Musings in May

Hi everyone! You may remember that I finished the Wedding Piece #2. Then, I realized I had forgotten to sign and date my embroidery!  Arrrrgh.  Mary Anne advised me to not only do that, but also to record the who, what, why, where, and when on a separate paper to include with the stitchery. So I shall include a card with the gift, as well as a card on archival paper, to include all the information. It will be hidden between the frame and the backing paper. Thanks MA for your wonderful advice!

The name is on the bottom right corner of the embroidery. Did you notice that it's all done in Bullion stitch?
Can you find the year?

The gelli print fabric has been embroidered, cut, and stitched with buttonhole stitch.
I'm saving the other pieces for another project.
I created some tatted tassels with the same thread used to embroider the fabric.

Then I added a jewel to each tassel.
This bookmark is on its way to DGD Jewel in Australia.

I hope she likes it.
(the colour is a little off in this photo)




This month brings with it several challenges. I shall be writing a course, teaching two e-courses through StitchMAP, and  taking a new course with Karen Ruane. As well, I hope to finish some work on hand, and do some special stitching that so far is only in the planning stages.  Then there are the gardens to get planted and into shape.
Also, we may be having visitors this spring/summer/autumn coming all the way from Australia. I don't know, yet, but I'm excited at the prospect.
 We are now into the third month of renovations in the house, and I think the noise, dust, and lack of privacy is taking a toll........So, I've decided to go dark for the spring and summer. No blog posts (except a stitching post here)  and no blog comments. I'm hoping that this blog break will allow for some spirit refreshing, revitalizing, and rejuvenation!
I'd like to express my appreciation to every one of my followers who have read and responded to any of my blatherings about my creations with paper, paint, needle and thread. Thanks so much for being here! I know I'll miss you and all your wonderful creations.
May you have a wonderful and safe summer!
Thanks so much for visiting.
See you in September.
Hugs from Suz







 

April Wanes

As April draws to an end, we're finally getting some nice spring weather, so I've been spending some time out in the gardens.
We had a Guild Workshop to make bowls for our fall window display. I finished three during the day, and have some more in progress.

 This was a gorgeous scarf that was accidently put through the washing machine and dryer, so the knitting became matted. I cut out a piece, shaped it, and gathered the top edge, then added some beads for a bit of bling.

This looks more like a nest. It began with three long, narrow, knitted strips which were tightly braided together, then wound and sewn into a bowl shape. The ends look like tails, so I beaded the longest one and wound it around the shorter ones.

Four chords braided, wound and stitched into a wee Christmas bowl.

On the Wedding Piece, there's been a bit of progress.
Remember this?  I thought the large curlicue in the middle looked too much like the name Lee. Since Lee had no place in this wedding, and looked too heavy beside the delicate roses, it had to go.

I added more leaves, branches and roses. I think it fits much better, don't you?

There's still a bit more stitching to do. I'm hoping it'll be finished by next week!
I hope your week has been a creative one.


Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

April's Happenings

There has been stitching going on during the rainy, cold days of the last week. And a special little visitor came to stay.
Wedding Piece progress:

not much further to go.......!

a gelli plate printed fabric

adding embroidery to the pattern with a variegated crochet thread

6 more wrapping cloth pieces have been pinned

two more are in the works

This little Hedgehog came to Canada all the way from Linda in the UK!

I decided to call her Honey. Isn't she so cute? Thanks Linda! Love my Honey Hedgie!


She's checking out another of my gelli print fabrics. I think she approves.  ;-)

I took another walk to the park

I was surprised to still find snow here and there in the woods and the marshy areas

This Mallard Drake was on the path with his lady 

This amaryllis was re-potted a little late and is just blooming. It didn't bloom last winter, so I'm pleased it's doing so now

Now the second flower is opening. There are 4 buds on the stalk. I've had this amaryllis for about 7 years. The red one bloomed last winter, but I only have green leaves this year.



Hope you've had a fun and creative week.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

Easter Walk

We had a lovely Easter weekend and walked down to the local park on Sunday afternoon.

there is still a bit of snow here and there

I could hear the water rumbling and went to investigate

swirling and frothing

bouncing over boulders

this ice is still thick along the banks of the river

the pond wears a layer of ice, too

it was a little windy, so we returned home for a hot tea










A little stitching was accomplished over the last week:

a few more leaves and roses

on wrapping cloth piece #12, I added stitching to the rose and leaf pattern on the fabric

a row of bullions and french knots

and a few more long bullions

This piece is now finished!

wrapping cloth piece #13 is awaiting thread and needle







Hope everyone had a Happy Easter.

May you have a creative week ahead.

Hugs from Suz
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

Marching Out

March is ending, and, hopefully, taking the last of the snow with it!
I'm ready for spring.

 Mr. Cardinal was sitting in the magnolia tree in the front yard.

I think he's looking for spring, too.

a sure sign that spring is on the way is this little chipmunk, out looking for seeds

These goldfinch are starting to turn yellow

Still, it was really cold last week, so I brought home a wee bit of colour to cheer up the house

Mr. Milkers came to visit for a week. The snow was still pretty deep then.

look at that chin spot and those tear-drop eyes! What a cutie!

















A wee bit of stitching was done on the Wedding Piece this week, with a few additions:

2 woven picot leaves, a cast-on stitch rose, and a bud.......more to add.......



On the wrapping cloth piece #12, I added a beaded center to a fancy picot flower. The base is a wrapped ring with rows of buttonhole lace 

 

bullions bridge the design of this lace

this giant bullion is 185 wraps!
Soon it will have a few more friends......

the progress so far

I need to create more wrapping cloth pieces

It was time to actually use my Kumihimo kit.

The large braid on the left was made with the kit material using 8 strands.


The braid on the right used 8 strands of size 20 crochet cotton. I've been playing with patterns.

 Tatted bunnies and cabbage edging is a seasonal tat with Easter next Monday. I used size 20 crochet cotton, so this feels quite bulky. Bunny 1 on the left has a major error with the neck join.

Next I'll tat the bunnies, with a longer chain between them, using a finer thread.

Two more gelli painted fabrics join the queue awaiting some hand stitching.

My art room has been re-organized. It's a small bedroom. (~9x11) Here's how it looks now..........( well, before I did the painting!)

north wall

east wall

This work table is a very old one with a porcelain top- once probably used for rolling out pastry, but now it's great for cleaning up spilled paint!

west wall

The center unit was fastened to the dining room wall when we bought the house, but didn't work with our furniture. Now it's a great unit for storing some of my supplies.

south wall

There's a bedroom closet to the left of the computer, and there I keep my fabrics in plastic storage tubs.

Here's how the work table looks now!
Neat and tidy didn't last long, did it? lol

 Treasure hunting this past week led me to a second-hand shop where I found these blingy buttons, ( up north near the lake house)

(aren't they pretty?!)

two packages of lace,

( rolls of lace!)

4 cut-lace napkins, and 2 lace doilies.

The total came to $5.00! Wow!

I love shopping there! (too bad it's so far away)




Well, that was my week with needle, thread, paint and fabric. Hope you've had a fun and creative week.

Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz