen fabric and various threads and beads.
Now for this weeks challenge.

I've Found it

Yippee I've found it.
Back on the 26th August I blogged about a piece of fabric that I had made which I was going to use for my challenge in the Artists Muse.
But it got lost by the time I was going to make something out of it-I don't know how but I searched high and low but nowhere was it to be found.
Well this week I have been culling my stash and getting rid of fabrics that I have hoarded since the year dot I think.
I had five pieces of flannelette that I was going to make my son some shirts (they were the days when people wore home made clothes) he was 18 at the time --he is now 36 and wouldn't be seen in a flanny shirt(he wouldn't then either that's why they were never made up)
There were other fabrics with an even longer history than that but it is too embarrassing even to tell the few people who drop by and read this.
Anyway back to the story I found the piece of fabric that was missing--filed away in a folder--don't ask me how it got there as I haven't a clue.
The problem is now I can't remember what I wanted to make with it.
Ah maybe I will make some postcards.
The fabric has a calico (muslin) base and I tore up strips of different coloured organzas and using gold thread stitched it onto the background fabric mixed with metallic pieces as well.
It reminds me of a landscape--what do you think it is.

Floriade 2007

Yesterday (Sunday)we went to Floriade ---which is an annual festival held in Canberra for 4 weeks in September /October.
We almost forgot to go because we have been away and I have been so busy and yesterday was the last day.
Commonwealth Park is a mass of colour at this time of the year (Spring in Australia) and the flower beds are arranged sometimes by colours and sometimes by flower varieties.
I like taking photos of the flower beds because it gives me plenty of inspiration for my stitching.

The first photo is of one of the flower beds.


The next photo shows 3 or 4 beds leading up to the rear of the amphi-thearte where they hold live entertainment in the summertime ----------

This is one of the beds besides the lake----

And here is another view----

We went at 9am because I wanted to take photos without hordes of people getting in front of me.
Floriade is an important event in Canberra and brings a lot of visitors to our beautiful city not only from other states in Australia but also from overseas countries as well.

The Lake View

Floriade is held in Commonwealth Park which is built around a section of a man made lake.
It is the most picturesque setting and there are ducks swimming around and all the children love to feed them bread.

They also plant the flower beds around the edge of the lake.

And this gentleman was sitting on the edge of the lake painting a picture of the lake --he was oblivious of the people around him watching and taking photos.

Sand Castles

Then there were these sandcastles which were truly amazing.
There was more than 20 tonnes of sand in the Old Parliament house one and 60 tonnes of sand in the War Memorial one.
After they were built they were sprayed with a bonding glue to prevent them falling to pieces if it rained.
Each year there is a theme associated with Floriade and this year it was Great Aussie Icons and what is more of an Australian icon than both the War Memorial and the Old Parliament House buildings--both situated in Canberra.
The first photo is of the War Memorial Sandcastle------



And the second one is Old Parliament House

How clever is this?

Beanies

Then there was the creative beanie/hat display.
There were beanies and hats that had been knitted --croched--or felted into innovative designs.
This is just a few but there were so many.





A crown fit for a queen-----





One covered with faces-------

And I just loved this hat which had the brim covered with teacups and a sugar basin and a milk jug plus a plate on the crown with food on it.
This is the front view--------




And the back view---------

How creative some people are.

TAST Week 41 Lace Border Stitch

Lace Border Stitch has been a problem for me -I really could not get the gist of the last piece of the instructions about "don't forget to pass the needle under the bar formed as it is neccessary to form the knot"--I didn't know whether I went up under the bar or down under the bar.
Sometime it looked like the ones in Sharon's pictures sometimes it didn't.
So I did samples of both and then I did one where I went under the bar on the right hand side--
and I ended up with rows that looked very much like each other in some form....BUT...I think the green row on the right hand side is the correct one.
But then they could be all wrong and if they are well I rather think I will just have to admit that this stitch beat me.
I like this sample anyway and I'm glad that I have been learning stitches that I haven't heard of before and I must admit I will be sorry when the TAST challenge ends.

I have used a very nice even weave linen and Perle cottons for this sample.

