a stitch today - the rest tomorrow...

has anyone seen...

2012-05-06T15:38:00.005+10:00

...my stitching mojo? I think it may have left the building because it has got tired of me 'not playing'. My creative life is a ~~lot~~ little on the lean side of late My CQJournal 2012 has fallen by the wayside - as I knew it would once the year started to rev up - and the TAST well, we won't even go there... Try as I might to be productive in the evenings it just doesn't happen. These days with work so full on all the time I'm too tired to even think about anything more than my bed. But I have done a little cross stitch and some knitting - I think the almost meditative motion of my knitting is what pleases me at the moment - I don't have to think I just knit away... With my continual sinusitis I feel even less than creative - still it could be worse and I continually count my blessings...

As you can see I have changed my blog face... I thought the 'change of scenery' might inspire me... I love daisies so this was just the perfect background... It made me think of that old rhyme 'he loves me, he loves me not' - I could change it to 'I may stitch, or I may not'...

The days are already quite cold - that Indian summer we had just a few weeks back has gathered up her golden robes and fled.. I believe once we cross Winter's threshold the days will be very cold and frosty...

Well, that's enough from me...

Until later, as always take care

Sharon x x

no, no stitching, but eye candy of a different kind...

2012-04-17T17:35:00.000+10:00

Today was P's birthday and we both had the day off work to celebrate it. His choice was to go to Miss Marple's Tearooms in Sassafras. After a lovely quiet drive in the autumn sunshine we arrived - as usual the place was busy as ever... The food is great and the desserts are well worth leaving room for... I had the trifle and P's was called Vicar's Folly - as you can see they are very generous... Just down from the Tearooms there is a wool shop which I just had to have a look at... Very tempting - all that brightly coloured wool just waiting to be knitted... Tonight my eldest daughter and her husband are joining P, E and I for pizzas and cupcakes which Mel made and she and E iced... All in all a satisfying birthday for P....

updating...

2012-03-25T20:23:00.001+11:00

... having a wee bit of a s-l-o-w time.. My inspiration has all but left me.. Rather than let it stress me out re the CQ Journal project I have picked up one of my numerous cross stitch UFOs and I am just having a relaxing time with that...

Until later, take care as always

Sharon x x x

CQ Journal 2012 February block...

2012-03-05T17:16:00.000+11:00

fractured flower

...is finally finished... Despite coughing myself silly I was determined to draw the 'have completed' line on this one... I think that being ill for most of it's creation hasn't helped the creative juices flow...

What do I think of it...

There are some aspects I really like - there are a couple that look 'bitsy' but in the scheme of things it is another one marked off the list... Even looking at it now I see some things I would like to re- do. However for the moment I will leave well enough alone... I must however credit the drawn flower design to Helen Stubbings - who is an absolute whiz at using coloured pencils and fabric together... When you have a minute go over to her blog and see her wonderful work... I have loved this flower design since I first saw it in one of the craft magazines a couple of years back...It was part of a table runner design Helen had created - mine never made it to that stage :) But the design lent itself to the idea I had about 'breaking apart' or 'fracturing' a picture and then re forming it as part of a crazy block...

Now onto March's creation...

Until later take care

Sharon x x

spider web..

2012-03-04T22:18:00.001+11:00

March CQ 2012 block

2012-03-02T17:47:00.001+11:00

March block

... yep, another one... Slightly different colour array than I suggested yesterday in the photo... I 'borrowed' the design base from sharonb's stable of templates - however mine couldn't look any more different if it tried... I have deliberately left large sections of plain fabric as I wanted to try out some largish motifs... the March block is a very different colour palette to the Feb or even Jan block - nothing like a challenge I always say.. I won't get back to this block before next weekend which is good as it gives it a chance to 'rest' and be 'considered' before I take a needle to it...

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

another update...

2012-03-01T18:01:00.002+11:00

...thanks to still feeling lousy I have had extended sick leave coupled with a trip to the doc's and an x-ray... He suspects I could have patches of pneumonia I will find out tomorrow but for the moment I am feeling a little average... Anyway, enough of my sad story... The upside is that today I felt up to doing a little stitching...

this would be my favorite seam so far - I felt I had achieved exactly what I had set out to do even though the pink novelty thread was a late inclusion

Cretan stitch, lazy daisy with bead, couched novelty thread

...these little jewellery findings worked a treat and finish that section for me...

butterfly trimming, hot pink bead silver jewellery findings

...this is my 'problem child' - while I love the beads - they just look like a blob. Even E when looking asked me what they were...But I shall leave then until I can think of something better...

variety of glass flower and leaf shaped beads -

Outline stitch around painted leaf shape, pink flower shapes with hot pink bead sewn over chevron stitch

So as you can see I am on the home run... I want to reapply the colour to the fractured flower so bringing it into the foreground a little bit more... Perhaps even some french knots to the centre - I'll see on that one as french knots are still one of my 'difficult' stitches...

