Le Challenge March - Order

After I posted last night I realised that it is the deadline this weekend for the March entry of Le Challenge.  Now, due to other things I have not entered anything for this in ages but last weekend I did start to sort out my entry and with one thing and another (see last post) I forgot.  So I quickly got it it all together and stitched on the backing so hopefully it is not too late. 

This month the theme is ORDER and I decided to use the above stitching which is on a linen and my idea of order was thinking back to the ordered flower beds and gardens of many stately homes in the UK many of which are now owned by the National Trust.  So think Topiary trees, the renowned garden designer Capability Brown and little box hedges.  This was a kit that I bought from a National Trust shop years ago  but has been sitting around ever since but I felt it fitted the bill.

I stitched  some lovely blue fabric on the back, stuffed it and it is now an over sized pincushion.

I need some new pincushions as my others have worn out and they gradually flatten with the constant pushing in of pins over time.

I even picked out my blue and white pins for the occasion!

Best go and upload it to the Le Challenge blog.

xx

I am taking part in this.....

I am taking part in "Around the World Quilting Bees challenge organised by Summersadie. I have made my first block tonight whilst at my sewing group and I shall upload it tomorrow. MY block will then be sent to Maria in Wiltshire and then sent on again and hopefully in several months time it will get back to me along with numerous other squares made by lots of other ladies from all over the world. Click on the challenge link to go to her post which has a link whereby you can see where all of the other ladies taking part live. The UK is represented. I am really pleased with my block, yes log cabin again , but with this I am going to try and do some other design blocks too.

Right off to make a cup of tea and watch Desperate Housewives.

Back tomorrow.

xx

PS Join in my 300th Giveaway. Entrant deadline is Sunday 18th May.

Creative Swap Challenge Runner Up

After the voting had finished this quiltie by Cynthia Zdanukas was voted the most creative. I was delighted to find out that I am a runner up with three others. Pop over and take a look plus all of the other entries. I really enjoy swaps but I find these challenging as they can be very open in terms of what I might design. Sadly it will be a while before Lenna will be organising any more swaps as she is in the process of selling and moving house. I do have the ATC swap to set up but this week has not been good to do that. A persistent cold, GCSE coursework deadline, a bed to still have delivered ( we have made progress with this tonight) and after school workshops. However, this weekend I intend to make a start on it as next week is going to be even more hectic at work.

I would like to say many thanks for the numerous new visitors that have popped by this month. Please do not be strangers and I hope you will continue to find things of interest on this blog.

Must go and sort out my work bag as I simply threw things in today that needed further attention.

Back tomorrow, it is my evening in of peace and a DVD. What shall I watch, any suggestions?

xx

Creative swap Voting...

Over at Lennas blog I found this morning that you can view all of the entries and then in the right hand side bar vote for your fav. this is only possible until Monday 27th. If you are not sure what I am talking about see previous post. It is not intended that you vote for mine, but I thought you might like to pop over and be involved. Only 13 people have voted so far. There is another link in my side bar called Creative Swap Challenges. Once you have visited you may wish to join in a swap yourself!
I have a busy night with work ahead of me so that I can have my weekend free so I shall be back tomorrow.
Have a great weekend.
xx
PS. I will post about the ATC swap this weekend too.

Creative swap entry...

My entry into the latest Creative Swap in America hosted by the very hardworking and lovely Lenna has arrived and is posted on her blog. I am on the current post there, but my name is also in the side bar. If you scroll down and click on my name you can view everything that I have entered over the past two(ish) years. There are lots and lots of other work to look at too. it is worth popping over and taking a look.

I want to put it here too.. It is a theme that I have used before for my City and Guilds but it is a colour scheme and them that i never get bored of...

I took this picture outside but I am not sure it really does the colour justice. The background is fabric painted and some salt has been added to get a mottled effect. Machine embroidery is then added to the fabric. Using a combination if fabric manipulation and beading further detail is then added...I have some fabric that is pre-folded if sewn in a circle will then fan out and then stitched here and there to keep it in place.

The last few pictures do the colour a little more justice. I also used handmade felt which I had made a little while ago. Plus some heated/melted Tyvek, which is pretty weird to use, and stitched that down lightly as it is prone to cracking. Then some Angelina fibres which is created during a day class but I can not remember how!?

Anyway, I was pleased with the outcome and it survived the trip to America. I now just need to wait and see who receives my creation in the post.

I have been sent info about an ATC swap from a friend of mine in Australia so I will post about that at the weekend as it might be a good intro to these as they are very small and I only need 6 people to take part. I might need to send some details by snail mail for you but I will see if I can scan the pictures I have as they would be a good start to get the ideas flowing.

Many thanks to the new visitors to my blog since the weekend. Two of you do not have a way for me to reply to you which is a pity so maybe you could email me instead as I would like to reply.

Back tomorrow with some more goodies.

Take care

xx

Recycle Scarf Inspiration Challenge.

If you are looking to take part in your first challenge of 2009 then I might just have the perfect start. Over at I wanna New Bag Barbara is organising a challenge to recycle a scarf into a bag. I have taken part a couple of times before. The most recent was to make use of photographs within the bag. I finished one part of it but then my machine foot let me down!

For some reason people seem to find these challenges after the deadline and Barbara is getting a little dis-heartened. If you are into recycling then this blog should be on your list to visit. She showcases other peoples work, has links to inspire and is a really friendly blogger. i have a couple of scarves actually waiting upstairs and I am tempted to go down to the charity shop after work on Monday and have a quick look there before I start.

I have borrowed some photos from Barbara's blog and hopefully added the right link so that you can find the original creator. These are to inspire:

Created by 33Clovers. Vintage scarf.

Created by Complete Fragments. Lovely blue bag to create a small bag.

You can use any scarf, any shape, use it as part of the bag or all of it. Use a technique with the scarf such as quilting, patchwork etc. To see the guidelines and further pictures click on the above link.

Fancy taking part?

I have been to an Embroiderers' Guild class today but I will post about it tomorrow as I have not had time to take any pictures yet, only just got home. I would like to try and finish it and take it to our committee meeting next Saturday. Get some marking done then the evening is my own.

Hope your weekend is restful. Keep warm.

Back tomorrow.

xx