TAST Week 40 Linked Double Chain

Week 40 was Linked Double Chain Stitch another new one to me.
Even though I found this stitch easy to do I really don't know where I would use it but it is a nice stitch sample anyway.
I do like the snowflake desighn that I achieved at the bootm of the sample.
I have used variegated perle cottons and a linen fabric.
Now to tackle week 41 and I am having a bit of trouble getting the hang of it.

TAGGED

I have been tagged by Dianne of FaeryDi's fame and I have to list 7 honest things about myself
so here goes-------------
1.--I commit to doing things without really thinking "do I have the time to do this"
2.--I eat too much and then hate myself for doing it.
3.--I can't turn my mind off when I go to bed at night and wake up 3 hours later thinking about something that I should do.
4.--I love creating things but I really have to force myself to complete it before I launch off on another project.
5.--If I find a new project/hobby that I like then I have to get everything that goes with it.
6.--I treasure true friendships old and new especially my new blog friends.
7.--I love books to do with fabric-fibre or paper but very seldom read all of them--but the pictures are great.
There you have it.
I haven't mentioned my family --only the things that people don't know about me.
Now I have to Tag 6 others.
And I choose these people so I can learn more about them.

Susan D
Val T
Hilary M
Lynne
Joanna
Emmy

Over to you ladies.

Children's School Holiday Classes

Tomorrow (Thursday) is the last class this year for the children's school holiday classes at the Embroiderers Guild.
I am doing this little bag with them --it is made from Yellow Denim that some-one donated to the guild and so is the panel of critters in a jar.
I have 16 students ranging from 7 to 16 years old.I also have help from other guild members who supervise them.
We try to give the younger children a one on one helper and group the older girls into groups of 2 or 3.
I have cut all the pieces out and stitched the folded over hems as well as making the handles.
The panel is ironed onto a piece of fine iron on vilene so that there is a bit of support as they are stitching.
When the children have finished the stitching which is mainly running stitch they can embellish the panel if they wish.
I then have to finish sewing the bag together so that they can take it home with them.
Here is the finished bag sample which has a long strap that can't be seen here.



This is a close up of the panel and you can see the stitching,

After this is finished I will be able to get on with my TAST samples.

Me and my Granddaughters and the Exhibition

Thank goodness the weekend is over.
I have just spent 4 days working hard at the Embroiderers Guild exhibition and I can't wait to get back into creating and blogging with my friends again.
The exhibition was very successful both in the quality and quantity of work and also the attendance by patrons.
I sold 4 items in the exhibition itself--only small things but it is very rewarding when you realise that someone likes your work enough to want to buy it.
One of the things that I did sell was the magpie bag that I had posted recently.

I have included a photo of me and my granddaughters taken on our recent visit to Tasmania.
I have converted it to an old photo colour because all the girls were wearing red and it really dominated the photo and I wanted you all to see them without getting distracted by the colour.
I rather like how it looks now.

In the front is Charlotte - in the middle row is Alexandra -Ebony and Matilda and then there is little ol' me up the back--do I look proud or what?
Now I must clean up the mess in my sewing room so that I can get creating again.

TAST Week 39 Reversed Buttonhole Stitch

Week 39 saw us doing Reversed Buttonhole Stitch which was another new one to me.
I worked this on the last day of my holidays because it was raining all day and what else was I to do....lucky that I took the fabric and thread with me just in case.
I have used an even weave linen and Perle cotton---I am not sure if I have done it correctly but it looks ok to me anyway.
In the second row I did up and down buttonhole stitch for the base.
I like the look of the circular one also. Now for week 40.

I'm Back

Hi all I'm back home again after a great holiday -nice to see all the family again-but that boat trip back across Bass Strait was rough and I don't have very good sea legs--Yuck.
I will post later on today with what went on but now I have lots of jobs to do.