Overall block

Below are my selections for March - I have some ideas - some generated from this book. Brian Haggard creates some exciting examples of what can be done. Every time I browse through the pages I find some thing new. His style really appeals to me and I would like to try some of his larger motifs - but I guess only time will tell if it happens...

March CQ choices.

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

CQ 2012 Journal update...

2012-02-28T18:58:00.000+11:00

...A quick update on my Feb block... Like many well laid plans mine were foiled - with some nasty virus over the last week. I had intended spending last weekend getting my Feb block almost to the finish line - unfortunately I was too busy feeling very under the weather to bother about anything... I spent most of the weekend either on the couch or in bed sleeping...

I felt so bad that I have ended up having a couple of days off work - yesterday was much the same as the weekend but today I felt a whole lot brighter and spent most of the day stitching in a vain attempt to try and catch up... I got quite a bit done but again not finished - but I have laid down the foundations to the direction that the block is travelling so unless there is a major hiccup I should have it finished shortly...

You may have noticed straightaway that I have used the same motif as I did on my Jan block... I wanted something to link all 12 blocks together and since I have lots of ideas but nothing which is a continuing theme I thought I would use the motif... So on each block somewhere will be my 'wheel' - it may be the whole shape or even just a hint of it...

fractured flower block

I am, as I have said before not a natural embroiderer, so every stitch or combination of stitches takes me far longer than someone who is 'born to the needle'. I find that - using the Cretan stitch as the example - once I get into a rhythm I am right - however if I am interrupted it takes me a while to regain momentum... Still while I find it a challenge I am also enjoying the challenge in putting these blocks together. In fact I think my ideas exceed the number of blocks that are needed - one idea I have for a future block by using one of my daughter's cartoon characters as a feature..

As most of you know I work in a bookshop - constantly I am tempted!!! This book unfortunately for the paying public came into the store from the supplier damaged - as it couldn't be put on the shelf for sale I was lucky enough to get it... A fabulous book full of ideas and examples for creating patterns in all sorts of mediums...This will be well thumbed through and well used - especially with this challenge :))

Well, until later take care...

Sharon x x

Feb Block - CQ Journal Project 2012

2012-02-21T22:28:00.001+11:00

fractured flower

... a running update tonight... I have finally put together my Feb block... I will give more of an explanation next time around... But as you can probably see a lot different to my Jan block. Quite a few little problems I am going to have to clean up as I go along. But I think I will have fun as I go... I have made a paper frame so I can keep an eye on the construction...

Enough from me - the hour grows late and I shall turn into a pumpkin if I don't go to bed soon - but I did want to show you what I have done so far....

Take care now

Sharon x x

a pile of possibilities...

2012-02-18T21:10:00.000+11:00

...for my February block... Too many ideas and not enough time - common problem for many of us methinks...

... and my new improved sewing room... It is about the size of a postage stamp but it does the job... E's cat Louis of course had to make the final inspection...

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

Finally...

2012-02-12T14:47:00.001+11:00

Block 1 -Circles - January - Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012

...the end. Well, the end of the January block at least - only 11 more to go... Am I pleased with it... Reasonably - I am aware of the largish very bright lime green area. But in its own way because of its vibrant colour and being mostly unadorned - it almost balances out the busyness of the darkish mauve on the opposite side of the block. Perhaps the only thing I was considering was to embroider the month and year on the lime green. If this is going to be a sampler then a date would not be out of place. However, I was thinking I would wait until I have a couple more blocks completed before I make a final decision.

My daughter E, - observed that I have a circle theme happening.. The main motifs, the buttons and mirrors - are all round.. That wasn't the intention when I started it was something that just evolved as I stitched and added. So I shall call the block 'Circles'...

What I had planned to do with the mirrors was teach my self shisha stitch but like what sometimes happens it didn't quite go to plan... After I had initially stitched the mirrors to the block I had left them overnight - in the morning and looking at them with fresh eyes - I saw that the stitching on the mirrors in part echoed the stitching of the large purple motif - I rather liked that idea and thought that I would leave it and 'play' around the outside edge instead with fly stitch.

