I'm HOME!!!

Yes I'm finally home from my two jaunts to Dauphin this month and just over a week of house/dogs sitting and what did I do - well I stitched right through the evening!!!  LOL!  No I don't have pics of my embellishments as yet by maybe by the weekend! 

BUT what I do have is a picture of the elegant looking Victorian like Christmas stocking donated by Gerry H to the CQI Retreat Scholarship Auction.  I could not believe it when notified that I was the lucky bidder.  At first I had ideas of embellishing some of the swirls with beads etc but I can tell you that the drapery type fabric used is just lovely on it's own and all five buttons are different which adds to the uniqueness for the piece.  And the way the lace and strung beads are shaped gives the idea of the old fashioned button up boots.  Very imaginative Gerry!

Belated Christmas Greetings!!!

Sorry, I was trying to get my "Merry Christmas" wishes out before I left but with dogs/house sitting at the same time it just did not materialize.  I left Christmas Eve for an easy uneventful drive to Dauphin (semi heat this time) and was treated to this spectacular winter wonderland probably beginning around McDonald and NW on Hwy 5.  So beautiful!!!   Yep, you guessed it - I just had to finally stop outside of Neepawa as it was such heavy hoar frost and so bright even my camera could not capture it's beauty correctly.  Or maybe it was I!!!



Just east of Neepawa MB



Just east of Neepawa MB

Outskirts of Neepawa MB



Passing through Neepawa MB



Passing through Neepawa MB

Just north of Neepawa - Riding Mountain town

And when I got to Dauphin my first stop was the garage to get the heat and windshield washers looked at, then promptly off to visit Dad.  He's just been moved Dec. 10th into the Dauphin Personal Care Home and loves it there. Well I think the rushing and moving was too much for him (97 years young) and he had a bad barky voice and dry cough the 24th. But he did want me to join him for supper - he didn't want to go to my sister's on the farm and I don't blame him. So I stayed at the home much to my sisters' chagrin as they wanted me out at the farm - I was too tired and just wanted to visit with Dad. Once supper was over I felt better and Dad was going to rest so I decided to go visit my sisters for a while - arrived in time to enjoy some of my favourite foods before the table was cleared.

Christmas Day brought a major shock as my Dad was in bed at noon still in his PJs and hooked up to oxygen!!! He had been taken to the hospital (next door) and xrays showed he has pneumonia so he's on antibiotics and bed rest. WOW that was fast! I forgot to mention that the turkey dinner with all the fixings was delicious and both of us ate it all up (actually all three meals I had there were very tasty and lots to eat).  Apparently there is a flu going through the home and all are on preventative Tamaflu meds for the next two weeks. Today he said he was hungry and totally cleaned off his plate and then was concerned about not shaved and still in PJs and that was not good as two of his granddaughters were coming with their families - he needed to get dressed - I think the meds are helping him if he's concerned about his food and looks again. I sure hope so as it was quite the scare for me!

Yes I did have a nice and quiet Christmas even with Dad getting sick and now am back in Winnipeg dogs/house sitting once again! But sure could have done without the whiteout conditions on Hwy #1 for the last hour of my 4-hour drive! That was scarey!

Here's hoping you all have a Happy New Year and if you're celebrating please do it safely!!!

Another Felted Postcard!

Here is another of my felted O Christmas Tree postcard that I've gifted to Darlene who just loved the ones I prepared and swapped out earlier and begged to buy one for her "Rose Anne's Collection" she hopes to frame one day.  I decided that she deserved a special gift as she's always so very helpful and kind to me even when I'm not so nice!!!

Our office's elegant Darlene

Now you can see why Rachel and I both named my fur trimmed angel Miss Elegant Darlene - she definitely reminds us of our coworker (above) who is always so elegant in her attire and presentation.  I just love her hair (which you can't really see) but she's rolled it up in sections and pinned - something like a French roll but along the nape of her neck!

Angels for Me!!!

Secret Santa visited the Aurora Christmas Potluck and gave me an extra gift – guess he thought I was really good or maybe he knew I needed some extra TLC to deal with my family??? 

Anyways, I thank my friends (they know who they are) for giving me these angels. I have both of them at work and see them many times a day – probably more so than I would at home! One has been given the name “Elegant Darlene” (as she reminds Rachel & I of our co-worker Darlene) and she sits on my Double Wedding Ring Table Topper I made some years ago as you enter our office – visible from my desk too! The other Lacey angel with body of “straw” (I know it’s not that but it has slipped my mind at the moment) is beside my Doily angel on the credenza and I see them every time I go to the printer or out for whatever.

Yeppers most of my Christmas decorations are here at work – wonder what they’ll do when I retire!!!

2002 UFO Completed!!!

Ohhhh I forgot all about my exciting news!!!

See last week I decided I needed to finish up something quilty for myself, so I found the first block Sandra from New Zealand sent to me (an angel) – she was my Patch Pal from our local MPQ guild set up by Carol G who visited there on business and visited their quilting guild. So I found fabric to go with it and Sunday after supper I started quilting the block and actually finished adding the two outer borders in a quilt as you go process by 9:00 pm and then stitched the binding in place but totally forgot about the label – DUH!!! It was added afterwards once I found all the info on it so that’s good – well except for the pattern she used but I’m not selling it so doesn’t matter to me.  So here she is hanging in the office on the lovely quilt hanger I bought recently too - fits perfectly!!!  I still want to embellish her doily wings with beads etc but that can be added in later.

Angel Block from Sandra, my NZ friend

So maybe I’ll try and do more here and there in the future to get other UFOs completed. I’m enjoing it in the office then will bring all the quilted items home to store after Christmas till next year!!! I definitely have to figure out some type of hanging system so they aren’t always creased or embellishments flattened etc. Definitely time to clean out the closet so I can make use of it for hanger storage.

Christmas at the Quilt Guild

Talk about a busy couple of weeks but it sure was awesome to just sit and relax with my crocheting and visit with fellow quilters Wednesday evening at the guild meeting.  Then the Make and Take kits were handed out and I thoroughly enjoyed doing mine up but instead of the Snowman faces I stitched on some small yellow/gold buttons and added Terri's initials in the centre to keep flat for the cup to sit on.  This was I thought a perfect farewell gift for Terri who is starting a new job next week with new furniture arriving hopefully soon for her workstation.   

And here is the festive cup (also a carrying bag and FQ) I won for the Sewing Kit game we played just before the activity started.  Cute eh?

Another of Life's Chapters Closed

This Christmas will be totally different as my Dad has just moved into the Dauphin Personal Care Home (age 97) and as my youngest sister says, “he’s the only one who still holds his head up!” Yes he likes it so far and we are all glad for the “round the clock” care and scheduled meds and meals as he is becoming somewhat forgetful. He looks very well considering this time last year he said he was not long for this earth!!! I’m hoping he adjusts well and stays healthy to enjoy more carefree days!

But before this was all finalized it was a week of squabbling and hurt feelings and actually when I look back on it – all for nothing, but that’s what happens when there are two very controlling siblings that assume others need not know the details etc.

Well Dad/the family had like one week to accept the room, move in and then his apartment cleared out! So as soon as my meeting was over on Saturday I drove out to Dauphin arriving at 7:40 pm and immediately started sorting boxes of pictures - then after all that was finished I had to pack up a set of 8 place setting china dishes etc and the other items on my list, all by myself. The four sisters had decided it was my job and they were not helping, if it was left it was going into the garage sale or garbaged - so 3 hours later I finally got it finished, washed out the closet, then put the boxes in there out of the way for Sunday's apt sale. Needless to say I was beat when we got to my younger sister's house and rested half hour with an ice pack etc then off to bed.

Sunday was a whirlwind, up for 8:00 am and back to the apt to arrange the banquet table in the centre of living room and then loaded it with whatever and cleaning too. The sale was really good and about half the items went along with most of the furniture - dang good!!! It went smoothly actually so I was relieved and wondered why the heck they had to be so dang miserable the week before???

Monday we met back at the apt at 9:00 (minus one sister who went home) and moved the items around so we could tear up and remove the well worn carpet. We sold a bit more on Sunday and then the remaining items were either well used or not really of interest - so the Second Hand Store was coming the next day to pack up what they can sell and the remaining will be garbaged. Then my car was ready around 2:00 (no heat lately) and the cleaning was finished by 3:00 so I decided I'd pack up the boxes, visit Dad, then started for Winnipeg and even unloaded 3 boxes at my niece's for Sylvia who will be in soon. Maybe that was not so smart driving being so tired, but I think lots better than leaving very early Tues and having to HAUL everything up to my apt by myself and then going to work for my 11:00 am meeting!!!

The best part of the weekend was seeing my Dad settled into his new home and knowing he'll be cared for and it seems well fed, see he's refusing snacks as he's still full from his meals!!! LOL!!! Then I find out that Dad’s skooter was sold the next day and the bed given to the Grandson who found the buyer – great deal all around! Now all I need to hear is that Dad’s personal phone is reconnected – that’ll make Dad happy and I can call him again.

BUT I could not email when I got back as my keyboard malfunctioned that evening and Tuesday too – WEIRD!!! I was sooooooo annoyed as I don’t have the money to replace anything right now. But the next morning whatever was the cause had sorted itself out and now I’m right to go again!!!

Now my next move is getting ready for house/dogs sitting Dec. 20th-30th and hopefully an uneventful trip to Dauphin for Christmas!!!

I personally hope this Christmas season is merry and full of love for you and your family! Please celebrate with care!

My First Car Accident in YEARS!!!!!!

Dang it I knew I should have waited till after supper then venture out - like I normally do!!!  No I had to go after work and it was getting dark and traffic steady AND a panhandler distracted me enough to miss the brake lights ahead.  Thank goodness traffic was heavy and slow as I was barely doing 20-30 km/hr when I tried to brake but not soon enough or time enough to even switch to neutral to disengage the drive momentum.  And it was on the incline just past Osborne St so I basically hit their bottom bumper.

Naturally it was a BRAND NEW van and I followed it around the corner to exchange info.  The woman driving said this was the second time this week for her and when we both bent to check her vehicle basically there were rub marks on her rubbery bumper and well my car all the damage I had was missing one of the rubber strips off one of my sticking out parts.  Then the guy comes around and he says well what about this too and I looked at the dent above and said that was too high for my vehicle but he promptly said it is so as their vehicle was just out of the shop this week and you did it - well I backed off and said OK let's exchange info and you'll have to go get it checked out - I just wanted out of there before he got angry (he'd already told the woman that maybe she shouldn't be driving anymore).  Needless to say I was slightly upset but definitely no injuries at that speed, thank goodness!

Then my mechanic did say I should phone in my report and if anything comes from them I will be contacted.  So that's what I did and I mentioned the panhandler who distracted me along with the question as to whether my car did that other damage the guy pointed out.  If I did so be it, if not I don't want it on my record.  Even the agent said my record was clean so not much will probably happen and depending on their claim amount I could even buy back the amount and then have no marks on my license at all - whatever that means.  So now I sit and wait to hear back from MPIC, at least he gave me a claim number and my agent's name and phone number. 

First 6" Heart Completed

Okay I've been in this Chain of Hearts Yahoo group for three years and up to this point not gotten to embellishing any of my six 6" crazy patched hearts as yet for swapping with the members of this group.  Well that is until today!  Yeppers finally I've completed my first embellished heart for the Christmas heart block swap.  Maybe now I'll get cracking and work on the others and one day have some of the awesome works of the talented ladies from within this group for myself - Flickr album loaded with many beauties!

So here's my naked heart block which I then worked on the tatting pieces off and on between trying to decide how to embellish the rest of it. 

