Sitting in front of the fan

Well the weather here has hit some real highs and with the humid ex level and smog levels high I have chosen to stay indoors. I must admit that as long as I have the air conditioner on and the fans blowing in my face I can deal with this. We did try to go today to an air show at the air force base but when we arrived the humidity was far to great to be even the slightest bit tempting, so we came home.

I have start another set of prayer pouches and was working happily along and I am now at the part where I have to wait until I can shut the fan down in order to bead and embellish. I think Mother Nature or Father Sun are trying to tell me something.

I did finish another set of comfort hats. I have two adult, three children and about five preemie to baby ones. I knit the preemies as they were so much softer to deal with. I think I am well over the mid point at this time and will soon rearrange some photos and group them so it does not take up much space. It is amazing how addicted I am to the one hundred caps.

Will log on when it cools down and share more pics, but not as long as they are now, will group them instead.

I hope when it cools down to be able to get back at my stitching again as I do miss it as well.

Lady Bug Hat Directions

Materials for child's hat:-

50 grams of black soft worsted weight yarn.
50 grams of red soft worsted weight yarn.

Crochet hook 4.50 mm

Using black chain 4 and join with slip stitch to form a circle.

Work 12 half double crochets into circle. Join.

Work 2 half double crochets in each half double crochet around for a total of 24 half double crochets.

Work *one half double crochet in first half double crochet, then 2 half double crochets in next, repeat* around .

Fasten off black and join red.

Work * one half double crochet in first 2 half double crochets and 2 half double crochets in the next half double crochet. * repeat around.

Work a total of seven more rounds in red.

Work ten half double crochets . turn work eight half double crochets, turn, work 6 half double crochets., then single crochet up side of curve to where red is and repeat around until you have a total of four wings, two in front and two in back.

Using Black, reverse work and work four rounds of half double crochet around and end off.

Work one round of single crochet around.

Make a total of six black spots. Following the first two rounds of the hat pattern in black.

Attach onto hat.

Chain eighteen or to taste. Tack the centre of this chain to the centre of the top of the hat, then loop it down and tack it again to form the antennae.

Enjoy.

Copyright North Kentville Knits 2008 L. Boudreau for personal and charity use only.

Slow Works in Progress

This is the top left hand section of a Carnation Quaker Sampler that I am ashamed to say I set aside until I got some new mageyes to work with and now that they are here have to continue to work on this. I just love this design and colour work.



This was a a design challenge by a friend who wanted to see how we would intepret and use crayons to guide us in our work. So far I have the tree, trunk and roof done, and I am not at all pleased with the right hand tree so will turn it into a seperate tree altogether.

My Latest six inch block that I am playing with.

I love this little work. It was an online class kit that I adapted to my own style and plan on doing a lot more beadwork and fine thread work on before framing. I am addicted to silk ribbon embroidery.

Pics of finished hats and items.

Been A while since I posted but was well worth the wait.

It has been a while since my last post, but I have been busy on a personal challenge to make one hundred items to donate to our local hospital and I am well over half way there. I started the middle of June and it is now almost the middle of August and with little or no effort have been able to accomplish this little miracle. I will finish this set and then set out to do a series of special items for nursing homes, shelters, and those in need. I like to be a secret angel so only put a card on my work so that when it goes to the hospital they know it is acrylic, cotton and how to wash.

I hope to share some with you. A lot of the patterns are adaptions of patterns I have found on line and some are those that I have created as I went along. One can soon learn many variations on a pattern when they set a goal this high.

I highly recommend the site http://www.yarncat.com as a great starting point for adult hats and have used a lot of their patterns int he beginning. I then graduated to my own and a series of my own in both knit and crochet for preemies and small babies. I also have some christening dresses on the horizon to finish as well as three sweater sets. Sounds ambitious but it sure is helping to do stash reduction in yarns.

Prayer Pouch for Lynn

This is the front and back of a prayer pouch that I made for a special friend

who asked how I made the bridal roses of the bridal pillow.

She offered to send a brazilian embroidery pattern for the cost of postage and I wanted to make her something special to remember me by so I chose to put two or three different versions of how I do my roses into the pouches.

On the front there are several shades of 7mm wide purple to lavender and they are free handed as I work along. I added stems, bead works and a flirty little butterfly to the front. On the back I used another silk ribbon technique to do a rose branch and added some lace and beads to this as well.

I also shared some different ways and sizes of satin bridal roses that I enjoy making. I am so used to making them right on the garment that it is hard to describe as there are several ways to make them. I will try and do a little tutorial on them when time settles down.

I hesiate to post this as I am not sure if this has arrived at " Lynn's " home or not, but we will see.

Beautiful Pin Wheel from Rengin in Turkey

Above are several photos of the gorgeous pin puff I received from Rengin when I offered to make her a prayer pouch. It is decorated with her infamous "oya " flowers and very dainty work. I feel so honoured to have received one. I also got a lovely postcard and bookmark which I shall treasure, but not as much as the two miniature doilies crocheted by her mom, whichi will be added to the back of the pin puff so that I will never forget where they came from and the amount of work that went into them. These are crocheted with what we would call machine sewing thread, they are gorgeous as well. I loved this Rengin and will treasure.

Lots on the go and finishing.

I have finished another prayer pouch for a special friend and it has gone in the mail and I will when she does receive hers along with some satin handmade roses.