As with luck the fly stitch and the feather stitch on the seam line were a happy marriage... I then added the little silver beads and the coloured glass beads to give it a more continuity.

What I am coming to realize though as I stitch my way through this project - it is amazing what you can do with a needle and thread and a few simple stitches...

Now to pack up all my bits from January and start the selection for Feb. - I like to have a clean and clear work space when I start something new... It helps me choose another palette without the influence of the last...It also helps clean and clear the mind for the next thought process.

Because I am running so far behind with my Febuary block I have rethought about its composition and have decided to keep it simple - perhaps with a flower or garden theme. Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

Another seam closer to the end...

2012-02-05T17:45:00.002+11:00

Not much to show this weekend - I have been too busy 'being social' and having a lovely time 'catching up'... So here are my 'doings'...

As you can see I have used a repeated herringbone stitch taken from TAST and combined it with a lazy daisy stitch with a small bead... I deliberately swung the lazy daisy to the side as I wanted the eye to follow along with the rhythm created by the herringbone stitch... It took me a while to catch onto the herringbone stitch... I am not a natural embroiderer - there is a lot of holding my tongue the right way,tangled threads and dropped needles. Our house is constantly on 'needle alert'! And if I was being marked for these pieces I am quite sure I would get a 'P +' for persistence and perseverance...

As you can see also I made a departure from a largely tone on tone and introduced the red thread to the green... This has 'linked' it to the red next to it and offered some continuity. I am more or less happy with it with just a few more bits to add before I call it finished. I have intentionally left large areas unstitched as I wanted to give the block a feeling of freshness and space - but that may change after I have set it aside for awhile. Now my thoughts are turning towards the next one which will be a bit of a departure from a traditional crazy block if all goes to plan...

With each block I am pushing myself to try something new... I am also finding it refreshing that I haven't felt 'stampeded' into rushing but rather taking my time to create something that pleases me and I will look back on with a sense of achievement..

I have taken and will continue to do so - a photo copy of each 'naked block' - so that I can write down each stitch as I go... It will be good to be able to look back and see how each stitch group was constructed...Sometimes I think it is the thoughts and scribbling behind the pieces which intrigue me rather than the completed items...

Until later, take care...

Sharon x x - from rainy, grey (with thunder and lightening) Melbourne

CQ JOURNAL 2012

2012-01-29T17:25:00.001+11:00

yep, another update...

newly stitched sections

...this is what I have done today - apart from melt with the heat... I am now way behind with my January block but none the less I can see an ending...

newly stitched sections in relation to the whole block

The new sections are the pink one in the left hand corner and the red one in the right hand corner - plus I have removed the 'lazy daisy' flowers and have just used a running stitch around that little striped left hand triangle... I'm not sure on the blanket stitch on the red block - but I will leave it until next weekend before I decide... Amazingly the little red motif took about 45 minutes as opposed to an afternoon like the yellow one... I guess was that I knew what I was doing this time around...

The next couple of sections will be the killers as they are both largish... I will give it a press and think about it again... I may even leave them and come back to them at a later date. I find if I sit there and stress about them it only adds to the brain drain... I have already got some ideas for some of the other blocks so I am spoilt for choice really...

Better go and rescue the washing as it has clouded over considerably in the last half an hour or so and I would hate it if it all got wet again...Not that it would take long time to dry with the weather we are having...

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

Crazy Quilt Update...

2012-01-22T20:27:00.003+11:00

Doesn't look much for a weekend's stitching does it... I have only a few days until the deadline is upon me... Of course I won't get it finished in time... However while I may be failing at deadlines I am personally achieving... I am learning to go with my gut feel about my stitching and pushing my need to be perfect aside... Apart from the little 'lazy daisy' flowers up in the left hand corner - which will be going - I am happy with the way my block is progressing...

The bottom yellow panel has just about driven me to distraction - but finally - I was triumphant... The problem with trying to copy a motif that you made up as you went a long (and taking no notes) is trying to re-create it... After two failed attempts I finally succeed on the third try... The problem was not so much the motif - but its size... I had tried to do 'something arty' with it in the original size but it just seemed to lose the impact that the mauve one had... I tried different colours but it still looked wrong and then it hit me - it was too big... So I took a smaller button - my tracing shape - and two similar yellows and success!!!

The feather stitch in the variegated cotton just 'worked' and the green triangle overlaid with a lighter shade in cretan stitch was so simple the first time around that I sat back in disbelief that it had worked just like I had imagined it would...

