Summercrafter

OK. I was going to call this Christmas Once a Month Project #4 but really that would be cheating since I made felt ornaments for the 3rd project. So let's just say these are a continuation, okay?    Materials: Felt, floss and needle, beads, ribbon (hot glue only for large piece assembly)     I really like doing the blanket stitch, more embroidery!       I used this Mary Engelbreit wrapping paper as a guide.     This "Fried Egg Flower" may be my favorite even though it's not too "Christmas-y."        I really wanted to add dimension to this candy cane with beads or something, but I had to stay true to the illustration. I just whip-stitched the red patches on and secured the long green stitch with a tiny one in the center.        Here is the leaf which was fun to stitch. I used light green beads to blend, the background is dark enough. I used to 2 light and a medium green strands for the leaves.  

This was so satisfying to finish. I just really enjoyed putting this together, partly because I really like these fabrics and I got to try so many new things.  Not to mention this one is a keeper, even though the new kitchen is on the back burner again. No Problem.  For progress up until this post, click here . One of the serendipitous things that happened with this little table topper was that I used a low loft batting that was not my preference because it is kind of poofy and thick. I used this because I wanted to use up whatever I had lying around (waste not, want not) but I know a flatter, needle punched batting is better for table toppers and wall hangings. Initially, I was going to do this loopy "heart in a heart" (below) type quilting design (to add to the "Valentine" theme of it) but since the fabrics are so busy this totally did not work.    So, I opted for the one heart per square option which, up until this time, had been un-thought

I have struggled with the dilemma of big prints, little prints vs. large pieces, small pieces there must be a rule, but I have made my own. With some fabric, especially if they are not my favorites, I say cut them small let the colors play out!  Sometimes there is a beautiful pattern or design that I hate to cut , so I try to use it a way that will show it off the best. This calls for making a particular piece larger for that design. Occasionally, the whole collection is fabulous and whatever you do comes out beautiful. YAY!!   The current fabric collection I am working with for this new project is Dr. Seuss  by Robert Kaufman . If you know anything about the books ,  they can be hard to follow sometimes in terms of plot  and are a doozy for comprehension but great for phonics! Similarly, the fabric is loaded with busy colors, action and patterns and is quite an eyeful.  I have seen several interestingly designed Dr. Seuss quilts and I wonder why some people cut these fabrics so

If this is your first time dropping in on the Christmas Once a Month Project Posts, it all started over here  you can also check out the button on the right margin (the one with the stockings) She has some projects to show  too. I am trying to catch up, so I am on project three now and project four is due on Monday, YIKES! Here is my first and second projects so far. For the third project, I decided on doing these little ornaments which I have had in my mind for a long time. Finally, I have an excuse to make them and they really were a quick therapy session, because they were so easy to do, felt is fabulous! Originally, I was going to make them poly-filled (like little pillows) but that just didn't have the look I wanted and was complicating the simplicity of it all. Some of you might recognize these as Mary Engelbreit designs. And they are. She has really been an inspiration to me and so many other "wanna be artists." She is very generous in

For starters, I think I am going to change the name of this quilt. For one, the Valentine Quilt has red and pink but really nothing else that is "valentine-ish" except for The Love Note. So, even though it started out as the 9 square block Valentine Quilt. I think The Love Note Quilt conjures up more sentiment, don't you think?  Here it is in stages: Part One , Part Two. Here is how the actual embroidery went. CHAIN STITCH: Must be continuous since they link, or it's quite the challenge to get back in the loop. DOTS: Not just to "trace" letters but to determine even stitch separation.  Actually, I did start "doodling" with the thread (backstitched)  much as I would have with a paper and pen, despite trying to draw out a plan, sometimes you just gotta experiment your way through.  Added pearl detail for contrast, almost melted it while pressing. TIP: Iron on the backside!! Detail PROBL