Black and White Challenge

Every two years the Embroiderers Guild have a challenge in conjunction with the annual Exhibition.
This year the challenge was black and white to which we could add one other colour.
The other colour I chose was lime green.
We were also given in the pack 2 x 25cm of black grosgrain ribbon(different widths) with white spots and some black perle cotton and 25cm of white braid
If you go here you can see where I posted the instructions and also the fabrics etc. (back in January)that were in the kit.
I changed my mind several times as to what I would make but I kept coming back to the Magpie.
I had noticed on Dianne's blog that she had done something with a Magpie on it and she sent me the pattern.
This is my finished piece---I have made it into a bag...(doesn't everybody)
I placed the black-white and lime green on top of one another and stitched it down in rows and then cut between the rows to make a chenille background.
This used up half of the fabrics --so I was already covered from that point because I had to use at least half of everything in the Kit.
The narrow ribbon and the white braid are in the bottom left hand corner and continue around onto the back.
The wider ribbon is forming the loops for the handles to be attached to and the thread is used for the birds legs and the worms in their beaks.
The bag is lined with the rest of the lime green fabric.
I ended up using all of the ribbons/braid and thread --all the green fabric and 95% of the black and white.
I had a problem with the eyes because Magpies eyes are a brown/tan colour and I couldn't use brown because it would have been another colour added.
After the exhibition I will change them to brown.
I have just finished making it up which is lucky for me because early tomorrow morning we head off on holidays for 12 days --returning 2 days before the exhibition is to be set up.
I mean to say I have had the kit since January --no one can accuse me of rushing into it can they.
We are taking Ebony with us to meet all her cousins etc that she hasn't seen before so it will be lot's of fun (I hope)
I'll see you all when we get back.
Take care

ATC's received

I received these Atc's from Eva several days ago and they are beautiful.
I traded with Eva for the bottom right hand one and she kindly sent me the other two as well.
You are too generous Eva.
I must apologise also because I forgot to rotate the picture--so just lean your head over to the left a bit and you will see what they should look like.

Thanks again Eva for trading with me.

TAST Week 38 Knotted Buttonhole Band

Don't faint-- I have finished this weeks Tast stitch and it was only posted on Sharon's blog this morning.
The reason that I have done it today is that we are going on holidays on Friday for 12 days and I don't want to get too far behind with the challenge.
This week the stitch is Knotted Buttonhole Band--never heard of it you say--well neither had I but I am glad that Sharon introduced this one to us.
First I had to do a ladder of stitches so that I could build the knotted buttonhole band on it.
I could really get hooked on this stitch --I kept changing threads just to see how it looked.
The little green piece in the bottom left corner was an experiment because I wanted to see how it would look in a block rather than a row.The green and pink row has the ladder stitches worked in gold thread but I am not sure if you can see it or not.

This stitch would make a great border.

TAST Week 37 Rice Stitch

I am a bit late this week but only by a few days so that is not too bad.
Week 37 ....is Rice Stitch and Square Boss Stitch.
I think that I have done them right.
The blue and yellow sample is Square Boss Stitch and the other two are Rice Stitch.

I used Aida cloth and Variegated Valdani perle 8 threads.

I think I would like to do more of these type of stitches .

I have always steered clear of this type of embroidery before --but I think when this challenge is finished I may enrol in a class and learn more about it.

Tassels Tassels and more Tassels

I have been busy making Tassels to sell on the trade table at the Guild exhibition in early October.
I love making tassels and with all the funky fibres around these days the task is made a lot easier.
Some of them still need a few beads here and there which I am going to do today--hopefully if life doesn't get in the way.
Some of the heads are from lace or glitzy fabric- some are fancy flower's on a ribbon band-some were done on the embellisher and the rest are free machine embroidered.

Now all I have to worry about is that they will sell and then I can buy more things to clutter up my play room.

The Artists Muse Chapter 6

The Challenge for September was a black and white theme.
I chose to do the fabric challenge this time and selected level 2 which was to create a piece of work to represent one of the following words---fluid--mysterious--elegant or sharp.
I used the weaving technique that Emmy had on her blog way back in January whereby I had to cut the fabric in wavy strips and then weave them together like the photo shows.
I was allowed to add red stitching in this as well.
I started out with the intention of just stitching the sections done in red but before I knew it I had done the black and also the white-then I added the black and red around the border.
I'm not sure which of the words describes this piece but I don't think it is "elegant "