I am not so sure about the fly stitch on the striped fabric but for the moment it can stay... The buttons on the one sided feather stitch I like and have plans to do some basic leaf shapes... What I do really like is the running stitch - it gives the block a handmade quality - a sense being created to last...Give it in it's not the straightest or most even but that too has a certain charm to it... Where did I get the idea to include it in my stitch repertoire.. I had actually hand pieced the block onto plain calico and when I looked at the back I liked the running stitches and how it defined the shapes... While I didn't intentionally think about using running stitch on the front of the block it just seemed to fit when I did...

So that's the update for this week... Have I thought about the Feb block yet??? Are you kidding me??? I like to live dangerously!!!! Stitch - by the seat of my pants - fly in the face of deadlines!!! :-}

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

Creative Sleeplessness

2012-01-15T12:10:00.000+11:00

Messing around with this took me until 3am... Doesn't look much for all that lack of sleep does it... Yes, I can see that the motif isn't central to the triangular patch - that's what happens when you're trying to do three things at once. I did fret about it initially - then I thought about doing the running stitch down each side with the motif 'breaking through' as though it is 'living' and moving through the block. By doing this I thought it grounded the motif and gave it place. I may repeat a smaller version of the motif somewhere else on the block. The stitches I used were - chain stitch, french knots, feather stitch and of course, fly stitch... The top photo is where it is in relationship on the block... When I think what I was originally planning to do - which was a circle of flowers - it is so far removed from that that it bears no relationship to it at all... In fact the whole block is much different than I planned - it is so much more vibrant and alive...

Am I happy with it?

I was annoyed that I hadn't taken more notice that it was off centre - but I do like how it has evolved. I like the way I have used a combination of traditional stitches to create something a little different with their application - sort of like reinventing the wheel isn't it... I think that once I start 'dressing' the rest that it will balance out and I can always come back and 'tweak it' if necessary.

What it has done is given me a little more confidence to attempt to solve a problem rather than ripping all the stitching out and/or starting over. My self imposed striving for perfection doesn't allow for spontaneous creativity. After all isn't this what this challenge is about - pushing ourselves to experiment and think outside the square. This first block is certainly leading the way and I am following - it will be interesting to see where it takes me..

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

CQJP 2012 - January "naked" Crazy Block

2012-01-13T20:21:00.002+11:00

Finally!!! I have at last managed to get my January crazy block together... So without further ado here is the 'naked' block... As usual the idea I started off with is not what I ended up with... The colour value is not quite true... The top left hand corner is more of a flesh and the top right hand corner is a clear red... And the bottom yellow is a more clear butter yellow and the smaller triangle is a deep forest green... However you get the general idea... A couple of seam lines showing through - they will be covered so I am not too concerned. The dark block may need some tweaking too - at the moment it sort of 'hits' you in the eye.. Perhaps it needs to be toned down.. Hmmm - I guess I will sort it out as I go along... Now comes the fun part - 'dressing' the block with embroidery, buttons and bits...

For some 'eye candy' - have a look at the CQJP 2012 blog - amazing work from all over the world...

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

off topic but a very special occasion...

2012-01-11T18:28:00.002+11:00

the last waltz...

(may take awhile to load)

...this is my 100 year old Dad dancing at his birthday bash yesterday - 10th January.. The residential aged care facility where he lives threw him a party to mark his BIG, BIG birthday... The organizers went to a lot of trouble to make it a memorable one for him... One of the surprises they had was to have a couple come in from a local dance school to do a demonstration. Dad had taught and competed in ballroom dancing in his very early days so this was really special for him... At the end of their demonstration the young woman approached Dad and asked if he would join in her in the last dance - a waltz... After an initial hesitation he managed a few steps... For a nanosecond it was as if his younger self 'stepped in' and his old body remembered its younger days... It was quite stirring to watch him as he moved with her across the floor... And as you can hear in the background there was lots of encouraging clapping and cheering.. A wonderful day was had by all but I think a very overwhelmed and tired 100 year man wouldn't have been too long out of bed last evening...

Here is a shot of my Dad and Mum dancing... Mum would have been about 18 or 19 and Dad would have been about 22 or 23... I don't think that they were married at this stage...

This was a glamour publicity shot... Little did these two young people know what was ahead of them as they stared off into the distance....

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

...just a few more stitches...

2012-01-08T17:56:00.002+11:00

... as the post title implies just a few more stitches... Where the word 'grow' is - that is the half way point of the design... I will do all this bottom section before I move on wards... I love the subtle colour changes... Although in the night light I have to be sure that I pick up the right thread as with a couple of them there is only a shade or so apart...

