White Squares & Circles, 2

When I placed the squares in a nine-patch on this piece, I thought I would eventually do running stitch on them in straight lines and line up the straight lines and then go in a perpendicular direction, just nice straight lines. I've seen it done and I really like the effect. Only problem: drat! I can't do it.

As soon as I start stitching my needle begins to wander, it wants to connect things in different ways.

One might call it needle doodling.

White Squares & Circles

Into the wee hours of the night, working on squares and circles.

Using running stitch, outline stitch, and French knots.

I like the ridge that the outline stitch creates.

White & Needle Turn Appliqué, 5

A couple days of rain allowed me some stitching time. So I finished the needle turn appliqué.

It looks like a river delta or erosion to me.

Order to disorder, disintegration, chaos--seems to be on my mind lately. And since everybody over at Jude Hill's Diaries is holding their stitching up to the light,

I taped it to a window. Some interesting secondary designs develop, but this also adds color, if only browns and grays. A different look. For me, the needle turn appliqué becomes more effective.



























Linked to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday."

White & Needle Turn Appliqué, 4

Inching along...

Just about two-thirds done on this part.

Announcement: For the next month or so, I'll only be posting occasionally (once a week if I'm lucky). It's that time of year when I spend most of my day outside in the garden or orchard to finish off all that needs to be done before the heat hits. And then there's house painting as well. So I'll continue to inch along on my art work after I collapse into bed after dinner.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the orange blossoms are out, the bees are making honey, and the temperatures are in the mid-70s...A very agreeable time of year.

White & Needle Turn Appliqué, 3

Making some headway...

Just about half way through this section.

The texture is interesting and the effect is unexpected. Working monochromatically provides some challenges. The richness of the brocades with the varied surfaces keeps my interest. However, it was easier to work on something with more color, like this:

Interesting, the juxtaposition.

Almost Finished, 6

No, actually I'm finished. Yay! 

The back rather pleases me. I used a fabric that was the end of a bolt and consequently oddly dyed.`

The quilting threads in black made interesting secondary designs.

Sometimes I wish I could have the back as the right side.

Almost Finished, 5

Taken from a side angle, one sees that the needle turn appliqué became rather puffy after I added the back fabric.








I decided to machine quilt the black appliqué, which had been in the back of my mind anyway. I tried it with Sulky Invisible, however, the stitching had too much shine for this small piece. So I tested out black thread, thinking I would just go along the edges to keep it "in the ditch" and rather discreet.

Discreet? Me? Ha! 

As I stitched I realized that I really did like the possibilities of the stitched black line--I had fun!

An Odd Bit of Creativity

As I mentioned over at MulticoloredPieces, a friend gave me her bathroom set when she remodeled.

The bathtub has its place in the garden now while I try to figure out where to put the other pieces.

And, of course, I got to recycle the toilet seat as well, which is made of solid wood (my friend knows how to shop) and is in impeccable condition.


I have a cheap plastic version. I wasn't going to waste this baby...so I threw paint at it.

As my mini-bathroom is all tiled in white, 

my new toilet seat simply sparkles.

White & Needle Turn Appliqué, 2

I rolled back the extensions on the right, added a piece of white, shirt fabric, 

and appliquéd to my heart's content.

Because of the monochromatic nature of this piece, 

the appliqué effect is different from my usual multicolored work.

The shadows seem more important along with the reflected light, giving depth and a sculptural effect.

Almost Finished, 4

This "Almost Finished" series is dragging itself out.

However, I have managed to squeeze in the time to finish the hand stitching on the center. I do like the look of the humble running stitch, which adds some depth to the machine embroidered flowers and leaves. Now I'm thinking that I'll have to machine quilt the "frame" so the appliqué will pop out a bit.

Almost Finished, 3

Into the wee hours again. Once I got going on the hand stitching (running stitch) for the central design, I enjoyed this and could have gone on until morning.

I'm chafing at the bit because I can only manage to get to MY work after dinner.

I need a list to prove to myself that my time was well spent.

Yesterday:
picked oranges for market                    
divided bee hives
put 3 buckets of gravel into the garden bathtub
got the stove door taken off (stove to plant)
planted 3 cut off plastic pop bottles with cacti
cut bamboo for plant containers
oh, yeah, and cooked, did laundry, and washed the dishes and the kitchen floor

Ok, I feel better. It was a good day anyway, full of sunshine, good health, and blessings.

Almost Finished, 2

The needle turn appliqué is finished. Whew!

Now I need to finish the stitching in the center and put on a back. The black fabric is actually a loosely woven, light weight wool that will fray further creating interesting contrast between the smoothness of the needle turn and the raw edges.

White and Needle Turn Appliqué

When I added the extensions on the right, I knew that this would go into some kind of needle turn appliqué. So I folded back the extensions...

...and added a white striped cotton fabric from one of my husband's shirts, 

which I proceeded to needle turn...slowly, into the wee hours...

Almost Finished

Well, as I rarely manage to finish anything, this might be exciting.

Working on the upper right corner and reflecting on how to back it.

The edges look interesting, so I think I'll keep them. Another technical challenge.

Linked to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday."

Stitching Brocades, 1

In my opinion, if you're going to take the time to stitch, it had best be visible.

I added a couple more circles and stitched into the wee hours, as usual. 

However, I can't see much for my effort.

Yet, I do like white on white. I used an outline stitch because that's the stitch I like best and the raised effect is more visible. And, of course, a few French knots because I also like their raised effect. And a running stitch. The details please me, however, I'm not sure I like being so subtle...

Sketched Blue Flowers, 6

I might manage to finish this soon. 

Haven't decided about the edges. I think I'll probably chop them off and square up the piece. Otherwise the needle turn appliqué is going to run away, escape, make a statement of its own.




The appliqué has sort of shrunken the green frame. All the more reason for squaring it up. I'm thinking maybe a black binding around the edges...

A Doily

Doilies are such bizarre objects, sort of useless for today's fast-paced life. Yet, my small collection holds the Memory of Grandmothers and their handiwork, and consequently they earn their place in my heart.

 I want to document this small one before I incorporate it into my white brocade project.

Last night I looked at it closely under strong light and realized that it is hand stitched, as far as I can tell. I was amazed and dazzled by the work. Even the back is meticulous.

Although it belonged to my grandmother, I have no idea who made it. 

The edge is perfection. Stitched on some kind of organza, this doily measures only 4"/10cm across and the central floral motif is only 2"/5cm across. You almost need a microscope to see it!