I received the most beautiful pin puff from my Turkish friend Rengin in return for the two prayer pouches that I have made for her.

I will share these photos when I get on the main computer. I finished up the stitching on a crazy quilted one yesterday afternoon.....the background is maple leaves in gold and the accent piece is a unicorn ear ring that I found at an antique shop some time ago. I used one on this pouch and one on my dd's Christmas stocking, which I must finish.

I have so many little things to finish that it is scary and while I am in the process of doing same I keep on stitching away on other things. Like a lot of fiber artists I am continuously thinking.

I have at least three large clutch purses to put together and they will go into my hope chest to be given away someday when my heart lets them go. I have at least five long christening gowns on the go and two more on the way to being complete. I do want to do long slips with matching crochet lace on them to accent them.

I have two borders on my Angels in Blue quilt to hand quilt and I will then add the ribbons and flowers to this one and e had a lot share.

I have had a lot of requests on how I do my prayer pouches and all I can say is I will share how I do a basic one as no two are the same. Depends on how the fabric speaks to me.

I was inspired by the works of Pat Winters of Gatherings when a friend sent me two kits, one for me and one to do for her.

I was also given a pouch made by Pat from my friend Rita Geoff as a Christmas gift one year and fell immediately in love with it.

Well, enough chatter and I must get some more pics up. Been getting ready for a family get together this week coming and have let the poor blog lapse.

Have a great day. I am also learning Brazilian embroidery and admit I have fallen in love with this technique and the realism of three dimensional floral work.

I will also put some tutorials up on how I do my ribbon flowers as there are not a lot of blogs on silk ribbon or ribbon art work. I love it.

Friendship Block

Tribute to An Angel

-
A butterfly fluttered to my window and made me stop and stare,
Twas not an ordinary butterfly as she held a special glare.
As she approached the window I was compelled to open it wide,
The little butterfly flew in gently and landed by my side..

She fluttered from room to room and finally settled in,
To the most comfortable spot in my home, it was my sewing den
She went up and down the bookcases and through the fabrics too,
Then landed on a quilt top that it appeared she knew.

She winged her ways across, almost every block before,
She stopped and lingered on one a little longer more.
She stopped on a button and spreads her wings open wide,
Then flew down and landed on a bead on the other side.

Before I knew what was happening the quilt began to talk,
It started to tell me stories and then it seemed to walk.
It said when you were down and needed me, I was there
to comfort you,
When life seemed so empty my threads and fancies pulled
you through.
When life seemed so hopeless and you felt so all alone,
A group of angels gathered and made me in your home.

A true labour of love as anyone can plainly see, lots of love
caring and full of memories.

When the little butterfly stopped and hovered over square,
I saw a little angel dust appear from out of the air.
A little teardrop filled my eyes,and slowly down my face,
I felt an inner peace come over me, it was a saving grace.

This feeling did not leave me and the tears began to flow,
The little butterfly fluttered over each block in a row.
It seemed to flutter twice when it landed on a name,
Then the memories came floating back and more teardrops came.


Froggie was the siggy and beside it was a boullon frog,
Holding onto a fishing line and sitting on a log.

Next to her was Priscilla dressed all in purple and red,
Stitched with such softness it was a loving thread.

Roses, roses everywhere and such beautiful lace,
Sandi had touched this quilt and left her dainty grace.

Marianna and her love for fully embellished seams,
Left her siggy and embellishments and a special dream.

Nark had left a collection of Carole Samples designs,
Amazing what can come out of a little stitcher's mind.

Carolyn left a little girl on a button with praying hands held high,
Now where did I find that button, and it lit up the sky.

Beautiful Brazilian embroidery covered one little square,
It was not hard to tell that Rita had stopped here.

A dainty little floral square covered with tiny laces
Gayle had added angels and tiny little faces.

A collection of tatting, silkribbon roses too,
Chatty was the name written on this block in blue.

As the butterfly was flitting from one block to another,
It stopped and lingered on one word or another.
One name was missing from the square and she spun a special thread,
And inscribed the word " Barbee " in gorgeous red.

I watched so very closely to see what the butterfly would do,
Would she go out the window or stop and visit you.
Sh flitted to my shoulder and seemed to whisper in my ear.
Do not be sad my little angel for I am always here.

I am in each and every block, in every stitch I made for you,
I am free from pain and sorrow and no longer live alone,
Heaven is my mansion, but I can still visit you at home.

I can tell you different stories that you might want to hear,
But, just pull out the blocks that we have worked on over
the past ten years,
Hold them in your hands and hug them and know they were
made with love.
Now, they are safe in heaven and resting with me above.

I still have my memories, the good ones are all I knew,
But once a year I will come down and visit you.
So when you see a butterfly flitting on your window pane,
Open up the window sill and let me in again.

Excuse me little angel I must be on my way,
I have nine other angels who are waiting for me today.
They have not forgotten me,nor will I ever forget them,
I have a lot of flying to do but will return again.

Love
B

(c) L. Boudreau out of love and respect for Chatty's Angel " Barbee " 2008

Prayer Post Two

This is the second prayer pouch that I made and finished over the past week. I added floating hearts, some fantasy flowers and a little cupid to the top. A trick I have learned in working with the fringed bead work is to hide it under a seam on the lace or a ribbon of it's own and you can feel confident that it will work.

I hope to do a step by step to how these are made and will share on my blog along with a basic pattern as each one changes in size and shape.