TAST 2012 Week 17 and 19

Ah, I'm still fighting with crossed buttonhole (week 18). I know there are a lot of chances but somehow this stitch resists to my efforts!
But wheatear and half chevron were conquered in a rather traditional method - I like the outcome though it's not very typical for me anyway.

Now I'll throw all my energy into Sumptious Surfaces - being so thrilled.

Cat and French Knots

I'm late with my french knots - first try didn't succeed, so I made another sketch just not thinking of working with them. And guess what: this time it worked. The little sampler is showing french knots, satin stitch, stem stitch, chain stitch, some fly stitches and couching around the border. Something floral against that rainy and cold weather outside!!

My old lady cat found that plastic bowl at the kitchen window and showed me that she still is very good in rolling up her body.

See ....

it's so cozy!!

 Now it's time to tackle wheatear stitch. There's an interesting blog I found by Elizabeth who did a lot of experimenting with it and shows wonderful versions. You can find her blog here .

More of TAST and Scrumbles

This time I had a lot of fun with the stitch: Stem Stitch. I did a little sketch first, selected the fabric left over, transfered the design and started stitching. Soo inspiring!

To get myself busy over the last weekend I continued a little on my scrumble piece. Like the outcome:

Maybe this will be a jacket one day?

TAST Week 12-14

This is my sample of  Barred and Alternating Barred Chain Stitch used to create the piece for the mini-challenge in the week off.

 And this is my version of satin stitch week 14.
Especially doing satin stitch I noticed that I do need new glasses :-))

Spring is coming

There were the first little flowers in the forest when I walked my dogs, it was sunny and warm. So nice for a change!
Week 10 of TAST 2012 wasn't my kind of thing - there were very creative samples of running stitch but I didn't get "the curve" to it. Anyway, this is my running block

I felt much more comfortable with week 11 - whipped wheel. The finished block has a backing and its border is couched wool with beads at the bottom. This time I'm pleased with the result and enjoyed spending time on it.

Now off to a birthday party - one of my friends turned seventy today. Absolutely incredible!

Treasures

Ahh, my order of hand dyed yarns from Stef Francis (http://www.stef-francis.co.uk) has arrived! Just got it out of my mailbox and it's sooooo beautiful!

Think of all the beautiful blocks that can be created with these plus the ones I already have.
It's funny - somehow the things I fall for are not shoes, jewels or fancy clothes but all kinds of yarn, beads or batic fabric and looking back on life it has always been like this.
Next door neighbour Anna has given me some bags of leftover wool so there's a lot of supply for my scrumbles, too. Maybe I should make a timetable what fits in where when the gardening season starts pretty soon ... and not to forget the two doggies!

TAST 2012

Time to post my TAST 2012 samples - it's so much fun and I learn a lot. Most of the time I can hardly wait for Tuesday - actually I can see what stitch is next Monday night before I go to bed and kind of dream about it :-)

First in line Fly Stitch:

 Buttonhole Stitch:

 Feather Stitch:

Cretan Stitch:

 Herringbone Stitch:

Left Chevron Stitch:

Right Detached Chain Stitch:

Chain Stitch:

 This is chain stitch and the seven previous stitches  

Couching:

I used a batic fabric for the background and thougt about doing a tree. When I started it the tree took over and this is where it all ended - Tree of wishes.