Edged dyed ribbon.

A little motif in the journal cover, using the edged dyed ribbon. Fargo roses are tucked in amongst the lavender daisies.. I love the effect, adds a little something, don't you think? that's if you can see them.

I really appreciate you leaving me your thoughts on CQ too, thanks.

Hope you can see this edged dyed ribbon

I wanted to have a go at edge dyeing ribbon. I have tried before but the results looked stilted until I actually tried using it, and was pleasantly surprised. The stilted look was gone as you are only looking at a stitch instead of a metre of ribbon.
So I got out some fantastiks that I got from Vic at Ribbonsmyth. They worked really really well and I love it. I will get a photo of what it looks like in a flower.

A little more progress

I have a huge growing appreciation for my fellow CQ's and embroiderists. Just a few hours work and nothing to much to show for it. I don't mean I am not happy with the stitching and progress, only that it takes so much time. I am not complaining just stating a fact. Time is so precious when you work fulltime. Or rather, I should say, it is always so precious.
I am curious to know how others create a block. Do you stitch seams first or embellish patches first or a combination? Can you see it in your head or somewhere before you stitch? Do you plan what you want to do meaning do you envisage what you want the end product to look like? Or do you do it as you go?
Would love some feedback and while I am here, I must say it has been lovely to hear from so many of you.

A little progress on the journal cover.
I have been putting chores and things aside so that I can stitch and needless to say I have been loving it. Did get the washing hang out and a few little things done.
I also wanted to thank Barbara,
http://rosesonthewater.blogspot.com/ she has also nominated me for the "Make my day award"
Thank you Barbara, you are the one who has made my day.
I also have to confess to falling in love with Barbara's seam treatment that she shared with us all in CQmagonline. It is the one with the bunches of grapes made with the tiny drop or fringe beads. Still need to add some leaves to the grapes.

Last of the ufo's
This is a scrap quilt that I started a a table cover several years ago. We no longer have that table and it would not fit our new table, hence it has transmorphed into a knee rug.

This little wallhanging I made up as I had bought these 9 little squares of Japanese fabric. I love all things Japanese. I didn't want to waste any bit of the fabric so decided to make them up in to this little hanging.
My two semi log cabin cushions, I quite like the way they turned out. I have a love affair with leaves especially the ginko which are on these cushions.
Finally the cream cushion is my completed block from a recent WOW RR that I did with some friends. The stitching is absolutely fabulous and it has pride of place on my bed.

Decided to take a photo of the progress on my hospital block and the first thing I noticed was the green fabric on the left...... oops it stands out like a sore thumb.

I found this lace in my stash, cut it up and have just placed it on my block at the moment as it is the same green colour as the fabric. I thought it brought some balance. What do you think?

Pierrette at http://lovetostitch99.blogspot.com/
has awarded me "You make my day award" You can read all about it on her blog.
Thank you so much as you really have made my day and I will post my favourite blogs, the ones that make my day. As there are several that I just have to read daily. but it will be a day or two. Work and study are calling my name at the moment.
You must pop over to Pierette's blog to see her stitching, just divine.

JOURNAL COVER
I want to make a journal cover for my friend, we study the bible and a few other things together. We are trying to help each other walk through life while trying to do it all gracefully as we are getting older.
Hopefully the cover will be able to move on to a new journal when she has finished one. The colours are actually purples not blues.It annoys me that I can't photograph purples, must ask my son what I can do. I am going to embellish the front but I thought I would leave the back plainer with only the seams embellished with stitching. Actually, I think I need lessons on photography as the colours always appear subdued and don't really show their true beauty. Maybe its the camera, I am not too sure on that one, we have had it for ages. Modern technology is wonderful though isn't it, allowing us to be able to do all the things we love. My life has so opened up since I finally started using the computer.

A little progress on the bag. As I said in a previous post this was actually cut out and sewn from a pattern, quite different for me but nice and easy. I decided to sew all the front pieces and back pieces together before embellishing. I thought it might make it easier for when when it comes to making up. I have been enjoying sitting here at night after work and after I have done a little study doing a little stitching. I have also liked having two pieces to work on at the same time and think that is something I might do in the future.

If you having been reading Allies's blog see links you will see what this block should have been part of. It is part of 2004 Ribbonsmyth embellishment club which should have been a kimono. There were 6 blocks each done bimonthly then assembled at the end. For some reason two of my blocks turned out weird sizes and there was no way I could make them fit into the kimono shape. I have blogged finished pictures of the other blocks. After seeing pictures of Freda's finished kimino I wish I could have pulled it off. Her finished kimono is fantastic. It is also interesting to see others little personal touches, we were given a suggested stitch and embellishment guide but we all add our own little touches. Freda, your quilt is fantastic, please do start a blog.

Another one bits the dust, I am almost feeling virtuous. I resolve to finish things in the future!I mean sooner rather than later

A couple more ufo's.

It is such a good feeling knowing that you have accomplished something. Despite some design problems while assembling they turned out ok. I just have a little hand stitching to finish off.
As usual I have learnt a lot in the process of finishing these blocks, as always though, it is learning from my mistakes.
In future, I am going to think a lot more about a block of whatever before starting. In future I think I will decide and design the project before I start. I can hear you saying, well duh!!! isn't that what you should do? Needless to say I don't always plan ahead. Good lesson to learn and I am glad to learn these things.
As they say, it is never to late to learn. Thank goodness we do keep on learning, such fun!!!

UFO'S.
My grandfather was a shipwright (ships carpenter) he often used to say "Don't spoil the ship for a ha'penny worth of tar". It is a lovely little saying and one I heard a lot while growing up and I guess it is a part of me. But I also like to get things done quickly as well. Oh! to reach a happy medium. I also find that I am very critical of my own work, never seeming to like it when its done? I am not sure whether it becomes to familiar or what it really is.
I have a few embellished blocks waiting to be finished. They have all been sitting around for a long time, so I decided to take a couple of days of to get them finished. My library studies are due to start and I am hoping to get some things out of the way before it all starts as there won't be much time then.The stocking I blogged about last week just needed s few finishing touches. The gold and purple blocks originally were going to be little tissue holders but I decided against that. I did a little stitch in the ditch hand quilting then blocked them. I have never been quite sure how to finish blocks off as I am not a quilter at all. So finishing them has always been a bit of a struggle for me. I also have decided not to buy any new stuff this year. (Wonder how long that will last????) which meant using what I could find, cutting all those strips and backing takes a lot of material when you only buy little bits at a time. Anyway, I am so frustrated but I think they are ok now. I am also trying to get a few others finished up as well.