Dish Rags

I have been sewing dish cloths for the past two years.  They keep me busy and I don't have to watch the road when my  husband is driving.  When I know I am going to be on the road for a while (2-3 hours) I make sure  I have a wide variety of colors and my size K hook.

I use a size K needle and chain 24 and hope for 21 single crocheted stitches n a row when it is done.  I stop crocheting when my hand fits over the whole dish rag. They have turned out to be great hostess gifts. Atleast that is what they say to my face. When friends stop by they always ask to look in the bag and pick one out.  They are fun to send to old friends and tell them this is my latest "product line".  It is also interesting to see who picks out what design. They give me peace in chaos.

This is what my lap looks like in a car. 

I tend to stack them. I guess seeing progress is nice.

A different view of "the stack".

After the stack into the bag.

More Cool Stitchin

I have been thinking about embroidering a jean jacket for years. I really never ever,  ever did not want to touch my favorite one.  I bought a new Eddie Bauer jacket but it is still very blue and the cool stitching does not look so cool. So. I started on my fave jacket. I like my flowers to be subtle so you can see them but you cannot.  I want them to blend in and just be a part of the fabric not the whole fabric. This one my jacket is a little brighter than normal but seems to be happy in its home. I also added to my favorite jeans.

The red flower just hanging.

Cool stichin a different angle.

Closer now.

I added this flower to my favorite jeans.  It does not have to perfect stitches to make a statement.

Where it sits from my pocket.

These hearts are on the bottom right leg.  I like my little hearts because you  have to look close to see them.

What I'm working on.......

I bought this really cool table at a rummage sale years ago with the idea in mind that stained glass would be great on it and my front porch would own it even more with some flowers in a vase on it.I pulled it out and found all of my left over stained glass and started working on this project 4th of July week end.  We had great weather and it really gave me a calm feeling and that is not a bad thing. I had made stained glass stuff before and had used liquid nails.  I was not in the mood to spend money on this project so I just used Elmer's glue. I was not sure how it would hold but it worked out just fine. My original plan was to  make a peace sign on it but I thought you would have to be in spot to see it so I went with a flower so no matter which way you walked past it you would see the pattern. Below is the progression so far. 

The daisy was supposed to be my inspiration but it did to turn out that way. (as usual)

Which color first?

Pretty flowers to hang with  on a summer day.

The beginning just laying out the pattern.

Elmers glue is fine.

Here we go.

Getting bigger.  Not so sure about a white background.

Where I cut the glass. Please don't walk bare foot in that area.

Friendly flower who landed in the crack of the driveway.  Love how it adds color.

So much for following the red lines.

I like the green background.  Our neighbors came over to put their design expertise  two cents in and thought the green would be the way to go.  I like the mirror outline. I am a fan of the "mirror" in a stained glass project.

Growing green.

Cool Stitching

I started stichin about a year ago after attending Anna Maria Horners Needles Workshop.  I am not the greatest but it sure is relaxing. I  found this shirt at the end of the season at the Gap for $12.00 so I  bought two. All I could think of was "perfect".  I started this one by putting the edging around the top. Not sure how much more iIll do on this one.  What makes me laugh is when someone asks me if I did this. When I reply yes they are so surprised .  Mmmm the stiching is not perfect.  Come on friends give me some credit! 

The almost blank shirt.

Around and around.

Close up of my stitches.

Not so close up of stitches.

Anna Maria Horner Prism Quilt

Oh lordy this has been a long ride, headache and quite the learning process.  I made this following Anna Maria Horner's Prism Pattern.  I did not realize that her pattern was for a smaller blanket.  I started adding on and started to get a headache.  So, I just came up with my own pattern and knew that whatever I did would be fine. When I finished I was amazed I tackled triangles and the prism idea.  My design friend was shocked I did this.  That made me feel even better!
The trick to this is to lay out the whole quilt. Going a cross left to right pick up every row.  Sew the row together then sew row to row.  I kept adding on  and adding on and it became a big cluster.

Ahhh I love it!

I used Anna Maria Horner fabric and Heather Ross and Amy Butler! They seemed to all get along nicely.

Closer now.

I love this!

More

Sort of the middle.

On the bed.

Love

Awesome,

Just hanging

Sew happy.

Blended love.

Enough!

The last Freeman

Sam is the fourth and last  son of the Freeman family so a T-shirt quilt era is ending for me. I have made that red quilt for all four boys and each year it hangs above the chicken salad in the garage.  I stand and look at it and wonder why I put  each square where I did. Then I walk away and eat some chicken salad. The greatest thing about Sam is that he is off to I.U to have a blast and get an education.  Go Ben go.

I always put my favorite, symbolic T shirt in the middle.  This time it was Scholar - Athlete. Go Ben Go

A little closer now.

Place Mats.

I had this crazy idea to make place mats for my dining room.  We just had our house rewired and I ordered my first chandelier so I wanted my table to look dressed up but  not eat up the room.  I wanted each one to be different and subtle but not uniform. I wanted your eyes to travel around the table and look at them.  I sound like I have shit my together but when a friend told me they look like something you would make at Girl Scout camp I could not stop laughing or my girlfriend's mother who thought my fish wash an egg or a pineapple. I am glad that everyone has a sense of humor and an imagination. Being able to laugh at  your work is really a great feeling.
I made the stripes, added the fabric, put batting in the middle and away we go.

How they start.

What color goes with what.

The beginning of the flower.

Mr. Sunshine.

Peace started

Peace complete.

Flower because of rain.  Get it?

Sunshine with stars.

Go IU

Ms Flamingo

Everyone has a heart.

Tic Tack Toe anyone?

Pineapple, egg or fish?

Not too bad?

Blends in nicely.