Katie the Younger

Katie the Younger
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

And this is the girl herself on her favorite perch. The windowsills in our home were made extra wide years ago by my husband because I used to raise African Violets.

In 1996, when we inherited Katie after our daughter moved to Missouri to attend grad school, she, one by one, "did in" the violets. Finally I surrendered and gave away the remaining plants to an elderly lady who loved them. The sills have been Katie's domain ever since.

When she arrived at our home she was not greeted with much kindness by our elderly indoor/outdoor cat, Annie the Elder, a very un-cat-like tuxedo kitty. So Katie, having never been outside, took over the house and protected it with vigor. They communicated every morning, nose to nose, at the laundry room door, after which Annie would dart out into her big beautiful yard.

However during Annie's last days, when she needed our constant care, Katie became very concerned with Annie and even shared her foot of the bed with her.

After she was gone, everytime the laundry room door was opened, Katie dashed over to look out and try to find Annie. It was cute, but heartbreaking for us. We still miss our Annie the Elder, but Katie has developed into the 2nd most wonderful, clever, affectionate companion we've ever had.

August Theme BOM

August Theme BOM
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

August is Vacation Time! This is not my favorite block so far, by ANY means, but I sort of meant it to be funny. Our resident captive kitty, Katie, is absolutely fascinated with suitcases. When they come out, she will not leave them alone. If they are open, she lays in them. If they are closed, she lays on top of them.

We think she knows when we're about to leave for a trip and wants to go too. Even though she has top notch kittysitters who spoil her rotten while we're gone!

July Theme BOM

July Theme BOM
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

I found this cute image in my Holiday binder that is full of images I've printed off from internet sites over the past years.

I'm doing these blocks with crayon work which I do before I start the outline embroidery. Each is pictured with the fabric which I plan to use for the block's border.

At first I planned to put all of these blocks together into a wallquilt, but now I think I may make individual display items out of them. Recently I found an article about making individual themed blocks and displaying them by slipping them over one of those clear acrylic free standing counter frames.

You border the block and back it, leaving the bottom open like a pillowcase. Then it's simple to change each month. We have an antique cabinet in our home's entryway and I think this would a fun thing to display there.

June BOM-Father's Day

June BOM-Father's Day
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

I did this block for the BOM challenge on the Redwork Stitcher's list at yahoogroups.com. I took the image from my Hallmark card program. More details available if you click on the picture.

July & August blocks are done too - they follow......

My Bag Is Back!

My Bag Is Back!
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

In the challenge I was involved in that is mentioned in previous posts, this is the item that I got back made from the items in MY bag. Isn't it wonderful?

It was made by my good friend & Omaha roomie, Mona Berning, to whom Willa secretly sent my bag! I just love it and it's hanging right now in a place of honor in our hallway.

As usualy you can click on the picture and read more details about the fabrics I sent.

Mona hurt her hand before she was able to embellish the blocks very much and has told me she wants me to do more work on it. For now I love it just the way it is, but I've saved the bag of leftovers and may, at some point in time, do that. I think I might also piece a small throw pillow for the bed to match the wallhanging.

I know I've been bad

Window on Spring
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

I know, I know - I can't believe it's been so long since I posted to this blog. Life just keeps getting in the way of my fun.

I HAVE been stitching a LOT since I finished Window on Spring though. This picture was taken of it just before it was folded up & put in the box to be mailed to Willa.

I heard this morning from it's new owner and it's happy in it's new home - even has a whole wall to itself. As usual you can definitely see more detail in this picture if you click on it.

I'd really like to do something similar for myself, but I think I'll concentrate on my 4 season's wallhanging project that I started a while back. It's a 4 block piece that is odd shaped actually. When all 4 season blocks are pieced together there will be a center sun area that will have to be pieced in all yellows. Somewhere I have a picture of the Spring block that I sent out in a round robin. I will have to look for it & post it.

And then there's the ever present "Yellow to the Max" which is planned out, but not fully pieced yet. This project involves some vintage Peter Max fabric that I purchased from an eBay dealer some time ago. More later on that.......

Window on Spring

Finished Front of Window on Spring
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

Well, I talked G into holding the pieced front of this project so I could get a picture. I still have to prep the backing, hanging sleeve and binding tomorrow, but the front is done. I'm very happy with it. The backing is a printed cotton with the same shade of beige as the borders on the front. It is printed to look like crackled paint.

I'm thinking I may stitch "in the ditch" around each window pane before I bind this quilted wallhanging. I also have prepped a personalized silk label for the back.

Heck, I'm so proud of this, I feel like putting the label on the front! LOL!

I'll be taking more pictures with my GOOD camera tomorrow including some closeups too. If I'm going to send this off into the world and never see it again, I want lots of pictures to remember it by.

I sure hope my "challenge partner" likes what I've made. I know it's something that I would like to receive. And, isn't that the whole idea of these challenges? Aren't we supposed to make something WE would like to have?

Final Pane in the Window Project

lower right pane for window project
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

This is the final pane, all done, for the window project. How do you spell R-E-L-I-E-F? Now to get it all together and get it mailed out on Monday!

If you click on the picture you can see a larger version. Some details on the lower right block:

Hand dyed motifs -the flowers and the butterfly up top, iron-on dragonfly and those green leaves down in right corner that the spider loves so much are a fairly new trim from Ribbonsmyth. I did the pink buds with some wider gauzie see-through ribbon that was in the swap bag. It was the same kind of ribbon as the green that I put on with beads on the lower left pane. It makes GREAT flower buds!

I CHEATED!

lowerleftpane
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

I got going on the lower left pane for the window project and skipped over the lower right. I can't believe I finished 2 of the panes today. Tomorrow I'll finish the other and begin assembling the project.

Some details:
I found the tiny little bird in my redwork bird binder. It's a copy of a vintage pattern.

I cut the Easter egg from an Easter print cotton fabric and tried to do a neat needleturn applique. I still need more practice on needleturn. It was easier to do the kite on the top left pane because I could iron back the edges for a crisp shape. That didn't work too well with the egg shape.

The pink & green trim came to me in the "baggie" but was white. I handdyed it with Ozcraft dyes and it was in the picture I posted the other day - a couple entries back.

The green gauze ribbon was in the baggie too. I have never before done anything like what I did with it, but it just seemed to be needed to soften that long curve through the block. I anchored it with the larger beads and then snuggled up a cluster of 3 seed beads on each side of the larger ones. There's lots of beads on this one, but that's pretty normal for my work I think. That and stitch combos!

The feather stitching on the lower right is done with YLI's Pearl Crown Rayon thread in the Baby Pastel color. I was not sure the colors were working but now that it's all done I think it was the right choice.

I have to say that pink has never been a favorite color of mine and I NEVER have worked with so many pastels before. I think it's going to be a good piece when it's all done, but I don't think I'll be able to look at another piece of pink fabric for awhile!

Upper Right Window Pane DONE!

Upper Right Window Pane
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

Even the Beading is done! Had to take a break from the work on #3 and #4 blocks to give myself the satisfaction of actually having #2 totally done.

And now, would you believe, I have noticed that I missed a seam in the blue sky at the top. Imagine if you will 3 fly stitches done vertically with chain stitch anchors. That's what I intended to do and WILL do as soon as I log off this computer!

My dh is making fun of my "barely blooming" tree, but time is awasting and I told him it's just a hint of what the beginning of Spring would look like. HEY! It's my work and I'll do it however *I* want!, Right?

The blossoms and tiny leaves on the tree are done with pearl cotton because I'm having problems right now with my hands and cannot manage to pull silk ribbon through this block. I started with SRE, but had to give up before doing much at all.

I added the two faux seams in the large expanse of green silk noil hillside and I'm glad now that I did. I think it balances the block.

And stay tuned for Pane #3 where you'll see the hillside continued

Been Busy!

Playing with Ozcraft Dyes
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

Today I let my hair down & had some fun playing with my Ozcraft Dyes. I had some basic white motifs here that came in this challenge packet and they didn't fit on the project anymore. The 2 pieces at the bottom were left natural colours but the rest of the pieces I antiqued. That rose in the upper left area is a crocheted motif made, I think, from Knit-Crosheen. I wasn't sure it would take the dye very well, but it turned out lovely.

