I am often asked in what order I stitch my African Folklore Embroidery kits. I never really think about it before I start so I really haven’t had a good answer to the question. I decided I should try taking pictures as I sewed my last project.
It happened to be the basket pattern. Here are the photographs…
and the finished basket…
So, that’s how I do it. About 20 hours stitching, includes ribbon and beads. Too much fun?
I’m not often lost for words but when Gina told me she was closing Pieceful Heart Fabrics I was completely shocked…
Well now it’s official and the sale has been going on for six days. This was the line on day one.
People were waiting outside for more than an hour, just to get through the doors…
I decided I did not need anything that much…
This afternoon there was no line and I was able to buy some half price flannel for baby quilts. Now I just need to get back to sewing.
Yesterday was Guild night. We enjoyed a super lecture from Frieda Anderson followed by our usual Show and Tell.
I was delighted to see an old friend appear on stage. Nearly two years ago I cleared out a few drawers and donated a raffle basket of my more traditional fabrics and a quilt top I had made as a class sample… Joan won the basket and got the top finished and quilted. Last night she brought it back to show us.
It looked good.
One of the reasons I never finished it was the fused flowers in the border that needed sewing down. Joan hand button hole stitched round every piece before it was quilted…
Unfortunately I don’t have the pattern any more and I can’t remember who the designer was… but it was certainly good to see it finished and in safe hands!
So, I guess I have made the last of my class samples for Pieceful Heart. We will have to wait and see what the future brings. I have a feeling I won’t need to sit in a corner and feel bored and sorry for myself for too long…
Well, the first ever Riverwalk Quilt Guild quilt show has happened! It is now a thing of the past…
From the membership desk by the front door, with a happy looking Myra looking very welcoming,
past the baskets (this one was donated by the Sew and Tell bee, a wonderful bee indeed),
and our “Along the Riverwalk” challenge,
then into the main exhibition,
it was one very fine show.
All the hard work and planning was very evident to the almost 1000 visitors we had come through. Well done ladies of the guild!!
I was tucked away vending my African Folklore Embroidery kits, threads and silk ribbons. Here is one half of my display,
and here is the other side. That is Esther the sheep from my neighbors for the weekend, Esther’s Place in Big Rock.
Steve dropped in and stopped by a familiar looking quilt…
So that’s it. Who wants to chair the next show in 2015?
I’ve been working on some African Folklore Embroideries on off for the last five or so months… Somehow they all they came together in the past few days. Some are still just embroideries until I decide what to do with them…
First is the topiary, complete with sequin leaves.
A close up of the central design,
Here are the safari animals…
including a tortoise,
a lion,
a rhino,
an elephant,
and a giraffe.
Not quite the Big Five but an interesting mix nevertheless!
Cupcakes with flower sequins and some beads…
A zebra, very folk artish? Set in a frame on a quilted background for a handsome display.
And last, but not least a firework display, complete with more sequins, star shapes this time.
And a view from a different angle.
Time to celebrate!
I will be vending at naperville quilts! 2013 in 2 days… I am expecting a Priority Mail package tomorrow with lots of kits and threads to sell. I’ll also be giving an embroidery demo on Saturday. I hope there will be lots of familiar faces in the crowd.
Maybe spring has finally arrived in Illinois this year!
I met Pat in Naperville for lunch last Wednesday and, despite a small shopping detour, was a couple of minutes early so I had chance to snap a few pictures outside the restaurant. The tulips were beginning to fade but they were still very pretty.
The May showers on Thursday didn’t stop us from making the postponed trip to the Country Quilters in McHenry. This time we lingered a little long over dinner but we got there in time to set up and start the program at just a few minutes after seven.
Here’s my display of African Folklore Embroideries and Ndebele dolls.
The ladies did very well listening and aced the pop quiz… I hope they are enjoying stitching on their embroideries.
On Sunday I was invited to a baby shower to introduce a group of ladies to the delights of FabricOrigami. We made the stars but what with eating and chatting we never did get the boxes made… I did a demo and left instructions. There was plenty of stiffened fabric. I think the 11 year old daughter will probably make good use of it?
So, this week it really is time to make our final preparations for our quilt show. I dropped my quilts off at Nancy’s on Saturday. I posted a bookmark on the community board at Starbucks yesterday… four more days to go until naperville quilts! 2013.