Everything is all yellow...

In my couple of free hours this morning, I finished up the Y is for (Yellow) postcards, and also used the bondaweb I painted the other day on some postcards for that swap - the swishy shapes are done with painted bondaweb. I have to say, I really like this effect and it's definitely a technique I will use again. I would make a great background. And astonishingly, I managed to do FMQ on these cards with metallic thread through the bondaweb, with a minimum of breakage.

The other thing I did today was make a start on my ATCs for an Alice in Wonderland themed swap (we have to use Alice sheets from Alpha Stamps - there are some great ones to choose from, though - I bought several!)

I used a background which was a scrap from a piece I had created before - the colour doesn't show well here, but I will photograph again later so you can see it better. These ATCs will be fairly different from one another, I think - I have to make 9 to swap and I intend to do them one at a time rather than all together, so there will probably be more variation than I normally have in my ATCs, when I do a group. I had originally intended to use the same background for all of them, but I'm thinking I won't - I'll dig into my stock of prepared backgrounds and see where each piece takes me. Anyway, here's Alice at the tea party.

Monday bits

Lots of bits and pieces to show today - this will be the last day for a while where I can devote practically the entire day to sewing, so I needed to make the most of it. From now on, Mondays during term time will be pretty much a loss, as I have a yoga class in the morning (doesn't start until next week) and will be working at lunchtime and in the afternoon. I think I'll nominate Monday as the day I show cross-stitch progress - gotta have something, right?

But back to today - I made a couple of Dear Jane blocks for my ongoing swap with Cathi - she's way ahead of me as she was making some samples to teach some of the ladies in her quilt group how to do the template technique. I'm not completely sure I'll catch up, but at least this is a step in the right direction. For those who are interested in such things, these are I-1: Ralph and Nelda's Wedding and K-1: Crooked Creek (the rotary cutter version, with border).

I also painted some bondaweb for a swap - I'll need to do something with it before swapping, but at least the painting is done - a step in the right direction.



I also began working on my "Y is for..." postcards. I chose yellow, as you may have guessed. Perhaps not all that original, but I thought it would be fun, and nice and cheery for Janaury. These are about half done - I'm going to add some embellishments - not quite as muc choice in yellow as in some colours, but I still have quite a few bits and pieces which will work.

That was it for today (a fairly good amount, really) but this evening I got the binding on another little quilt - this photo is much better in terms of colour - has it fairly spot on. I'm very pleased with this - really like the way it came out. Off in the post later this week to a new home!



And finally, to start the tradition of Monday Cross-Stitch update, here's the progress on the little house. I did do a little bit tonight once I finished the binding on the blue & orange piece (didn't want to start another binding as my finger hurt - the orange I used to bind the blue & orange piece was quite thick and required extra pushing - and before you leap in with suggestions, I just can't work with a thimble - never have been able to - they drive me potty). Almost done with the little house - the windows to fill next, and then on to the snow on the ground and the big tree before I finally get to do the boxes around the border. Still, it's coming. Next week I should think there will be less progress due to all the binding, though I do intend to do some each night, just not as much...

Doorways & Archways

So, a variety of stuff to show today - surprisingly, I managed to get a lot done (even by my standards). This afternoon, when we got back from our outing (I'm not doing this in chronological order - so sue me!), I decided to get these cards done - I had the idea of what to do in my mind for a while, so it was just a matter of putting it down on fabric. So to speak. This was for the doorways swap on Fibre Artist International - in the end, they look a bit more like windows than doorways, but the idea is what I wanted to convey - a doorway into an adventure, to far off lands, and so on. The card is very simple - the background is a batik which has been discharged - I got it in a recent discharge swap - then there's a copper door/window from German scrap with different scenes and writing behind each pane. I've then added some stitching in different threads plus a key and a keyhole (which is an actual hole - it goes all the way through). I'm pleased with these, they turned out well, I thought.



I got some post, as well - a surprise arch, from Anna - well, not a total surprise, as I knew she was due to send to me this month (for my arch swap in the Textile Challenges group) - but a surprise in the sense that I didn't know it had been posted to me - I hadn't read Anna's blog in a few days, so I didn't know she'd finished it. Anyway. Isn't it gorgeous? The background is a piece of rust-dyed fabric, with a vintage image and some lovely stars made from a drinks can. Enterprising! You can read a bit more about it on Anna's own blog.









The MTV card is for the 1980's swap, from Monica - the fabric she's picked for the M is perfect, isn't it. I remember the early days of MTV with the flashing changing M... Ah, nostalgia.





I also got the items on left, which look a little confusing until you put them together and end up with the little gems on the right... My little boxes swap!








The first thing I did this morning (well, after having a shower and getting dressed) was to add another row to the scrapbuster quilt from yesterday - I think it needs at least one more row - will add that, perhaps tomorrow, then see if it needs another one after that. I have enough blocks to add several more rows, certainly. Watch this space - as they say.

And finally (both in terms of this post and my chronological day) I managed to sew the binding down on two placemats at my quilt group this evening - so, there we go.

Journal Quilt Project - Week 6 - and little boxes

So today, here's what I did - first, I made two boxes - I sort of felt obliged to do that today, as it was Boxing Day and all - then I decided to take all the leftover off cuts from the boxes and sew them together to form the base of a journal quilt for this week. Added some MetaMica paint, some decorative stitching and a bunch of bits and pieces in purple and silver, and hey presto. I think next week I may be moving on to another colour, though - I've had enough purple for a few weeks...

Little boxes

In January, my surface embellishment group is swapping these little boxes, the pattern for which comes from Quilting Arts (enlarge the pattern to 200 per cent). I need five for the swap, and did two today - I will probably add some more embellishments a bit later, maybe some foiling or beads, but I thought I'd at least get a few done. I've seen boxes done by several others in the group and I think it's going to be a fun swap - here are Wil's boxes, and here are Judi's.

This is a really simple, fun box to make for a special thing, and for a swap it's great, as you can post them flat, rather than folded up.

Wednesday wonders...

Well, my aim today was to be as productive as yesterday, and I think I managed that - especially if you include the load of laundry and the fact that I went grocery shopping...

First thing I did today quilt-wise was to finish the quilting on the little secret santa piece. No points if you guessed I was goign to quilt snowflakes onto it. And just like real snowflakes, no two are alike! (But unlike real snowflakes, a few of them are a little wonky, symmetry-wise.) I still have to sew the binding down & the bottom of the sleeve, but that's all. You can see at the bottom where I've pulled the binding down that the border around the angel is pale blue, not dark blue.

Once I'd finised the angel, what I did was edge things. I edged all the "L is for (lightbulb)" cards and another handful of Christmas cards - only one handful left to go, hoorah. I've included another closeup of a lightbulb card, as I think the filament part shows better on this dark background (ran out of the other one, nothing special about this card...)

After that, I decided I had enough time to tackle my "reused and recycled" postcard swap - I had a little extra time today, as Wednesday & Thursday I don't have to collect children from school - my friend Lana does those school runs (I bring her kids home on the other days). So, here we go - first I made some "fabric" out of a couple of carrier bags (i.e. plastic grocery bags) - that's the orange and purple plasticky looking bit on the left. Those of you in the UK might be able to guess where I get my shopping delivered from on the basis of those colour bags... The middle section is a cut up purple dyed handkerchief - I bought an entire carrier bag of handkerchiefs at a jumble sale for 20p. Some of them, with interesting trim, etc, I cut up; the more plain ones, I dyed to use later. And the wild print on the right is a funky polyester shirt I also found in a jumble sale and couldn't resist, even though I knew I'd never wear it (it did fit, but it was too polyester). Now it's a shirt with one sleeve mostly missing...

I just stitched all three of those things on madly and then added some old postage stamps, and some ribbon (which I hasten to add was not bought new, but was salvaged from various boxes of chocs, etc, which come tied in ribbon. Which is why I didn't have enough to use the same ribbon throughout). As an added bonus in terms of recycling and reusing, three of the postcards were built on top of cards I had started and abandoned for one reason or another, including the reject Christmas card from a week or two ago. And the others were all built on vilene bases which were pieced together from scraps. The backings are card, which were saved from some Christmas cards the kids brought home from school (the card part was advertising). Even the bobbin thread is kind of recycled, as it's from some large cones a friend passed on to me when moving house.

And it was a bumper day for post stuff, as well.

These things are from my ornament swap on ArtWeMail - the chap on the left is from Debby L, and has a knit body, tree braches for hands and a great hat and jacket. On the right, things from Aurora in Romania, who has outdone herself by sending a stocking, a macrame Father Christmas and a woven paper heart. I feel like my little face ornaments are a poor showing next to that bounty.

And finally, I got the bits on the left inside a belated birthday card from Debby L, and on the right above is the colour play swap from my surfacing group. Whew. Impressed? I am!

Bag, challenge, cards and so on

Well, with the kids back to school today, my primary aim was to sew, sew, sew. And I did. First thing I did was make a bag - I was testing the instructions for a friend, which is a noble aim in itself, but of course I also end up with a bag out of the exercise. I think this one may end up as a Christmas present. I intend to make another one of the same style soon - maybe in a totally scrappy style instead of a single colour.

