Progress

OK OK I've been AWOL for a month.
I've been happily art journalling over at my other blog
Jens Arty Life

And then my Quilters Guild magazine arrived yesterday with the entry forms for the show and I realised the deadline was approaching fast for entries. The quilt doesn't have to be completed to be accepted. But I would like to have the top done for a better chance at making the show.

So yesterday I sewed another 4 blocks and I plan to do at least 6 a day over the next week to get all the blocks done. I have 19 left to do. But here is the stack now

Yesterday I calculated all the strips I would need for the last blocks and I finished cutting them this morning. So the last 19 blocks just have to be assembled.

Then I need to do the applique and put the top together. I think I should be able to do it all in a few weeks (there are 3 weeks left for the deadline) and that allows time in the mail for the entry if I need to do it that way.

Hmmmm .... better get back to sewing then!
Jennidee

On The Design Table

Just thought I'd share a photo of the quilt I'm working on at the moment. I won't be able to post a photo of it finished until it is published.
It's called Arabian Nights and I'm loving the way it's turning out.

I also wanted to share a funny story with you.
My daughter was writing a story for school and in it I'm too busy watching 'The quilting channel' to help her with her problem.

My husband, who was in the room listening to the story as well asked what show would be on the quilting channel and we came up with;
Free Motion Challenge
Queers For Quilts (who go looking for special antique quilts)
Grand Designs (quilts that take a long time to make and are too expensive)
Quilt Make Over (old quilts that are taken apart and given a make over)
and
Quilt Road Show (looking for good bargains of quilts for sale).

The sad thing is, it's probably not that far from the truth. :) We don't get many quilting shows in Australia, but the odd ones that have been aired have been similar .

Until next time
Jennidee

Saturday's Progress

Saturday 23rd of December

Sorry it's a bit sideways, I was trying not to get a shadow on it.
I was having trouble sleeping so I stayed up pretty late stitching. I think I did about 6 hours yesterday.
I'm not sure if I'll get it finished by Christmas day ... probably not. I always underestimate the time it takes to stitch something.

See you with an update tomorrow.
Jennidee

yay, Holidays

Saturday 22nd December 2012


Yesterday was my last day at the OOSH (Out of school hours care - remember that term, I'll use it from now on as it's quicker). It was an interesting day with one horendously behaved 5 year old and another one causing a panic by choking on a boiled lolly. We had to call 000, but because he was breathing they didn't need to come out and just advised us over the phone. He coughed it up after about 15 minutes, but it was a VERY tense quarter of an hour as he was in quite a bit of ditress. Then, when it was out he ran around as if nothing had happened while we staff were still shaking from the adrenalin!!!!


Anyway, it's holidays now and i'm enjoying finishing a completely frivilous reindeer stitch from 'Simple Stitch' kits. Here's my progress so far.

 I'll post again on Sunday evening to show you how far I've gotten and then when it's finished.

See you then,
Jennidee

More Progress

Sorry I haven't posted much lately. It was reports time at school which means more after hours work. But it's all done now.

I've made progress on the 'L' for Lisa.

This photo is quite drak as I took it early this morning with my flash. I'm actually quite happy with the colours now. As I come down to the bottom of the 'L' the colours lighten considerably and make give an overall impression of blending colours.

I must say I 'll glad when it's done. I've used three strands in 18 count aida which I've now decided is too thick (and pretty cumberson to work with). But I aint starting again or unpicking!!!

When it's finished I plan to work on some smaller pieces for magazines to keep the cheques coming in. There is a good chance I'll be leaving teaching next year to focus on my designing full time. I've been quite stressed by teaching this year. So doing smaller projects for more magazines should give my husband a sense of ease with a steady flow of income.

Though the larger projects will always be my first love and I'll certainly be working on them in between the 'bread and butter' stuff.

Until next time,
happy stitching.

Feeling Great

I had a phone call today from Embroidery and Cross Stitch this morning saying they would like to publish the article I wrote about a local craft exhibition. It's really exciting to think that my writing is also worthy of the magazine, and it gives me another way to contribute to the magazine.

I've worked quite a lot on the WIP for my sister in law today (when not doing house work).
I did a bit more research on the lettering and thought I should show you the site that it came from.
The game is called 'Elder Scrolls'
Here's where i got them from, and you can see the entire alphabet there.
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Category:Lore-Alphabets-Fancy

As I work on the letter I am glad it is turning out a good colour. And I'm being inspired to design my own fancy alphabet to make a sampler or two.

Tomorrow I have to work on school reports so i'm not sure I'll get much stitching done ... we'll see.

But tonight I'm riding high on good news.

New Work WIP

I finished the fairy for WOCS and started the present for my sister in law.

I'm a little worried at how dark it is turning out. But I started at the top and it's darker at the top, so I hope it will turn out OK.

I've stitched so much today that my wrists are sore. :)

Blogger Gremlins and WIP

The gremlins in Blogger are making it impossible for me to comment on my own blogs.

So here are a few replies that I wanted to make

Kitty Dragon; thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the review. I'll try to get my hands on more books to review.

Everyone who commented on Making Wreaths; thankyou so much . it's nice to get positive feedback. I think for a while I'll stick to submititng to magazines. I'm a bit too impatient to wait for internet orders.

Yesterday I tie dyed the fabric for my next piece (which has already been bought by World of Cross Stitch on the strength of a simulation).

The photo doesn't really do it justice. There is much more yellow variation in the fabric ... I'm very pleased with how it turned out. The muchroom fairy perching on a mushroom will look fabulous on this background.

Last night I wasted 3 hours!!! I stitched some purple, realised it was wrong, unpciked it and then stitched it again, but I hadn't unpicked far enough and it was still wrong, so i had to unpcik again. Grrrr. Well at least it's all ready to go again this morning. So I'd better get back to it.

Thanks for reading
Jenni