updating...

... 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...

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..

March CQ 2012 block

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...

...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