Then I got to work on the Surface Embellishment challenge I mentioned before - the piece at the right above is my finished journal quilt for this exercise. It's called Imagine it Red. In addition to the two pieces of silk, red lutradur and seashells, which were the supplied bits I was required to use, I have added some polymer clay faces (and a word), gold rayon thread, treasure gold (bronze), gold microbeads and some metallic mist spray - can't remember the brand name, but I like it :)

Also finished sewing the little four patches together, though I didn't photograph them - maybe tomorrow, or the next time there's nothing to show. And I started on a few Christmas cards, which I have decided I'm not going to show. After I get lots of them made (I'm going to make 4 or 5 each in a number of different styles, so I don't get too bored) I might take some arty, teaser type photos. And the actual things will be shown close to Christmas, when most of the recipients have had their cards... (If you want to swap with me - see yesterday's third post.)


Two postcards in the post today - a "K" for my letters swap from Sheila and a gorgeous leaf, which doesn't really show that well in this photo, from Melinda. The leaf is printed on fabric, then a layer of sheer fabric added over the top, and the gold stitching picks up some of the leaf veining with other bits simply showing through. Do click on the closeup of this card - it's well worth it.

Orange Birds in the Air

At least some of the kids slept a bit late today (this does not apply to a small cute boy who came into my room to chatter non-stop at me while I was trying to sleep a bit longer). To be fair to him, it wasn't very early (after 8) but I am still trying to kick this cough/sore throat, and it is still waking me up a few times in the night when I cough too much - last night I slept through from when I went to bed until about when Geoff got up (5.30) but then it took nearly an hour to properly fall back asleep, so I really wanted that extra little bit. Anyway. With the others only slowly stirring and doing anything more than watching telly, there's a little sewing time for me, so here's what I did. Two orange Birds in the Air blocks for a new swap over on the Quilt Shoppe Forum. I know I wasn't going to sign up for any new swaps, but this one promises to be fairly small. I think I will make a table runner from the blocks, or if I get too many, maybe two table runners, one for a gift. The theme is orange, so it will be lovely and autumnal.



I also made a big batch of these mini four patches - they measure 2.5 inches square at the moment and are made from some bits of hand-dyes and the mini-charms which Barbara sent me a little while ago. Not sure what I am going to do with them yet - doll quilt, maybe? Or a background for an art quilt? We'll see. I have a few more to make before I have to work that out. There won't be much blue, as I used those mini-charms to play with for the confetti swap - not sure I like the results, but I can't un-confetti the swatches...






And there was post, too. The first thing is something for a challenge with my surface embellishment group - our first swap/challenge when we formed the group (it's a spin-off of my dyeing group) was to each send an item to two different people, and then to incorporate both items we received into some sort of art quilt. So for our first anniversary of forming the group, we are repeating this swap. We have explored so many different materials and methods this year, that I'm sure what we send and receive this time around will be so much more esoteric than last year!

This is my first item received, from Cobi - it's two pieces of silk and one piece of synthetic fibre silk (the plain red), which she's never used before so she "has no clue what it will do" - me either, Cobi, but we shall see. My other goodies aren't here yet, but I will report on them when they arrive - they are coming from Wil, so shouldn't be too long crossing the channel.


Also got two postcards today - the above one for the Leaves swap, from Angie, and the one at left for the 1920's swap, a la Clarice Cliff, from Maureen, who says this is her first set of postcards - wow! I think these will be a hard act to follow...

Sunday stuff

Two things I did some work on today, once Alex had recovered from his lurgy (we spent the morning watching Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat while having a cuddle on the sofa) - the left is the lutradur and lace piece, which I have now turned into a journal cover. I haven't put the pages in yet, but the cover is finished (and lined and edged) so it's not far away. And as it will be a Christmas present, there's enough time that it doesn't have to be done today.

I also worked on these cards, which I don't really like - they are for another sheers swap and I wanted to do something different, but I'm not thrilled with them. I'm not, however, going to redo them, though if I think of something more interesting to add to them in the next few days, I will. I also did a little quilting on a baby quilt for my friend Sharon, more on that later. Which reminds me, I have to put the binding on the other baby quilt Geoff asked me about. Her last day is Friday. Must attach binding tomorrow so I can sew it down... (won't take long, it's small).

