CQJP July Block

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

September Slump

Autumn has arrived, and the trees are changing colours.





















I picked up the paint brushes to add a few more washes to the Autumn Cabin:
darkening the shadows
deepening the water reflections and adding more shore grasses
a little more mud added to the water


more layers are needed
I picked up the Georgian Bay painting and began adding some of the rocks and more glazes to parts of the water

Both paintings have been put away to dry.










There hasn't been a lot of time for stitching. I've been getting the garden beds prepared for winter, and setting up the tools in our shed.
The Embroidery Guild President assigned a summer stitching challenge to all members to choose a t-shirt from their closet to embroider. I had a summer shirt of a heavy cotton eyelet in a lime green. It was looking a little sad with several pulls and a small stain. Here is a photo showing my progress.
The button eye doesn't show up very well, so perhaps a larger one is needed. This centipede will have more legs and feet by the time it's finished.


We also received our pattern for  a Christmas Angel member exchange. Ah, buttonhole lace variation..........
I'm trying to decide what to use for the back, and plans are in the works for more angels from this pattern............

That's all for this week.

I'm having computer connection woes, so if I should disappear, you'll know why. :-(
Wishing you a creative week ahead.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

September Sings

Mid-September already, and the days are swiftly passing, the warmth of summer fleeting, and the cooler days of autumn upon us even though summer has not officially ended.......Mornings are chilly and the tomato plants turning brown, their fruit dropping onto the ground still not fully ripened. Will the peppers change colour before the frost arrives?
In the gardens this week, the sedum is changing colour.


Black-eyed Susans dance on the breezes

this mini-rose hides behind the greenery
There are lovely aromas in the kitchen today......

two loaves of chocolate -date bread are cooling on the racks
and beside them sit 3 dozen--um, no, make that 2 1/2 dozen oatmeal-raisin cookis


I completed the September HEX LABS-- the Rangoli Shisha designed by Anita from StitchMAP.

This was fun to do, and I enjoyed playing with colours I don't usually use together.

The sequins used really catch the light.


















 I've made a little progress on the painting. Here's how it looked last time.

adding more plants and intensifying some colours

deepening tones

adding more greenery by the lake

the first application of paint to create the water

more layers to be added

I hope you've had a creative week.





Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Paint and Needles

I picked up the paint brushes to add a few more details to the autumn cabin by the lake.
Here's how it looked last time:

a few light washes added here and there......

a bit more colour and some shading, which will fade a little as it dries......









Summer is waning. The cooler weather has returned, and mornings are feeling crisp. The leaves are beginning to change colours, and I feel autumn's approach.
Still, in the garden, some plants are just beginning to bloom:


I'm not sure what this plant is, but I like it's shape and colour


the basil is still growing well. It's yummy with all my tomatoes


another mystery plant is in bloom. Strangely, my clematis has flowered again.


















On the stitching front, two of my designs were chosen for the September HEX LABS at StitchMAP.


Autumn Tree is based on an old, misshapen maple that grew near my home many years ago.



















Oak & Acorns
fabric painting, couching, satin stitch, padded satin stitch, weaving, buttonhole stitch





















I'm stitching this September HEX LABS. There will be shisha!












 The challenge this month was a Fun Friday Tute to create a folded fabric first aid kit.
I didn't need another first aid kit, so instead, I modified the design so this roll could carry art supplies, stitching supplies or jewelery.
The following photos show four sections, each having 4 pockets. Re-using and re-cycling a couple of faded pillowcases made the pockets easy to do.
A wee bit of dimensional embroidery decorates this side.

 Reversible.  A bit of tatting adorns this side of the roll.
I can fold over the top pocket to create a flap and help keep smaller items from falling out of the fabric roll. This was a fun challenge.


I hope you have a creative week ahead.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz