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Showing posts from 2012

December crazy quilt block

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I thought this was finished but now that I have taken a photo of it I am thinking otherwise.  It needs some beads so will add them when I get a chance.  It might be a while as there are deadlines looming for other things.

snow storm

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We finally got a blanket of snow here.  A bit late for a white Christmas, oh well.  I created a colorful paper snow storm for our Christmas.  I love cutting snowflakes!
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Not too much time to make art at this time of year!  I am wishing for some white snowflakes to fall around here.  Oh well, these colorful ones make me happy!

snowflakes are falling

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at least on my blog.  There is no sign of snow around southern Ontario.

Gelli Art printing plate

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I bought the plate a while ago but didn't have a chance to play with it until yesterday.  It has been a while since I have played with paper!  I love the stack of prints I created!  So much fun!

snowflake again

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Life has been pretty busy with fun things this week.  I haven't had a chance to do much art.  So here is another snowflake I created with Kaleidoscope Kreator.  I think there maybe a lot more of these this month.

Take a stitch Tuesday berry stich

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This is a new stitch to me.  I really like and can see myself using it again.  You can also see the TAST from last week.  I had major internet issues last week so never got that stitch posted.

Snowflakes

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I have been having so much fun creating snowflakes using Kaleidoscope Kreator.  I think that they are so pretty! 

another free flake

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In the spirit of Christmas I offer you another snowflake for your use.  Please use it with my blessings!

another freebie snowflake

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This snowflake was created with Kaleidoscope Kreator using one of my photos of my work.  Please feel free to save the image for your use.  I would love to see what you create with it. 

Work in progress Wednesday

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I added the gold thread feather stitch to this piece.  I think it helps the eye to travel around the block.  Thanks to Sharon B at http://pintangle.com for hosting this.  It really is helping me!

Take a stitch Tuesdayrrowhead stitch

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Here is my attempt to learn the arrowhead stitch.  The stitch itself is quite easy.  Unfortunately I struggled with making it even.  If I worked on an even count fabric I am sure it would have been much easier for me.  Oh well, I do like the stitch and will likely use it again.

600th post give away

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I can hardly believe that this is my 600th post!  I really didn't know that I had that much to show and tell.  I created this snowflake in Kaleidoscope Kreator.  Please feel free to right click and save the image to your computer.  Use it as you please.  I would love to see what you do with it!

Fondly Rembering

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Fondly Remembering is the title I gave to this piece.  This piece was created with a portion of my mother's knitting.  My mother's exquisite knitting has wrapped her whole family of four children and fourteen grandchildren not only in garments but in love for many, many years.  Mom was always generous and the homeless too have been blessed with socks and mittens to keep the cold at bay.  As her dementia progresses I see her skills unraveling.  Although that saddens me I encourage her to continue knitting as she loves to keep her hands busy.  I incorporated watch and clock gears in this piece to signify the ravages of time that we all must face.

Work in Progress

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I added the blue feather stitch to this block.  I used some beautiful silk thread for this stitch.  Oh my, how I love working with silk!

TAST Portuguese border stitch

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This is a new stitch to me.  I struggled with the instructions a bit.  I do think that I did get it though.  It is an attractive stitch.  Thanks to Sharon B at http://pintangle.com/

benefits of volunteering

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I have recently started volunteering at a local thrift store.  It is actually pretty fun.  The time flies past.  Check out the dainty pretties I found this past week.  I did not pay more than $1.00 of any one thing!  The necklace is made of iridescent glass beads.  So pretty yet so difficult to photograph!  I am not sure if I should wear it or take it apart to use the beads.  I am leaning toward taking it apart.

November bead journal project

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Oh how I love Swarovski crystals!  The sparkle so brightly!  Too bad I couldn't catch that sparkle in my photos!    There is only one bead journal left for this year!  Wow.  I am pleased with the body of work I produced this year. 

Work in Progress Wednesday

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Back to this block.  I added the purple velvet rick rack trim, lower right, top photo.  I also added the lace flowers with bead centers in the very fuzzy lower photo.  I feel like this block is getting close to finished!

Take a stitch Tuesday

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The checkered or magic chain stitch is what this is called.  It truly is magical how it works!  I love it.  I have done the chain stitch previously but never in this magical way.  Love it!  Thanks to Sharon B at http://pintangle.com for teaching me this new stitch.

November crazy quilt project

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I am excited to see this quilt coming together.  Only one more month left for this project!  Wow!  I just don't know where the year has gone.  I have registered for the 2013 crazy quilt project.  I plan to work on 12 x 12 square blocks next year.  I thought I was being clever working on the heart shape this year but I found it to be a bit difficult at times.

playing

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A sweet friend gave me this pencil case kit.  It came uncolored with some fabric markers to use.  I guess she recognized that this fifty year old had a little girl inside her waiting to play.  Plus it had glitter on it and anyone who knows me know I love glitter!  I really enjoyed coloring inside the lines and look forward to using the pencil case!

Work in Progress Wednesday

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Thanks to Sharon B at http://pintangle.com for hosting this work in progress.  Having a deadline really works for me!  I added the purple braided ribbon to this.  Another step closer to finishing this block!

Take a stitch Tuesday Closed base needlewoven picot

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Another dimensional stitch that I love!  I think I like it even better than stitch from last week.  I especially like that the stitches were very similar and therefore how to do them is cemented in my mind.

Crazy quilt journal project for October

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I seem to be running just a few days late.  The end is in sight for this project though!  It is exciting to think of all these blocks put together into a quilt! 

Work in progress Wednesday a day late

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I had such a busy day yesterday that I didn't get this posted.  I added the little red flower, lower middle.  I also added the lace.  This block is coming along nicely, I think!  Thanks to Sharon B who hosts this work in progress. http://pintangle.com

TAST needlewoven picot

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This is a new stitch to me.  Another one that I really like.  I love the dimensional stitches!  It is a bit fiddly but worth it.  I had a really hard time getting a decent image of my work.  This is a good as it gets. 

oh such talent!

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Yesterday I spent the morning with three delightful students.  Davina, Patricia and Barb all created lovely pieces!  My photos really aren't doing the pieces justice.  Nevertheless they were all pleased with work!  I think as the teacher that is rewarding and means I did my job well.  I know when learning a new technique  you don't always produce something you really like.  Truthfully I think that is fine as it is learning the technique that is important. 

bead journal project for October

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These are not typical of the colors that I like to use.  But oh my gosh!  The texture makes my heart sing!  In case you have forgot I am working all of my beading for this project on photos.  The photos are ones I took while on an outing with my photography club.  We went to an old auto wreckers.  What a glorious way to spend a morning!  I am looking forward to going again in a couple of weeks. 

Work in progress Wednesday

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I added the lace and pearl motif to this block.  I painted the lace first with my Inktense pencils.  Oh how I love my Inktense pencils!  I have all the colors available, no surprise to anyone that knows me.  I am a bit concerned that I could be working on this quilt forever.  I keep learning new things and want to implement them. 

Take a stitch Tuesday

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Sharon B. at http://pintangle.com/ shows how to do the buttonhole wheel cup stitch this week.  I have done the buttonhole wheel prior to this.  Adding the cup part was new to me.  I REALLY like the look of this stitch.  Well, at least the single cup.  I am not terribly fond of one on the far right.  I added two rows for the cup.  It looks a bit messy to me.  But that is probably my fault, I probably should stitched a little tighter.

wire crochet

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A fun diversion for me.  I did some wire crochet with beads to create this bracelet.  It worked up pretty quickly and I really like it.  I believe I will do some more!

embedded fibres

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Next Saturday the 27th I am teaching a class on embedded fibres.  This is the sample I have produced.  It looks a bit dark in this image.  I am really excited about this class!  This technique has a lot of potential.  There is still some space if anyone is interested in taking the workshop.

Take a Stitch Tuesday

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The Italian knotted border stitch is the stitch Sharon B at http://pintangle.com is featuring this stitch this week.  I have not done this stitch prior to this.  I am grateful that it is a stitch that I can comprehend.  The last couple of stitches in this series just looked too complicated to me so I didn't even bother trying them. I have no desire to overwhelmed by an embroidery stitch.  That may sound like I do want to learn and improve in my stitching but that is not what I intend.  I love learning new things.  

the last page

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I used a pre-made tag and added some lace as well as silk chiffon.  The colors all went perfectly together!  I had a lot of fun making this book.  I definitely plan to make another fabric/paper book.  Maybe not quite so many pages in the next one though.  This book is super thick!

almost done

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The left page is rather simple, a lace doily and a key.  The right page was created with the treasures I found in Paris last year.  The fabric and wooden fairy heart I found the last day I was there.  The shop was a delight to find.  My loving husband sat outside patiently waiting on a bench while I shopped to my heart's content.  Such a lovely memory!

WIP Wednesday

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I added the braided ribbon around the image of the girl.  I haven't stitched down the lace flowers yet.  I just pinned them on to see if I had the placement right.  It is not quite right so I will play with that a bit before stitching. Sharon B at http://pintangle.com/ is hosting this work in progress Wednesday.  I really appreciate it as it is definitely helping me to make progress.

pretty pages

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The top photo is a page that I created based on  the thought of heart strings.  I have seen some jewelry made in a similar way.  I felt a strong need to make some but I would never wear jewelry like that.  So a book page was born. The bottom photo is a collage that contains three beautiful buttons.  My dear sister sent them to me!  They work perfectly with this book. 

more book pages

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The page on the left features an envelope given to me.  It was lovingly made to commemorate a special gift.  A lovely friend, Betty, made me a warm and cuddly shawl.  I treasure it and use it often.  I feel covered in love when I snuggle up with the hand knit shawl.  What a treasure!  Well, if the shawl wasn't enough Betty's cousin made the envelope which contained a note about the shawl.  Of course, I had to put the envelope some place special!

the next pages

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Flowers and lace, does it get any better than that?  I can hardly believe what a fru fru girl I have become.  Fun!

Back to my book

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It has been a while since I posted some pictures from the book I have been making.  On the left side I created a small crazy quilt to put into the book!  Kind of fun!  On the right side some dimensional flowers and music fabric as well some lace were glued into the book.  I showed the book to Mom and she raved about it.  She called me a genius!  I love it!

WIP Wednesday

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I added some beads to this block.  I am not sure what to do next so I might set this block aside for a bit and work on a different one for my fruit quilt. 

September bead journal project

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Just a tad late on this one.  Still it is finished and that is what counts.  I am not super thrilled with this one. 

A studen'ts creation

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Yesterday at my workshop one of my students, Karen, brought in this gorgeous book/journal she created.  It is fabulous!  She is so talented.  She created the book with the things she had made in the two previous workshops she had taken with me.  I LOVE seeing what students do!  It is so inspiring!