It's in the Bag

 I have adapted the handle from being two front and back to one side to side.  This allows me better stuffing ability!

 Just for fun I decided to do drizzle stitches on the closure button.

There is something about this leaf that just worked for me in it's simple form.

Sue Spargo BOM Block 5

 This one has been like a double block.

The centre flower head is not yet sewn in place as we have been told to wait.

 The stems are looking better with the addition of their french knots.

 The drizzle stitches have been worked on whilst it was drizzling outside.  What else does on do on such a day?










I have moved the Owl Needlepoint into my sun room to work on so that is where I am headed after this.   I should have about two weeks before my next BOM arrives from Sue Spargo.

Totally Finished

This has been sat in my studio just waiting for it's binding. Well it finally got one.

More Sue Spargo Stuff

 This the start of my Teaberry Sac by Sue Spargo.  My first change was the use of an upholstery fabric for the background.  This is part of my year long attempt to use what I have in my studio.

I have wanted to do this bag for years since seeing it done by a good friend.

Also aiming at making it more spring/summer like than the original. Hence the lime green.

 A naked block 3 from Sue's block of the month.

Just wait to see what she has us doing around the centre of the flower this month.

I think I will try it out on my new sampler cloth first. It is a stitch I've done before but not in multiples around the edge of a piece.

 Some of our merry band are not sure about appliqueing the inner curves on the cotton fabric.

I my case I have always snipped to the curve and when I get there take a few satin stitches.  This is why it is important to have a matching thread.

Love the use of the ribbons this month.  If like me they are going to have a cut end laying around for awhile there is a chance of unraveling so I used nail polish as it was hand. Otherwise Fray Check is the way to go.

Earth 'n Twigs Block 2

Leaf finished, as always I love the look that Sea Grass has when back stitched.

Now onto the flower head.

In the instructions it has us doing drizzle stitch first.  I chose to do the bullions first as otherwise I can see myself catching on the drizzle stitches all the time.

You may also notice that I'm missing one circle.  Mary who is in charge of this BOM for Sue Spargo is putting me a piece in the March package.

At the moment I'm torn between projects as I've started on the Cyberstitchers Halloween Treat today but also want to finish the heart.

Oh and before I forget Amanda and I went and got the Ultra Suede for the finishing of the Pretty Petals pin.

Yes and then there's the Lee kimono for Fiona's newly redecorated and floored bedroom.

Not Seen Before

 This is the start of Block 2 in the Earth and Twigs BOM by Sue Spargo.   The colours are just singing to be in this.  There are 6 blocks that are similar to this and the previous block so hopefully Sue will keep things interesting for us.  So far so good as I think you will agree that the spotted background adds a certain something to the feel of this piece.  Fresh, and modern is my thought.

This particular canvas is one of many that has been lerking in my stash for many years.  I have decided this is the year that I will try to attack some of those canvases.

My local ANG group has set a competition this year that involves making 5 resolutions.  One of mine (I stole this idea from a fellow member) is to go though my stash and either decide to attempt or sell in our destashing moments at meetings.

Having seen several pieces out in the real world that involve strips of different stitches I thought I'd like to try the same thing on this heart.

Yes I changed the colour, this is sangria in Trio.  Before I started I copied the canvas so that when I've finished the stripes I can couch the spirals in something like DMC's memory thread.  When I got this canvas down in Tucson I also purchased two buttons that may get on as well.

Another one of my resolutions is to encourage Fiona to work on her UFO which is a cat canvas.  To that end this morning I brought her stand upstairs, pleased to say this had the desired effect and she put down the DS Lite game system in favor of stitching.  Happy Mum.

Just When you Think.....

Just when you think you have finished a block Sue Spargo sends the next and with it instructions for a stitch addition to the previous month's block.

This time I am couching chenille down around the edge with wool.  Have to say it is very effective. 

I have pieced the background for this months block and traced my bits and bobs onto freezer paper so later when I finish my ironing I will get the bits ready.

Pomegranete Runner Finished

Binding done and now this is ready to take pride of place on my dining table.  Loved working on this both in the class last fall and then here and there whilst my girls do their various activities. 

It has produced many ohs and ars leaving me in danger of getting a very large head.  The other effect is that I have two new wool stitchers and a possible other who has never even seen my work.  I have decided to have a small group meeting at my house once a month.  My wish is to have both new and experienced stitchers so that more people learn the pleasure and relaxation that this type of project allows.

Teaching

Fun day with 4 ladies, one from Canada.  I decided to design a mug mat that involved a bit of regular applique, some wool applique and embelishment using embroidery.

Lynne at the head of the table has barely lifted a needle before, achieved wonderful things and is already thinking of what to add next to her heart.

Hope I have the name spelt right Johann is sitting to the left bottom.  MIL to Carmela top left.  Johann has sewn before and became our fast stitcher.  Even finished her mat before time.  She is visiting her DIL for a while so will have a special self made souveniour to take home to Canada.

Louise to the right also got stuck in and is thinking a sewing basket is in her future with a needlecase made by herself.

This a Johann with her mat.

Lynne with her process so far.  Next she intends to add a scattering of beads in the heart.

Earth & Twig

January block done.  I can't wait until February, well I suppose I'll have to.

The looped bullions around the center total 69 giving a total number of wraps of 2070!

Mistakes, mistakes and more mistakes

Iris and Butterfly by Pat Van Cleve was the start of the comedy of errors.  Mistake number 1.  If I'd looked at the picture properly I would have noticed that the butterfly has canvas showing.  Oh well I suppose I'll have to change that, maybe a bit of stump work will be in order.

Finding it interesting shading by blending 3 different shades of DMC.

My problem started with the background.  As I hid some of my compensationing in the bloom areas I also continued to do the same in the butterfly area. 
















Next to my great excitement my first Sue Spargo block of the month arrived.  Unpacked it and decided to get stuck straight in.

Mistake number two.

Cut out some of the first pieces laid out and cut the rickrack to size.

Then proceeded to needleturn the green onto the wool.  Thank goodness I did this part separate from the main background.  Next stitched this onto the aforementioned background. 

The next day I happen to look at the instructions and to my horror notice that I had the block set in portrait instead of landscape.  This meant having to rip out stitches and then my rickrack was also too short as a result.

My luck was with me again as I had a piece of vintage rickrack in my supplies.

I vowed to read my instructions.  To no avail along comes mistake number three.

I start doing running stitch around the leaf area with one of my favorite threads, seagrass.  Again I happen to look at the picture, oh no it should be backstitch.  More unstitching.

On to the bullions and I mean bullions.  That is when I discover mistake number four.  The small circles are in two different shades and of course I manage to backstitch around the wrong ones.

At this stage I have to say it is a good thing I love Sue Spargo items or this would have ended up in the same trash can as my ANG stitch of the month.

Bey heck (as they say back in Yorkshire, England)  Sue Spargo does like her bullions.  When I've finished these looped bullions I think a count will be in order and then calculate the number of wraps.

Final posting for the year

I have been indulging in some knitting for myself the last few weeks.  A shawl from the booklet Artwork by Classic Elite Yarn the pattern is called Painterly and is knitted in two parts with a centre pattern and then an added border.  I am still working on the centre.

This morning I have also been working on my Sue Spargo promegranite runner.  I finished another leafe using some couching, french knots to highlight the fabric and then a chain stitch using an overdye with a touch of blue to bring in some more of the Tucson colours that I love.

Also started on the leaf above using a combo stitch of a fly and lazy daisy.  This I found from a fellow stitcher on the spargo2011bom yahoo group by Carol.

Heres wishing you all a wonderful New Year with plenty of time to do a bit of what you love.

Catch Up

I am very pleased with myself this year as I have kept up with both my embellished BOM and the ANG stitch of the month, still have to do December but not sure if I wish to use the final month or do something different.

Christmas is coming and my house is still like a building site as my DH has now tiled our fireplace and hearth.  This weekend when he is back from a business trip we will start on hardwood floors in the family room.  Hopefully this will be done before Christmas so I can tidy up a bit.

Penguin to finish and then the name band and ye Amanda will get her secret stocking this year.

It is a good thing I used to be a needlepoint finisher otherwise that would be it for this year.

ANG stitch of the month done thru Nov, I have ended up taking out the outline threads.

Now how to finish this up as I'm not liking the final month.

 Festival of flowers the final block.  Tried a new to me stitch around the leaves called a scroll stitch.



The pistal stitches are because Fiona thought it needed a little something.

All this means that my next post should have a few finished projects.  Wouldn't that be nice?

Sue Spargo Class 2011

This is my fourth attempt to upload my pictures for last weekend.

As usual I enjoyed my time with Sue and the other Spargoians.  I have introduced some new Spargoian terms.

The first is her basement/office is now Spargoian Head Quarters and the part of the second is shown below and is termed Temptation Alley.

This was just a very small part of the goodies on sale not to mention the actual Smith Owen store itself.

One of the wonderful things about this class was the chance to meet with some of the members of the Yahoo groups I'm in. 



I love absorbing my fellow classmates ideas and enthusiam.

There follows a lot of photos so you have been warned!!!! 

Crimson Tide which I believe was the 2010 BOM.  The french knots on the snowflakes are the perfect touch.

 The lady in the middle is working of these blocks from this years BOM.

Love this piece the lady got so much texture into to it.

Some leaves from one of Sue's samplers

To me this is just like a mini flower bed.

Would love to know what stitch this is down the middle as it works so well with the french knots.

Some examples of the work being done by my classmates.

Pistal stitches

Mini drizzle stitches.

This and the following picture do not show how beatiful the colour choices are the flower and promegranate base are purple with a deep chocolate brown velvet.  Breath taking and a colour combo I will have to try.

On Sunday I finally managed to master two stitches that in the past have been little so and so's.

Step 1 Palestrina

Step 2 Palestrina

Step 3 Palestrina

Step 1 Pekanese

Step 2 Pekanese

Step 3 Pekanese


On the Sunday my eldest Fiona joined for her first ever Sue Spargo class.  She made me so proud and only last night whilst waiting for her self defense class to start she was talking about bullions. 

This is the circle of life as my first class with Sue was when I have within days of giving birth to this beatiful and amazing child.

Peppermint hot chocolate and stitching.  Can it get better?

Group picture from Sunday.

Here are some pictures of my work since then.  I finished the needlecase we started on Sunday and I'm trying very hard not to work on the table runner as I must work on Amanda's Christmas stocking.

Loved how this turned out.  I used two different overdyed perles which just seemed to echo the center fabric perfectly.

My first attempts at drizzle stitches and large woven picots.

I did add an extra set of pages to the case.

Thats all for now folks.