Taupe fabrics ... love the serenity

Lately I've been working on a few long term applique projects,

cleaning out and rearranging my sewing room,

and just generally. getting used to not being a care taker.

It's a more difficult transition than I thought it would be.

This little project was a blessing!

Working with the taupe fabrics gave me

serenity and peace of mind.

Feeling a bit more focused!

Mt sister had a special birthday yesterday ~70!

SO something special was definitely needed!

It started with a  Yoko Saito kit ~ but I didn't have the time

or patience to put in the zipper and actually follow the directions! 

With the appliqué was completed 

~taking longer than expected and coming out smaller than expected~

I added a small panel of fabric to create a clutch type bag

with a hidden invisible magnetic snap for the closure!

Front

 Back

Entire back once opened

Opened with the lining in my sister's

favorite color ~ RED!

This ended up becoming a fun little project,

might just have to make one for myself!

Sister's birthday present was a BIG hit!

She Loved it!!

                                Have a great Quilty Day and enjoy the process!

                                Janet

Winter Days in Shades of Taupe heading off to HMQS !

Last week Winter Days in Shades of Taupe

was Finally finished!!

Taking longer than expected - I hit a quilting block!

Just wasn't sure how I wanted to quilt it ….

 so it sat on my sewing machine for months!

The dilemma 

when an embroidered quilt is quilted some times the 

quilting takes away from the embroidery.

Wanting to showcase the hand embroidery stitches

and the beautiful Japanese Taupe fabrics

I decided to quilt each block separately,

instead of the feather motif in the border -

which was the original plan.

Here is an example of one block

I'm happy with the results…

the quilting gave me a chance to practice

my feathers and other motifs, and it did not

take away from the beauty of the fabrics

I created the unique quilt label by

using a few of the embroidery motifs,

taking pieces of each and rearranging them,

the wording was printed off the computer,

and using a light bock the design 

was transferred onto the fabric

and hand embroidered! 

Notice the addition to the finish date!!

the quilt was actually all done and quilting started…

but then that pesky quilty block happened

so instead of picking out my "4"

I just added the "5"!

Works for me!!

Lesson learned: Don't finish the Label before the Quilt!!

Now she is off to Utah for the

Home Machine Quilting Show!

A fall and some "Slow Sewing"

On Valentine's Day I was out playing with this cutie pie,

Bella

running around the yard - through the snow

when before I knew it …

found myself face first in the snow!

and in pain!

Of course Bella thought I was playing 

so she jumped on me!

OUCH!

Spent the last 3 days on the sofa with a pulled hamstring !!

Now I know why they lug the football players off the field with hamstring issues!

You just can not move.

Thank goodness the Olympics are on! 

and I've been able to do a little

"Slow Sewing" 

Love that they call handwork slow sewing now!!

This was what was accomplished while resting on the sofa…

A new Taupe Sashiko Applique table topper!

the original version was all sashiko

Love the addition of the appliquéd flower

Next step is to quilt it … once I can move off the sofa!

Taupe Winter Snow Days Center .... DONE!!!

Today I finished the center of my

Taupe Winter Snow Days

Happy, Happy, Happy!

Winter Taupe Snow Days Quilt ... coming along!

Finally all of the outside embroidered and pieced blocks are done!

Not it's time to start piecing the center!

This has been just the most wonderfully calming

quilt to work on.

It has taken over a year to slowly embroider

all of the blocks ... but well worth it.

Still trying to decide exactly how I want to quilt it ...

Can't procrastinate too long as it

must be ready for the SCQG show in September!

Another new project....

Yes I know ... I need another new (long term project)
like I need a hole in my head!!
But I just could not resist!! I'm a sucker for hand stitching.
I found this pattern from Crab-apple Hill

last year at A Quilter's Gathering and was just taken by the beauty of it.
This year I saw it again and made up my mind to jump in and get it started!

The pattern uses Seasons (#8049)Cosmo

embroidery floss by Lecien ... made in Japan.

I love this floss it is a variegated from a

light taupe/green to olive green to a darker silver muted evergreen color.

Absolutely beautiful!

Here is block #1

If you notice on the edges the pattern stops ....

Once it is sewn in next to a pieced block

 the embroidery will continue onto that pieced block!

I used two different stitches
the back stitch was used on the
 evergreen trees to give a fluffier look,
like they were covered with snow.
For everything else I used a running outline type stitch,
to give a thinner crisper look.

Fabric selection for the pieced blocks....
well it just had to be from my Japanese Taupe collection!!
 

I searched my stash of Japanese taupe's

and selected these for the project. 

I just love it all stacked up!

All though I hate to cut into these fabrics

I think this is the perfect project for them.

I want this quilt to hang in my dining room

during the winter months.

New England winters are full of cool crispy snowy air and

I think this quilt with these colors will be perfect!

I hope to have it done for next Christmas!