Until later, take care

Sharon x x

Welcome 2012...

2012-01-01T13:33:00.001+11:00

Life, I believe is like a river - it takes you on a journey... There are bends, twists and rapids that keep us alert and vigilant from sloth and complacency...It has calm and peaceful moments which offers us the stillness in which to rest, reflect and dream ... Life, like a river - has forever changing scenery - are we constantly straining forward to see what's ahead not stopping to appreciate what is before us... Life, like a river gives us opportunities to explore, discover and grow both in strength and mind...

Where ever your 'river' takes you in 2012 may it be a journey, that it be abundant and prosperous and joyful...

Happy New Year !!

Images from Christmas Day

2011-12-28T11:09:00.002+11:00

The day started off seemingly fine - warm with the promise of rain and some possible hail...

We started eating and general merry making... As with all Christmas dinners we were well into the afternoon by the time we got to the pudding...

By the time it took to serve the pudding and eat it - this weather was already on us... One of my daughter's friends who had had Christmas lunch with us and had left just after pudding was caught in the deluge as she approached the city - her car was battered with hailstones the size of golf balls - she said she was still shaking when she got home...

I stood outside taking these - the clouds were so low - it seemed you could almost reach up and touch them...

This photo doesn't show how fast these clouds were travelling and just how swirling and menacing they were...We could tell that somewhere not too far away was really feeling the brunt of this storm...

A little while after this was taken it bucketed down - soaking rain - with large hail - our gutters overflowed and the garden was saturated... I think it rained and thundered for the best part of five hours before it came to a complete stop...We were lucky and very thankful - I have since learnt that others were not so fortunate...

Another Christmas Day in Melbourne...

Until later, take care...

Sharon x x

t'was just before Christmas...

2011-12-22T06:51:00.002+11:00

From my family to yours... May you all have a peaceful, joyous and safe Christmas 2011...

Moments - but not a stitch in sight...

2011-12-17T19:49:00.000+11:00

This little this figure that E bought for me mirrors my own state of mind of late... She - like I -seem to be looking - either forward to the future or is it back to the past - I'm not sure which... Christmas time - over the last few years - seems to bring this reflective side of myself to the fore... One could ponder on why - but like for many of us 2011 has not been without its challenges... I am hoping - again like many of us that 2012 will be kinder... But something tells me - as always - it will be as it will be...

I have been looking at shapes lately and of course it is also an excuse to try and the camera part of my new phone...

Of course we all recognise the Hills Hoist (rotary clothes line for overseas readers) How many tons of clothes have been hung over its lines over the years... I really liked this shot of the centre of its strength silhouetted against the fading daylight...

This is part of the ceiling I walk under every morning on the way to the shop where I work... It too has a beauty all of its own... I like its strength but also its fragility... It reminds me a little of an insect's wing - strong enough to hold and carry - but also delicate and fragile...

Theses are simply flowers from my garden - beautiful in the own right...

These ones where almost too dazzling to photograph - their colours seem to 'vibrate' and 'dance' before me as I photographed them..

And lastly, the remnants of the evening sun 'catching' on the leaves as it sets..

Until later, take care...

Sharon x

blogger problems...

2011-12-08T21:00:00.001+11:00

It seems that I have discovered the problem with my blog... Apparently, and I am still to figure out why - my new phone 'stole' all my blogger photos when I connected it to my computer... When I (not realizing what had happened) deleted the photos from my phone storage - it also the deleted those photos from my blog... Go figure.. Some of the photos are gone for good - some I may be able to retrieve from my achieved albums - crazy stuff!! Will I bother? Not sure yet - lately I haven't had much time to do anything and I am finding it more difficult to thread a simple sentence together after the work days I have had lately... More crazy stuff!!!!

Perhaps it is a message from the greater blogging gods... That remains to be answered... Until later, take care...

Sharon x

** Arlene the bunny photo is for you... I made this earlier on in the year over on stitchin fingers for a postcard swap

What the!!

2011-12-06T07:39:00.001+11:00

Looks like something has gone astray here... Not sure what the problem is and how I can fix it... Nor have I the time to try and fathom it... Until later, take care...

Sharon x

Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012

2011-11-20T11:35:00.001+11:00

This looks like it could be interesting... I would like to participate but I'm not sure that I have the time or the vision required to dedicate to such a long term project...

http://www.cqjp.org/Index.html

I can see the benefits and the satisfaction it would be to say nothing of the skills I would develop along the way... But am I ready to devote the little spare time I have to it - that is the question which remains to be answered...

Until later, take care

Sharon xx