for BETA or worse, CQRR & stockings

Well, here we are in beta. I'll let you know in a week or so how it is going. At this point in time there doesn't seem to be much difference, but now they are asking me to upgrade my template, which will lose all my extras...not going there yet.
I have also lost the ability to post to my group blog CQ Crazy, as that blog is not beta yet. Never mind, they will have to come to me. It will take a while to figure out consistent labeling as well, so bear with me.
Here is Jomas block, the whole block, and the part with my work on. I did the spiderweb roses in the top corner, and the leaves and pink fargo roses below it. The seam in the middle was done by someone else. I have tried to balance the blue in the BDE flowers by bringing that in up in the corner. These roses were done with Pat Winters lovely ribbons.
I am sad to say that my two blocks for this RR are currently "missing", along with 4 others.
It is a shame, especially for those who have worked on the blocks, but live and learn I guess.

Here is a pic of one of the stockings I have done. This is for my nanna. Sharon, please note the 'fly stitch' snowflake. I am still using my lesson notes!


Well, This didn't seem much easier at all, still had to uploaded pics the hard way, and cut and paste to get things where I want them. Maybe things haven't caught up yet. I do like the labelling though.

MERRY CHRISTMAS HoHoHo

We have the Playcentre Christmas party tomorrow. This is a big event on our calendar. We fundraise, and spend a significant amount of money on a few hours food and fun once a year. But , it is worth it. Everthing is ready bar turning up and cooking the barbie.
The weather forecast is bad, and it was bad last year too, and when santa turned up, all the kids were shoved in the block corner, so I am planning for that again. I decided to make it an inviting and christmassy corner, so I spent my session at Playcentre this morning knocking out the above santa mural, which turned out far better than I expected.
It is Playcentre philosophy that we don't draw, make, or do for the children, they learn through doing themselves, and it can also give them a poor self opinion if they feel they can not achieve the same results as an adult, which they cannot...but today that went out the window for me, and I wasn't doing it for them (as in "i can't do it") but, for them to enjoy looking at.
This took me about 2 hours to do.

NOW, big decision time, I can now 'upgrade' to beta. AARRGHH! I don't know what to do. HELP.
I want to, but I'm petrified of it all going horribly wrong. Words of encouragement, or otherwise are required...please.

The christmas stocking marathon is going well. I am meeting my target of one a day, but I have not done anything on the stitching class this week. I didn't get any flashes of inspiration for week 5, which is not a reflection at all on the lesson content, I just didn't get that immediate "I know what to do", and I am also thinking alot about the imminent end of term, and all the finishing up that need to be done, and xmas, which apart form the stocking, I am completely avoiding.
Bah Humbug!!

Stockings galore

I decided I should make some kind of gift for my family members, so I am going for personalized ornaments. The first two are actually for my neighbours, who are always good to us thru the year. These were very quick to make up, and quite effective I think.

'F' for Frank
...and 'C' for Christine.

Finishes and starts

Here are a few things I finished for market day, which was, a resounding....failure! But I am not upset. I think my stuff was priced a bit high for the clientel, and I feel I am already compromising on price. Got some good tips for other possible markets that I might have some sucess at. I have had two sales though, one of my lovely Playcentre ladies (via pics at flickr).
Belinda, who did baking , was sold out by 10.30....well I'm a pretty good baker too.
A small clutch purse
Above and below are two sides to a pouch.

Belinda had suggested that I have something I am working on while we sit there, so I whipped this up last night, did a little on it so it was 'in progress' and this is where it is at as of now. The colour are trure in the first pic. The print is courtesy of Pat Winter.

**STASH FLASH**

A couple of days ago one of Pat Winter's packages of ribbons arrived. The first thing to hit me was the smell emanating from the envelope. I don't know what it is, but the tissue paper that the ribbons were carefully wrapped in just smells devine. They are still next to my computer, and I sniff them often. Is that a crime?? Stash sniffing. I know fondling is acceptable, but sniffing........
Pat also sent few extras, which is just really generous of her to do.Thanks Pat.
If you would like to see what Pat does, and what she creates with it, click here. A link to her etsy shop is in the sidebar.

Tradewinds DYB

Here is the latest block finish for the CQI Tradewinds RR. Cheryl had asked for several things that she associated with NZ. The last bit I added was the mountains, coming up out of pohutukawa clad bush (forest). I am thinking that there will be a bit more on this block, although it is officially finished. I will see how time permits between now and P-Day (Post).
The bush is all french knots which I whiled away the afternoon with Dr Phil while doing. I love french knots, they are a great, mindless task that I see great results from quickly.

Joggles update

I have very much enjoyed Kay's samplers over at Smockery. Kay is not afraid of colour. I am. With this sampler I have used colour. To great effect? probably not, but it is a sampler, and I can live, and learn from things I don't like.
Remember this sampler focuses on scale and density, and how to create that effect with a needle and thread. It is not finished yet, there is a grand plan for the french knots.

I have been reading with interest SharonBs blog and her opinions on the importance of keeping a visual journal. This is a habit I have started several times (therefore unsuccessfully). I do see the value in preserving ideas on paper, it is just something I have found difficult to do on a regular basis.

