The First of Many Exciting Things to Come for 2016

2016 has started with a lot of excitement for my family and I.  We just welcomed a little girl into our family! A few weeks ago, I started a quilt for our Eliza in the same style as I did for our son (which you can see in process here and finished here).  I'm using the same organic cotton jersey from Alabama Chanin and using the same double-layer jersey reverse applique with backstitch outline Alabama Chanin technique.   

For Zay's, I used our backyard as inspiration incorporating backyard animals and plants for the motifs and chose fairly bold color combinations.  For our Eliza's quilt, I am actually using the colors that I had leftover from the fabric packs I had purchased from Alabama Chanin for Zay's quilt.  They are a mix of pale pink, magenta, beige, buttercream, lemon chiffon yellow, soft gray and a mint green.  I've also chosen to do the backstitching with variegated Valdani pearl cotton thread.  I thought the variegated thread was a nice difference and also gave a bit more of a feminine touch or detail to it with the soft color transitions.  I liked the contrast between the two quilts with Zay's using much bolder colors and Eliza's using more pastels. 

For the motifs on Eliza's quilt, I am drawing inspiration from the Victorian language of flowers and flowers that have a personal meaning to me or her.  I've included carnations and snow drops as they are the birth flowers for January.  Dogwood blossoms as they are the state flower for North Carolina and one of my favorite signs of spring.  Many of the flowers were chosen for their meanings from the Victorian language of flowers.  Some of the ones I have included are:

Carnations for "beauty, health and energy"
Chamomile for "energy in adversity"
Clematis for "mental beauty and art"
Crocous for "youthful gladness"
Forget-me-not for "true love"
Hibiscus for "delicate beauty"
 Honeysuckle for "bonds of love" and "devoted affection"
Jasmine for "you are cheerful and graceful"
Oak leaves for "bravery"
Strawberry blossoms for "perfect goodness"

As you can see below, I have a lot more squares to finish and I have not figured out the final arrangement or piecing layout either.  Basically, I have a good bit to go on this one.  The technique goes rather quickly though and it is a project that I can pick up and set down easily.  Also, I have not washed any of these pieces so the trimmed edges have not yet curled which will help open some of the areas like the stems and leaflets revealing more of the back color. Since I took these photos, I have finished 3-4 more blocks as I took this with me to the hospital!

Happy Valentine's Miss Hazel!

Zay's Valentine to his cousin and my beautiful niece, Hazel.  I stitched it after he helped me design it.  I stitched Winnie-the-Pooh in crewel long and short, detached flowers with beaded centers, turkey stitch grass, and goldwork "H" on a silk dupioni ground. 

I also used this piece to practice the mounting process that I need to do for my RSN Certificate pieces.  After attempting it I have a few thoughts:

- the amazing ladies I stitch with in the UK make this look way too easy 

(it is not for the faint of heart)

- I do not have finger prints on at least 4 of my fingers

- so glad I practiced on a different piece before attempting to mount my RSN crewelwork piece

- in the mounting process, some of my couched smooth passing shifted.  I think I must have not been able to get it tight enough (any thoughts?).  It was beautifully smooth prior to mounting it and then I realized that it shifted in a couple places.  Or maybe I didn't plung enough of the ends?

I know a few things I need to work with on this piece.  I need to watch my tension at the crewel long and short.  I think they may actually be due to using a silk dupioni ground not twill.  I still have a couple puckers around Winnie that I cannot get out.  I also need to practice my herringbone stitch for the back.  I'm fairly certain my stitching was too wide and more closely represented the "no" sketch than the "yes" sketch that Tracy did for me to follow.  Also, I need to work on my corners.  They weren't terrible, but they could be a lot better.  I think I'm going to practice one more time before mounting my RSN crewel piece.  I have a set of crewel samples already to mount.

A Christmas Stocking for Zay

I wanted to create a Christmas stocking for Zay that was in the same colors and similar style as the blanket I made for him.  On the stocking, I'm experimenting with more applique and leaving the thread ends exposed.  I hide the ends on the blanket for safety reasons (I didn't want him eating them!).  On the stocking though, I didn't want the ends to get caught on things inside the stocking, so I'm leaving them on the outside.  I've tried to incorporate them into the design as much as possible.  We'll see!  There are 4 sections:  his name, Christmas lights, Christmas tree, and a red wagon filled with presents. 

A Wee Bit of Fun Stitching!

So lots of my friends and family are having babies, so I took a bit of time and am making a few baby dresses, bibs, and receiving blankets.

Zay's Blanket is Finished!

And, I think he likes it!  

Blanket for Zay is ALMOST done!!!!

So close!  I have run out of the red thread for the blanket stitch, so off to the store tomorrow to buy more to finish it up!  This is the blanket I made for my beautiful little boy, Zay.  

I wanted to do a fun blanket for his room that was my version of something for a child.  All the motifs are backyard motifs--dandelions, beetles, lizards, birds, clovers, owls, dogwood trees, etc.  I bought all my fabric from Alabama Chanin.  It is all organic jersey knit, and I stitch the blanket in an "Alabama Chanin" style.  

The front of the blanket is created with a double layer of the cotton jersey.   The motifs are created with using large backstitched outlines and reverse applique. The back of the blanket is a single layer of jersey with a layer of 1/4" cotton batting (wading) with the leaves quilted with a running stitch and Zay's name and birthday backstitched.  The back wraps to the front and is attached with a blanket stitch edging. 

A Wee Update!

So a lot has happened in the past few months!  I started back to work in August and have been crazy busy between classes (teaching Sewing & Construction and Undergraduate Fibers Studio) and being the Faculty Advisor to Art2Wear (the student fashion show each April).  I have not been able to stitch as much on my RSN pieces as I need some concentration time for them.  My last class is tomorrow though and next week, I have a date with some size 12 embroidery needles, DMC floss and my silk shading RSN piece! 

Also, my husband and I are expecting our first baby at the beginning of January!  It has been quite the exciting summer and fall!  I thought I'd share some of the stitching I have been doing.  I needed to stitch something and with the craziness of school I wanted to work on something fun and mindless.  I've been working on a quilt for our little guy using backyard animal motifs and a style I learned from Natalie Chanin from Alabama Chanin.  I'm using organic cotton jersey double layer pieces (bought from Alabama Chanin) and mostly reverse applique techniques.