The pieces that look more peach than pink are for my next project which is a pillow for a friend who did G and I a huge favor. I hope she likes it.

Back to Stitching and Beading on the window panes!

Tree on the Hill

Naked Tree
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

I had never done any broderie perse before and that is how I this tree is applied to the upper right "pane" of the window project. I used Heat & Bond Light to apply the tree but that doesn't hold permanently - especially I would think on the fancy fabrics that are in this block.

I started out using a hoop, but ended up doing the last half of the tree without a hoop. A lot of the tips of the branches had come loose but they are secure now!

I used 1 strand of silk floss for this technique, which, if I understand it correctly, involves doing teeny tiny buttonhole stitch on all edges. At least that is what I did and I'm mostly happy with the results.

Now on to dressing the tree in it's Spring blossoms!

A Day Late & a Dollar Short

MaySnowman
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

That's what my Mum used to say .... frequently to me because I've ALWAYS been a procrastinator.

Here's my May block for the challenge on thebluerose-redwork list at yahoo. I'm doing these in Southwestern colors, as I've mentioned before. They are fairly easy designs to stitch. The only hard part has been deciding what color to put where. All except the snowman him or herself - they will always be this pretty blue!

Now back to my challenge piece! Only 9 days to go! It has to be mailed on the 10th of June, but I'm sure I'll be up late the night of the 9th.....

May Block of the Month

May Block of the Month
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

Finished for the BOM Challenge on the Redwork Stitchers group at Yahoo. I've always loved this design and have had it in my "library" for some time. The image reminds me of so many lovely quiet moments when my 3 daughters were small babies.

The printed fabric shown is what I will border this block with when I have all 12 monthly images done. I think I'll make a small lap or wall quilt with them.

Now back to working on my baggie challenge piece. I finally worked out how to get the tree on the hillside and have loads of hand stitching and SRE ahead of me today.

Memory for Stash Sunday

Memory of Mum
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

Going through some drawers today I found a small stack of embroidered pillowcases and I think this is one of the last sets my Mum embroidered, crocheted and gave to me. They are yellowed from storage as I have not wanted to use them. Even if I did we have king sized pillows now and these wouldn't fit as they are standard size.

The Stash Sunday group wanted a memory for today's posting. Right away I thought I MUST still have a set of her pillowcases somewhere, so I went on a hunt. Her crocheted edgings were usually her own unique design and very delicate.

I have some pairs of pillowcases to make for all 7 of my grandchildren when the time is right and they have a need. Unfortunately they are poly/cotton blend cases and not the nice 100% cotton ones Mum used to buy at the dimestore. I will soon have to start the first set as our eldest grand will be 18 next April.

I guess the grands will appreciate the poly/cotton blend since they don't have these for comparison. They may not have to iron theirs. However, I will try to remember to show them how to press the back of the embroidery over a terry towel to make it stand out! That was my first household chore Mum taught me when I was about 6 or so. The iron scared me a lot at first, but over the years I and my iron have bonded well!

Bag Challenge Piece #1

upperleftpane
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

First, let me apologize for the quality of this picture. I am still using my old Sony (.7 pixels!) camera to post pictures. I love the camera and it's so easy to use since it takes pictures on floppy disks and it's way easier to just pop a disk in the drive and upload pictures. Soon I think I will have to start using my better Kodak camera for uploading but the need for connecting it to the computer via a USB cord just is one more thing for me to learn. I'm sure I'll become at ease with it, but it's that old dog-new tricks thing!

Well, this is the first of 4 window panes for a project I'm undertaking for the Baggie Challenge that Willa runs. It's got me wishing that I had undertaken a less ambitious project, but all 4 panes are pieced with the other gal's fabric, so I'm committed. Called "View to Spring", the window frame will be pieced with fabric - brown or beige moire maybe. If I was to do this for myself, I'd use a real window frame and just put the blocks in the frame - twould be a whole lot easier.

