Stitchin Fingers fabric ATC swap arrived today.

I had just posted my Red Buttons fabric ATC off to my swap partner at our post office, and went to the post office box room to check my mail. There was a little packet from England waiting for me - Di had beaten me to it! Here is what she sent me - her gorgeous fabric ATC, and some lovely extras: two skeins of metallic embroidery floss, a beautiful piece of floral fabric and a cute Xmas themed cross stitch kit. Thank you VERY much, Di! I already know what I'll be using the metallic thread for - spider webs on my CQs - it is just what I needed!

Fantastic book of iron-on transfers

I spent today with a friend, visiting opshops on our side of town. Along the way I found a secondhand bookshop, and of course, had to have a look in there too! Here is what I found, for $20 - a bit on the expensive side I thought, but on the other hand it is highly unlikely I'd ever find another copy, so I bought it. What a collection of transfers!!!! Every imaginable subject, and only a few cut out by the look of it. I've scanned three pages to give you an idea of what is there.

Finished postcard and two new fabric ATCs

I finished off my postcard not long after posting the previous photo - knew I should have waited! I was in the mood today to play with some more of these mini crazy patchworks, so I made two textile ATCs. I tried to photograph them, then tried scanning them, but neither turned out very well, so I settled for the scanned version. I learnt three valuable lessons today, about making textile ATCs:
1. Remove all tacking before ironing interfacing on the back.
2. Do not sew buttons and other 3D trims too close to the edge.
3. Check the width of the stitch on the sewing machine before starting to stitch.
It's just as well these ATCs aren't for an exchange...I'd be embarrassed to send them to anyone!

Update on my textile postcard.

There were some lovely comments on my last few posts - thank you everyone who left a comment, I do enjoy reading them, and will visit you all in return shortly, if I haven't already done so. Isn't the Internet great for finding people with a common interest - especially blogging - just love it! Here is a picture of my fabric CQ postcard...actually, I shouldn't call it CQ, as that stands for Crazy Quilting, and none of my patchwork is 'quilted' - it is just patchwork. Anyway, here is my postcard up until today: Ugh - okay, it isn't quite finished, but the scanner doesn't do it justice. The colours are much more vibrant than this pic. shows. As you can see if you compare this to the photo I posted a week or so ago, I've made a few improvements/changes. I changed the herringbone stitch from green to red, and I've moved the gold ric rac closer to the seam. I have a few more beads to add to the feather stitching at the bottom, and I'm not happy with the leaves on the right hand side, so I may fill them in with button hole or satin stitch yet.

ATCs

On August 30th I posted some photos of ATCs (Artists Trading Cards) I had just made. Some were textiles and the others were paper. As I'm trying to keep this blog for embroidered stuff, I've decided I'll post future paper ATCs to my Swap Card Blog. That was created for my swap/playing card collection, but it will do for the time being, to house my ATC collection as well!!
If you are new to ATCs, go here or here to find out about them.

Crazy about Crazy Quilting!

I just love messing around with little blocks of fabric that I've pieced together in CQ fashion. I have no intention of making a full size quilt - not even a wall hanging or lap rug. I simply enjoy doing a variety of stitches and beading to embellish the blocks. One of the Groups on Stitchin Fingers are making fabric postcards to swap with each other, so I jumped in there to join the swap. The theme for the postcard is 'Fall' (it was suggested by an American - surprise, surprise!) and I emailed her that Spring has just begun Down Under, and it feels like forever since we had our Autumn, but I didn't mind thinking about Autumn next year! Here is what I have done so far....actually I've done a bit more since I took this photo, but you may be able to see where I'm heading. The green Herringbone stitch will have small gold cross stitches on top of the green, and the ric rac will have another stitch, and possibly some beads worked on or around it. The red and green plain fabrics will have some other kind of embellishment, and there will be some stitching along the borders of those fabrics.
Here is another little block I made up when I was teaching myself the technique of "foundation piecing" from some CQ books I've borrowed from the library. There is no immediate purpose for this one, although a couple of friends have admired it and said they would like to see it in a little frame, so somebody may end up with this for Xmas!
For those who are interested, there are two new aprons on this blog.

Some additions to my collection.

I met my friend J. for coffee this afternoon at the Diamond Valley Antique centre here in Eltham. There was HEAPS of linen there, but I resisted temptation until I discovered this charming little supper cloth...a bit on the expensive side at $45, but I love this design! Unfortunately the colour in the first photo is all out of kilter, but the second closeup pic is better.
After J. left, I drove around the corner to investigate the shops in the next street, and discovered another antique store! I couldn't believe it - two in Eltham! So in I went, and while they didn't have a big range of linen, I purchased these two for $5. A simple elegant tray cloth on cream linen with nice crocheted edge. Close up of motif and crochet.
Another simple item that most people might not have looked twice at, but the stitching is just a bit different, and very neat.

Embroiderers Guild Annual exhibition

The Embroiderers Guild of Victoria is currently hosting their annual exhibition of members' work. Open 7 days a week from September 6th to 21st, it is at Embroidery House, 170 Wattletree Road, Malvern. Click here for more information, or go to the link on my sidebar on this blog. I'll be there as a volunteer gallery hostess on one or two days, so if you are in Melbourne and have a free day, drop in and say hello - and admire the fantastic stitching of our members. My Assisi Leaf coaster is on display with the other entries in the Guild Challenge; I didn't win an award, but I'm tickled pink to just be on show! Don't forget to visit the Gift Shop - all items are hand made by the Guild members. I couldn't resist buying this gorgeous little Teapot pincushion!

Friday's mail and Friday's stitching.

I only had an hour's work yesterday morning, so had the rest of the day to myself. When this happens, I usually ring around all the friends who I know might be home, and see who wants to go for a walk/do some stitching/catch up for a cuppa...So my backlog of housework and stitching doesn't usually get done.
Today, most of the people I called didn't answer their phone, or were doing something else. So I figured there had to be a message here somewhere! I told myself to stay home and catch up on the essential things needing to be done. So I defrosted the fridge (LONG overdue), made a pot of chicken stock (I'd just used my last lot in the freezer this week) and did some stitching on my friend's 50th birthday picture. I didn't bother photographing the fridge or the chicken stock (duh..) but here is where I'm up to with Louise's cottage:
These are two fabrics I received in the mail - aren't they delightful! And here is my second fabric completed ATC

Vintage Transfer book.

When I saw this on eBay from a lady in Tasmania who's eBay store name is "Gina's Fabrics" - well, I just had to bid, didn't I! It arrived today and I am so pleased I won it; whether or not I will ever actually use the transfers is debatable but hey, it's great stash.. Going by the information inside the cover, it is a reprint of an old McCalls magazine, as the last printing date listed is 1977. Here are just a few of the transfers inside:
Oh by the way, there is a new apron in my collection. You can see it here.

Eye candy.

I pass a large Salvation Army op-shop three days a week, but rarely stop to go in, as they never seem to have anything that appeals to me. But occasionally I just get a 'feeling'...and today I felt it, so in I went, and came out with these two beauties: Nice centrepiece:
And a very nice teacosy - it is stitched in only two or three basic stitches (laisy daisy and cross stitch) but the design and use of variegated thread make it so attractive.

Oh dear...what have I got myself in for now??

The Stitchin Fingers website has got so many fascinating groups, I just have to look at most of them several times a week, to see what everyone is working on. Members of the website can join any group they like, and I joined about a dozen, but cut back on some when I realised that I just was not going to have time to participate in every activity that appealed to me. I moderate the Cross Stitchin Fingers Group, and I'm taking part in exchanges for the ATC Group and the Fabric Post cards Group. ATC stands for Artists Trading Cards, and they can be made from paper, textiles or any other media as long as it conforms to the one size - 2.5 x 3.5 inches. Here is what I've done so far: The top one with red buttons is completed, and will be on its way to someone as soon as she sends me her address! She will be sending me one of hers in return. The green ATC below that was just a WIP when this was taken, but I finished it tonight, so will take another photo. These three are paper ATCs, with some material trimming to add interest. ******************************************************************************* But not only am I working on ATCs and fabric postcards (no photo of those yet), I am seriously keen on CQ blocks, and have hundreds of ideas buzzing around in my head. All that I need is more fabrics, and here is what I bought on eBay this week: Several pieces of Japanese-style fabrics,
These two cute fabrics with sewing machines and other sewing notions, followed by matching plain fabrics.
And more teapots - aren't these gorgeous? There used to be a lot of fabrics around with teacups and teapots but it is getting harder to find, so I was delighted to find this one.

Patchwork Chook is finished.

My friend Cheryl came to visit yesterday, to sit and stitch for a few hours. Poor Cheryl didn't get much of her own stitching done, because I asked her to help me put The Chook together, and it took all afternoon! Anyway, we got it done, and here she is, hanging up in the kitchen. The black cat behind her is not Topsy ready to pounce - it is a picture on a calendar!

Nearly a week later...

Ken and I are still coughing and sniffing, but feeling marginally better than we were a week ago, so I guess that is something to be grateful for.
I spent a few hours with one of my stitching mates Sharon, on Friday. She is a great motivator for me, as she is willing to try new things, whereas I take a while to pluck up the courage to start something new. Sharon is the friend who got me hooked on blogging, and she started crazy quilting after seeing it on other blogs and websites. So when I finally took up CQ in order to practise my embroidery stitches, who did I turn to for advice? Shazzy!
I (or should I say 'we') made great headway on my Teacup CQ block on Friday. Sharon brought out her large stash of buttons and bits for me to choose from, and she offered suggestions on how to utilise them. I am almost brain dead when it comes to being creative; I can follow instructions to the nth degree, but when it comes to making something original...well, I wait to be told, lol! Anyway, this is what I have achieved since I posted a photo of my CQ last week. I think even Sharon will be startled when she sees this - I spent most of Saturday night working on it, and I'm quite pleased with the result. It is still a work in progress though, so it might not be touched again for a few weeks, as there are other projects with timelines that need to be worked on before I can 'play' with this again.
Today (Sunday) I did a few variations of Cross Stitch for my TAST sampler.

Update on my bits and pieces.

The MOTH and I have been stuck indoors for three days, due to the weather (cold and wet) and both of us having caught a cold. Neither of us went to work yesterday or today, and while he stayed in bed most of the time (sensibly), I wasn't sick enough to do that, so life went on as usual - washing, ironing, cooking and stitching. Here is what I've been doing: Added a few more examples of Fly Stitch to my TAST sampler. I'm not 100% satisfied with my efforts, but it is a great learning process for me. I think I'm doing okay, then I look at the other girls' TAST samplers and realise I've got a long way to go! But hey, I can live with that.
Added some more embellishing stitches to The Chook. The reason I'm doing them on here is to see how they look before I stitch them on to my Teacup CQ block below: ...to which I have added some beads and a row of pink rick rack since I last posted a photo of it. I'm not happy about that teapot button. I want to have it on here somewhere, but it looks a bit lonely stuck there all by itself. Guess I'll remove it and save it until I've put more things on the block, then have another look. Any suggestions from you CQ experts out there?
Finally, I've been doing some more on my friend's 50th birthday pressie. She doesn't read blogs, so I can safely put this on here...I hope! This is a picture of the finished picture in the book I am working from: Nearly forgot to tell you - I've added another apron to my collection. You can see it here.

Embroidery exhibition.

Today was wet and cold in Melbourne, but for me, it was a perfect day! In the morning, Sharon and I went to an embroidery display put on by Bustle & Bows, a specialist needlecraft shop in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. It was not a large exhibition by the usual standards of big halls, in fact it was in three average size rooms of the local community centre, but the quality of the work displayed was...well, I can't find a suitable adjective. It was simply superb. We spent two very happy hours there, going around once, then doing it all over again, just for the sheer pleasure of all that eye candy! We both took heaps of photos, and no doubt Sharon will have put hers on her blog, so do visit her to have a look. I took about 30, too many to put on here, but I've put them on my Flickr account, so if you go here, you can have a look. Just as a teaser, here are just two of the items that impressed me: I LOVE our native Kookaburras, so this pillow really called to me!
A stunning example of goldwork.
Bustle & Bows run classes, and had a room full of gorgeous hand made goodies for sale to raise funds for charity. I paid just $2 for this exquisite blackwork pincushion. ****************************************** The rest of my day was spent stitching. (That is, after I'd done the week's ironing, and made a pot of soup for tea: Sweet Potato and Chilli - perfect for two sneezing and coughing senior citizens!!). I made some headway on the cross stitch picture I'm doing for a friend's 50th, and I practised my embroidery stitches on my patchwork chook: and my TAST stitch sampler: