Trimming the Tree

Last week I had a wonderful visit

with my daughter and son-in-law

in the Sunshine State 

despite the weather.

We shopped and played and

enjoyed the local bird life.

Flying time was approximately 4 hours

each direction

and amazingly you can get a lot of stitching done.

Working on a red work embroidery project,

"Trimming the Tree",

made it pretty easy dealing with only 

one floss color.

I loaded 12 needles ahead of time,

put on my sea bands,

and was able to finish the embroidery

on the two flights.

The embroidery is the fun part.

 

Making it into a pillow seems to 

take more time, at least for me.

I added some buttons and beads

instead of pom poms and french knots.

I made the pillow smaller than what the pattern said.

Why?

The piece of red plaid wool I wanted to use

for the scalloped top was smaller than 

what the pattern called for.

Improvising!

Making do!

I actually had enough red ric rac,

red buttons, 

and the kit for covering buttons.

If you haven't covered a button in a while,

you're missing out of some fun.

It's not hard and

you get a great coordinated look.

(The simple things can humor me

sometimes.)

Despite the fact the weather

here in Colorado is extremely

hot and very dry

this delightful wintery pattern

from Crabapple Hill Studios

is done and ready whenever the 

seasons change again.

I'm hoping my next flight

will go as smoothly.

My stitching is packed

along with my party dress.

Until Next Time-

Au revior

Kyle

Ready to Go....

With the close of the school year

my weekly Nana duties have ended

for the summer.

That opens up some time to do

some travelling! 

Of course, that requires

getting some stitching ready
to occupy flight times.

I pulled out two 

Crabapple Hill Studio patterns

to prep the embroidery.

Why not work on Christmas

and some redwork.

"Trim the Tree"

I've threaded a dozen needles, collected

the floss and thimble.

I'm ready

 to head off.

The second piece required some crayon coloring.

The areas you want to tint with crayons

first need to be filled in completely 

with a white crayon

This allows the pigment of the

crayon to fill in the weave of the fabric 

and make the color smoother.

Then have fun with the crayons.

Once the color is filled in

simply iron the piece.

The crayon melts 

giving the colored sections a soft 

"Autumn Calls"

tint of color which will be

enhanced with the embroidery. 

Looks like I'm ready.

June's going to be a busy month. 

Until Next Time-

Kyle

May Baskets and Blossoms

It's the end of May

and the flowers have been
definitely putting on a show

here in northern Colorado.

Those blossoms were  my inspiration 

for my May monthly mini

May Baskets and Blossoms.

25"x 25"

It started with a fat quarter bundle I purchased
from Fat Quarter Shop
called Chalk and Timber
and grew from there.

Four traditional basket blocks,

a pieced border made with pink flying geese,
and just enough border fabric to
tie it all together.

A simple quilted grid pattern,
(stitched during the royal wedding replay)
and this month's mini was complete.

The backing was fun to
stitch together using
a toile print and
some ancient Debbie Mumm fabric.

It all seemed to fit.
Who would have guessed.

Baskets and blossoms


seemed like a fitting
ending to May.

Thanks to Wendy,
the Constant Quilter
for encouraging many of us
to have fun each month.

Until Next Time-
Kyle