Letter Forgotten DaisyChain

Somewhere along the way, of a year apart postings, I missed posting the picture of the letter "J".  Hmmm.....Who knows what happened.  So here you go:

The Letter "J":

Warmest...

Update on Daisychain ABC Project

Remember last year I started this project as a way to have something else to do while sitting with my Mom while she was in rehab.  I am sitting with my Mom and Dad this year for different ailments, so I brought along this project to work on again.  So fare I have done the following letters this year:

The letter "K":

The letter "L":

The Letter "M":

The letter "N":

And the letter "O":

This completes another line in the sampler.  There are five lines/rows in the sampler, so I only have two left to complete the embroidery work.  I am using thread colors to match the color way from Moda's Sunkissed line of fabrics.  I have three quilts in the making using this line, and wanted this sampler to have the same colors to decorate my guest bedroom.  I will be using some of the scrap leftovers from the quilt projects to frame the sampler when I complete it.

Also back in 2012, here, I started a crocheted granny square project using the same colors as in the Sunkissed fabric line.  I brought it along too on this trip, to break the boredom of working on just one project.  So I have done about 10 more of these granny squares, and actually I am about done in getting the squares completed.  This is just a sample of three of the squares I have done,  I didn't get one with a pink border done in time for pictures.

Then I also did two more hexies.  

I seem to move right along during the down times with looking after my parents.   

Warmest...

Quilting Acronyms and Glossary

Many of you who might be new to the quilting world, might appreciate the largest amassed listing of the quilting acronyms and glossary that I have come across all in one place.  I don't know much about this blogger, but over at SLIKStitches, they have put together what I would call a complete list of quilting acronyms and glossary.  The direct link is here.  It is worth the time to click on the link and read through all of them.  I even discovered quite a few that I had only seen once or twice, and didn't really know what they meant until I read this list.  I will bookmark the page for future reference in reading quilt blogs, and to use them in writing of my future posts.

On another note, I was working on a UFO that I found while doing inventory of my sewing room.  I am sure many of you have seen patterns by Bareroots, and I happen to have purchased this one back in 2005 or so.

I couldn't believe it, I had already did all the embroidery of the center square and all the little squares.  For the life of me, I cannot remember buying this (it came as a kit), or even doing any of the embroidery work.  Hmmm.  Anyways, it was a nice surprise to see that I had it done to that point.  So, I sat down this evening and put it all together.

I was puzzled as to why I had embroidered the squares, but not the border.  My first assumption was that I either got bored and put the project away (yes, I do it all the time) or we moved and I had to pack it away (for a period of 4 years, we moved 4 times).  But after getting it put together last night, the instructions said to sew on the linen border and then trace the design and then embroider it because the vines travel around the corners.  No I understand why that border didn't get embroidered!  Fortunately, I packed the embroidery thread that I used on the squared with the kit, so I can just sit down and start stitching.  This might have to wait until the middle of February, because I gotten three custom sewing orders, three trade shows, a 9 day out of town trip, and a 3 day trip doing out annual Quilt Run 101.  I am stacked up busy, and will be trying to get a few personal things done, including getting the embroidery done around the edge of this project.

Warmest...

Spotty Hen Done!

Yep, as soon as I got home, I was able to finish the stitching project "Spotty Hen".  The pattern kit came with batting and backing, so I sandwiched them together, did some stitch in the ditch quilting, framing in the center appliqué design.  I also quilted around the four corners, giving it just enough quilting to show off the design.  Here is the finished project:

Warmest...

Letters "G", "H", and "I"

I have a few more letters to show today on the Daisychain ABC Sampler.  I have been playing "gin" cards with my dad to pass the time in the afternoons, while my Mom is resting.  But here are the next four in the series:

This "G" was done solely in French knots.

The "H" is done in a satin stitch with a back stitch outlining the letter.

And the "I" is lots of stitches, including lazy daisy, French knots, and backstitch.  

I have "J" done, it just didn't get photographed.  Maybe it will show up tomorrow?  

Warmest...

Letters "E" and "F"

I didn't do any work on the embroidery sampler yesterday, but had time to work on it some more today.  I was able to complete two more letters today.  Good thing I have lots of time to spend on this, because the satin stitch take a lot of time to look right.  

Here is the letter "E" done in almost all satin stitch with some stem stitch.  I went ahead and outlined the letter in a backstitch to give it some even definition.  

This is the letter "F", all done in stem stitch.  (Sorry for the poor pictures, the lighting is not so good where I am at currently).

Finally, I thought you would like to see the whole sampler of all the completed letters to see how the color choice is beginning to come together.  

Warmest...

Daisychain ABC Sampler - "B" "C" "D"

Yes indeed, I had some sitting time today, and was able to knock out three more letters in this sampler.  The letter "B" and "D" were fairly simple if only because of the type stitch and limit of two colors.  The letter "C", though took more time because of the wider spectrum of colors.

See for yourself...

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Daisychain ABC Sampler "A"

My package arrived from my husband, and it is the Daisychain ABC sampler that I posted about a couple of weeks ago.  While sitting (my mom is in a skilled nursing / rehab center with a long struggle to get to a recovery to come home) today, I was able to complete the first letter in this sampler.  I worked on and completed the letter "A".

The curved yellow was done in a chain stitch, the yellow center is french knots, and the petals are done in a satin stitch.  The pattern gave instructions for each stitch, and the designer stated that the satin stitch takes practice to look right.  I agree.  It seemed like each petal took longer and longer to do, to get the stitch to look good.

