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Felting

These are more my colors. I like using variegated thread, so there is more interest. One needlecase a week is doable.

Knitting

I made the wrap again from the free pattern at Fabric Depot. The slits hold the wrap around you, so you don't have to hang on to it. This one is a little shorter--so am I! The yarn is Red Heart. The cables don't show as well in the variegated, but I liked the yarn better.

Quilting

This idea came from a Quilting Arts TV episode in the 1300 series. It starts as a 9 patch that you slash both ways through the middle and rearrange.

At first I had it as a window pane setting then realized how much matching of seams would be involved. I think this is a better layout interest wise. I know 2 corner blocks are in the other direction but felt that contained the piece better.

It's 60 by 48 inches.

Felting

This is the next needlecase. I need 10, so on to the felting.

Bead Journal Project

Here's the next button for the Bead Journal Project. I like this one better than last month's, because I put a base of beads beneath the beaded flower.  It's 1 1/2 ".

Quilting

This is another piece of Japanese Yukata fabric that I had and hand stitched. The blank center of the flowers just screamed for beads and took quite a while to do! They do make a difference.

It is machine quilted and 20" by16".

Felt

Here's the next needlecase. My photography really needs improving, but I have no interest in it and can't seem to make myself do it. The green is darker.

Art Squared

The word for the Art Squared challenge this time was Icon which to me means a religious symbol. I searched the internet for inspiration and found a cross that was close to what I had in mind. They wanted $10 for me to download it! I picked up a piece of printer paper, folded it and cut my own cross.

It's foiled using copper colored foil and edged by machine with a metallic braid I had. Then it felt like the quilting should be in copper metallic thread. It's 17" square.

I learned a couple of things about foiling. Where the foil paper is folded in packaging, it doesn't foil well. A metallic pen can fill in empty spots.

Beading

One time I demonstrated how I put a Cabochon on fabric. I decided that the sample needed to be put into a piece, so I've been stitching and beading it. It's 6" square and now needs to become part of a wall hanging or maybe a purse. When the time is right, it will tell me.

Felting

The next felt needlecase. The backgrounds are soft, as my friend who sent them likes soft colors. It was a good exercise to work in colors that are not my normal ones.

Bead Journal Project

This month I almost forgot to post the Bead Journal Project Button. The time goes so quickly.
I decided to use a flower I had beaded as the center of the button covered in fabric. I' not sure I like it, but it's a new direction to explore rather than my usual cabochon.

Class

I took a class at www.joggles.com from Christen Brown on using felt, soutache, and beads with bunches of sequins thrown in. This is the result.  The left border was cut off by the scanner but has the same trim as the rest. It's 8" square and was fun to do.

Felt Applique

Sorry that the photo is a bit faded, but I'm much better at almost anything other than taking photos.  These needlecases are a fun project and east to pick up to work on anywhere, anytime.

Quilting

This is the latest Yukata piece. It's 14" by 14".  There's a lot of hand stitching on it and beaded centers to the flowers.

I do seem to be making a lot of these. It feels good to use these special fabrics instead of just storing them in a drawer.

Shopping

Our local bead shop owner is retiring, so I made another purchase. I can understand her being tired after 15 years, but I hate to see her go.

Wool applique

Here's the second needlecase done in wool with embroidery. I had overpainted the rickrack to make it more interesting.  The flower center just needed the button.

Quilt

This is on my design wall. The quilt group says it's done. An art quilt friend also said it was done. Maybe that's why I couldn't figure out what to do next. What do you think?

Gift

This is a gift from a friend and on it's side. The computer won't let me change it unless I cancel out of this area. She lives in California; me in Washington but we talk on the phone every week, hence the phone. It says: "A Friend is someone who knows you well and likes you anyway." Perfect!

It hangs in the widow above my machine, so I can see it daily.

Wool Applique

I love to hand stitch on wool and decided to make needlecases for gifts. A friend sent me some wool samples which became the backgrounds. The case is 5" by 6" and has flannel pages for the needles. It was fun to try different stitches.