Progress on the Blue CQ Block

I've added another TAST stitch to my blue CQ block. It is the drizzle stitch, which I've admired but never attempted. I was put off by the whole idea of having to rethread the needle so much. However, it is a stitch with great character. So for the challenge, I went ahead with it.
A needle threader might have been useful, but it really wasn't so bad. Finicky threads aren't so fun, though. The first two photos show different angles of the drizzle stitch done with a silk blend knitting thread with very little twist. I cast on twelve times for each of these stitches.
The next two photos show the drizzle stitch as more of an accent to another area of stitching. I used a number 8 pearl cotton for these. At the bottom of each silk ribbon flower, I did one drizzle stitch with eight cast ons and one with four cast ons. The photo to the left also shows a larger drizzle stitch cluster from the earlier photos for comparison. That thread is a little larger, somewhere between the sizes of a 5 and 8 pearl cotton.

This next photo is a close up of just the area with the smaller drizzle stitches.





The last photo shows the whole block as it is now. The embroidery is mostly done and I will be moving on to other embellishments. On to the beads, buttons, motifs, and such.

New scarf

The first scarf is finished from my recent stash acquisition. It was made with Lion Suede and Bernat Bling Bling. I picked out a pretty textured stitch from a knitting stitch encyclopedia for the body of the scarf. When it was long enough, I crocheted chain stitch loops for the fringe.

MeMe

I've been tagged by Candi for my first MeMe! Here are the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.


Now for the 7 facts about me:

1. I love God.

2. I have three children, ages 17, 14, and 1. I love each one of them the most.

3. I have the best husband. We've been together for 10 years. I love him more every day.

4. At 4 months old, we discovered the baby was allergic to wheat. Some friends suggested she had already gotten most of the benefit from nursing, so I should give her formula and continue eating whatever I wanted. I never had to think about it. I gave up everything with wheat in it. The list is quite extensive and includes sandwiches, pizza, cookies, crackers, and almost everything that comes from a can or box. With a few exceptions, I cook nearly everything from scratch. As a result, I have lost an extra 30 pounds after losing the baby weight and we are much healthier. The baby just had her first birthday. She shows no sign of wanting to give up nursing yet.

5. There is only one thing I miss since giving up wheat. My husband and I had a traditional date night of Chinese take out and a rented movie. We've gone on fancier dates, but that was always my favorite. Unfortunately, Chinese food is full of wheat. It's in the soy sauce.

6. I have more projects planned and/or started than I could possibly finish anytime soon. They include all sorts of things: knitting, traditional quilts, crazy quilts, doll clothes, paintings, scrapbooks, ornaments.

7. I met my husband online. At the time, we lived on opposite sides of the country.

And for the 7 people I tag:
Ati
Mindy
Lori
Jo in NZ
JoWynn
LinMoon
Carol-Anne

Blue CQ Details, TAST

I've worked a bit more on my blue crazy quilt block. With so much going on, I am just not dedicated to one project at a time. Crazy quilting is nice to work on a bit here and there to relax between other projects. These blocks also take longer because I have no finished project in mind for them. They simply exist to enjoy the process. When I finish enough blocks, I'll figure out what to do with them.

This first detail shows my variation on the linked chain stitch. This was a TAST stitch a couple of weeks ago. I probably should have started with the actual stitch, but I'll get around to that sooner or later. When I read through the original TAST post describing this stitch, I kept thinking it might be interesting with an extra chain. So my version has the twisted chain alternating with a set of three chains.

This next detail includes the twisted satin stitch. I started with straight stitches in yellow cotton pearl #5. Then I added the twist stitch with a light brown silk thread that is much thinner. I like the effect in this spot, but if I use this stitch again I will try it with pearl for both parts of the stitch.




The last detail shows a seam with different stitches built up in layers. It started with the feather stitch in variegated thread. I added pistol stitches with the pale silver thread and then fly stitches with navy silk floss.

Beads or glitz to come later.

I started embellishing this block during SharonB's encrusted crazy quilting class in February. She's running the class again in November. If you're interested in learning more, be sure to check it out. Sharon includes tons of information and eye candy in her lessons. I thoroughly enjoyed the class.

Vickie Howell's podcast coming soon

I've just discovered Vickie Howell's blog, and soon she'll have a podcast. I must admit, I don't know anything about podcasts. I saw a few episodes of Vickie's show, Knitty Gritty, when it aired on HGTV a few months ago. It's normally on DIY network, which I don't get. Maybe this is good incentive to learn about podcasts.

Dolly

Haven't finished the clothes yet, but here's the finished dolly for my angel's birthday.

Crazy Quilt Blog

A Wagonwife's Life

This blog was mentioned on one of the yahoo groups and is pretty cool. It has nice photos and how-to info on techniques for embellishing a crazy quilt.

Littlest Angel's Birthday Dolly

Another new project, but one that will be finished this week. My little angel is having her first birthday on Friday. Her daddy drew the face for her dolly. I spent the last couple nights embroidering it after she went to sleep. It's hard to believe a whole year has gone by.

Scarf Knitting

I started knitting another scarf last week. The stitch pattern comes from the Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns. Some of the stitch's design is lost with this yarn, but it produces a wonderful texture and scalloped sides. Lion suede yarn is soft and will make a cozy scarf.

Knitting

As I mentioned in my post about the new yarn stash, I have a plan. The plan is to use the glitzy new yarn in combination with other yarns in my stash and make holiday gifts. I'm thinking of scarves, hats, purses, and maybe shawls or throw pillows. This is the first project on the needles. It's a simple garter stitch scarf. Narrow stripes of blue Bling Bling are paired with stripes of cream chenille which get progressively wider in the center and narrower on the ends. The chenille is quite slippery on size 13 needles, but it has a nice lacy look.

Clay Quilt Shop

Found on the Lazy Girl blog:

Quilt shop in polymer clay.