Merry Christmas and a Happy 2017

Maybelle Garden

There's not much time for blogging, but I'm still working on my Maybelle Garden blanket.

Gingham Turtle

Some time ago I made this ATC for a colour combo swap. I used this crocheted turtle applique pattern and attached it to some pink Gingham. I used backstitches for the words. Just click the photo to take a closer look.

Detached split stitch

Sunday Stitch School is a private challenge at Queeniepatch, she started with Anundsjö Stitch. This stitch is new to me, so I just had to give it a try. But first I flipped through my embroidery books to see if I could find it. I found it in The Stitches of Creative Embroidery by Jacqueline Enthoven, it’s detached split stitch. Luckily I have the Dutch translation of the same book, so I also found the Dutch name: losse splijtsteek. I have a few unfinished samplers and this stitch was perfect for my pretty fabric sampler. I used Stef Francis per 5 for my detached split stitch. Just click the photo to take a closer look.

Redwork patch

From time to time I participate in a Teesha Moore inspired patch swap. I made this patch for Johnny for a redwork swap. I used backstitch to quilt Sunbonnet Sue and cross stitches for the border. Just click the photo to take a closer look.

Maybelle Garden

This morning I completed row 6 of the 12 rows I’m going to crochet. Of course my Maybelle Garden will get a nice border when all blocks are finished.

Wie ben ik?

I started a new altered book, it’s a nice size for collage and larger spreads. Wie ben ik is Dutch for Who am I. Just click the photo to take a closer look.

Hexagon patch

Today I want to share the Teesha Moore inspired patch I made for Jenny. It’s made of a hexagon printed fabric which I decorated with running stitch, cross stitch, bugle beads and a button. Just click the photo to take a closer look.

Slipped feathered chain stitch

TAST stitch 57 is feathered chain stitch, TAST stitch 58 is slipped detached chain stitch. TAST stands for Take A Stitch Tuesday, an embroidery challenge at Pin Tangle.

I’ve used these stitches many times, but this time I made a combo of them. I used an old Christmas quilt top, which was hiding in my cupboard for many years. I patched it in 2008! It’s the same design as my quilt Safari. I’m going to quilt it with embroidery stitches, something I wanted to do since I saw the pretty stitches on Queenie's Kafferepet. First I stitched feathered chain stitch in perle 5, then I added the slipped part of the slipped detached chain stitch in cotton a broder. I love how this turned out!

Cactus

It’s been almost 2 weeks since my last blogpost, time flies! 

It’s a detail of my last crochet finish, a cute cactus. The pattern was in the kit I bought.

Maybelle Garden

A few weeks ago I found a few crochet squares in my cupboard and thought they would make a good start for a blanket.

I bought some extra yarn and made Maybelle squares in all colours.

Now I’m turning them into a join-as-you-go-blanket. Here I’m working on the third row.

Randje 51 & 52

I’m still working on my borders for Randje per week 2015. More info about this SAL at Randje per week. These are randje 51 & 52.

Four-letter words

This four-letter words collage in my altered book Rooie was inspired by Melissa’s wreck this journal page. The background is black acrylic paint.

Zeemeermin

Months ago I participated in a few colour combo ATC swaps. I made this mermaid for the blue & orange swap.

And this is the pretty ATC Carroll made for me. I like the combo of materials she used.

Something Spring-y

From time to time I participate in a Teesha Moore inspired patch swap. I made this patch for Betsy for a spring swap. Just click the photo to take a closer look.

Naomi made this pretty patch for me. She told me April showers brings May flowers. She used fleece for the sky and stuffed the cloud.

Randje 47-49

It was more than a year ago since I worked on my borders for Randje per week 2015. Now was a good time to work on them again. These are randje 47-49. 

Sheaf stitch

TAST stitch 52 is sheaf stitch. TAST stands for Take A Stitch Tuesday, an embroidery challenge at Pin Tangle.

I added sheaf stitches to the long tail chain stitches and fly stitches on my blue Gingham sampler. The thread is Caron Wildflowers. Just click the photo to take a closer look at my stitches.

Trapunto quilt

Eight years ago I finished the quilting part on my first trapunto trial. I planned to turn it into a pillow with a crocheted border, but had no idea how to do that. So it got lost in my cupboard until last week. I decided to turn it into a small quilt (36 x 36 cm or 14 x 14 inch), so all I had to do was finish the edge and attach the crochet border I already made at the time.

Buttonholed herringbone & raised cross stitch

After many posts about journaling it’s time to write about embroidery again. This morning I picked up needle and thread and did some TAST-ing. TAST stands for Take A Stitch Tuesday, an embroidery challenge at Pintangle. This week’s stitch is buttonholed herringbone stitch, which found a nice spot on my pretty fabric sampler in white perle 8. In the centre I stitched a raised cross stitch in Caron watercolors.

ICAD week 7-9

This year participated in ICAD, which stands for Index Card A Day. There was a weekly theme with daily prompts. I managed to make a card each day, so I finished 61 cards. I like to share card 43 – 61 with a bit more info. You can find the themes and prompts at Daisy Yellow.

A collage with my favourite mint tea for day 43.

Drawing and collage for day 44.

The Dutch words for day 45 says: Start today with simple craft to inspire colourful ideas.

A collage for day 46, can you tell I enjoy making these?

The prompt for day 47 was perfect for the backside of my cover.

For day 48 I only used the weekly theme for this collage.

A Super Hero for day 49.

After watching a few videos at YouTube I was brave enough to draw this  paisley design for day 50.

A drawing in ecoline and markers for day 51. Paars is Dutch for purple.

A collage for day 52, these portraits were waiting a long time in my stash for a nice spot.

A collage on a napkin background for day 53.

Drawing and collage for day 54. The words came from an old Dutch dictionary.

For day 55 I just printed, coloured, cut and glued. I found the colouring page here.

A collage with pages from an old book, paper flowers and a tea label for day 56.

This was on my to-do-list for a long time, the prompt for day 57 was perfect for it. The Dutch words says: do you want supermarket stamps?

Just had to use my new stamp on the index card for day 58.

Washi tape and stamps for day 59.

Another collage for day 60, it has a washi tape border.

I carved my very first stamp for day 61. This card completed the challenge.

I’m still working on turning these cards into a hand bound book. I’ll share it here when it’s finished.

ICAD week 5 & 6

This year I participated in ICAD, which stands for Index Card A Day. There was a weekly theme with daily prompts. I managed to make a card each day, so I finished 61 cards. I like to share card 29 – 42 with a bit more info. You can find the themes and prompts at Daisy Yellow.

For day 29 I wrote in wet acrylic paint with a Q-tip.

A simple card in acrylic paint for day 30.

One hundred puzzle pieces for day 31, drawn by hand. Love the wonky look!

A collage for day 32, it’s the year of the monkey.

A stamped quote on acrylic paint for day 33.

I only used the colours of the daily prompt for day 34 and drew mandalas with a white Sakura gel pen.

Recycled art for day 35, I tangled this sunflower in 2011 for zentangle challenge 43 at I am the diva. I wrote about it here.

A collage for day 36, inspired by this tutorial.

A mandala for day 37.

A drawing for day 38, inspired by a painting of Karla Gerard. This would be a nice design for an embroidery or quilt.

A collage on acrylic paint for day 39.

I only used the theme for my collage for day 40.

Lots of research for day 41, the background is acrylic paint.

And a yellow collage for day 42.

In my next post I’ll share the remaining cards.