I'm back

I've been gone for a while: health problems, husband returning from Iraq, taking care of kids, and finishing up projects for our towns craft fair. All those are over now. Except for snuggle-loving my DH and children, of course.

And I promise I'll start working on the Fairy block this next year. 2010. There are a lot of fanciful things that need to get done on her. I totally messed up her butt, so I think she's just gunna have to wear a green, leafy thong to cover up my mistakes. And she needs shiny stuff in her hair, and a lot more dark flowers with a whole bunch woodsy creatures. Might need to do research on fairies, now that I think about it.

I must go pull out my junk, now. Need to do some laundry, too. Maybe vaccume.

Kim

Sorry

Wow!! I've totally been out of hte loop here. Sorry. I think it might be two months since I last posted. I'm a very nauty girl for that.

DH was home from Iraq for two weeks in June, then we sent him back, then I got a tread mill because I'm so freakin' fat, and then we went to Colorado Springs for an Army thing. WOW!! That was crazy, since I made it a road trip with three little boys. HA HA!!

But I"ll have to post a blue, teal, green thing I started working on later. And I' still haven't put any new stuff on that fairy block. I have two items for a customer I need to finish up by August 15th, then I"ll be back. And I really need to post another challenge, don't I!!

WOW! Life!! It happens.

Challenge #4

Here is a wild flower (or maybe it's a weed - sure is a pretty one anyhow) I picked here in California. In Gorman California, actually. There are these little yellow daiseys, orange California poppies and the purple sage brush. Boy are those colors purely yummy next to each other in the spring. And all the green n the back ground, too. Nice!! And then there's this funny little lavendr fuzzy thing. I bet ya it's a weed, but I just wanted to throw it out to ya as a challenge. I thought the leaves were really interesting, too. If ya click on the picture you can see the leaves more closely. I guess you could straight stitch them. Or that tight feather stitch - I forget what it's called. Really fun for making leaves. The flower tuft could be french knotts with a whole bunch of stamen coming out. You coud coach a really cool yarn for the stem, or do my favorite - closely embroiderd stem stitches in a varigated color of green. Have fun!! Kim

Hallmark Heart Interpretation

Here is my interpretaton of that heart I found on that Hallmark card I received in the mail the other week. I drew the heart with a ball point pen, back stitched it in light green, whipped and weaved two times around with my favorite varigated fuzzy yarn. Then I coached some straight stitches with that same fuzzy yarn. Then dyed some 2mm silk ribbon, stab stitched the little flowers with it, and it's basically done. Except I may put a metalic green bead n the center of the flowers. tha'll be nice. This is my Tuscan block. Can ya tell? Duhh It's orange, olive green, dark teal, and chocolate brown. Those colors are so yummy togetheer. If you haven't warmed up to orange yet, maybe you can combine those colors and fall in love with it like I have.

Dragon Fly

Hi!! I just wanted to share with everyone, including my DH, serving in Iraq right now, the lovely pink opal dragon fly pendent he got me. It's set in 14k rose gold, with crystals and the lovely pink opal from Australia in the wings. Isn't Dh great for telling me to get myself something pretty? I just love this. I've worn it twice already. Even to school to teach kindegartners music. Ha Ha. The sun shining on it makes it aparckle so. Thank you, Steve, for pampering my heart. You're a good husband. And when you get home, it'll be your turn to do the dishes for a year. Ha Ha!!

Challenge #3

Greeting cards and writing paper have the cutest ideas, don't they? I got this greeting card in the mail, today from a friend I brought a meal for a few weeks ago. I just loved the colors and the shape of the heart. Try and make a motif out of this idea. What fun!!

I would first draw a heart on my patch with a pen, pencil, or if you're particular, a quilting pen. Then I'd do a back stitch on the pen marks (or stem stitch), weave something that looks leafy in and out of the back stitch and put some leaves on. I have a really cool fuzzy green yarn that would be perfect for weaving in and out of that back stitch. Then I'd add some cute SRE flowers with the stab stitch. Even silk ribbon as small as 2mm would be lovely for foget-me-nots. Little french knotts coming off some of the greenery would be nice too. Wouldnt that be cute?? Ya know what? I just might have to start myself a challenge block using all these ideas. What great fun that would be. Then at the end of hte year, I can share it with you. Now to put up some seam treatments. yah. We have two motifs. I think I should do some seam treatments. Yah. Happy Stitching!! Blessings and grace to you all!!

Bi-weekly challenge #2

Here is a bird motif I thought you'd like. It's origin is from India. This can be done in a stem stitch or chain stitch. The greenery could be SRE, too. You could also fill in the bird with a tight stem stitch to make it feathery or you could just keep the lines plain and simple. If filling in the bird to make it feathery, use a darker thread for the outlines. Happy stitching!!