My Clients Do Such Lovely Work

Well, I survived the hacking of my email, although I spent a full day on my computer changing passwords, etc. I don’t know if that will help any, but it made me feel good. I had been meaning to do that anyway.

Each time I do finishing for clients, I am competely in awe of the lovely stitching that they create. I always wish that the item was mine when it is finished. Alas, with all the finishing I do, there is little time left for my own creations. I promised myself in the coming months to save a day or two a week just for me! I actually did finish something which I will show another time.

For now, feast your eyes on the lovely work of my clients!

Pat did the first one here. It is from the Plum Street Sampler Leaflet entitled “Good and Plenty.” She found the perfect burgundy mini pom pom trim to go with it! I love pieces like this that go all the way through Autumn!

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Beth managed to create some beautiful beaded ornaments. First is this adorable turkey named “Bruce.” She has a lovely story to go along with it after cooking a 40 lb. turkey one year! Nice memories.

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The next she did is this Sailboat Ornament. It’s very elegant with the rayon floss I used for cording and is perfect with the “sea” themed backing I had in my stash.

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And talk about elegant…well this Santa is quite stunning! His beard is made of all beads! A work of art! And I finished it will a green velvet back.

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And the last one for Beth is this lovely needle book/ornament. This was a gift to her stitched with her friends’ initials. How lovely is that?

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Nancy stitched this beautiful reindeer from last year’s Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue. The color of the linen she chose for this is perfect for the wintery day it depicts!

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And Betsy…well there are no words to describe this luscious sampler. It is from By the Bay Needle Art and is called Serenity Harbor Sampler. She changed the flowers from pink to yellow and the large house at the bottom to yellow as well. It took her a year to complete and is stunning! I added a coordinating plain fabric backing and used handmade cording. I painted the dowels to match the cording and the look is complete!

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Vivian made this lovely primitive pillow from the pattern “Christmastide” by Notforgotten Farm. She said it reminded her of she and her sister decorating the Christmas tree! I used the antique lace she gave me and I hand-dyed silk ribbon to coordinate with the pillow. It is a very pretty piece.

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Vivian is an extraordinary quilter, but loves to do cross-stitch too. This one is called “Deck the Halls” by Stacy Nash and was made into a pinkeep filled with walnut shells by Vivian. She asked me to attach the mini pom pom trim to it after it was finished, but I like it better within the seam allowance. So I took it apart and finished it with the trim in the seam. She loved it that way.

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And last but not least is a simple photo of the lovely “Princess Diana Serviceberry Tree” in my yard. The colors are so lovely in the Fall. It doesn’t last long but when it turns colors, it’s beautiful. Alas, I think our Autumn is coming to an end making way for the fun-filled holiday season.

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Once more I have to put in a small advertisement for those of you who have not tried French Boutis Needlework yet. On my Etsy site you will find an ornament kit with three French Boutis Christmas Ornaments. I am in the process of designing more Boutis patterns so I hope you will give them a try.

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In friendship, Averyclaire

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A Few More Photo Finishes

Here is another post with photo finishes!  The finishing studio is humming where each week my clients challenge me with their work.  There is always something new and interesting to see. Enjoy the eye candy handiwork of my clients!

Vivian did this lovely Brenda Gervais small pillow “Merry Noel”.  Since the fringe was unavailable for her, I hand dyed some mini ball fringe to match.  It’s perfect.  The soft colors in this piece are beautiful.  Nice work Vivian.

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And Laura did an equally beautiful job on this Stacy Nash medium sized pillow entitled “Pine Tree Farm”.  She gave me handmade antique lace to use as an accent around the pillow edge and the perfect fabric backing.  It’s gorgeous!  And the colors in this one are equally soft and delicate.  Lovely!

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Judy created this beautiful white work pillow.  She wanted a brown backing behind the stitching, so I used the same brown fabric for handmade cording and the pillow back.  I included a zippered back so the pillow insert could be taken out if needed. Such intricate detailed stitching!

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Pat did a couple of gifts for little ones this time around.  She requested a rather large flatfold for the first one.  I added the “sticky kisses” across the bottom and the cute little matching buttons.  On the second one I added a handmade multi-colored cording with multi-colored french knots along the accent fabric.  And for privacy, in the photos I have deleted the birth date and weight from both.

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Pat’s needles were on fire this last month and she created this very large wall hanging for someone who just LOVES Halloween.  The tomb-like shape just adds to the fun!

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She also did these two cute wall hangings as Christmas gifts.  All the little girls seem to LOVE the Disney Princesses, especially the mermaids.  Here is one of Ariel!

