At the risk of boring you beyond recall!

This post is for my own benefit as much as anything, but I thought I'd share pictures of each of the 'Courtship' blocks all together in one place.  So...here goes....

You can click on each of the pictures to embiggen them (and I *think* you can double-click to embiggen them even further).  For those of you who missed my post yesterday, scroll down and you can see  the reveal of the entire piece.

Today our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones in Manchester and in my search for a quote to share, I turned to one of my favourite authors, Ralph Waldo Emerson....."Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world"

We simply can't let them win.

Tah Dah!!!

As promised - the reveal of 'Courtship'....

I think each of the photos is clickable to embiggen.

As a recap to this project - it began because I have been a fan of the illustrations created by Harrison Fisher and have long wanted to create something using some of them.  Each of the blocks features a couple who seemingly are courting, hence the name 'Courtship'.  As a further challenge to myself I chose to include a heart, a word (reflective of courting), and a rose on each block.  Finally I added the song lyric "I'm gonna love you, like nobody's loved you, come rain or come shine"*  around the outside.  The entire piece measures approx.  36" square.

*Song lyrics by Johnny Mercer, music by Harold Arlen.  Written for the musical "St. Louis Woman" and originally recorded in 1946.

Now, a question for you - would you like to see pictures of all the blocks together in one post?  Or are you heartily sick and tired of this whole thing and hope I go on to something else?

Today, in lieu of a quote, I will leave you with this wonderful You Tube video of Billie Holliday singing 'Come Rain or Come Shine'. 

Block 7 reveal

First of all, thank you to those who were kind enough to identify the mystery sewing machine foot from my previous post.  It's apparently a blind hem foot and I still have no clue where it came from or why I even have it!

Today is the reveal of Block 7 of the courtship series...

Here are some close-ups...

The eagle-eyed among you might see a hint of how I finished the blocks, but you'll have to wait until Monday for the full reveal!

Today your quote is from Ralph Waldo Emerson...."You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late"

More fillers

Here are some more of the fillers I used in Block 7...

My next post will feature the entire block.  And then it's on to the finishing (which I'm working on now).   

It's finally turned warm here - almost too warm, and a shock to the system.  Yesterday the temperature reading in our car was 32 degrees Celsius.  Now the plants and trees are really growing fast (as my allergies are fond of reminding me!).  

Today your quote is from Anthony J. D'Angelo...."Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine"

Question and some fillers

First of all, can anyone help me to identify what this sewing machine foot might be called?

Some fillers from the final block...

Today your quote if from Confucious..."He who learns but does not think is lost.  He thinks but does not learn is in great danger"

Finally!

I think these are the final seam treatments I used on the courtship series of blocks (and I can hear the collective sigh of relief from here!).   

I apologize for the sideways picture here, but you can get the general idea anyway...

This shows a simple feather-stitched vine, accented with some flower sequins and beads.

Blanket stitch (black), straight stitches (orange & green) and either French knots or beads.

Sorry about the out-of-focus on this one!!

 Cross stitches (red) and straight stitches (black)...

Today your quote is another from an unknown author..."I keep my end tables full of needlework and quilting so I don't have to dust them"   (ahem....not, of course that any of US would ever do such a thing!!).  

A surprise and seams

This weekend is Mother's Day weekend here (I know it isn't celebrated the same time world-wide).  We are hoping to see #1 son, daughter-in-love and our grandson on Monday but of course our #2 son and his family live way out in British Columbia and seeing them in person won't happen.  The post office just delivered a joint Mother/Father's day gift to our door from our west coast family and when we opened it we discovered a wonderful photo album filled with amazing pictures of our grandson.  I cried and DH was perilously close to it too.  What an amazing gift!  I love flowers as much as anybody but once they're dead you have nothing but the memory, whereas this wonderful photo album is something we can treasure for a lifetime.  Thank you Shawn, Winnie and Theo!!!  I love you!

Isn't he cute?!!!

Now, for a couple more seam treatments for you to play with...

  The above seam looks more complicated than it really is.  Begin with a cretan stitch base (black);  add lazy daisies (green); and then beads (blue).  The flowers in the centre of the design can be done using beads, buttons, or French knots.

This one is done with cross stitches (black) and the rest of the treatment uses simple straight stitches. 

I do hope you find these seam treatments of use for your own creations.  If you do use them, I'd love to see photos!!

Today your quote is from an anonymous source..."Being a mother is not about what you gave up to have a child, but what you've gained from having one"

Happy Mother's Day!