I am so linear in my thinking, that I just naturally (for me anyhow) started with the letter "A".  And, I then started on the letter "B".  But as I am writing this, I thought, I could do the letters randomly making it a little more interesting.  Nah, my nature isn't going to let me do that, so you will be seeing them done in order.  Sigh.

Warmest...

Spotty Hen Stitching Done

Here is the completed top done.  I managed to do all the stitching of the wool pieces using the blanket stitch, then using some stem stitching for bits of hay around the nesting eggs, and button eyes.

Here is a close up of the mama hen,  looking over her little chick.

Here is a close up of the nest with the hay holding the eggs.  Nice touch on the look of the eggs.

When I get back home, I will be sandwiching the batting and backing doing some stitch in the ditch and then get the binding on to totally complete this little wallhanging.  

I am going to be staying out of town longer than expected, by about 13 days, so my wonderful husband is shipping me another stitching project to work on during the long days of sitting.

Warmest...

Spotty Hen Start

A few posts back, I did a post about doing a felt fabric combo little wall hanging called "Spotty Hen".  I got the background fabric sewn, the felt pieces cut out and placed, and thread picked out ready to hand stitch down at some point in time.

I knew I would have an opportunity to do some hand working these last few days, so here is a sneak peek of some of the first hand stitching I have accomplished.

It is going faster than I originally thought it would, especially with all the little pieces involved.  I like how it is coming along, and will be working on it this next week, as I am out of town and not in front of a sewing machine.  

Warmest...

Spotty Hen

I picked up this complete kit (including the batting and the backing! RARE) last summer.  I wanted to  get it for a couple of reasons.  One, I have chickens and this is most fitting, and two, it is a wool felt project, and three (I know that's more than a couple) it is small, and should be quick to accomplish.  The finished size is 13" X 15".

The pattern is by Rachel"s of Greenfield.  She has oodles of awesome projects like this one on her site.  She has a real knack of making cute things into small wall hangings and ornaments.

I worked on getting the background frame sewn together and then I cut out all the pieces, laid them out on the background, and it's ready for some hand stitching (blanket stitch).  I did machine stitched down the cream colored wool felt, because the pieces were big enough to work using the machine blanket stitch, but the other pieces are a bit too small to do on the machine, so I will do them by hand.  I am planning on working on the stitching over the next two months, as we have some trade shows all across the state and will be spending considerable amount of time in a vehicle.  

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Daisychain ABC's

I was looking on pinterest the other night and came across a pin of this pattern, Daisychain ABC's.  Back when I first started blogging, I found a blog, Pretty by Hand, that I was following, and the blogger did this pattern in her own colors.  You can see her version here, hers is very pretty!  I had wanted to do this sampler when it was the "popular" project everyone in blog land seemed to be doing, but I was still working outside of the home, and knew I didn't need to add another project to my ever growing to do list.  But, I now have more time, and I remembered seeing done in different colors, so I followed the link and bought the download pdf pattern.  If interested, you can go here.

I chose a almost white linen to trace the pattern on, mainly because I like white better for my background, rather than using a color like the designer did.

The embroidery colors I chose to use are the same colors that I used in the "Birdie Stitches Quilt"  (post can be found here).  This way, when I am done, I will be able to hang it on the wall in the room where the quilt will be, which will be in the spare bedroom.  A good way to tie in all different fabric, thread, and types of crafts together.

Warmest...

Another UFO BOM Done

To begin with, I wanted to show that I got my rose bed done as I posted about it yesterday. Just a couple of words. I AM VERY SORE, but it is a great satisification to have it done and looking so nice!

As, promised, I also finished this top that I also posted about yesterday.  I did get the borders sewn on last night, and I was able to get a pretty good picture outside this afternoon.

This is a close up of the border fabric.  Really liking the polk a dot that has all the colors of the quilt.

Close up of some of the embroidered squares...

This is the fabric I am using for the binding and the backing.  The orange sherbert check is going to
be the binding.  and the other swirls fabric will be the backing.


















I am stock piling of the these UFO Tops so I can do them on the long arm rental machine after I take my class next month.  I think that is why I usually did not complete the blocks into tops, because I didn't have a good way of quilting them.  I have done four large quilts on my home sewing machine, but it took several days to get each one done, and for the longest time, especially while I was working outside of the home, I did not have that luxury of time.  So, hopefully, I can get caught up on all my tops and have an avenue to get them all quilted!!

Warmest...

5th "Birdie Stitches" block

Today I was working a show with my husband, so I worked on the May "Birdie Stitches" block. After I get another block completed, I like the project more and more!

"Birdie Stitches" Block One

Remember when I was in Vegas, and I spoke of working on a BOM from 2011 while in the hotel room during the evenings? Well, here is a picture of Block One. See, I told you I would get pictures posted!!

It is my most strongest desire to do this 2011 BOM for the 2012 year - doing one block a month. By posting here on the blog, it gives me incentive to work on these things and get them accomplished.

Over the next week or so, I will be posting other things I have planned and mapped out for 2012, some with pictures, and some with references to other blogs. Let's make this a most wonderful, blessed year.

Vegas Baby

I am a tag along with DH in Las Vegas attending a conference for his business.

So, the only thing I am accomplishing while away, is some embroidery work. I am playing catch up on a quilt-along from 2011 called "Little Birdie Stitches". These blocks come from the web site of Little Miss Shabby.

I have done my blocks exactly like she did hers, just because I fell in love with the "Sunkissed" line from Moda. As of today LMS still had all the blocks up and available on her blog, if you are interested! You can find her site at www.littlemissshabby.com.

In fact I have at least three projects (large quilts) using this line. I have them on my 2012 agenda to get them done, as I want to decorate my guest bedroom with this color pallett.