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And another one of Snow White…this one is certainly elegant with the rosy red apple and the red rattail trim around the perimeter of the stitching!  I LOVE the Disney fabrics on the back!  These little girls will love to look at both front AND back!!

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If you are interested in learning Boutis (a simple running stitch and corded French needle work technique), I now have on my Etsy page not only a kit for the three ornaments I designed (containing ALL materials needed for the three ornaments), but a “pattern only” choice, as well as the “hard to find” special cotton yarn that is needed for the kit.

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I have lots more photo finishes…so come back again soon!  Thanks so much for your continuing visits!

Amities, Averyclaire

French Boutis Needlework

It has been quite a month…broken…dead computer and my DH and I were traveling for several weeks.  I am very much behind on my finishing, but the class I was preparing for took precedence.  I did get some finishes completed, but I will save them for the next post. New Etsy site is now running.

For fifteen years now I have been an avid fan and student of French Boutis Needlework.  My dear French friend, Nicole, sent me a piece as a gift when my granddaughter, Sophia, was born.  I was enthralled by the exquisite detail of this needlework.  Via the internet and some lovely books she sent me, Nicole, patiently taught me how to do this. And over the years my dear friend, Maggy, has sent me LOTS of wonderful books and magazines regarding French Boutis. I have perused all of them over and over and learned and dreamed.

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Boutis Heart

I set aside the Boutis for a while in favor of other stitching and quilting, but my interest was revived when I met my friend, Elizabeth.  Elizabeth is a talented “boutiseusse” and a designer extraordinaire.  She asked me to pilot her pattern and this was the result.

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Together we taught a class using her “Cicada Needle Book” pattern for the Great Lakes Region of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America this past weekend on Saturday. We spent MANY hours over the summer preparing kits and researching other necessities for the class.  We had 25 women students who very much enjoyed this new, but exquisite technique.

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Besides the necessities in each kit, we included a lovely handmade lavender sachet and a piece of “Merci” chocolate. We even had a drawing for a beautiful boutis project bag, three of Elizabeth’s new “Rose Window” kits were given away, as well as three of my new “Boutis Ornament” kits. Everyone enjoyed the day.

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Karen (Averyclaire) and Elizabeth (Seams French)

Karen (Averyclaire) and Elizabeth (Seams French)

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Elizabeth is currently in the process of creating a new website and Etsy shop that will not be ready until mid to the end of October. Her current blog is Seams French. She also designed a “Rose Window” box which I finished for her. It can be finished as a small round box or table mat or wall hanging or any other creative ideas you might have! If anyone is interested in Elizabeth’s patterns you can leave her a message on her present blog site and I am sure she will let you know when the items are ready for sale.

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This summer I stitched a boutis piece from Hubert Valeri at Boutisarchi.  His website has many modern patterns and is a feast of eye candy for the interested boutis seeker. The piece is done on two pieces of white batiste (no batting), stitched with a variegated green quilting thread in a “point d’arriere” (back stitch).  All boutis is translucent when held up to the light and is completely reversible.

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Over the summer I designed three French Boutis Christmas Ornaments which will be for sale on my new ETSY site. There is an Etsy link on the side of my blog now.  I have included in each kit enough materials for three ornaments which includes everything necessary to make them.  These ornaments are a simple, easy, small project with which to learn the basics of French Boutis.  I think you will be as enthused about this lovely needle work technique as I am.

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Here are some Boutis blog sites to visit:

“Seams French”: (Elizabeth Janzen): http://www.seamsfrench.blogspot
“Boutis Provence”:(Madame Francine Born): http://www.boutis-provence.com
“France Boutis”: http://www.franceboutis.canalblog.com (The local boutis association in Nimes in the South of France)
“Boutis Archi”: (M Hubert Valeri): http://www.boutisarchi.com (contemporary)
“CRE-DO”: (Dominique Fave): http://www.dominiquefave.com (contemporary)
La Maison du Boutis (Madame Francine Nicole): http://www.la-maison-du-boutis.fr (traditional)

Hopefully my new little substitute computer will hold out until my new/old one is repaired!  It sure is hard to get used to somethings all over again and again!

Amities, Averyclaire

Spring Really Is Here

Well, the warm days finally arrived here in Chicago after a mild winter, but cold days.  It sure feels nice to sit on my back porch and gaze at my perennial garden.  Everything is slow to grow, but it IS coming.

