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

CQ 2012 Journal update...

...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

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