This week I finished a needlepoint I started a couple of years ago -
This was a painted canvas I bought at a thrift store for 25 cents. Stitched with wool I had - I chose colours that matched Molly. The canvas was portrait shaped and I changed it to a square to make a pillow. Also the background had tropical leaves and I just stitched different shades of green sections. Now I have to block it.
More Holiday Photos -
The last week of our holiday in Osoyoos, BC, involved lots more walking.
The area is full of orchards and vineyards.
This orchard was along the Irrigation Canal Walkway.
This was along the Dividend Ridge Trail - coming from the flat prairies I couldn't imagine living somewhere with such steep roads.
Slow stitching is about using needle and thread to create art. It is also about using what you have.
I used remnants from crazy quilt projects I made over 20 years ago
I made some things with embroidered/lace handkerchiefs from various family members (for various family members and a couple of the pieces have come back to me over the years).
Since I only used a corner of the handkerchiefs for the projects there were pieces leftover.
I started by laying remnants over a layer of plain cotton with a layer of thin cotton batting on top.
Raw edges and everything. The layers were basted together (removed as the embroidery progressed).
I used different embroidery threads for the stitching.
Added some old mother of pearl buttons.
I stapled the piece to a stretcher bar frame.
It was lots of fun to stitch. I like how the cotton batting created some nice texture.
I kept the stitching really neutral because I wanted somewhere to keep pins I have collected over the years (also why I mounted it on stretcher bars so there would be room for the pin backs).
The finished piece is 11"x13".
I also made a couple of very tiny quilts using acrylic templates my son cut out for me (using a laser cutter), just to try them out. These two are from the skewed tumbler and tiny equilateral triangle.
March is National Craft Month - maybe it is only in the US, but I am going with it! I thought I would share some of my addictions crafting history.
I was lucky enough to grow up in a house where people did things and made things. My Mother is an incredibly talented seamstress, she sewed all the time (she still does), she made most of our clothes growing up, plus she did crochet, knitting, needlepoint, weaving, macrame..., my Father fixed things (still does) and now also does the most amazing cross stitch, and needlepoint, this winter he tried rug hooking - for the first and only time he tells me, my oldest brother made beaded jewelry when we were young, my sister sews, she makes beautiful quilts....... How could anyone growing up in a house like that not be inspired to create!
My philosophy has always been "If someone else can do it, I can at least try".
I started young, making things for my dolls with scraps of fabric.
When I was in school in England (my Father was in the Air Force and we moved a lot), I was taught to crochet (the large granny square) by a school friend. I was then given a ball of red yarn and I crocheted my Barbie every article of clothing imaginable with that red yarn. We were also taught embroidery at school.
I still love embroidery, and have tried all kinds over the years. The crazy quilting was influenced by my Grandmother's crazy quilting.
I tat, plus I have made dolls and stuffed animals.
I knit - some practical,
some not so practical (one year I wanted to learn to follow knitting charts).
I've done leather and bead work.
I did stained glass - I sold and taught it for years, I would love to get back into that, but it needs a dedicated space (it's messy).
I tried some wood working (my son's headboard).
I dabbled in pottery.
And of course I quilt! I have made mountains and buckets of quilts! These are just some that aren't on beds or walls.
This week is my 47th birthday and I thought it would be great to try a new craft!
I got a spinning wheel for my birthday!!! It is an Ashford Kiwi 2.
It is so much fun learning something new! There is a whole new language - words like 'niddy noddy', 'lazy kate', and 'mother-of-all' are used in spinning, plus the challenge and reward of improving is so wonderful.
I bought the spinning wheel from Ottawa Fibre on Ebay, Heather, the owner, is terrific! She has fabulous ratings on Ebay and Etsy, and I know why - when Ebay made a mistake, Heather very kindly sent me a generous bundle of fibre to spin. Thanks Heather! I'll have pictures soon.
I have added a linky if you would like to share how you are celebrating National Craft Month, or if you want to share your crafting history (remember to link the specific post, not just your blog).
I bought the Craftsy Stupendous Stitching class and loved it! This is the project I made from the class -
This one is made from a whole fat quarter of beautiful Batik fabric. I had the FQ for a while and didn't know what to do with it because of the unusual colour layout, but it worked perfectly for this project. It is 19" x 20".
It is so nice to be able to finally use all those decorative stitches on my sewing machine (although nothing was stopping me before!).
I like that there is a combination of machine and hand stitching. I also added beads.
I talked more about the class and gave the link for the class discount here.
We woke up this morning to a very frosty, foggy day. This is last weekends snow and I think it is here to stay for the winter.
