Christmas Stocking Swap and Treasures

I participated in a Christmas stocking swap, run by Lyn and on Monday, my new stockings were in the mailbox. I thought I'd show them off.        The theme : Silver

Aren't they gorgeous? I love them.

Thank you, stocking swappers!










And treasures found at the local second-hand shop:

I found another Erica Wilson book!
Lots of ideas in here for embellishing.


the baggie contains some eyelet trim.


 there's a beautiful crocheted pansy doily


and a lovely lace-edged hanky




close-ups:

a stained glass angel pin.......I think it could easily become a Christmas tree ornament, or a fabulous gift tag for someone special

these butterfly earrings are so pretty, even though only 1 butterfly has a single antenna......it came off easily
I can see these showing up on a CQ with new antennae stitched onto the fabric..........


definitely treasures!


I seem to have the best luck when it comes to our local second hand shop, don't I?

I hope you find some treasures, too.

Happy Thanksgiving wishes to everyone celebrating and giving thanks tomorrow. May you have a joyous time with family and safe travels!

Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

This Week: Stitching and Tatting

I did some stitching this week:

some geometrics added to my CQJP

so my November block  just might be finished

At StitchMAP, I'm taking the Redwork Course, and here is my Modern Redwork project in colour


Traditionally, Redwork was done in red, or green or blue, but the modern style is not limited to one colour.


It was fun choosing my pattern, stitches and thread colours to create this

The Jewel block is still in progress


more material was added, and the block was then squared

auditioning different trims and bits

hmmm, choices, choices

some organic tats

the top one is in a thread called 'Enchantment' size 20

the bottom is done in an ivory, softer thread and I attached it to the  Jewel block

a mini test tat with some pretty Finca thread Fox so kindly sent me. Thanks Fox!

Turtle Island was shrouded in mist yesterday morning



I just caught the last bits before they wafted away

later the sun appeared and shone on the frosty grass in the bay

TAST this week was the Magic Chain, a chain stitch variation











That's my stitching for the week.
I did get a little more painting done, but, .......well, maybe next time.

Hope you've had a good week.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz 

And There Was Painting

Last week my good friend Shirl was up for a visit, and we painted! Yay!
Unfortunately, the pics of her painting were blurry..........sorry about that.
my inspiration:

a photo I took years ago......

the sketch

the following pics were taken under changing light conditions, and vary a lot in the colouration, depending on the time of day the photos were taken.



beginning washes

adding background and touches of water

more colour

this is quite reddish........

building up the water

more realistic colour

laying in the lily pads

darkening the water

reddish light

shadows

an experiment darkening the background ..... um, yuck

the darks in the background were removed
more water and plants added

taken in the sunlight, this pic is more true to the colour
lots more work needed on this yet
the water needs greying, and I plan to add a grey-blue wash to the background since it appears too yellow


Hope you enjoyed the 'pics in progress' of my painting. More next time.....

Last week, the hairy woodpeckers were tapping above our windows on the vinyl siding......we chased them away several times each day. I wonder what they were looking for..........
I caught one later on this red pine

The sun came out of hiding and created diamonds in the water

but later in the afternoon, the pink sky was reflected there

here's the view from the west deck..........
the sunset lasted only about 10 minutes.....


Hope you have some spectacular sunsets.



Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

In Remembrance

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day  November 11, 2012:   11/11/12

On the 11th Hour, Of the 11th Day, Of the 11th Month......

 Our freedoms today came at a high price, and we should never forget that wars shatter lives, families, and communities. 


In Remembrance and with Gratitude.  For those who have served, those serving now, and those yet called to serve. Bless you and Thank you.

CQJP and WIPs

I've added a bit of stitching to my November CQJP.

I tacked down the woven picot flower petals here

and here

beads and fiber leaves for the poinsettia center

red veins

red, then gold thread adorn this seam

green fiber rings have dark green fire-polished crystals added to the center for a wee sparkle

 my November block so far


I want to add some more to the existing seam treatments










I'm working on my RedWork Course at StitchMAP and I've created these little stitcheries from their patterns:

this bonsai is my favourite so far


That's all for this week


Hope you've all been having some stitching or tatting fun!


Thanks for visiting.


Hugs from Suz

TAST & CQJP

TAST for this week is the Woven Picot Stitch. I decided to combine my TAST with my November CQJP.
Here's my naked block.

That beautiful red ribbon with the embroidered Merry Christmas in gold stitching was created by Debra of The Tuesday Stitchers. Thanks Debra!


You can see her blog here. She creates beautiful quilts.

first, three flower petals in the woven picot stitch  using  variegated red pearl cotton thread, size 8

a trio of faux pearls were added

sorry this is a little fuzzy

using  6-strands of embroidery floss, another 5 petals were added with more faux pearls

the November CQJP

here's a shot indicating the height of the flower petals

That's it so far..........

no WIPs progress to report


Company arrives today for the week, so I may not be around very much, though I hope to get in some more stitching.

Hope you all have a wonderful week enjoying your favourite things!
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

Tatting, CQJP, and a Garden Visitor

Yesterday, this visitor was spotted in the front yard

nibbling here and there

spotting a succulent plant further up the hill

who?...me?

past the dying hosta and along the patio stone path

and finding nothing else to eat, wandered into the trees.........
she/he had a friend who stayed hidden in the brush

 CQJP

some ribbon leaves with gold seeds

gathered ribbon couched with seed beads

completing the knotted loop with double thread really shows the knot much better

rick rack and thread

wrapped chain stitch

variegated threads woven onto long and short stitches

blingy ribbon, a 'MOP' sequin, herringbone and french knots

 and my October block is finished!

I was tatting some seam treatments for my Jewel block, and tried Mary Konior's "Baby" edging

aptly named, I thought

since this is supposed to be a straight edging, I need to concentrate more on my tension
sheesh!

but I'm going to use these bits, anyway........

the top one was tatted in DMC pearl size 12, the pink ones in a found thread which is like a size 30, and the green beginning is tatted in Lady Shuttlemaker's Rainforest, size 20

Hope you all have a great weekend.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz