Tatted Doilies, Knitting and Hooken

Cherub Doily by Ann Wilson was tatted in memory of Cousin Bob who passed away from ALS. The bright colors to celebrate his life and will be mailed to his spouse. It is Lizbeth 20 153 - Rainbow Taffy

 Round 3 of Renulek Doily. An easy round of rings and chains, just make sure there are 3 rings before joining to the previous round. It's tatted with Lizbeth 40 163 Blue Ice.

 

My second pair of socks. The first sock is finished but ran out of yarn,  will knit  the second one later. This pattern is designed by Kim Goddard and is for beginners. To dress it up I knitted the rib and then did an Eyelet Ridge. They are knitted on size 2 with knit Pick Peruvian Highland wool. Love working with the yarn.

 

Adding more flowers to the Hook Rug.

 

The African Violets are blooming. They are all started with a single leaf 4 years ago.  In front are my herbs and need to get them planted in the planter.  Echinacea, Parsley, Sage and Thyme.

 

I stated all my seeds this year and really grew with my new grow light. In this state people do not know what broccoli or cabbage is! I have lots of tiny tomatoes.

 

 

This year I have started to grow most of my flowers in pots because of all the critters like the one below. Boy is he fast. Went between DH's legs this morning to get in to the crack of the wood fence. LOL He has doubled in size from last week. What we thought were gofers are ground squirrels. They run through the gofer holes and dig to the top and eat my plants. Look like a giant chipmunk.

 

 

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts at   http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com 

Rug Hooken and CQ Block

A project from the 70's and time to finish the hook rug.

 I took an online class with Kathy Shawkl. The past few weeks I have been working on this CQ block. It is ready to hand quilt just need the right color of thread.

The center of the Feather Star is complete and now time to quilt a Star.

Sunday is our time to walk the doggies around the loop at 5 mile park. It is a short walk and the final loop the dogs say it best....Time to Go Home!! I think it is less than a 1/2 mile around and DH can just make it. A nice stroll.

 

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts at   http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com

Quilting, Hooking and Embroidery

I hand quilt an hour or so every evening. This is what I have accomplished in a week. Below are the stencils I am using. The bottom stencil is new kind without the open lines and not plastic, like silk screening. Just run the Quilt Pounce over and ready to quilt. Here is the website  www.fullLineStencil.com. Once I have the chalk on and start quilting some of the chalk disappears on the other side.  I have a solution for the  chalk marks to stay on. I cover up the section I am not quilting on with a piece of batting. The batting clings on and no pinning.

 

A relic from the 70's!! I started hooken then and life happens.

 The wool is not the same color but it was the best that I could find. Lost my hook along the way also. I purchase the one on the left and the hook was too big and uncomfortable in my hand. I found Joan Moshimer hooks made in Maine and is a smaller, comfortable hook. Like the one I used way back then. I was told they do not make that canvas any more.  I am using a rotary cutter to cut 1/8 inch strips. A rug cutter cost between $300 - 700.  I might put it aside till next fall and perhaps this summer I will find a color closer or white and dye it when I travel back home to upstate New York.

I am taking a free, online basic CQ class with Kathy Shawkl. One must take this first before going on to the advance classes. An excellent way to learn CQ. If you are interested in this class here is Kathy's blog and she will post the next time it begins again.  www.shawkl.com  The best part is that you work at your own pace and doesn't have to be done in a week.

 

Happy Easter. Check out the eye candy on Kathy's blog.....

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts  http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com

  

Blue Butterfly Quilt and Feather Star

Finished Deb's Quilt. The Applique is hand quilted and the rest machine using a Janome with walking foot and free motion.

New Hand quilting project. The Feather Star is a pattern of Fons and Porter in a series of magazines I believe in 2004. One of my first quilts.  It has been stashed for some years and now it is time to quilt.

Center of quilt.

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts  http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com


 

Tatted doilies and Cross Stitch Sampler

 

 

Finished Nancy Tracy's Doily. It is tatted with size 10 Lizbeth threads.

Started the Spring Doily by Renulek and tatted with size 40 Lizbeth Blue Ice.

 

 

 

Finished the sampler found in a thrift shop for $2. An unknown person x-stitched the alphabet  and saying. I undid all the knots on the back and completed the rest.  It is a 1970's kit, stamped on 100% Belgian Linen. The thread was missing.

 Started the binding and have 3 more sides to do. The applique flower border is hand and the top blocks are machine. Lots of quilting and glad it is at the end to enjoy.

 

 

 I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts  http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com.

Purple Doily and Blue Quilt

Purple Doily by Nancy Tracy has another round added. Those long chains are hard to master. The last round will hopefully bring it all together.

 

 Quilt is slowly getting quilted. I have started hand quilting in the flying geese border. The border on the bottom is machine quilted. The quilt is a mixed of hand and machine.

Sweets from my Sweetie!! Hope you all had a great Valentine's Day!!

 

This blue quilt is for sure "slow stitching" but I will stay with it till it is done. Can easily switch to machine but felt the flower border needed to be hand done. I am pleased with the results. Come with me and visit Kathy's "Sunday Slow Stitching"   http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com.   Lots of Eye Candy and nice people. Note: we all must be reminded once in awhile that there might be a mix of men and women  that is why I say  "people". Thanks Tim for reminding us!!! (:

Hand Quilting

It is Sunday again and  linking up with Kathy's Quilts  http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com. Time flies when you are having fun and not cooped up with snow!

Here are the supplies I use. I am using a big stitch with 4 stitches on the needle instead of 8 tiny ones. It will take 10 hours to go around all 4 sides instead of 25 hours with tiny stitches. Both needle pkgs are size 10. The Bohins are not as strong as the Jean S. Lyle needles. With the Bohin needles I snapped them in half but have yet to break a Lye needle. Jean has retired so I have no idea where to buy them. The thimble is Roxanne and very comfortable along with the metal disc for under quilt. For marking I use a #5 mechanical pencil and the Pentel Erasers. I take a turkey baster, add some beads then poke the eraser on so you can not lose it. A 12 inch square hoop made in Germany and I am ready to hand quilt.