Melting in July

There's a purple theme this week. First, a little tat in progress. I'm playing around with ideas, and making it up as I go along.

My friend is having a birthday this month. We've known each other since our children were small, and over the years we've volunteered together, and worked together. Now, we don't see each other very often, and we usually only send online greetings to one another. But, this year, I thought I'd do something a little different. I've been reminiscing about the good times and laughter we've shared, so I wanted to celebrate my friend on her special day.
She loves angels. And her mother used to dress her in purple when she was much, much younger, so I decided to work with both. (gee, I hope she still likes purple!)
It began with a paper card blank, punched.

I then auditioned laces, doilies, hankies, and some of the purple fabric I snow-dyed, creating layers. Tatted bits were auditioned also.

I then printed onto fabric some angels, plus a few angel quotes. This wee angel was on a postcard I received years ago.

Once I had decided on the lay-out, I stitched the fabrics together, adding embellishments.
You can't see, but there's a double pocket behind the purple hankie.
I wove some variegated, purple, silk ribbon through the openings on the hankie lace edging, then I added two lace flowers.

Purple foil was stitched onto this snow-dyed coarse fabric, then sandwiched with a lovely lace frame. I then added a tatted angel. A large star is surrounded by tiny bead 'stars', then a snow-dyed piece of ribbon was added as a border on three sides. Two different trims border the fourth side of this fabric page.

Here's how they look.

 The back page sports another angel quote, a lace angel, lace trim and tatting.
Before all the fabric pages were stitched together around each portion of the card, I laced through the punched openings with 2 pieces of shiny cord.  In purple, of course!



 And because I always sign my emails with Hugs from Suz, I just had to add that little metal tag onto the back page.

After tying, the cord ends were decorated with pretty dangles made with a selection of beads, a shell heart, swarovski crystals, and a shell sequin.

All stitched and blinged.
Happily the fabric card stands up on its own.

I then added a card I'd gelli-printed.

Lastly, I placed a wee tag into the hidden pocket. It has string dangles decorated with tiny purple heart buttons.

I mailed off the package, and I hope my friend is soon happily surprised!








Although the fabric book took me several days to complete, I also found a wee bit of time to stitch on the wrapping cloth. The last piece is finished, the edges bound with buttonhole stitch, and another completed piece added.

2 together

I only have 1 side to complete with the buttonhole edging, and then this third piece will be added to the above. Progress!

The crewel piece has been set aside while the hot and humid weather is here: I have to use a strong light and magnifier to see this clearly, and right now it's too hot to stitch under hot lights.










In the garden, the lillies are still blooming.

This is a pretty one!

The echinacea is in flower, too.

In the front yard, the black-eyed susan vine has gone a little crazy.

Here's the back side of the planter. Hmmmmm, maybe it likes the shady side better?
I hope you're having a fun and creative week.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

Summer Arrives

The gardens are in bloom!  There are lots of garden photos, followed by stitching photos.

It was quite hot over the last few days, but this morning is cool and sunny. We had a few moments of rain last evening, and although the rain barrel was 1/3 full before the rain fell, it's only half full now. The soil is still dry in the gardens, so I'll spend some time watering today.
There has been some stitching.

I completed this purple piece. I'm leaving the purple section in the lower right bare until I decide if I want to add some white or pale thread in a meandering vine.

I began working on another purple piece with the addition of a gathered, variegated fabric strip, 2 buttons, beads on sequins, purple silk ribbon, and a blue trim.

The frilly tatting looks like a woolly caterpillar..... lol

Purple fur, purple bullions, french knots and herringbone stitch embellish this seam.

I wrapped the silk ribbon with variegated thread, and added french knots to the flower centers.

Blue beads decorate the blue trim.

The progress so far........









 

On the crewel piece flower #3, I added the inside row of beads and more metallic purple  thread.

Next came the outer row of beads.

I began weaving inside the leaf shapes.

dimension

Next came the second colour for the weaving.

Flower #3 is completed, and I've begun working on flower #4, but not enough to show any photos yet.













Flower #3 is completed, and I've begun working on flower #4, but not enough progress has been made to show any photos.

I'm couching some off-white gimp along the outline of the flowers on the wrapping cloth.

I may decide to add some beads, too, for a bit of bling.

The gimp seems to show up against the background and define the flower shapes and petals.

This last prepared piece is almost finished!

That's all the stitching for this week. I hope your week was a creative and enjoyable one.


Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz