Needlework Tuesday - Sewing with a Layer Cake

Even with the gorgeous weather we had this past weekend, I did manage to find a bit of sewing time.  I started this project along with a friend way back in March.  My friend finished hers long ago and I am still in the midst of sewing seemingly endless rows of strips together.  This quilt started with purchasing a layer cake, which is a packet of 40 different squares of co-ordinated fabrics 10 inches on a side.  I selected one called Road 15 from Moda.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you

Each strip is carefully numbers and laid in the order they will be sewn together

I decided the best approach would be to sew the strips together in pairs.  Just over half are paired in the following photos.  When I look at the strips with my glasses off, I can really see the pieces flowing together.  My only problem with this pattern is that we were instructed to press the seams open. arg, that means that every intersection has to be pinned. That's one heck of a lot of pins.  It is worth the effort and the seams are matching wonderfully.

I bought border fabrics today and am looking forward to completing this quilt top.  It should end up a good lap size, unless we decide to hang it on the wall.  #BargelloQuilt

Truth be told, I had intended to work on another quilt this week, but I haven't found all the fabrics I want to use.  I knew that if i rushed it, I wouldn't have been happy with the results.  Better to take my time in the preparation stage, it will result in a much better quilt in the long run.

I am getting so close to completing my temperature scarves.  Just have to record today's high, and then can finish knitting September.  Next week I'll have photos of both scarves in their full length.  #TemperatureScarf

Did you get a chance to stitch this past week?  leave a comment or better yet, add a link to Mister Linky. I'll be sure to visit and leave a comment.

Tangled Thursday - Patterns inside Patterns

Tami, at Just One More Thing, challenged us to create a pattern within a pattern.  She posted a good example to illustrate. This led me to think of some quilt blocks I have been working on over the past year.  The blocks are made up of diamonds and triangles. Perfect for this challenge.  (I have five blocks sewn and many more pieces cut, but still a long way from revealing my progress).

Welcome to Tangled Thursday.  A few of my local and online friends have joined me in an occasional Zentangle challenge.  We'll take turns choosing a theme  and them post our drawings in about 2 weeks time.  All are welcome to join in the fun.  If you are new to Zentangles, then visit the website for a complete explanation and all sorts of online resources.  I'm also a big fan of TanglePatterns.com.

After a bunch of playing around to lightly draw some pencil lines for guidance, I started in the middle with the mooka.  Since I am still not comfortable with that tangle, I kept them simple.  Next I did the outside points. I worked all same triangles/diamonds at the same time in an attempt to keep them as identical as possible.

This was worked on a 9 x 12 inch piece of multi media paper.  It was very flat looking before I added the shading.  #Zentangle

One of my earlier thoughts on creating this piece, was to draw each different triangle/diamond once in a larger size, photo copy and then cut and paste to make a very large piece of artwork.  That way I could include lots of detail in each segment.  I may still do that at a later date.

thanks to Tami for the fun Challenge. Elaine is up next and then it's Diane's turn.

I'm looking forward to seeing some other pattern within a pattern drawings.  Leave a comment below and/or add a link to Mister Linky and I'll be sure to drop by for a visit.

Needlework Tuesday - All Wrapped Up

 Daughter's scarf is finally finished.  It sure takes a long time to knit a scarf in sock weight yarn, but it was worth it.  The resulting scarf is so soft and cuddly.  By chance we choose the same colour as her university school team. Go Marauders.  To learn about the pattern and yarn, check this earlier post. #TemperatureScarf

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you

 I'm looking forward to wrapping up my year long temperature scarf project.  The end of September will see me stitching the final rows.  This week I am featuring the rows for July, with my scarf for Waterloo, Ontario on the left.

While my mother was here the past two weeks, I took advantage of idle fingers and had her knitting.  She finished three of these ruffle scarves and then I worked on the mauve and grey one.  Daughter had bought a whole bunch of balls of ruffle yarns, but never seemed to work on them.

I did find myself in the fabric store today and bought a few metres of lovely cottons.  I have a quilt that needs to be in a bit of a rush, so should have some photos for you next week.  Not too sure how the colours are going to work out, but I trust the colour wheel won't steer me wrong.

I have relied on a colour wheel a few times to help in my selection of colours of fabric, and the resulting projects looked wonderful.  Have you ever used a colour wheel in your stitching?  It's a great took, you just have to put your trust in a time honoured method of colour co-ordinating.

Leave a comment or add a link to Mister Linky, and I'll be sure to drop by for a virtual visit.

International Read and ebook day

Today is International Read an ebook Day. 

I am using the Kindle app on my Blackberry Z10 to read Little Deadly Things by Harry Steinman.  I'm not far enough in yet to tell you whats really going on, but I've met the three main characters and found out a little about their background and how they were brought together.  Brilliant people brought together through science.  But will they use their skills and knowledge for good or for evil....

#eBookDay

Needlework Tuesday - Almost scarf time

Last week I showed you the fabrics i was working with, and now I can show you the finished project, a roomy tote bag.  It sure is yummy.  The pattern is by Linda Turner Griepentrog and was designed for Timeless Treasures Fabrics for the Sew a Season Fabric line by Debra Gabel.   This was the fabric selected for this past summer's Row by Row Experience.  Click here for a free copy oft he pattern.

This is destined to join daughter at school. I think it will make and excellent book bag.

 

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week.  I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs.  You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post.  Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.

The weather here has been chilling down lately even though we still have a few more official days of summer.  With that in mind, I wanted to get back to my temperature scarves.  We didn't have many days over 30C, so I only used my top colour once. Oh well, not to worry, the yarn won't go bad waiting for the next project.  This first photo depicts the temperatures from May.  The Waterloo scarf if on the left and the mystery location is on the right.

Temperatures for June, Waterloo scarf on the leftr.

July, August and September yet to go.  This sure is one heck of a long scarf.

Do you have plans for any new projects as the season turns? Me, I have several existing ones that need finishing before I can start a new one.  Leave me a comment and i'll be sure to drop by for a visit.  Mister Linky is waiting below fora  link to your current needlework post.

Tangled Thursday - getting back on track

 It's been a few weeks since I picked up my pens and tangled.  Thanks to Marie of Daisy's Book Journal, we have a fun challenge this week.  This is what she had to say:

Since I haven’t been drawing all summer and don’t even know when my zentangle-ing gear is,  the challenge is just pick up your supplies and create a zentangle related drawing.  That’s it!  Any size, any patterns.  Fun shape or square.  On paper or on anything you want.  Totally open.   No rules, other than you have to use zentangle patterns in some way. 

No time to draw??  Create a quick post pointing to your favourite zentangle related blog or website.  If you have time, you can tell us a little about it.  

Don’t like that idea??  How about posting a previous drawing that you did?  One that you haven’t shared before.  

I guess the main idea is to post something zentangle related...for everyone to get back into this.  

I needed a challenge like this to get me moving.  I have been buying small wooden shapes and objects from Michaels and it was time to put them to use.  The first is a wooden tag, measures about 2 x 3 inches.  I coated it with a silver metallic paint and drew one tangle.

Welcome to Tangled Thursday.  A few of my local and online friends have joined me in an occasional Zentangle challenge.  We'll take turns choosing a theme  and them post our drawings in about 2 weeks time.  All are welcome to join in the fun.  If you are new to Zentangles, then visit the website for a complete explanation and all sorts of online resources.  I'm also a big fan of TanglePatterns.com.

 

 I was shopping with daughter, and she has a continuing fascination with all things Halloween.  She keeps it pretty much in check, but it gets the better of her at time and led her to select this little coffin.  It's about 5 inches long and 1 1/2 tall.  I painted it with a bone white acrylic paint. I knew I wanted to border the lid so it would be clearly defined, and the rest I went with the moment.  i still have a bit more work to do on the top.

Marie also asked up to talk about a site we really enjoy.  Ornation Creation is the brain child of Ben Kwok.  He has made the most wonderful outline drawings which he freely posts on the Facebook Group.  You can then print them out as a very pale 'string' and then tangle till your hearts content.  I have printed out several of the files onto all purpose art paper and am looking forward to filling them in.  You must go visit this site and check out the amazing work.

Are you tangling this week?  Mister Linky is waiting below.  Leave a comment and I'll be sure to drop by for a virtual visit.

Needlework Tuesday - a wee bit late

 I'm a wee bit late getting my Needlework Tuesday post ready.  Yesterday I spent the day on a visit to my grandmother.  At the beginning of the month she turned 98, definitely worth a celebration and a visit. (she sure has had lots of visitors over the past two weeks).  My son and my mother joined me for the outing.  Since son is a photographer by profession, I asked him to bring along his camera and shoot my grandmother's portrait. He also did a portrait of a family friend who lives at the same retirement apartment.   Looking forward to seeing the edited photos.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week.  I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs.  You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post.  Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.






I have finally made it back to my sewing machine.  I have a small project on the go.  The first photo above and the one beside, are the fabrics I have chosen. Just a tease though, you'll have to wait till next week to see what I am making.

 My mom has been here for the past week, and she's been stitching on my other machine.  Scrappy projects can be very portable and easy to fit in when you don't want to carry along a complex project.  She's been working on these blocks.  Untrimmed and below are some trimmed ones.

I'm hoping with the change of season, and with daughter getting settled at university, that I'll have more time to complete some of my projects that have been pushed to the back for far too long.  First, I have to finished the one shown above and then, well, I'm not sure which will be next, but I know I'll enjoy it.  Do you have a specific project that you are working on this month?

Mister Linky is waiting below for a link to your current needlework project.  Leave a comment and I'll be sure to drop by for a virtual visit with you.

Blindsight by Peter Watts

 The Theseus Consortium

Blindsight is the first book of The Theseus Consortium.  It follows the ordeal of Siri Keeton as he travels beyond the reaches of our universe to determine the nature of the earlier appearance of alien technology around the earth.  He is accompanied by a crew lead by a long dead and resurrected vampire, a group of four linquists/first contact specialists in one body, a medical scientist and a military strategist.  Siri is a synthesist, whose job it is to observe and send home reports.

This is first and foremost a story of first contact. The tough part was to identify the alien(s) and distinguish between smart technology and sentience.  While the reader is following the story of the aliens, we are also learning about Siri, his life and how he fits in with the rest of the crew.  It's a very different world than the one we live in now.  People can be moded with all sorts of implants though I am left wondering whether that makes them more or makes them less human in the end.

I enjoyed the path of this story, but will admit, that at times I couldn't follow whatever philosophy Mr. Watts was discussing.  Several time, Sarasti, the vampire, had to lead Siri to understand something.  This something was never stated, I imagine that I was supposed to be able to follow the logic and figure it out myself, I never did.

Echopraxia - follow up to Blindsight due out August 26, 2014.

about Author Peter Watts

SINCERELY LOUISE: Faux Taxidermy Knits

An awesome new knitting book is available from Louise Walker with the coolest patterns you'd never expect to be knit including a tiger rug, bear skin and moose head to mount on the wall.  There is also a blog hop to celebrate it's launch.



SINCERELY LOUISE: Faux Taxidermy Knits: It’s here! Well almost here... my debut book ‘Faux Taxidermy Knits’ is due for release on the 26 th of September - hurrah! Faux Ta...