Exciting times ahead

I have been asked to teach a cyber class next year for the Cyberpointers. The idea is that it will be class on finishing. I would like to take it one step further and do a Start to Finish project.

It will be an ideal gift for any age when done.

Here is a sneak peek, it very much in the early stages and I am using stash threads until I have it on paper. Then I will use some readily available threads.

CyberPointers March Program

As I'm using Fiona's camera there are no good close ups of this piece yet.  (Mine is in the basement and I'm too lazy to go and get it).

If you are in an ANG guild I highly recommend considering this project for your group.  It is addictive and  fun.

The only problem is finding Halloween fabric this time of year.  As a quilter you'd think I'd have some in my basement but of course that is not the case.  I did manage to find a local store with a wonderful stripe that matches the top right section to finish this with.  Instead of fabric covered buttons I'm going to try/use some scrap booking brads I found at Hobby Lobby.

The picture does not show the glitz and colour to its best.  Please believe me that the yellow pops.  Doing the borders first has been a wonderful help.

Pretty Petal Pin

Stitching all done.  Almost ran out of the Crystal Braid I used for the center and one set of petals.

For anyone out there who is doing this piece please don't trace petal sets as close together as I did!  As I finish my own work it is not a major problem.

I need to find some ultra suede to back the petals with and then I will photograph the method I intend to use. 

First the piece needs to be left for at least 48 hours on the stretcher bars.  This helps avoid the need for blocking.

Layer One done, two started

 I have started to think about the finishing for this and also how I will use it.

It is supposed to be a pin but for me it is too large.  Could end up on one of my work boxes or baskets.

Totally love how this stitch is working out, however it is slow going compared to the previous layer.

Iris and Butterfly Complete

 Framed this as a gift for a friend who as yet has not received one of my pieces so it is about time.

Very pleased with the end result and think the frame is perfect.  It is off the shelf from JoAnn Fabrics. 

After I took these photos I discovered I'd left a piece of thread on the back ground near the butterfly but that is now removed.

The butterfly is not done per the instructions because of making a mistake when doing the background and allowing it to passover the butterfly.


The class was though the ANG Cyber Chapter and is the first I've done with them. 

I will hopefully get going on last months project in the next week or two.  It is a beautiful 3D flower pin.

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.

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.