Theme-tas-stitch - April - Water

Hello Dear Friends,

When I saw Kerry's (Ramblings of a Biscornu Adict) theme for April (Click here to visit Kerry's blog) was water I instantly thought of a project, buried at the back of our wardrobe!

Started a couple of years ago ..... and something well outside my comfort zone!!!! My craft group had suggested our members would embroider pictures on tapestry with the connection of water ..... just not in tent stitch ..... what a coincidence that Kerry's theme is water too! Back then I'd found a view of a lighthouse that I thought might be fairly easy to stitch! I never got very far with it ..... in fact all I'd done was consider what stitches I could use.

Well, I had found some wool ready .....  but all I stitched was the foreground ..... which took me a while as I wasn't used to the stitch, two little roofs oops! rooves, and the light of the lighthouse!

And this week I started stitching the sea!

The purple stitches are the start of the sky!

I am intending to stitch the tiny buildings, and lighthouse, this week ..... wish me luck!!!

I have another water project, but I haven't decided how I will embroider that yet!

Thank you, Kerry, for the inspiration to pull this old project out, I really must finish it now!

I hope everyone else managed to stitch more than I have!

Not sure I will be able to join in next month as I don't think I have any projects with only one colour ..... for Monochrome May!

See you soon,
Hugs, Barbara xxx

Review: "Painting for Quilting" Workshop with Mary Gamester

Hello Dear Friends,

A few weeks ago I took part in a Workshop "Printing for Quilting" at my Handicraft Group. Our group consisted of ten members with one visitor who in all honesty was was the most industrious amongst us (and by visitor, I don't mean our tutor!)!!

We were instructed by Mary Gamester, on how to load our paintbrushes with paint to cover the blocks we were using for printing, and how to use sponges ..... dipped in paint ..... for different background effects.

After a fun introduction, and guidance from Mary who brought along lots of samples of her printed work, to give us inspiration, and a large collection of Indian printing blocks, and paints for us to use, we all set to, to see what we could do!

I have to confess I didn't make a note of the manufacturer of the paints we used, but they were fabric paints.

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I used some fabric which I had previously dyed in a tie dying workshop, others commented that they thought the tie dyed fabric worked well as a background for the block printing! However, I'm wondering, looking at my photos now, whether or not I applied sufficient paint to my printing blocks!

BTW - nearly forgot to say - all fabric needs washing before painting .... hence the crumpled appearance!

My experimental printing

In comparison the photo (mine again) below shows printing on a plain yellow fabric which looks a little stark to me.

My printing, again.

Looking at the visitor's blocks I think she had a lot more idea in respect of applying the paint to the blocks than I!

Some of you will no doubt recognise that the following three blocks involved sponge painting .....

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When we sat down for our lunch break we noticed these cute little critters just outside our window ..... they obviously thought they had found a lovely quiet place to hunt, but had no idea how many pairs of eyes were watching them!!!

You can't see from my photos, but they were sitting, side by side, just a foot apart from each other .... proper hunting buddies!

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After lunch we worked towards the projects we each intended to make from our blocks.

A future book cover

The long piece here is going to be made into a cover
for the tissue box.

Don't forget you will need to iron your painting to "set" it (Protect your iron and ironing board with sheets of baking parchment or baking paper either side of your fabric.) Once ironed your precious masterpieces, will be washable!

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Well, I hadn't been sure what to expect from this workshop, however, I thoroughly enjoyed the day, and only wished I had produced more painted pieces! 

It would be nice to have another go sometime!

Hugs,

Barbara xxx

PS I see Benta from SLIKstitches has blogged about a "Lino block" workshop held at her Crafty Group, and she also shows the use of "Magic" blocks for printing - Click here to visit Benta's blog.

You might also be interested to visit Svetlana's blog SOTAK for her quick tutorial on stamping and printing - Click here for Svetlana's blog.

WOW:WIP - Catching up

Hello Dear Friends,

In March I joined in with Kerry's Theme-tas-stitch - "March Madness".

I haven't managed to add the pretty button for Kerry's post but you can find her at "Ramblings of a Biscornu Addict".

You may have seen my previous post, with details of some of the projects I worked on during March, but there were a few I haven't had time to mention until now.

March projects:

The following are the updates for these three projects I wrote about in my post over at Kitten Stitching and The Friday Frolics (Click here):

"Stitch by Stitch"

I'm very pleased with this kit, it came with a sharp cross stitch needle which enters the fabric very precisely, and the cottons seem to be very good quality - they seem to be easier to stitch with than many I've used before. (Details of kit can be seen on my post at Kitten Stitching and the Friday Frolics.)

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Another new start, again, in March:

I haven't fully decided what I am making! I was going to make a Pinnie Pendant - I saw a tutorial over at Fabric Mutt, by Heidi Staples. But Heidi was using smaller scrap pieces ..... and I have this supply of 1.5" squares of vintage fabrics that I wanted to use! So this won't be like Heidi's Pendant at all really, but that was how it started !!!!

I am always on the look out for the perfect way to store/hold my needles and paraphernalia when I'm stitching "on the go" ..... travelling that is! Now to put my thinking cap on and try to come up with something suitable!

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And I was still experimenting with quilting in March:

This is my test piece ..... and I know I left it with the pins
in far too long!

Previously I pieced a patchwork house for Jen & Jan's brilliant Mini Blog Hop QAL ..... and I am still wondering how to quilt it!

After my failure with free motion quilting I decided I would have to use my walking foot but I was am still undecided how I should finally quilt the proper block. 

Firstly, I doodled on paper, then I machine quilted the shape of my final block onto my test piece.

I was really pleased with the result ..... apart from the slight indentations left by my safety pin basting, which I think should disappear in time ...... as there was no bunching or slipping of fabric!

In for a penny, in for a pound, as they say! I thought I should test out machine binding too! I've bound things by hand but never by machine!

Trying to guess what it will look like with this fabric
for binding.

Most people seem to use 2.5" binding, so that is where I started.

I didn't know which fabric to use for my test .....
I'm so loath to part with my fabrics just for a test!

Not finished yet! This is the back, you might just be able to see the pins!

And this is where I have to leave you, as it is getting late for one thing, and I haven't quite finished my binding anyway!

I promise hope not to be so long before I post again ..... and I'd like to have a Friday Finish to share this week.

I haven't forgotten or abandoned my "Printing Block" post, it has just taken longer than I expected to prepare!

See you soon!

Hope you are having fun with fabric and thread!!

Hugs, Barbara xxx

Linking to:

Esther Aliu's WOW = WIPs on Wednesdays

Susan Arnold's Midweek Makers @ QuiltFabrication