Some explanation=When i pieced the sun area I didn't make the seams curved, so the fly stitch lacework bit is supposed to give the illusion of a curve. I think it will when the whole piece is assembled.

So it's on now to the top right pane with more sky and a hilltop with a blooming tree. I hope I gain some momentum here because the deadline to mail this "thang" is 6/10 for me!

That's all for today.......Gotta get stitching!

Caffeine Deprivation?

You Are a Frappacino

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Ok, obviously I'm procrastinating again. But I found this coffee thing on another blog - Eva's - and just HAD to see what kind of coffee I was!

LOL big time here because I LOVE FRAPPACINOS! Too early in the day for one though - I try to limit my Starbucks visits to the afternoon, relying on my home brew for my morning apres-walk caffeine fix.

I have a friend in Minnesota that I visit and last time I discovered a coffee blend at a coffee place next to their local quilt shop. It's called Drunken Uncle and I was SO hooked that I brought some home and my friend has even sent me some since. I eek it out and save it for only my Sunday cuppa. I love flavored coffee - daily I drink a Hazelnut blend.

Well, back to reading my bloglines and then I hope to finish up the first of 4 blocks for a project I'm working on for Willa's Baggie Challenge. Hopefully I can post a finished block picture later today!

April Snowman BOM

April Snowman BOM
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

This is the block that I made for the snowman quilt which is the BOM for another redwork list that I belong to. The fabric on the left will be the sashing for the quilt. I'm doing the designs on this blue, peach & gold marble-like fabric and in Southwestern thread colors because I intend to gift this quilt to my sister-in-law who loves & collects snowmen.

The thread color for the snowmen is DMC #807 and then I'm using a couple shades of peachy beige & a light rust for each snowman's monthly accessories. The designs are all about 6" tall. I sort of wish I'd done his ears in the two peach tones, but I don't think, at this point, I want to take it all out and re-embroider the ears.

The fabrics are from my stash and were originally bought, along with a couple others at a lovely quilt shop in Sedona, Arizona.

Isn't it amazing when that happens? I had the designs all printed off for this group's project and remembered my Miriam loves snowmen. Then the fabrics just sort of leaped off my shelf & begged to be included!

Miriam doesn't do handwork at all but seems to really appreciate what I do. In fact she and my brother have the Southwestern CQ pillow I made them propped up on a pedestal in their home - rather like a work of art! I think perhaps though where they have it displayed has more to do with protecting it from their 2 resident cats than how much they revere the pillow!

I don't have that Southwestern CQ pillow posted at Flickr, but it's probably in my cq albums at webshots.com. My user name there is lasassone if you want to browse more pictures.

April Theme BOM block - colored!

April Theme BOM block
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

Ok.........I was advised that I could add the color after the stitching so I started with applying pink crayon to the ribbon and bow. I stood back and decided I like just that touch of color a whole lot. I don't think I'm going to do any more. What do YOU think?

I'm Back! Well....sort of!

Block of the Month
Originally uploaded by lasassone.

Did you miss me? I apologize profusely to my subscribers at bloglines.com for being absent more than not this past month. I guess blogging just isn't firmly ingrained yet in my routine.

I have been SO immersed in Redwork projects, had some health issues and was gone to warm, sunny Arizona for a time to visit my brother who is recovering from a recent heart attack.

This is a 6" square design I finished last evening for a Block of the Month challenge on one of my yahoo redwork lists. It's a monthly themed one and I plan, after the fact, to do some crayon work on this and the next 11 blocks. I thought of doing that AFTER I had started stitching this. I think I'll have to practice a bit on some fabric first though to see how it looks. If I decide to do it, I'll have to post another picture!

I'm also half done with the LAST Children of the World design! I did a lot of stitching during a recent illness (don't ask-ick!) and on our vacation from the rain too. I can't believe I have almost finished all 20 designs!

I'm doing my friend Willa's Baggie CrazyQuilt Challenge too and just yesterday firmed up what I'm going to make and get sent by the 5/31 deadline. So, that's next on the agenda.