Asian Challenge - Bullions

This week's Asian Challenge stitch is the bullion stitch. I used 3 strands of DMC variegated thread and filled center with 10/0 seed beads.

How Can You Not Feel Happy When...

...you are sewing with 30s reproduction fabrics! I am really not a bright fabric type of person but I loved my grandma's quilts and she made them with fabrics like these. What a pick-me-up of color. Anyway...these are the Farmer's Wife Sampler blocks I made today since I had an extra day off work. Above is Evening Star.

Farmer's Daughter. (She must be a star, huh?)

Flock (of what?)

Four Winds. (I think I see a piece out of place).

Homeward Bound.

Maple Leaf. (A pretty wild one.)

Northern Lights. (Not like the ones I've seen. And, quite frankly, looks like a bat in the middle to me.)

Old Windmill. I do like this one.

Peace and Plenty (looks better in person than on camera.)

Feeling Groovy!

Sweating and Small Stuff But Not Sweating the Small Stuff !

It's been very hot here in Iowa. I don't have air-conditioning but I do have a little country air. Today I sat in front of the fan and finished a few small items. Above is the front of a card holder. It's a "Fun Friday Toot" challenge over on the Stitchmap Yahoo Group.

I went through my first scrap box looking for the right sized scraps to use and happened upon these scraps left over from when I made placemats for my dad and stepmom. I used two different fabrics inside so at a glance I know which pocket a card is in. One side for credit/debit cards and the other for other stuff. I had to ask my granddaughter for a green hair band for the closure. I was going to also whip up a few Christmasy card holders but my GD said I could only have ONE hair band. I guess I will have to buy more for my next card holders.

Also from the scrap bin...blue scraps for a hotpad (or is it a potholder?) for a swap over on Mailblocks Yahoo Group. This is the front using 2.5 inch blue scraps...

...and this is the back. I don't even remember buying this fabric but there it is.

I also crocheted up another dishcloth for a stocking stuffer or maybe for a set including embroidered flour sack dishtowel, potholder in a market bag.

And finally...these are my July lottery blocks - Double Wrench. I won May's lottery so was ineligible to win June's lottery but maybe I will win in July. At any rate...lottery blocks are a great way to use up more scraps. If I lose the drawing I send them off to the winner and if I win the drawing everyone sends their blocks to me and I make a quilt top that turns into another WIP. 

Now...back to sweating..and a little embroidery before bed.

Up and Down Feather Stitch - Asian Challenge

For the Asian Challenge - up and down feather stitch in red silk ribbon. And here is a sneak preview of a dragon stitched on felt I am about ready to attach to the middle of the block. When all is finished it will be a 14 inch pillow for my Buddhist sister for Christmas. (I hope she stays a Buddhist that long since she flits from one thing to another like a butterfly.)

The Answer is Blowin' in the Wind

No matter how hard I tried the quilt top would not stop blowing in the wind. It now measures 83.5 x 99 inches and I added a dark purple (plum?) 2 inch border. I'm now trying to decide what next for a border...prairie point leaves or appliqued leaves on a border. Oh, and doesn't the top with the sunlight reflecting through it look like stained glass?

At any rate...I can't decide what to do for the next border so I'll set it aside for a while. This is the quilt I am making the cq bedrunner to match. I need to work some more on those blocks too.

Doctor finally found a possible diagnosis for peripheral neuropathy...Guillaine Barre Syndrome (GBS). It's evidently rare...who would have thought? I think I'm getting better though. I've been forcing myself to use those fine motor skills even tho' it's been somewhat difficult. "Use it or lose it".

Samplers

CW Sampler - Ladie's Aide block.

The outside piece on the cross is supposed to match the fabric of the corner pieces; however, I did not like how it looked since my fabric on the crosses did not match up properly to the corners. Maybe before the quilt is made I will redo this one.

CW Sampler - Calico Puzzle

FW Sampler - Big Dipper.

Do you know I was an old lady before I could actually look up in the sky and see the big dipper and then the little dipper? And now I look at this block and just don't get it!

FW Sampler - Broken Sugar Bowl.

This is my version 2 of this block since I made the other one undersized and we do know that size matters! And, on the subject of sugar bowls...I inherited and use grandma's sugar bowl and hope no one breaks it.

FW Sampler - Buzzard's Roost

Kind of wild...I used that brown fabric since it kind of looked treeish. Don't know why I used the green.

FW Sampler - Country Farm.

Hmmm, looks like that one side doesn't have enough seam allowance. Hope it's just the picture!

FW Sampler- Darting Birds.

Ok, not enough contrast. I wanted red birds since some of the other bird blocks are blue but I should have used the Kona snow. Maybe another one for the remake list. Or maybe not..

Asian Challenge Stitches

This is the first stitch for the Asian Challenge - Coral Stitch which is a knotted stitch. I chose to make mine out of silk ribbon and did not pull the knots very tight and then...

...I added some leaves and cherry blossoms to my coral stitch.

The more advanced knotted stitch that I am not sure I have mastered was knotted loop stitch or basque knot. My eyes don't see well enough to do the two loops knots aren't very even. I drew a giant leaf with lead pencil and used those lines as guidelines for my leaf...

...and then I outlined leaf with stem stitch to cover over the pencil lines. And then I added a silk and satin ribbon chrysanthemum to go with the leaf. (Well, at least that's what it's supposed to be)!

I've used the coral stitch a few times before but that basque knot stitch was new to me, well...I've seen it in books but never tried it but now I have. If I try layering it next time you won't notice my unevenness and it might be fun. I like challenges. Oh, and I might try a couple lanterns with ribbon thru them to simulate lanterns. Later...