Summer Project 3!

 The 2nd Project I'm working on is embroidery on black linen.  Judy Coats Perez has been showing her beautiful embroidery work, which she refers to as "Mindful Stitching".  I ordered some black linen and thought I would make a scarf for my daughter's BD in September or Christmas if I can't finish in time!  

I got out some old quilting designs and started tracing on black linen (I washed the linen first).  These pictures are my practice piece!

I may keep this one for myself or give it to a friend...depends on if I every finish it.  I just wanted to play around with stitching and getting the feel of working with linen.

This is the piece I am making for my daughter's September BD (or for Christmas if I don't finish in September!).

I just can't get the background black fabric to show up black in a photo!!!  I've looked at different settings but I need to ask my photographer daughter how can I do that!  She doesn't know about this project and I know she doesn't read my blog...so I'm safe!  HA

Here is the finish area at one end of the scarf.  The scarf is around 13"x50".

This was another section I started but I wasn't happen with the stitching...so what to do!  Rip it out...I have to say it's easier to rip out knitting than embroidery work.

I'm using Pearle Cotton #5.  Judy uses 5 strand embroidery floss.  I just wasn't having the success or look with the floss so switched to Pearle cotton.

Whew!  This took awhile to clean up!  That tweezer and pick were a gift from my Q Florida Bud, Susan!  They sure came in handy on this ripping out project!!!  

Susan does the most beautiful workmanship when making her quilts.  You can see some of her work here and here.  I have posted her work on my blog over the years.  I do miss her too!!!

Colors of thread aren't appearing very pretty either.  Tons of stitching yet to do...but it is very pleasant to just sit and stitch.

As long as I don't have to rip out!

Happy with this piece now.  Whew!  Those threads are hard to rip out!

Here are some finished or almost finished add'l areas.

Back to project #1 or should it be #2 or stay with #3!  HA

Summer Project 2!

 Working on three different projects isn't easy...well, it is easy since I get bored easily so I like going from project to project.  HA

Honestly, I don't like projects hanging over my head and I know the 3 I am working on will get finished by Christmas at the latest...  

These are the hex's I am working on for the border on the Cyano Print fabric my friend, Bonnie sent me months ago!

When I have some free time, I work on the hex's.  I'm now working on sewing three rows together for the border.  I need 3 because half of the last row will be in the border.  I have two rows stitched...now to sew a third hex to each border.

This was the piece after I cut it up and added 1/8" strips.

I have to say making hex's is also "mindful" stitching...

I keep changing placement of hex's and deciding how to put this piece together!

Well, at least at this point, I am thinking of  hex's for the border...but ya all know me well enough to know that can change!  If I do change, then I'll have tons of hex's to sew together for a top!  HA

Time for me to go back to project #1 or is it project #3!

Summer Project 1!

 Our grandson, Nick, turns 21 in September!  Hard for me to believe but...for our grand daughter, Amber, I made her a 21st BD memory book.  So, it's now time for me to make Nick his 21st BD book!  Every year on each of Nick & Amber's BD, I would write a BD letter to them talking about what they or we did in the past year.  And, of course, I've saved lots of items/notes/papers for the past 21 years for Nick too.

This is a  link to the post I did on Amber's book I made.  It's filled with lots of notes, pictures and memorabilia I've saved.  I also gave her 21 BD letters I had written each year.  I don't think she's read hardly any of the BD letters...maybe she will when I'm gone!  HA

This is what my art table is filled with!  Fortunately, this is where I dye, paint, etc. fabric and works great so I can leave all the 'stuff' out!

It's been a lot of work going back to obtain pictures from 2003 thru 2024!  I've already had over 120 pictures printed at Walgreen's (with my 50% off coupon!  woohoo!).  I have small envelopes starting with 2003 and as I find papers/notes/pics I put them in their respective envelope(s)!  Easy, right!  Well, it is untill I find a picture that doesn't have a date on it!  Remember we are in the age of digital photos!  And because we copy from members of the family, the original date isn't always retained!  So it's taken time to go through every flash drive I have to find Nick's pictures!  HA

These are some of my notes I've written to verify dates and print outs of emails my son and DIL sent me on something Nick did through the years.  

I also kept notes on little items or funny stories...for example: I bought Nick a model air plane and we were working on it.  It had very small decals and one of the decals dropped on the floor.  We couldn't find it.  Finally, Nick said "maybe it fell in one of your wrinkles, grandma"!  Out of the mouth of babes, right!

This is a picture of Nick when he was a toddler.  He loved taking Mandy for walks and pulling the wagon.  How I loved spending time with the grand kids!  I miss those days so much...

So, summer if busy with projects for sure!