Honourably discharged

Another fairly good day today, though technically I did the discharge yesterday and only ironed it today - the top pieces were done with a Clorox Bleach Pen (on left) and regular household bleach (on right). With the bleach pieces, I folded them up, like for tie-dying. The pieces at bottom left were done with discharge paste - I'm not sure if these are discharged as much as they could have been if I'd ironed them more, but I discovered that my steam iron leaks (it's fairly old & I almost never use the steam function), so that's as good as it was going to get. Funny thing is, I was thinking this swap was due the end of September, but it turns out, it's the end of October, so I'm way ahead on it - hoorah!

On the right, a piece I've been working on for a while, which I did some more on today. The deadline for this, which has been "a long way off" for a long time is actually approaching now (end of October) so I really need to get going with it. Today I mostly finished the light green (I may add a few more strands later, we'll see) and started the sky. The water I am planning to do with beads. (It's not a very big bit of water - the whole piece is about 18x24 or smaller).



I decided to make a few additions to the faces in flames piece - I knew it was wanting something, just not sure what. Today it decided it wanted some flames, made from organza, in a couple of colours, so I added those. It still wants something more, but it's coming along now. I'm sure it will let me know!

And this afternoon, I made some more faces - did this after school with Olivia & Alex (Sarah being at a friend's house) - my faces are on the right, Alex's are a thin line down the centre and Olivia's are on the left. Wanted to try my new(ish) moulds, and also, running short of little faces to use for inchies and things.

I did do something else today, quilt-related - I pinned together the little black and bright baby quilt so I can actually quilt it as soon as my machine gets back from the shop (I have a borrowed machine at the moment, which I am not happy doing FMQ on). The baby isn't due for a few more weeks, but it was threatening to come early (it turned into breech position at 36.5 weeks, the silly thing; luckily, my friend went in yesterday and they were able to turn it back around properly - hopefully it will stay that way until it's ready to come out!) so I decided I'd best get a move on. So much for my "spare" baby quilt top. Will have to make a few more (well, I'll have the flying geese one, so that's one, at any rate). Anyway, too boring to show a photo of that - it looks just like the top did, only with safety pins all over it!

Productive Wednesday...

So I guess today will balance my Monday where I didn't do anything, as I did a lot - even by my own standards. This was partly because I was tired of running errands as I seem to have be doing mainly that since school started again, and partly because my friend Lana's husband had promised to come over and install my wireless network today so I just decided to stay in and wait for him. And then, once he got here, he didn't need my input most of the time, just for the odd bit of info, so I was free to go upstairs and sew. So I did!

Right, so to start the day, here's some of my post - this is another little squishie hug on the left, this time from Anne who sent the most amazing baggie full of bits (and lots of rickrack, of which I have virtually none) - it was a minor shame that I managed to drop it and spill it all out on the floor, but then again, picking it all back up did give me a good chance to look at each little bit. :) I have actually managed to use some already (see inchies below).

The stuff on the right came from Ruth in South Africa, and I knew it was coming, but certainly didn't expect it yet as it was only posted on Friday, and the post from South Africa is notoriously variable in speed and safety. Funny thing is, something else which was posted to me first class from Cheshire on the 12th also got here today - so late that actually, you are no longer annoyed but only relieved that it wasn't lost completely. Anyway. Ruth sent me, at my cheeky request, some scraps of African fabric so I can inject a little more interest into my blocks I am swapping with Karol Ann.

Here's what I did today, or some of it, anyway. I finished the orange colourplay pieces - luckily, I don't have to back and edge them, so they are done at this stage. I backed and edged the sunset cards (finally - they have been sitting on my table for weeks) and can address them tonight.

While doing the orange colourplay pieces, I was overcome with the desire to do some inchies - or to be more precise, inch-and-a-half-ies. I decided they would be great for one of the people I owe for the Pay it Forward Swap offer I made on my blog a while back. I do hope that Toni doesn't hate orange... Most of the bits on the inchies came from the squishies that Anne and Jane sent me. I confess to having bought the orange button and the letter beads, and the sequins.

And on the right above, an African block for Karol Ann, made largely from the fabrics received from Ruth today. Do I kick efficient butt or what? But seriously, when I got the fabric, those little blue doll motifs just screamed at me to do something with them right away, and luckily, I was having the kind of day where I could. So I did.

And last, but not least, a leaf postcard from Liz in California for the Arts in the Mail leaf themed swap - and the photo on the right is a teaser for something to come tomorrow, which is photos of the discharging I did today (told you it was a productive day) - 8 fat eights, discharged in a variety of methods, one being discharge paste applied like screen printing. I haven't steam ironed the discharge paste yet (which I understand is supposed to smell pretty awful) so not sure how they will turn out, but I have high hopes. Two pieces were done with the screen, three with bleach pens and three by folding and dipping in a bleach solution. As I said, pictures tomorrow when they are dry and ironed.