Embroidered Newspaper Art

Back in the day, as a teen, I would come across line drawings in the paper, usually in the 'entertainment' section. 

I did this embroidery back then. I really enjoyed stitching on these "work" shirts as they were known then. The label says " Big Mac, 100 % cotton, JC Penney."

I took off this pocket to put on the Mosaic Quilt, in the below picture.

The shirt is too small for me now, so I will turn it into some other item of wearablity.  The new pearl cotton threads are for the coloring in of Pegasus. I don't usually buy threads in color 'themes' or 'palettes'.  

I have 'rainbows' of colors, in the pearls.

I have done a Smokey the Bear, from the newspaper, and other embroideries. 

Would have to dig out 'hard copy' photos.

More Summer Bits

"wish tatt's were tasty"

mama loves

Lego my name.  "I forgot the H, in Rhiley" said Meg

"Look Gup, I made a stroller!"  {doll roller skates}

Daddy said, "jack up the truck, Meg"

But Daddy had to change the tire.

 And now for MY stuff!  I am working on another area of the embroidered pillow cover.

This is the one that I am using JUST variegated threads for.  I realized that all the threads are actually hand-dyed/over dyed!  All Etsy purchases.

Below...I have this small piece of manufactured embroidered fabric I got in a scrap bag...I am using it where ever I feel it's called for.  {I know I used a piece in the Mosaic Quilt.}  Look at the couched threads in the bottom of the pic....they feel wonderful!  Thick tapestry type.

New threads....From Etsy of course, LES Designs

I finished the leaves on this circle...The hand-dyed threads make for some drastic color changes...Love it!

Another Finish!

But first, another cute kid picture...this be Lily, GD #2. 

 The Mosaic Quilt is DONE.  Bound, washed, kid and dog approved! 

 A view of the back....

This was the whole picture I cropped Lily from....interesting how the kid is still and the dog was in motion...

2 finished quilts, so far in 2012.

Been Working On...

Older projects.  The Mosaic Blocks quilt.  First I needed to add more lines for quilting along.  I can't sew a straight line ....let alone hand quilt one!  So I was marking this quilt with Crayola washable pens...

...I love the Pip Squeaks!  Have my own set...for me...but I see they make them in a 64 color set....hummm....SANTA!!!!!!

 Where was I...??....oh yea...this is the whole quilt to refresh our memories...

 I also sat at the sewing machine to work on this pink quilt.

 The top is all assembled now and am working on the backing.  I am sewing FQ's, and other pieces from the construction of the top, together.  

It's been nice to sit at the machine again.  And to quilt too.  

MoonPath sits waiting for just the right inspiration...Probably until next year...We have the girls all next week, so I will be too tired to think.

New Thread to Try

go around again, stephie!

 I haven't been doing much stitching on the Tropical top because I haven't been happy with the threads I have been using.  After using the Oliver Twist thread [the 20$ spool!] on the mosaic blocks, all the other threads were to thin.  They didn't feel right in my old fingers.  So I tried embroidery thread, no that wasn't right. 

 So off to do some surfing.  I ended up at Superior Threads and discovered they have Try Me Specials.  Pick one of the threads you want to try, for a price of course, and they send you the colors that don't sell well....well, that's just a guess because you can't pick your own color. And possibly because one of the spools is kind of a yucky color combo.[the cone one]  BUT....it, and the other 2 spools of nice colors are nice thick threads and I am hoping they work for me.

With all the different projects I have going, I finally had to break out some containers and label them to hold the different threads....didn't notice that I had spelled it wrong...sheesh....

Circles....90 of Them...

I traced, cut, and hand basted 90 circles last night during NCIS.

I wrote down, on the cardboard template, which glass I used for the circle.

The fabrics are pink, red and chocolate. I was able to save 2 selvage's, but thems the breaks when you buy FQ's.  The plastic donut is the templar stuff you can iron.  I didn't use starch this time, to 'hold' the circles circled. Hopefully I won't regret that!!!!!!!!!!

My ironing board is on wheels, so I pulled it over to my chair to turn those puff ball's into flat disks.

Got the banner up with help from my guys.

October is birthday month around here.

 theres that cat again, facing away from the camera.

 My sewing machine is now in the dining room.....again, sew mom can find me when I am so-ing.

Cosmo Thread is Awesome

 I was loading pix from the camera and found a few Meg took....remember, Meg is only 5.....

picture 2 by Meg

picture 3 by Meg

 Lamp  by Stephanie.  Stick off the beach. Wood from scrap pile. Shade and wire parts from a Cute Lamp.  Art on shade from Steph's imagination.

 Quilting.  I decided to add the lines with a washable marker instead of trying to eye them from the blue tape.  Much easier this way. 

 I. Love. This. Thread. This Cosmo 2-strand embroidery floss.

figured it was time for a cat picture....since this is a 'cat in the batt' blog.

New Threads

After starting the quilting and not liking it, I came across some new threads, embroidery threads.  I think I first came across them on this blog, which sent me surfing for more info and then a place to buy.  An etsy shop had them, but were charging

 way more than I wanted to pay, unfortunately.  Then I found some of the threads here, but not the 2-strand variety.  Those I found here.

I think I did a damn good job picking threads to match my 2 background fabrics.

Though they look the same, all 5 are slightly different shades.

While taking pix this morning IN THE SUN!!, I had a 5 year old hand show the size of the spools.

not to be out done by a 2 year old, who unwrapped the threads also.

This is a close up of the area I had started quilting....some of the threads have already been picked out.

And just because, a feather drying out after a night of drenching rain.