The other thing that I find interesting are those class members that record all the threads they use for a particular stitch, or a sampler. I guess I can see the value in this, for others, who may looking at my pics and are interested, but I think for me, this class is about just the stitching, the exploration, and completely milking Sharon of any pearls of wisdom she is willing to part with. I don't want to be able to recreate a stitch later, I want to recreate a feeling, or a moment. I am so enjoying stitching just because......
Having said that, if anyone is desperate to know what thread I have used for something, just ask!
I mostly stick with DMC floss, pearle 8 and perle 5. I have thrown in a little wool, and will be using some ribbon soon.
(The bottom photo is truer in colour)

No "Joggling" today...

I have not looked at my class samplers today, I have, however completed three more bags for market day, started one more, and still have three 'in progress'. I DID ring and book the stall. The coordinator sounded quite exited to be getting bags, baking and bath bombs. Apparently the last while has been jewellry, jewellry, and a bit more jewellry.

I did a couple more origami pouches. These are bigger than the last one I did, and I intend to market them as cosmetic bags. They just have the seam treatment and the motif. Do you like the MOP button detail on the draw cords?The other one is one of the blocks I did ages ago, just had to construct the bag. All done. I think I was procrastinating with this one because it is my favourite. I will not be sad if this one doesn't sell.

Joggles - lesson 4

I have made a start on a new sampler. This is on felt, and I feel like I have my freedom back!! While the linen was good for keeping stitches even, and stitching with wool etc, I really felt confined and resticted by the grid. I started to get away from it with the last freeform sampler, but I love the felt. Not sure where this is going. Week 4 is about density and scale, and I have read thru it once, but I do not have enough paper to print the whole lesson, so I want to sort that and read again (all Sharons lessons deserve at least 2 read thrus, if not three or four).

I HAVE been working on other stuff. Put together 2 origami pouches for the market day. The are not CQ, but do have a nice wee motif stitched on them. Just have the handles to add to another bag, so I am getting there. I looked at the art memes, and I thought about the DYB. I only have one more seam to do for that, so the end is in sight.

Well, off to do.... something.........but what?

More joggles.....

Well you can see what I have been doing. I thought I was finished with this, but, no, I was not. I added another section to the botton of the freeform area, this time going back to 'points' as the focus. I have used some wool this time, and darker colours to give it some visual weight. The separate line underneath is the portugese knot, MASTERED. I like this done in a thick fibre, with one wrap and quite a large running stitch. I also did a double fly stitch seam treatment, and a barred chain stitch.




Now, i shall tell you what I haven't been doing....

I haven't been doing my art memes, but they are not far off done. Ladies would you prefer something finished and useable, or something you could use as a patch for something else. I don't mind which, but an idea of how you feel would be good.

I haven't been working on my bags for market day NEXT WEEKEND!! I haven't even booked the stall.

I haven't been finishing up my DYB, again almost done.

I haven't done the paperwork that will ensure that Playcentre can open next term. Lucky I'm on the team that runs all that! (edited to say "It's done")

I haven't put the dry washing away.

Sharon, you have a lot to answer for!!

more joggles

First I would like to thank you all for your blogaversary wishes. It wouldn't be any fun without you all.

The pics are of the progress on my sampler. I think the subsequent work has taken away from my first stitching. I maybe should of left a gap between them. I have explored texture and weight this time round.

The whole piece so far.
More points, and trying different weights of thread to do 'ground cover'.
Lines, lines, lines. Still not quite how I would of wanted it to be. I have, however figured out (along with others, and thanks to others) that I am doing the portugese knot WRONG (wrapped stem stitch). I was growing to like the stitch, but still not happy with it. I think the problem is solved, and that will be my next 'line' of stitching.
The actual piece looks so much better in reality, it has a great deal of texure and movement. A pic just doesn't show that.

I've added this pic for my joggles classmates who may swing by here. I did this heart a while ago, but I think it incorporates 'points' and 'lines' quite well.

Happy blogsday.....

CRAP! I missed my own blogoversary. 16th November 2005 I dived into the world of blogging. I had been a member of CQCrazy for a month or so, but was finding that I wanted to blog more than what I felt was appropriate for a group blog, so "No Matter Where I Go...I Always Meet Myself There" was born. This blog, and the entire online community has been such source of support, inspiration, learning and friendship. I could probably go almost anywhere in the world and have somewhere to stay for a night or two. It is mind blowing really, to think that I chat more with people I will (more than likely) never meet, than I speak with people in my daily life. I guess there is a lot of me that you don't see, as I try to keep the blog on the creative side, but the creative side is probably the best side, so you guys are the lucky ones... Well HAPPY BLOGSDAY TO ME!!!

Joggles progress

Here is what I have managed to do on week twos sampler, which focused on 'points' of interest. Week three is an incredibly interesting lesson. I haven't read it all yet, keep re-reading the first half, just to take it all in.
The sampler is using mostly fly stitch, a few detached chains, some french and bullion knots, and a few beads. I have actually found the the grid of the linen quite distracting this week. I have a fairly good eye for distance and size, but the grid kept putting me off. I did buy some felt, and I'm itching to try that, so I may move on to that.

Pohutukawa

As I said yesterday, I was off to research native flora for Cheryls block. I spent quite a while at flickr, looking at pics of Pohutukawa flowers, and ended up doing them how I would of without looking..... The pohutukawa is a native New Zealand tree, and it has these wonderful flowers that bloom just on Christmas. The trees look fantastic with a profusion of red flowers against the green foliage. They are known as the New Zealand Christmas tree (fancy that).
Anyway, I am particularly pleased with how these have turned out, they actually look like pohutukawa flowers! yay.