Thursday, August 16, 2018

Gifted Gorgeousness and TUSAL - August 2018


Hello Dear Blogging Friends,


I'm linking to Daffycat's blog for this month's TUSAL report. 
TUSAL is where we show pictures of our ORTs (leftover threads), for no particular reason (other than that they look kind of pretty)!


Both of the items I'm making also come under the category of "Gifted Gorgeousness" which, in case you don't know, is where we write about stitchy gifts given and received. Both of the following are gifts from magazines so I am shoehorning them in!


Jo! Don't faint ...... I've done it! I worked out how to add the Gifted Gorgeousness photo at last! 


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No new projects just yet as I'm trying to make sure I finish these two before I start working on my next project for Art Quilt group I'm a member of ..... The Endeavourers.

Our next challenge is an Improve Quilt!! I haven't done Improv before so it'll be a crash course in learning "how to"! It's funny though, last quarter the challenge was "Spiral" and I just couldn't think what to make ..... it was hard to think of something original, most things have been done before after all! I was really nervous, but, after a false start ..... eventually, I thoroughly enjoyed making my piece.


But, anyhow, I digress! Back to the subject .....

My ORTs are mainly from my Bee needle case which is finished except for stitching the case itself together, and some were from finishing the Camper Van, and, before you say it, I know they don't look much, but I do use each thread as close to the end as possible, so there isn't much left to gather!

TheFlashingScissors.blogspot.co.uk

Almost finished!

TheFlashingScissors.blogspot.co.uk

If only I didn't hate back stitch so!

TheFlashingScissors.blogspot.co.uk

But, of course, it actually didn't take long, once I made myself sit down and stitch!

TheFlashingScissors.blogspot.co.uk


These fabric ORTs are from my Spiral quilt and also from the little Summer pouch I'm making for Camper Van. 

TheFlashingScissors.blogspot.co.uk

(If you haven't read about either the Camper Van or the Bee needle case you can read more about them here!)



A little irksome cutting up a zip for the pocket, but at least I've used something that has been in the "Dreaded Cupboard" for forever (it seems).

TheFlashingScissors.blogspot.co.uk

Of course I got this far and then decided the back would look better quilted (that's the pink fabric). Took a while before I decided how to quilt it, but I made my mind up eventually. 

TheFlashingScissors.blogspot.co.uk

I'm going to "box" the corners, it's so much easier to find things when you've got a flat bottom, don't you think? Then, I'll attach the Camper Van to the front, oh, and I need to make and add a strap.

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I couldn't finish today without a picture from the garden .....

TheFlashingScissors.blogspot.co.uk

DH and I were watching "Gardeners' World" on TV last week when Monty Don showed a phenomenon we hadn't seen before!

TheFlashingScissors.blogspot.co.uk

..... these amazing little chaps will grow up to be Ostrich Ferns!!!! 

At least, that's what I think that's what they're called .... and they will grow up to look like this:

TheFlashingScissors.blogspot.co.uk
Ostrich Fern which just happens to be growing in our
garden, and we never knew how it propagated itself before!

Strangely enough the little guys don't grow under the main plant, and the little chaps had suddenly sprung up in a plant pot quite a distance from any other ferns.

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Well, what have you been stitching?





Hugs,
Barbara xxx

And if you want to know what TUSAL is, why not pop over to Daffycat's blog to find out more!



21 comments:

Kim said...

How pretty your "gifted gorgeousness" are. Love the sweet bee amongst that pretty blue flower and bee hive. The camper bag is going to be fabulous; love the colours you used to highlight your fun cross stitching. Each time I visit your lovely place your delightful stitcheries always make me smile. Isn't that fern fabulous.

Mii Stitch said...

The bee needle case is coming along really nicely :)

Rhona said...

The bee needle case looks wonderful! Back stitching is always a pain but it really does make the design come to life....worth it in the end!

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

You have done some really lovely stitching. The info on the fern is interesting. We have been watching more of this type of programming lately. our TV channels are full of Trump garbage and it is getting pretty DEEP here in the USA. I came across a tutorial for a quilt block that I often wondered how quilts from it were created so I found my Improv project pretty easily. BUT, I have not started it. Hope you are not suffering from the heat wave that is going on here.
xx, Carol

Lin said...

Your needlecase is looking so pretty. xx

Queeniepatch said...

Both your bee and your orts are looking good!
The camper van bag will be a show stopper, and useful with its boxed corners.

Pamela said...

The needlecase is sweet!

Catherine - Hillview Embroidery said...

The bee needle case is really gorgeous! I love bees and would add them to most things if I don’t restrain myself though!

Sheryl said...

Lovely bee needlecase Barbara, I like the colours and back stitching on the bee´s wings. The camper van bag looks great too.

butterfly said...

Thank you Barbara , for popping over to see Katie's post card.
Love your header and garden .
Your stitching looks wonderful love the bee one.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Thanks for taking part in GG this month. Love the bags you are making, what a clever way to use the cover kit design.
Well done on working out adding the photo too!

Mini said...

The bee needle case is so pretty. I love cover kits too. Great idea of using the camper van design for using with the bags.

Brigitte said...

That little zippered bag looks awesome, Barbara. And so does your bee stitching. Backstitching isn't the most interesting stitching of all but as you say - once you started on it it's OK. And it's always worth it as it makes such a difference on some designs.

Christine said...

Lovely stitching and sewing Barbara, and I love your header picture of the bee on the hollyhocks

rosey175 said...

I think the little cover kits are fun little designs~ Your use of them is so great; the little bag will be functional which is awesome. I love it when stitches are useful!

The little ferns are adorable. We don't have any in our yard (too sunny?) but they always look so fluffy.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Interesting info about the Ostrich ferns and wonderful pictures too. Your bee needlecase turned out so well - and it does benefit from the dreaded backstitching doesn't it.

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

I love your Bee stitching - the back stitch really makes it. And your camper van bag will be great. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's improv :)

DJ said...

What a lovely needle book you are making! I also like your little zippered pocket you made, quilting the back is a great idea!

Bethan said...

Such a beautiful needle book! I have such a love/hate relationship with backstitching; the effect is stunning but it can be very awkward at times to do. In your needle book case, it looks great x

Ariadne said...

The bee needle book is lovely!AriadnefromGreece!

Julie said...

A great GG post Barbara, the camper van little flat bottomed bag will be so lovely.