I want to take the time to thank all my blog followers and let you know how much I appreciate your stopping in to view the lovely work of so many of my stitching friends!  And, of course, I love to have everyone peruse the finishing I have done.  I can’t show all the finishes because some people use their items as gifts and it is obviously a SECRET!  Alas I must say that MY stitching and MY quilting have suffered due to not much time left after finishing.  But I will be sure to show you something of mine occasionally!  A heartfelt thanks again to all you who view my blog each post!  Oh…and see my 2 new pages above… Finishes for 2015 and 2016.

Southpaw Stitcher did this soft, lovely ode to Spring!  Need I say more?  Love the soft colors.  So many of my clients are loving the “flat fold finish” for their seasonal projects.

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Cheryl gave me some beautiful purple and teal batiks to use for finishing her box lid.  I added some tiny cross-stitches across the top and bottom and added some hand made purple cording.  What a lovely tribute to friends everywhere!

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Pat will be attending a wedding shower soon and stitched this beautiful keepsake for the wedding couple.  All those little dots are gorgeous glass beads that she added.  Such a lovely gift.

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Judy had fun stitching this elegant leprechaun with his lovely shamrock and cute gold buttons.  I added some super Celtic fabric.  She has a BIG head start for next year’s St. Patty’s Day!

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And speaking of head starts…Pat (who did the wedding pillow above) also stitched this scary Halloween wall hanging.  She gave me the spooky black eye fabric and I couldn’t resist adding a silver spider web and a creepy spider to go along with it!

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Becky is also well ahead of time with her adorable “Elf on the Shelf” ornament.  I think some lucky children will simply adore this one!  Golly, I wish I were ready for the holidays for 2016 already??!!

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That’s all I can show right now.  I hope you enjoyed today’s photo gallery.  Tis a busy season for everyone…gardening, family celebrations, graduations, Mother’s Day nearly here, vacation planning.  I hope each one of you is truly enjoying beautiful warm and sunny days.  After the long winter I am feeling renewed for sure.

I hope to have some photos next time of a stitching retreat I will be attending at Country Sampler in Spring Green, WI.  Can’t wait!

Until next time, amities, Averyclaire

 

 

 

Happy Easter

Alas, I don’t post as often as I should, but I do wish EVERYONE a Happy Easter!  I have been away in Boulder, Colorado helping out with my 4-1/2 year old granddaughter while my daughter-in-law was out-of-town on business.  My son is a #1 Dad, but he works long hours, and I LOVE helping out with Maya.  We also used our trip to Colorado as an excuse to do a little side trip (before Boulder) and stayed in Santa Fe first for a few days .  I do love Santa Fe as well.  My favorite place to stay is The LaFonda on the Square in Old Town.  While no finishing got done while I was away, I came home to LOTS of orders and have a few lovely items to show as well as a couple family photos.

Spring is certainly here with these two items.  Cheryl stitched these lovely Easter themed pieces.

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Don’t you just LOVE these happy little chicks???!!!

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Then there was this adorable bunny rabbit collecting eggs turned into a door hanger.

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Cheryl also stitched these two cute Christmas items.  She now has a real head start on the next Christmas season!  Flat folds are so nice for holiday pieces because they fold up so nice to pack away after the holiday is gone!

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Doesn’t this little pillow just make you smile?

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Southpaw Stitcher was very inventive and took an old cross-stitch piece that was once stuck to a sticky mat board and decided to have it made new again.  She is adding to her growing “bird” stitched collection.  I think it turned out fantastic.  Check out her blog.

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Cheryl also stitched a lovely large pillow on scrumptious white and yellow striped linen.  Love the sunny colors for Spring.

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Christie is ahead of the game for this year and zoomed right into a couple of patriotic pieces.

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And here is the second one she stitched as a gift.  Love this pattern.

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I also had an order to make 3 tea bag holders for someone.  I made these a few years ago for our Quilt Boutique.  It was a popular seller as they make nice gifts.  If anyone would be interested in purchasing one, just email me on my Finishing Page or my FB page and I will get back to you.  Here are a couple of photos of what they look like.

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It was really fun helping out in caring for my 4-1/2 year old “Maya.”  She is a delight.  My other grandchildren are older now (18, 16, 14, and 12), so it’s fun to still have a young  ‘un around.   One day we went for a walk around the lake which is only 5 minutes from their home.  Maya LOVED getting a little wet and loves to cuddle up on her Daddy.  I LOVE Boulder!  We try to get out there twice a year.

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I really hope the weather here in Chicago warms up soon.  I am missing the warm sunny days of Boulder.  I thought since we had a mild winter that Spring warmth would be early.  Not so…there was FROST on the lawn this morning!  I like the change of seasons here, but I do so LOVE the warmer days!

I love hearing from my blogging friends…be sure to leave a comment.

In friendship, Averyclaire

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Holiday Finishes

I am honored to help so many of you with your stitching finishes. My small business has grown considerably and I humbly thank all of you who trust me with your precious work.

C.J. lovingly stitched Six Little Cardinals and some pretty red fabric with golden stars was added:

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V.DiN. beautifully rendered this special pillow, hung with wide silk ribbon and surrounded by twisted chenille trim, as a lovely gift:

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A.G stitched this lovely Santa with pastel reds and greens for a soft side to the traditional colors:

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The TinSmiths Wife stitched this peaceful Dove on a gorgeous unusual red fabric, adding the lovely turquoise beads and knots around the neck and requested a cupboard hanger.  I added some more knots to the trim:

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Then using the same beautiful red fabric The Tinsmiths Wife stitched a Star Was Born cupboard hanger:

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And last but not least the colors were changed from light to dark and this beautiful Pomegranate Sewing Tray from Stacy Nash Primitives was born:

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I hope to soon show a few more finishes before the Christmas week is upon us. Thank you again for your faith in me and allowing me to be creative with your pieces!

Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas season!   Amities, Averyclaire

Finishes for the Upcoming Seasons

Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year. Everyone is thinking ahead and stitching up some lovely things to cover all the coming celebrations. It has been a busy few weeks in my studio finishing up some beautiful and amazing stitching.

Carol J. now has a place to store her needles and pins with her new needle book.

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Becky M. chose a flatfold for a fun new spooky decoration for her home.

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The Tinsmith’s Wife is a Needlework Shop in Comfort, Texas specializing in Knit, Crochet, Cross-Stitch, and Needlepoint. They now have an Autumn Owl on display in their shop.

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The shop also has a new basket tag encouraging everyone to be “Thankful.”

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and a lovely new Shepherd’s Bush ornament in anticipation for Christmas to come.

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Judy B. is celebrating “Friends” this season with special gifts.

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Nancy H. has another pillow similar to her Halloween one…this one for Christmas which will look lovely in her home. It’s not a small pillow…maybe about 11×16 inches. Love the soft colors she chose.

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Carol J. found two of her three kings and decided to have them finished for the holiday this year. They now have a luscious deep forest green velvet back!

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Becky M. stitched up two lovely Christmas ornaments…a “peaceful” angel and a cheery cardinal.

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Anne L. was lucky enough to purchase the chart for the new Prairie Schooler Christmas “reindeer.” We will all surely miss Prairie Schooler designs!

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And last but not least Southpaw Stitcher quickly stitched this fun and lovely Blackbird Design and requested a “box” finish. I think I need to find a box a make one for myself! Love this one.

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Thank you to everyone for your trust in me to create lovely things from your beautiful stitching!

More finishes to post soon. I have so busy in my studio there has been little time for me to stitch anything for myself! However, I did have a LOT of fun this month in showing my finished quilt at my quilt and needlework meetings and telling the story behind it. I haven’t had a quilt to show for a LONG, LONG time!

Amities, Averyclaire

New Business and Some Old Finishes

NEW BUSINESS: Just recently I began a small finishing business for your projects. There is a new page which you can look at on the top of my blog called Finishing Services and another for Finishing Estimates.

Here are a few items I finished in the past couple of weeks.

An elegant Needlepoint Ornament for The Southpaw Stitcher which is dressed with a red velvet backing.

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Briar Rabbit looks quite handsome finished as a flat-fold with his regal gold cording.

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The small project bag I made (6″ x 7.5″) can hold threads and small items for stitching. The inside is a pretty as the outside. This bag and the next larger one are both lined and interfaced with a stabilizer.

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The larger red paisley project bag (11.5″ x 13.5″) will hold most size patterns and stitching in progress. I love the charms I found for the zipper pull. The needlework is antiqued with instant antique spray. These project bags can be made any size and can be made with your needlework on the front or plain. I plan to make several for myself!

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OLD FINISHES: An old FINISH from my PhD list (projects half done) (and number two monkey on my back) is my 101 x 101 inch red and white quilt. HAPPY DANCE!! If you recall on one of my previous posts I showed this quilt stuffed under my home sewing machine. I managed to quilt around all the blocks and sashing, then I did the quilting in the sashing and cornerstones. At this point I began to free-motion quilt the blocks…DISASTER!!! The quilt was simply TOO heavy, TOO bulky, and just plain TOO big for me and it broke my sewing machine. So I found a long-arm quilter who agreed to finish it even though I had it half done. Finishing the 404 inches of hand sewn binding was quite satisfying. I was able to check it off my PhD list without all the nightmares trying to stuff it into my machine. I will NEVER attempt to free-motion another LARGE quilt on my home machine. To be perfectly honest, I think I am sorry I participated in this block of the month.  It turned out to be very expensive and now I really don’t like it.  C’est la vie!  Although it fits my full size guest bed nicely (draping way down like a “bedspread”) and it even fits my king size bed (albeit it could be somewhat wider). It will be good for a change of decor from my other quilts.

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My number one monkey the King Sized Red/Green/White Triple Irish Chain is making steady progress. There are only one and half rows left plus one of the four borders to go. My Friday quilt friends haven’t been here for most of June due to vacations or commitments for all of us, but I did do a LOT of quilting on my own to speed up the progress. WHOO HOO…the end is in sight, literally!

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Happy Summer…keep cool while stitching! Amities, Averyclaire

A Few Finishes

I have been hibernating to finish out this crazy winter!   At long last most of our snow is melting.  Chicago (Chi-beria) is now beginning to thaw. We have had a few warmer days, but not enough!  However, I did finish a few things while keeping warm.

My yellow whole-cloth quilt is now complete.   I finished doing the trapunto work a few weeks ago.   I am in love with the quilt and am so sorry it took me SO LONG to finish it.   My thanks to Tim Latimer whose beautiful hand quilting and exquisite trapunto inspired me to complete this.  Please visit his blog to see his work.

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Next I finally did the “finishing” of two Christmas ornaments I did a while ago. I made some for friends for Christmas and liked them so much I made a couple for myself.   I KNOW that the photo background is not exactly a “christmasy” background, but my quilt was JUST SITTING THERE waiting to be photographed again!  Note…the red on the ornaments is really red…not orange!  (Both ornaments are Little House Needlework patterns.)

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And last but not least is an Easter ornament that I love. I have a couple more in the works but they are not completed yet.  This ornament is from a Prairie Schooler  leaflet entitled “Folk Eggs.”

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QUESTION FOR MY READERS:
Does anyone out there have the pattern from Prairie Schooler called “A Prairie Garden“?  It is rather old.   I wondered if anyone out there would be willing to sell me theirs?   Please let me know if you have one for sale or trade.

During the last blog hop I was lucky enough to be the recipient of some very nice gifts from Joyce at “Joyces Love of Life” blog.   Please visit her here.   She has a LOT of lovely cross-stitch projects in the works!    Thank you again Joyce for the lovely gifts.

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Others things have been in the in my studio, but my wonderful lovely Husqvarna sewing machine is in for repair at the moment.   Hopefully it won’t be TOO expensive for the repairs.    I was working on a king size red and white quilt and it just up and quit on me!    Oh the pain!    But then my hand stitching is getting caught up, so I shouldn’t complain!

Hope the Spring Solstice scares away the frigid north winds and lets the balmy breezes blow up from down south!

Amities, Averyclaire

Progress

Well friends, I am trying to keep to my New Year’s hopes and have created a random rotation of ten projects.   Here are some photos of the work IN PROGRESS.   Yes…I am actually posting again!!

First is my yellow whole cloth quilt that is nearly finished and I hope to have it done SOON.  You can see that I am nearly at the end of the quilting.   I am hoping to do some trapunto work when it is finished in the floral areas…but we will see.

Yellow Whole Cloth Quilt

Next is a “flock” of ornaments. I began them too late for Christmas, but it will be nice to have them done for next year.   The pattern is Cardinal Tweet from Just Nan.   I decided to make four of them (they are two sided).  Making four seemed just as easy as making one!

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And my third project I am working on is a block of the month I began from Top Shelf Quilts in Frankfort, IL. It is called Saturday Soiree. I really love red and white quilts, but this is turning out to be a LOT of work.  It will be set on the diagonal with sixteen blocks.  I actually have all the setting squares completed, but I have not completed the main blocks yet.   The original pattern called for only twelve blocks, but I purchased four extra ones and all the extra fabric I needed to make it larger.   (Am I crazy?)

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It’s been so cold and snowy here in Chicago that staying inside, keeping warm and cozy, has helped the progress on my projects to keep rolling along!  Hope all of you are on the track to needlework success for the new year!     Until next time, amities, Averyclaire

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