Late June

I thought I'd show a photo of my completed June HEX LABS from StitchMAP.  I chose the blackwork maple leaf, and found it to be a little challenging, especially since:
a) this is my first blackwork piece
b) this piece requires compensation stitches
c) the maple leaf is designed to be reversible  ahem.....mine is not reversible.......lol
Still, it was a fun challenge with a new-to-me technique.

The reverse might have worked out better if I wasn't rushing a bit.

The wedding is late next month, so I have to scramble to finish my stitching on the Wedding Piece.














Here's my progress:

There's not a lot of additions to the left side, but I did add a few more bullions in the same pale, variegated pink thread I used for the buttonhole lace.

It's difficult to get clear close-ups that show the subtle colourations of the variegated threads.

This will be left as is until more stitching has been completed elsewhere, so that I can balance the piece.

 On the right side, tendrils and bullions have been added as I begin to embellish this area

  Buttonhole lace was also added to the right side in the V of the frame.

 tatted leaves

 and tatted flowers await their placement

Huge pink peonies grace my dining room table. They are so full and heavy, even the supports I used couldn't keep the stems from flopping.










In the garden, more flowers are blooming:

I'm still digging up plants, transplanting, and weeding. So far, the bindweed is winning....... sigh, but the battle continues!

I hope you've had a good and creative week.

Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

June Progress

Hi everyone!        In the gardens, there's lots of  blooming!

This variegated weigela  has flowers that vary in colour. How cool is that?

 I don't know what this plant is called. Do you? It's a shrub and the flowers have a light, sweet fragrance. Some of the stems have a bark that is shredding........

 poppies!

 I love poppies.

pale pink outer petals to white, to a center of pale yellow and pink on this peony

 I love the colours of these irises

Progress has continued on the Wedding Piece.

little details, of which more will be added

 

 leaves, and twirly branches

within the V of the lace frame, I added rows of buttonhole lace in a pale, pale, variegated pink floss

a few more flower clusters, some fine details, and beads will be added

Is it getting too busy?



perhaps more branches arching around the top and across the bottom are needed........

on the right side, another casalguidi branch has been added..........yes, it's even larger than the first one......I must be casalguidi crazy!..... or is that crazy for casalguidi?......

a little closer look at the bullions.



I love bullions!


Hmmmm, maybe I should add a few more on the left side of the wedding piece. What do you think?



Well, that's all the stitching for this week.



 I have been playing with my Gelli Plate, and having lots of fun.

 the photo above shows 2 cards, and the rest are on card stock.



I really like the look of a dark background.

 it's fun scraping patterns

 

the swirls are made from a tea box. I added foam I cut into different shapes and used it to press into the paint.




Now, what am I going to do with all these prints?

I hope you've had a creative week.

Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

"June is Bustin' Out All Over"

So go the words to the song, and so goes my garden. The phlox is dancing on the breezes, the peonies bursting forth into bloom, and the poppy buds are fat.

purple and white

such a vibrant colour

pale, blush peony looks so delicate

subtle hints of pink

 a purple iris?
I like the sparks of blue.

poppies ready to explode into colour

This shot shows just how overgrown the gardens have become. I am slowly digging everything out, section by section and fighting with the bindweed. It's everywhere.... sigh.

I have discovered plants hiding beneath others and some hidden by weeds and grasses

This wee bed was covered in vines that grew over the windows, blocking air and sunlight. While vines look very romantic, they are not good for brick, and so we removed them. Now there is more light and fresh air in the house.

Since this bed is shady for most of the day, I moved some hostas there.
Some of our favourite rocks from the lake house edge the bed.

ah, the lettuce is growing well, and it won't be long now until we're munching mesclun salads.

On the stitching front, I have added more to the wedding piece, although progress is slow.

 There will be more leaves and bullions, as well as flower clusters

I've begun adding another branch to the right side, and it's almost ready for the weaving portion of the casalguidi stitch.

















Sunday night gave a beautiful sunset out my 'studio' window.

Is that a weird moon, or what?


Actually, it's a reflection of the ceiling light in the window, but I think it looks  really interesting.

I turned the light off.

What nice colours!



I hope you've had a week filled with colour and creativity.


Thanks for visiting.

Hugs from Suz