Something different

Aren't you getting sick of all those seam treatment posts?  I had another one planned for today but decided I'd give my long-suffering readers a break and show you something else.  You might remember me posting a picture awhile ago of the bulky-knit sweater I was making for our 6'8" #2 son.  Well, it's done and ready to mail to him the first of the week.  Hopefully it will fit!!

The pattern is the  Celtic Wolf Jacket from Mary Maxim.  

Today the quote is from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee....  "In the nineteenth century, knitting was prescribed to women as a cure for nervousness and hysteria.  Many new knitters find this sort of hard to believe because, until you get the hang of it, knitting seems to cause those ailments"

So far it's been one of THOSE days.  The ones where, as my mother was fond of saying, you would get more accomplished had you stood in bed.  No clue where that expression came from, but it fits.  

I really DID want that cup of coffee that is now sloshing about quite nicely in my keyboard.

' nuff said.

So....on to more seam treatments...

This one is pretty easy and yet looks quite effective.  Straight stitches (black); lazy daisies (green); cross stitches (orange); and beads (blue).  I also added some beads at the ends of the lazy daisies. 

Straight stitches (orange, green, red & black) with some additional cross stitches (black and yellow).  French knots or beads (light green).  

I went searching for a quote that would reflect the having a bad day scenario and what popped up but this one (by an anonymous source)... "Today will be one of those days where even my coffee needs a coffee"   

Yep, 'nuff said.

Seems I'm back to seams

I'm back to working on the final block for the courtship series and here are a few more seam treatments from that one...

This one is done entirely with straight stitches, with the addition of beads (or you could use French Knots).

Straight stitches (black); lazy daisies (green); silk ribbon flowers (red); and rice beads (blue).

As always, please feel free to use any of my designs in your own work.  I would love to see what you do with them!

Today your quote is from an unknown source..."Good things come to those who believe; better things come to those who are patient and the best things come to those who don't give up"

Through The Porthole and mumblings

I know I promised you these pictures last week but for some reason I just didn't manage to find time to get 'er done.  So here you go!

This piece was created as the result of a challenge issued by the San Francisco School of Needlework and Design  in conjunction with Swarovski Crystals.  The theme was under the sea and you could create using any medium, provided you used the crystals that were kindly provided by Swarovski.  I applied, and no one was more surprised than I was when I was accepted to join the party!

My creation (of course!!!) HAD to be crazy quilted.  I envisioned being inside a sunken ship looking out through the porthole and this is what I came up with...

I challenged myself with this one, not only with the theme, but also with the elements I decided to include.  I've never used 3-D crochet before and creating the beaded seahorse separately and attaching at the end was something new to me too.  I think my favourite thing is the wee little turtle!  I think you can click to embiggen any of the pictures if you'd like to see more details.  

My husband insisted that the piece should be framed so I guess he must like it (even though at first he thought I was nuts to even want to take part).  

Sorry about the glare on the glass!!

Today your quote is from Dave Barry..."There's nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean.  Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent"

The wonders of my stash

I know I promised to show you more of my project I did for the San Francisco School of Needlework and Design but I'm waiting to get some pictures of it now that it's been framed.  Hopefully I'll have that for you tomorrow (we actually have a wee bit of sun today which is much better for pictures).

So...in the meantime.....I've made myself a new purse!  I surprised myself with the fact that I found everything I needed in my stash and didn't have to buy a single thing.  Yay!!  The original pattern is called 'The Gadabout' and is by Studio Kat Designs.  Of course I changed it somewhat and added an additional pocket on the back as well as a recycled jean pocket to hold my keys.  

(btw - if you have a peek at the 'crazy quilt purses' category in my sidebar you can see some crazy quilted versions of this purse that I made earlier).

FRONT

BACK (showing the additional pockets)

INSIDE - there are more pockets than show in this picture.

Today your quote is from Billy Connelly...."A woman's mind is as complex as the contents of her handbag; even when you get to the bottom of it, there is ALWAYS something at the bottom to surprise you"

Something a little different

Today I have something a little different to show you mostly because I've been working on something that I will be able to show you tomorrow.  In the meantime.....

The pattern was one I found in one of my how to knit books - mostly stockinette stitch with some yarn over 'holes' to add interest. The yarn was a gift from my #2 son and daughter-in-love and is soooo soft and luxurious!

Today your quote is from William Young..."Don't ever discount the wonder of your tears.  Sometimes they are the best words the heart can speak"

Filling and reveals

Here are the final two fillers I used on Block Six....

And here is the completed block...

Today your quote is from Charles Dickens...."Spring is the time of year when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade"