Ok.... last post for the day.... prolly for a WHILE! LOL!!! Goodness.... i'm on a binge it seems! VBG! This is for my friends husband who plays Buffalo Bill. I was really challenged to find the right colors to work on black but stay true to a buffalo. Think I did ok tho. Hope he likes it!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Buffalo Vest 1
I've posted some things that i've done before. I do some work for a couple of re-enactors (western history buffs). Anywhoo, this is one buffalo I just stitched for them on a vest. Its to be a giftie for one of their dear friends. Came out pretty well I think!
New project launched!
This is the beginnings of project I WILL finish! LOL!!! Actually I will because of what if means to me. This is a center diamond that will act as the medallion of a small quilt. The surrounding cq blocks that I will attach will all have scans of leaves, trees, etc. This is The Forest Within. I did a TON of fabric manipulation here and am now in the process of beadingand embroidering this baby. In the upper section you will see a clump of beads...well, its a poppy that worked GREAT for the sunset and i'm seeing the flower IN the sunset so i'm playing that up. Makes no sense probbly, but its where my brain went, so there you have it! LOL!! Mountains are figuring largely in my work these days. They are a part of my soul as I was born here in Colorado. More updates as progress is made! Enjoy!
Spirit of Friendship doll 3
Look at this little gem!!! Linda in NY from CQI made her and I HAD to have her. (I was the swap mama.... hehehehe.... ) Isn't She great?? The face is drawn by hand! I keep looking at it and looking at it....just amazed at the talen. All the stitching as with Jo's and Hidekos is eensy weensy and WONDERFUL!!! Sooo, i've taken the leap and have entered another swap due to complete before Christmas! Ohhhhh myyyy...I just can't wait to see the gems that come out of this one!
Spirit of Friendship doll 2
I was a part of a doll swap over at CQI. This gem is from Hideko!! Isn't she wondrous??? Hideko has SUCH a knack with her marvelous silks and wonderful stitching! All my girls are hanging out with me, acting a my "muses"! I love them all!
Spirit of Friendship doll
I just LOVE this little gem! She is a giftie from my fellow group owner, Jo over at CQI. I just adore all the teensy vineys ad leaves and the intricate stitching! She is WONDERFUL and I will treasure her always! Thank you JO!!!
sampler blocks
Another rr entered, 2 more blocks ready to rock and roll!!! This one is alllll about stitch variations so I tried to make some longer seams! Should be fun to see what comes home!
Creativity Strikes Again!!!
I'm on an inner journey trying to explore and "find" what my purpose is. Expressing myself is a big part of that. I'm trying to figure out what i'm good at and develop it. I LOVE nature and find much to stitch about by just walking out into my garden! I am intrigued with textures and colors and love to see how the plants all blend together into one harmonious symphony of color! I often find myself looking at things differently. Through a different set of glasses as it were. I'm in a more creative mode and I "see" faces or flowers or animals in the swirls of plaster on the wall, horses chasing the wind in the clouds. The colors of a flower share the emotion of their incredible ability to burst with life! Does anyone else see things this way? Anyway.... through all this rambling, I came across a blurb I had saved that was given to me bya friend. I thought that i'd share it. Its a great way to help get past a block and unleash all that talent stored up inside! I especially like trying to draw with my non-dominant hand! WOW!!! The things you can discover about yourself! LOL!! Have fun!!
10 Ways to Cultivate Creativity: A WildChild Primer for Kids of All Ages
1. Color. Buy crayons and a coloring book, and purposefully,intentionally, color outside the lines. Scribble, break the crayons in half,smash them into the page. Write in the margins how it feels to break therules.
2. Spend some time thinking about what you loved as a child. Whatcolors, clothes, games, toys, activities, dreams do you enjoy? Which arecurrently in your life? Which have you not seen or enjoyed in years? Make aplan to rekindle some of your childhood loves in your daily life, today.
3. Create with your body. Take a break from the gym and work out at alocal playground. Playing hopscotch, pumping legs on the swings and climbingjungle gyms aren't just for kids! Or try gardening or hiking to cultivate akid-like connection with nature.
4. Draw your goal. Grab some crayons, markers or colored pencils.Imagine a goal that you'd like to meet, and draw a picture of what it willlook like when you've reached this goal. Make it detailed, vivid andkid-like! This isn't about drawing skills - it's about representing a visionin a fun and uninhibited way. When you're done, hold it up proudly and sayout loud, "I DID THIS!" Tape it to your refrigerator!
5. Make a set of "trading cards." Cut out images that you love fromcatalogs, magazines or greeting cards. Focus on images that make you feelfull, alive and truly happy. Glue these images, collage-style, to an olddeck of playing cards. This is a project you can work on a little bit at atime until you have a whole deck of cards that inspire you to dream big andlive your fullest life! Don't forget to collage the outside of the pack!
6. Redecorate, kid-style. Walk through your living space and find areas- even small ones - that could use some Wild Child whimsy. Maybe achildren's book belongs with the serious coffee table books. Maybepipe-cleaner flowers belong in a vase on a kitchen shelf. Find corners wherea little smile goes a long way.
7. Imagine new pictures. Find an image from a magazine and tear it out.Place it on a flat surface and turn it upside down. Try to find an image,activity or story in the lines and spaces of the upside-down image. Ifyou're having trouble seeing anything, ask, "If I were a child, what might Isee in this picture?" Doodle with markers and pens to expand on andilluminate your image. Add words, if you are drawn to do so.
8. Write your to-do list on poster boards taped to a wall. Write withmarkers, and with your non-dominant hand (or put the marker in your fist andmake broad, childlike strokes). On one poster, write a list of things youneed to DO. On the other, write a list of things you dream to BE. Movebetween the two, allowing a free-flowing relationship to develop betweenthem. What do you learn about yourself and your priorities?
9. Find a board or card game from your childhood and change the rules.What if CLUE became a game about decorating rooms in Fun House style? Whatif Twister was a massive canvas for art? What if chess pieces were purple,pink and polka-dotted and the game was about cooperation instead ofcompetition? If possible, alter the actual game board and pieces tocelebrate your rebellion against the rules. If that's not possible, writeabout your new rules in a journal.
10. Go on a nature walk with child's eyes. Challenge yourself to makeeach of your senses more open and aware, in the way that a child takes inthe world. Gather interesting leaves, rocks or little flowers. Bring themhome and arrange them to create your own little nature shrine.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
20 yr project bites the dust
Not a huge project. Nor an elaborate one. BUT, it IS now complete!!! LOL!!! It only took twenty years, but is now awaiting its frame (specially made by hubby) the at long last to be hung with pleasure after so long in the dark depths of the UFO drawer! I'm just tickled a bit of progress has been made. Now to continue with that and get some others taken care of!
chocolate quilt
I posted a month or so ago about having to help one of my "buddies" over rainbow bridge. My heart has been so sad and there are soooo many ways that I have been seeing that he was such a part of our lives and now there is large void. I HAD to do something for his memory. He was such a special boy!! So, I decided to make a small wall hanging with pics that we had over the years. My....THAT was hard. Now, i've decided that I ought to probably add ALL of his friends that have been with him over the years and will probably have to "grow" this block. That's ok. He's worth it. This project of scanning the pics and sewing them down...and now embellishing the paches has soothed me and helped me heal a bit. More on this project as it moves along.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Summer Breeze rr block
Here we are!! I have completed my work on Jo's block for the Summer Breeze DYB rr!!! I cannot for the LIFE of me get it to load over at yahoo. Sigh... anywhoo, I'm hoping that she likes it! Got an eensy little BEE, some vintage buttons from grandma's button box, some sunflowers that are thread painted and beaded, Miscellaneous seam variations...and... of course, beads! Enjoy Jo!!!
Friday, May 25, 2007
Summer Breeze Blocks - Again!!!
Well, yahoo is not cooperating in letting me post to the groups, so I will try here to at least let others in my group see the replacement blocks! Goodness!! Here's hoping that this works AND that the first batch of blocks shows up!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Creativity and where it comes from?
I have been doing quite a bit of review of me and life and all that jazz lately.... and because i'm in the middle of a couple of large projects, I have pondered on where the ideas and inspirations come from. For me, I feel like I have to almost "forget" about what i'm working on and then, what turns out to be a super idea, comes into my mind! Rather a "zen meditation" type of thing I think. LOL!! Regardless, I find that when I can relax and play in my garden or cavort with my fur kids (aka, throw the ball
Along with wondering "where"creativity comes from, I have wondered how some things in our lives that occur also impact our ability to think or create more freely? I had a serious fall four years ago that resulted in two back surgeries that have left me with needing to take meds to control constant pain, a numb leg, arm pain and a life that has been significantly altered. I cannot sit at the computer the way I used to be able to (like to surf the wonderful blogs, etc.) as it causes even more problems and I cannot type well due to losing feeling in my hands. Why am I bringing this up? NOT to garner sympathy or whine!!! I truy wonder how has this impacted my creativity? I did not participate in rr's much prior to this injury. I was busy trying to bring a commercial embroidery business online. Now... well, the business is basically gone BUT I have fallen in LOVE with my hand embroidery and been able to explore forms of expression I may not have "seen" for a considerably longer time. The injury has helped me focus on what I really feel I want to do and to express parts of myself that have longed to be seen. So, it's been a positive experience in a lot of ways. I am quite a bit slower at things now, than I was. BUT, everything I do has meaning and thought behind it. I can't seem to stitch any other way. I just find that interesting, as I look at the incredible talent out in the world of cq. Where does inspiration come from for others? How do they create? Why???
I wonder....
CQI Spirit of Friendship Dolls
As I mentioned in my previous post, I have been involved in a Spirit of Friendship doll swap! As the honorary host of this swap AND of all these lovely creatures, I have gotten to ohhhhh and ahhhhh over them as they flew in! I have ALSO lost sleep as these little lovlies have been quite verbous and have been having quite the party!!! LOL!!! OHHHHH, the tales they will have to tell!!
Enjoy everyone! There are some real gems here! :_))
Spirit of Friendship Dolls
Over at my most favorite group, we have been having a
I had a lot of fun with this swap and will be trying to make some more in the not so distant future I think. I certainly learned a bit too! I sooooo envy those talented ladies that create some of these AWESME dolls out there... like Stephanie Nowatski (sp?).
This is my bear that has a beaded, ruffled edge, embroidery and beading on both front and back. I hope my swap "sis" enjoys her!
And last but not least, is my "Tree" friendship doll!!!!! LOTS of beading, a hand created "wood" face and embroidery!! Enjoy!!!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
7 ThingsMeme
AWCKKK!!! I've just been Tagged! LOL!!! Boskez just tagged me for the 7 Things Meme..... nowwww...... what to say? LOL!!!
Ok....
1. LOVE critters
2. Crazy bout cq
3. Have a commercial embroidery biz
4. Love gardening even though I don't remember the flower names all the time! LOL!!
5. A bit sad, but just lost my first "son" who was twelve and half. What a great pup he was!!!
6. Love snow, not cold....Love sun, not heat!!
7. Love the mountains, ocean and TREESSSS!!!!
A bit more than you wanted to know maybe. Now.... I will have to go figure out who to tag and come back here! :_)
Link
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Closing of a chapter
Stitching is one of the many parts of my life. As are my dogs. Four legged pampered kids! :_) They bring such joy to my life and many smiles. They have also quietly shared much sadness without question. Today we had to help our beloved "Chocolate Chip" (VERY aptly named as he adored chocolate!!) over Rainbow Bridge. My heart is breaking and his brother and sisters are missing him sorely, but he is out of pain and hopefolly trotting thru the fields and around the mountains that he loved to explore. I will miss you terribly sweet boy.....
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Leaf Tutorial
Over at one of my favorite groups, CQI, there has been discussion on how to make fly leaf and feather stitch leaves. I made a stitched sample of both and sent them off to a friend in need and then thought I would post a little graphic version of how to make these leaves for everyone here! Sooo, here we go!
First it is easier if you draw an approximation of the shape of the leaf that you would like to fill. It simply helps with locating your stitches more evenly. The first graphic is the fly stitch. You will bring your needle to the top of the fabric at A then down at B. Leaving the thread loose, come at C and catch the loop of thread, and go back down close to the same location you came up at, at C. I tend to work left to right with my fly stitch. If you work from right to left, please just flip flop the directions! Next, come up at D, just above A and repeat the stitch again. When you take the needle back down after catching the loop, try to place the straight stitch as close as possible in the joint of the previous stitch. Continue filling your leaf in the manner. Remember that as you draw closer to the tip, the stitches will be closer together. When you have filled the leaf with enough fly stitches, you can either complete the tip with a single long straight stitch as I have done in this example or you can place a small fly stitch with the two tips virtually side by side in the space. Totally up to you and the effect you would like to see! Another option is to place a bullion stitch at the tip for a bit of dimension!
Next, is the feather stitch leaf! Again, for an easier time, it is best to draw the shape of the leaf that you want to work in until you have become accustomed to creating the leaves. It actually is very similar to the fly stitch except the stitch that catches the loop is set at an angle and begins the next leg of the stitch. So, bring your needle up at A and down at B, being sure to leave the thread slack. Also, with this stitch, we are starting at the top of the leaf, not the bottom so place your two legs more closely together, making a smaller stitch and progressively grow your stitches as you reach the middle. Then you will reverse the process to complete the bottom. Come back up at C, catch your loop and proceed to the left to take your needle back down at D which will be parallel with the joint of the stitch, but set to the side enough to create a separate stitch. Leaving the thread slack, come back up at E, catching your loop and moving over to the right to place your thread just as you did for the previous stitch. Continue to fill the leaf until you are content with how it looks. If you prefer, you can place a small straight stitch on the bottom stitch to extend the stem and create a more life like appearance.
This is a fairly brief explanation. If any one has questions that I can answer,I would be more than happy to help at any time! Enjoy!!
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Windsong DYBrr, Cher
This is the final block in the Windsong round robin. Cher choose such wonderful peachy colors and I tried to stay within that color range. I added some seam variation that I then beaded, a bit of a buton trail, a "fan" made out of an earring finding and a beaded cabbage rose with beaded fly stitch leaves and beaded feather stitched greenery! Enjoy!
TradeWinds DYB rr, Jo
This is another block that I stitched on for Jo in the Tradewinds round robin. I wound up being a "stitch angel"! LOL!!! On this one I tried to give her more of a flavor of Colorado. There is a small mountain scene on the upper left wit a beaded reflection of the sunset. I put some lilac and Colorado columbine in the lower right corner, a pinyon pine tree in the center and a pine cone and needles off to the right. The seam treatments are varied , but pretty much my standard. One day i'll get caught up enough to go back and do some exploration with TAST! I also added a butterfly motif and complimented it with beading.
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