Embroidery = Relaxation

It seems my fiber interests come and go in cycles.  While I love to sew, I hate to have to have to start and stop on big projects.  I don't like having to pack up what I was working on just to get it out again later and discover that I have lost my rhythm.  Therefor, sewing seems to be a summer project since I have more time off.  In the winter, I love to embroider!  For the past several winters, I have been working on a Crazy Quilt.  While the quilt was finished for am art show in December 2010, I have since decided that I really needed to embroider every seam.  I love how the quilt is beginning to look, but at time the project is overwhelming.

Recently I embroidered a set of Tea Towels for a great friend of mine.  I was worried because the pattern was for Scottie dogs and he loves Westies.  While they are both terriers there are differences, but I thought the pattern would pass a Westie Lover's test.  It was really relaxing to just cuddle up under a blanket and embroider while watching TV at night.

This one was my favorite in the set.  I don't think I need to explain why.

The towels didn't take me as long to complete as I expected they would.  I have since started on some napkins I hope to be able to list on Etsy soon.  More on this later......so stay tuned.

Batik Bags

I just love batik material.  The patterns and colors have so much life and personality to them.  In December, I made several bags and sold them.  (I know this is old news, but I just found the pictures of the bags which I thought I lost.  I guess they were just lots on my computer!)  I found several great batik materials.   Since not everyone loves batik as much as I do, I kept the batik to the minimum as the pocket material and did the rest of the bag in a solid color.  I think they turned out great and since I have a lot of extra material left over I need to start making some more.

Keeping Secrets

If you ask most of my family they will tell you that when it comes to keeping secrets (especially around the holidays) I am horrible.  I guess I get really excited and what to know if they are going to like their gifts, therefore I sometimes spill the beans.  It is never intentional, but rather something that just slips out.

This year I have to brag though.  I started on my Brother's Christmas present in August.  Years and Years ago he had asked our Grandmother to make him a Log Cabin quilt.  They could never see eye to eye on material and it never came to be.  I knew that he wanted the quilt to be a value scale in Red.  (I like the idea as well because I see so many quilts that are too busy with patterned material no one notices the craftsmanship.)  After walking into a fabric store this summer that all changed. There in front of my eyes was a huge selection just of solid fabrics, so as I started to skim over the Red section I realize that there would be enough different reds to actually make the Log Cabin Quilt.  After saying I would never make a traditional quilt again.  I gave it a shot for my Brother.  I used one of Eleanor Burn's Quilt in a Day books and the sewing went by quickly and smoothly.  The only problem was I had to get it out of the house before my Brother came back to MO to visit.  So off to the quilters it went.  I had an Amish lady do the quilting for me and just let her have the reins on the quilting pattern.  When she called at the end of Oct/early Nov. I was so excited.  The Quilt turned out beautifully and I somehow managed to keep my excitement and not spill the beans.  Below you will see the quilt proudly in use at my Brother's house.