Naked block with trims added

 

Tatted tree


So here's what I came up with for the embellishments.  First off I stitched the outline poinsettia at the bottom and then secured the tatted tree in place with gold glass seed beads and decided to leave the background as is.  Then I built the Swaroski crystal snowflake and scatter stitched silver metallic tiny beads in the background.  After that I decided on a silk ribbon poinsettia and leaves with gold seed bead centre cluster and this patch I filled in with scatter stitched gold metallic tiny beads.  I was going to make a button cluster on the right side overlapping the pale green and glitzy brown patches, but a co-worker thought it might be too overpowering and to maybe tat some smaller snowflakes instead.  So I did two simple seam treatments on the two remaining seams before taclking those two patches.  WELL I must say she was very very right and I like this effect very much.  I then scatter stitched the silver metallic tiny beads to fill one of those patches and the snowflake with the irridescent seed beads I used DMC irridescent metallic thread and Colonial knots to fill the space. 
 

Embellished crazy patched heart


Here are some closeup pics:
 

Lower heart section

 

Upper left heart section

 

Upper right heart section

  

Centre heart section

Then it came to "finishing" the block ready for whatever project the recipient would like to use it in.  Now this is the first time to attempt "reverse applique" and it wasn't as troublesome as I first envisioned it to be.  It was explained to me like this:  trace the shape onto the front of the background fabric, cut away the centre fabric leaving 1/2 inch seam allowance, clip curves and turn to the back and press to hold in place.  This I then appliqued in place over the heart ensuring the darker fabrics did not show through by adding iron on interfacing to the back of this fabric first.


Reverse applique snowflake sparkled background fabric



Yep, I truly do LOVE my first 6" heart block and gott make more so I can start swapping with the very talented ladies within this group and maybe make a few for myself to mix and match with theirs'.
 

Completed block ready for swapping very soon



Busy Saturday!

OK I did a tonne of running around today that I'm totally exhausted!!! But I finally got the Timberland boots I was looking for at Soft Macs but nothing descent was on sale so I shelled out lots more than I wanted too - they better be warm!!! The have a rubber sole with grips for traction - hope that works better than the ones I did have.  My co-worker says they are and I've got to learn NOT to wear cotton socks outside in winter but get some type of driwicking ones instead. I have two pairs of my old skiing socks so will wear those in the boots for now. And while at Polo Park I also picked up a Show and Save book and card for some breaks on purchases and/or eating out (2 for 1 coupons).

Then I bought some terry and flannel and when I finally got home I stitched up my baby bath towel with it's own matching hand towel and facecloth along with the two large flannel blankets. All edges were serged so it was lickety split quick - took longer to gift wrap them up!!! When I was appliqueing Winnie the Pooh on the hoodie I stupidly stuck my pointer finger (the one you always use) in under the needle and naturally tore off the corner - so yep sore and puffy already!!! I think I'll have to put some Triple Action Poly on it and a bandaide me thinks!!!

Also at Northern Reflections at the back sale racks I found a forest green waffle top with long sleeves for $12.99 so that was good. Then I picked up at Cdn Footwear two pair of Bamboo/Rayon socks to help with odor and comfort under wool walking socks. If not I think they will work beautifully for dress socks as I can't stand panty hose kneehighs! And at Nygaards on Notre Dame they had cotton socks like what I wear for work and everyday at 6 pairs for $10 so I could not pass them up as I've thrown out many socks with holes lately and I'm running out between laundry!!! I stopped in there to find some dressy tops
again for work but zippo to my liking and/or $$$.

Ohhh and my final stop was needless to say adding some gas to the baby as it was running pretty low.

I WON!!!

Today I received my prize copy of Sharon Brigg's "Tatted Flurries" and in perfect condition too from her draw on her blog!!! 

The announcement was made over the weekend but I was away visiting my 97 years young Dad - cooking and cleaning and shopping for him - yep he kept me going!!!

So yes, once I have a chance to try some of these patterns out I'll be blogging my pieces here and within my tatting group album for all to see.

CQd Heart - Finally!!!

6" CQd heart awaiting embellishing

I signed up for this Chain of Hearts Christmas heart swap some time ago to GET MYSELF going on this group!!! See I’ve been a member for a number of years and have six of these heart bases CQd but not embellished and there are ladies waiting to swap hearts with me so I figure I better get a move on already!!! So this heart foundation is finished and I thought I should post it to let the girls know that I’m working on it and hopefully this week I’ll finish off the embellishing on it and a another block I’ve got here from CQI RR to finish off.

There just is not enough hours in the day after working for me to finish off all I want to do AND to relax!!! Never mind the house keeping!!! I do that at my Dad’s, definitely not at my place!!!

O Christmas Tree!

Okay, this is the second batch of needle felted O’ Christmas Tree postcards I’ve completed recently. The first three were Christmas cards for a gift exchange and now these four are for a CofH group Christmas swap. And all were finished before the deadline dates but the first set was slightly less on the embellishing – Sorry ladies!!!

So I started off with my background sky fabric as the whole base and also on compressed Styrofoam that was part of my individual needle felting kits I bought on 60% off sales. Now I know why they were on sale – takes too long with a single needle and also the styro is just too hard compared to the brush base that Ann-Marie lent me to try out. Guess I’ll be making a purchase one of these days as this is just too much fun even with one needle, to not do again!!!

Christmas cards for gift exchange

I built the tree with two shades of green wool roving and then the trunk base of brown. Then instead of using up ALL my white wool roving I found some awesomely soft poly batt given to me for doll making (which I don’t really do) and it worked just GREAT for the snow. Once that was all completed to my liking I then tatted individual short lengths of DS and picots for a garland and stitched in place. After that I stitched on various seed beads of green, red, gold and clear along with a beaded gold star at the top. Now in the Chain of Hearts group we were to hide a heart somewhere on our postcard – on mine it’s in the tree – but that was the last one embellished whereas the first ones I did they are on the snow under the tree! Then to finish it off I decided to add the clear seed beads scattered in the snow cover before assembling the postcards.


Chair of Hearts Christmas postcard swap



MINE

Now too bad I don't have yardage of my background fabric - neato eh?  YEPPERS I just LOVE mine and now I’ve an order for the extra postcard also – WOW!!!

One More Step Closer!!!

Today I decided instead of battling the fluffy white stuff coming steadily down along with the drivers rushing around, some slower than conditions warrant and many many more zooming around as if it was summer, I avoided shopping for snowboots and finished off the preparations for my first bed quilt. Yeppers the other day I washed the nine metres of backing fabric and pressed out the creases ready for piecing of the back for the quilt. BUT Saturday at Aurora I didn't get to that stage.

So I picked up my quilty friend Florence and the two of us beat the parking snarl downtown because of the Christmas Craft Sale at the Convention Centre and stopped into my office. There we both were able to spread out and work on our various projects.

Hmmmm what goes where and do I like that?

My "Under Stars Galore" (cause they are on the front and back and I’ll be sleeping under them) was born out of the 2005 Western Retreat Mystery Quilt Project which was completed April 2006 – my very first bed-sized quilt top. The extra blocks border idea was borne by my niece Pat and the borders planned out by my sister Sylvia – so kinda a family project?
 

Under Stars Galore quilt top completed back in 2006



Close up of corner patches

Then on another Western Retreat trip in 2008 I picked up the just over nine metres of star/moon blue fabric on a 60% off sale (took it all as I wasn't sure how much I truly needed for a queen sized quilt) and today finally pieced it together for the backing, squared it off ready for the next step - sandwiching and quilting it together by someone else sometimes in 2011!

The backing fabric purchased in 2008


So soon I will have a NEW quilt on my bed made mostly by myself with some help!!!  YEAH!!!

What a DAY!!!

Well I was very very very happy with our Aurora meeting this month!  BUT I can tell you it took a lot out of me (don't know about everyone else, especially Brandy) and actually my back is giving me grief for all the cutting and rushing around I did today!  But you know me, I would not have done it any other way - LOL!!!

OK some time ago at the Manitoba Prairie Quilters guild meeting Brandy thought up the program that Satellite groups from within could volunteer one of their meetings to assist with ABC charity quilt kit preparations (with the number of smaller groups within the guild it could be ages before our help is required again).  See these kits are handed out at meetings to various members to stitch, quilt and bind or one of those steps and then finished off by others (whatever they can contribute) and Brandy was having trouble in having a sufficient number available for the monthly meetings. 

Since Aurora Quilters are registered as a satellite group with the guild, I approached our membership and arranged for this month's meeting to be our contribution to this endeavour.  So without further ADO Brandy hefted all her paraphenalia to Harrow United Church today and along with Wendy, Gail, Ricki, Norma (here from Nainamo BC), Virginia, Val W, Maureen, Florence, Dianne and myself along with guests Ann & Margaret (now members) and Val H to prepare 21 ABC quilt kits (8 of these are rag quilts complete with batting) and cut enough batting for 12 more rag quilts. 

Brandy, MPQ ABC Charity Quilt Chairperson

 

Hall view of various tables of charity quilt kit making

 

Margaret & Norma figuring out how to do this step

 

Margaret (new member) with Norma & Brandy at batting station

 

Ricki, Brandy & Gail well at it

 

I felt shaky but honest I didn't take this picture

 

Brandy with two of our guests - Val H with Ann L (new member)

 

Wendy hiding with Brandy & Maureen chatting and Val H in the background

And as usual the luncheon was a lovely complete smorgasboard started off with two batches of cinnamon buns (I ate two!!!) with coffee and ended with awesome desserts/cookies!!!  Thank you all for the food and your help today!!!  And especially thanks to Norma for making time to visit with us all - it was AWESOME!!!

More Postcards!

Bamboo Heaven - embroidery swap

Aren't these cute? I've called them Bamboo Heaven and they are for a postcard swap on Embroidery in my FunFriendly Yahoo group. I found two appropriate Oriental fabrics, cut out and hand appliqued the medallions in place on the bamboo fabric background. Then naturally I hand embroidered around the medallions and also all the bamboo shoots and leaves for emphasis. I was going to satin stitch them in either a gold or green but my niece Pat said cream and boy am I glad I was not in my usual "which should I use" mood and just followed her suggestion. I think the cream edging is great!!! Thanks girl!!!

Now these are two extras and will one day be added to my Fabric Postcard Pages for future quilt show sales and or swapping.
  

431

 

432

November Landscape

Well I had taken an extra day and had an extended long weekend for my trip to Dauphin and visit with my soon to be 97 years young Dad and boy was he ever chipper this weekend.  He had me going here and there and really not succeeding in accomplishing much but he was happy so that is what counted.  I did take home a pork roast and meatloaf pan and prepared them for our meals which he did devour for lunches and kept his suppers on the lighter side as he wanted.  Even had a lovely steak supper with my sister and BIL along with some cat sitting too - this time they behaved.

I did get that stock car revvin' starter changed too and hopefully it will be all warranty work.  Definitely this replacement one sounds like my car used to so not sure what was wrong with that brand new one to begin with - both mechanics don't know either!!!  And hopefully my next trip I will have some winter rear tires to help with traction - hope the stormy weather holds off till then.

Well on my way back it was sort of overcast and foggy towards Riding Mountain National Park  and as I got closer to Riding Mountain (the town) I just could not resist and took these pictures!  I'm hoping to one day print some onto silk fabric and use them with embellishments.

More Postcards!

Okay, I think I forgot to blog these two postcards I made as "Just Because" and sent to my sister and her friend recently.  They are basically mixed fancy fabrics bonded onto a lovely shiny blue fabric and then narrowly machine satin stitched in place.  The flat stars are overstitched in place and beaded halo and waist belts added for accent.  I knew my sister needed a pick me up and she'd just been over to her girlfriend's for some quilting fun which she really enjoyed and also as a Thank You to Fran for being there for her!  Then I found out it was a perfect day for Fran to receive a pick me up card too - so I'm doubly thankful I did do these up!  

#425 - Stained Glass Angel - Sylvia

 

#426 - Stained Glass Angel - Fran


Now this set is part of a number of postcards along the same theme but for different reasons I need to make this month.  I did a trial run on my own piece of fabric and loved these needle felted trees that I just had to continue.  The one thing I found out is the proper tools of the trade are important!!!  See I had bought the single needle felting kits that have compressed styro for the base.  Another quilter heard this and was aghast and immediately leant me her brush base to try out.  WELLLLLL it's like night and day I can tell you and if I'm going to continue with this technique I definitely have to get myself this base and possibly a multi needle holder too!

These first ones are gift cards for friends.  I blended two shades of green for the trees, brown for trunks and then used a very fluffy batting for the snow and it worked just as well as the wool roving.  Then I added the sequin star and various beads to represent lights.  I LOVE them!!!


#434-435-436 - O' Christmas Tree - gift cards

Peggy Sue's Encrusted #1 RR Block Embellished

OK, finally I've completed my "quarter" allotment of Peggy Sue's block and I must say this is the first time I'm in an "encrusted" RR and this is lots of embellishment for me, but next to the previous Encrusted RR it is very lacking!!!  Some day I'll get the hang of this level of embellishing.

Peggy Sue's naked block

 Here is the overall and close up of the embellishing I did!  Hope Peggy Sue likes it! 

Peggy Sue's - after Rose Anne's embellishments

Just Rose Anne's embellishments


Now for the detailed work.  This is the beaded paisley which I tried to emulate one of the paisley from the CQI group - sort of!  The inside is all beaded and outlined with an embroidered chain stitch then outlined with the same cotton Bullion knots.  Then Pat suggested to echo the paisley to fill in the block and I kinda like that idea instead of my thoughts of spattered chains, knots or fly stitches.  I then attached my tatted edging (not as scared to try other patterns now - LOL!) with beads as a seam treatment.

Paisley patch - idea from CQI Paisley Swap


This is the second patch I attacked with joy, as I knew right away I was going to stitch the Queen Anne's lace on this darker purple to showcase it and then attached Sharon B's gifted mini metal hearts finished off with mini silver beads within.  I then did a feather and chain stitched Japanese Buttonhole Twist seam treatment and finished off with mini purple beads in each chain cluster.

Queen Anne's Lace patch


Now this button cluster patch was a REAL CHALLENGE and I promptly went to visit my friend Pat for some guidance - hope I accomplished what you were trying to show me.  In the upper stacked shell buttons I finished off with a stacked beaded stems in gold.  Then I filled in the patch with tendrils of stem and fly stitched vines and mini flowers in JBT before attaching the purchased butterfly (which I thought was just LOVELY).  Then I worked on the centre patch next (explaination follows) and capped it off with the alternating blanket stitched half wagon wheels seam treatment with larger bead centres and then it still looked kinda bare so I topped it off with Colonial knots and then straight or V stitches.

Button Cluster patch


Here in the centre patch I used a varigated deep to pale rose cotton and outlined the roses accordingly.  Then the posies and leaves with Silk Ribbon embroidery and small yellow beaded centres.  I then stitched in my single strand metallic spider web - hidden in amongst the flowers - just like in nature.  Added in the purchased ladybug button and the lovely metal butterfly charm.  Now came the spider - I wanted something different from what I've already done but was at a loss so sat back and looked over the block and finally decided it needed a pearl one.  That made it much easier and promptly attached the two body beads and then used my size 20 crochet cotton and made the Bullion knot legs and eyes.  This patch was treated to a purple ric rac seam treatment held in place with seed and rocaille beaded zig zag design.

Flowery centre patch


Here's the close up of the web and spider - I really love this one!

Beaded & Bullion knot spider

 Now to wait patiently for Peggy Sue's verdict and also to watch the rest of this block to grow in embellishments and beauty!!!