Embroidered, tatted pillowcase

This is my second pair of pillowcases. On this one I added a simple chain edging and only put it on the front. It is a Hostess gift for Art League next month. It was quick, easy and sewn on with invisible thread by machine. The Embroidered basket of flowers is a free pattern from www.birdbrain.com The Daisy Material is 100% cotton and the white body of the case is 65 poly and 35 cotton. It makes it easy to wash and dry with no ironing. Before tracing the pattern on, spray it with starch and use a #5 mechanical pencil. The pencil mark will wash out. These work up quick and makes a nice gift.

Ship in a bottle was cross stitched on 28 count Linen. I wanted a "manly" look and thought this would add to the Crazy Quilt Christmas Stocking I am doing for my niece's boyfriend.

REDWORK E-BOOK

I was busily working on a Crazy Quilt Christmas Stocking when my DH brought in the mail on Monday and at that moment all work stopped to open my packages from The Quilter's Muse Publications, Pat Cummings. I thumbed through the Blue Work Sampler while the CD drive was bringing up the E-Book. The E-Book has all of the first edition "Redwork Renaissance" book designs and information plus lots of extras like the "Kissing Star and Moon" design. The works on this design is on Pat's blog from Sweden and are awesome! http://quiltersmuse.com/blog/ There is a second "Crescent Moon Goddess" and this one has stars, very interesting. I have used the book a lot for designs and information and the E-Book is even better with more designs. The "Blue Work Sampler" are just patterns (72) from an antique quilt printed on high quality paper and inserted in a folder. There is something for everyone in these redwork patterns. The first pattern was a goat, kid and a DOG!! We purchased 2 Billies on Sat and have 2 dogs. Very pleased with all the patterns.

Tatted Humingbird

"Tatting Times" by Karey Solomon, a quarterly journal for tatters, arrived last week. There were many patterns to choose from but the hummingbird really caught my eye. The Black-Chinned hummingbirds arrived around the first of April and we have 10 flying all over. Usually by the first of July we start see the babies on the feeders.

What a perfect place to put this hummingbird on a Crazy Quilt with embroidered flowers. It is made with size 20 Lizbeth thread #115 Springtime and Lizbeth brown for the beak and core thread. It works up very quickly and has 3 different techniques; Lock-Chain, Split Ring and Mock Ring. The eye is a french knot. Thanks Karey!

This weekend I worked up a pair of embroidered pillow cases for Mother on "Mother's Day". All I needed was some tatting for an edging but that can be added another time. The free pattern is from www.birdbraindesigns.net You can find tea towels, patterns and "Free" patterns. It is a good site to go to. I also sent her a tatted cross and a special, crafted card that I made.

Tatted Crosses

Our tatting group have been tatting crosses this week. The first three is a pattern by Eliz Davis with size 10 for the white and DMC 8 for the pink. They work up very quick. A good way to learn split rings. The second picture of crosses are from Gina Butler. Tatted in size 10, 40 and 80 threads.

Crazy Quilt Work Published

I have been working on this Crazy Quilt since 2006. Perhaps this will be the year I will finish it! A few months ago I was asked to send a picture of the "Crescent Moon Goddess" I had stitched. It was a pattern in "Redwork Renaissance" by Pat Cummings. Pat has revised the book into a new e-book in pdf format on CD. I have used many of the patterns and information from the first book and cannot wait to see this newly revised copy. For more information and picture of the Crescent Moon Goddess go to http://www.quiltersmuse.com