a little tension

 Yesterday i took a picture of my first Iris to open up. They are so delicate looking.

While I was doing my laps this morning at the pool, I was envisioning how I would finish up my two hummingbird pieces. I was looking forward to trying out my new Wonderfil thread for some curly vines, but that turned out to be a bit of  a trial. The thread kept shredding and breaking, so when I sit down later, I must do some more research on needles. I actually tried a metafil, a titanium and a jeans needle which is what worked. By the end, I was pretty frustrated.
 

I've picked out the borders which I will add in the quilt as you go method. You can see a bit of them laid out below.

Next I added some iridescent paint highlights and darkened up the wings with Inktense watercolor pencils. They're looking better I think.

I'm trying to make up my mind about quilting the background space around the birds. The Timtex gives such nice texture that I'm thinking it might be better to leave it blank so that the birds and flowers are even more showy. I'll have to think on it.
I'm linking to the Needle and Thread Network for WIP Wednesday. go check out all the fun works in progress..

creative sunday

I had quite a lovely and busy day yesterday. I can survive on my own! My husband made it to Labrador City and we talked for a few minutes as he was exhausted. It was a 17 hour trip by road and ferry.
I've finally realized that when I have my machine set up for free motion, it is much more productive to work on a few things with common colors at once. I did some outlining on both hummingbirds. There are a couple of things I want to change on the birds and I will be adding more paint again too. I really like how the flowers turned out.

 I used Timtex this time and it seems to have given them some puffy dimension.

 I  added 5 little bubbles cut from Angelina fibers to the castle piece.

Around 2pm I took time out to have my walk and was able to sit on my deck swing with my tea and snack afterwards. There was a lovely breeze and not a fly to be seen. For supper, I pulled a homemade  lentil burger from my freezer, warmed it and added cheese, lettuce, tomato and rhubarb chutney. I let it get a little too brown but it was still delicious.

 I also made the draw for my hand pieced star runner last night. I will be mailing it soon and will look for some updates on progress to show you . I'm actually excited to see what will become of it and how Linda will finish it.

staying creative on a lonely sunday

I lazed about in bed this morning after saying good bye to my husband at 5 AM when he left for Labrador City to work for the week. It is my first time being alone at night in years and it's definitely different that I'm not working. Also, today is Sunday when I'm used to him being around. On the bright side I don't have to worry about meals! I'm a little worried about being lazy! Have you ever noticed that when you have precious little time off, that it is an impetus to get more done?

 After completing the crossword puzzle with my tea, I did make a batch of my favorite granola this morning though. It is nutty and fibrous with just a touch of sweetness. A lover of crunchiness, a sprinkle adds just the right touch on my fruit and plain yogurt at breakfast.

Yesterday, I added the black stitching to my runner to finish it up. I liked all the various greens on the linen and I love the sketchy look of the black thread. However, in my predominantly beige living room, it doesn't add enough color. I've decide that some brighter cushions are needed and was tempted to start them right away. I'm going to be good though and finish some other projects first.
I will make the small draw for my hand pieced stars to-night and let you know the winner tomorrow. My husband isn't here to do the picking so I hope you'll trust me!

 On my walk last night, I picked another little bunch of forget me knots. They're nearing the end. I just picked a few and added some lily of the valley and a few bleeding hearts. The little dish is one that came from my friend who is moving.

When I got home after my Friday lunch date, I decided to pot up my last pot for my deck. The darn little black flies were so pesky that I danced, swatted and blew my way through it. I didn't spray myself like yesterday since I just had the one thing to do. Darn it one got me behind the ear.

 
What else could I do? I retreated to my sewing studio. I got the 3 pieces for my runner cut-- top, flannel lining and backing, and then I sewed it together and turned it. The flannel lining is perfect though a little tricky to cut. It was from a cheap sheet and kept stretching.I will top stitch the edge and then I want to do a free motion vine and stitch around the leaves, I think in black.

 I got two hummingbirds ready to stitch too. I added a border to the first one which you see here. The second one I'm going to stitch and add borders later. I don't always know how the colors will end up. Once I do the outline stitching I will add more paint. The color is a little faded here but with teh stitching and more paint it will start to come alive.

sunshine and hand embellishing

The sun came out today and it was very welcome. I potted up some plants for my front step and the deck. After all those rainy days the black flies were out in swarms. I had to come in to get the bug spray. Gord wants to go hit balls to-night but I won't be going. I don't like it when the flies are thick. Probably I'll go for a little walk in our subdivision instead.

 I made a quick bookmark yesterday as a little gift for a friend.
Also, today, I was in the craft shop, Chal Baie, at the waterfront and I took a couple of pictures of my stuff. I should have taken another one because we rearranged and added a couple more things afterwards--my runner for one.

 My quilts and an afghan are together on a quilt rack.

I took a supply of perle cotton, beads and fibers and worked on my castle while I was there.

 Adding all the final embellishing is my favorite part and really gives it life it think. I've a bit more to do on this.

a finished runner, a giveaway runner

Yesterday, I finished hand sewing the binding down on this runner. It's all done!
I didn't get any other sewing done because I went out for part of the day to help my moving friend. It has inspired me though to clean out some of my own things!

 I have this bit of handwork that has been hiding away in my closet. It was going to be a small quilt; then was revised to a runner, and now I no longer have the desire to finish it. Is there anyone out there who loves to do handwork who would like it? The last seam for the runner is almost done. The pieces to finish it are in the bag. If your interested leave me a comment and I'll draw names if there is more than one. I'll leave it open until Sunday the 10th.

I'm linking to the Needle and Thread Network. Go check out all the great blogs.

staying inside to sew and paint

I took the advise of some of you and went looking for fabrics in my stash for the runner. I found a backing fabric and I found some flannel. It was a piece left over form a pair of sheets that I bought when I made my design wall. It is cream colored so will do nicely. I wasn't sure if it had gotten washed, probably, but I put it in anyway.

 So while I wait for that, I've been doing a few other things. Some of my readers will remember the castle with the wrinkle which ran when I attempted to iron it out after dampening the fabric. I cut the stained border off and added a new one using the quilt as you go method. Here you can see the 2 side borders sewn on.
 The right hand one is still folded back and I have butted a Timtex up against the seam and zig zagged it. After that I added the top and bottom borders the same way.

Now it is ready for some hand embellishing and beading. I will take it to the shop with me to work on while I'm there.

 I pulled out another hummingbird mono print and added the first layer of color with a paint brush and Inktense pencils. you might remember this first one that I did.
The other thing I did that I've wanted to do for a while is to sew 2  sample blocks for the quilt I will do my brother and his wife. I found the directions at Love Laugh Quilt.
 Even though you can't see it, I layered two fabrics together and sliced, swapping out the fabrics for each block. I cut them 13 3/4 inches.

They look like this when sewn together, so once trimmed they were about 12 inches. They will not be next to each other once more blocks are made.