Busy Bees...

Lunetta, deep in concentration.

Yesterday was the second and last session of the first hand embroidery class

I taught at Crazy Quilters in Venice, FL. Only three of my students were

able to make the session, but they'll still receive their second class from

me if they want it at a later date. My classes aren't finished until they are.

We had a great day. Once they learned their stitches and a few "tricks"

from me, we had a plenty of time for them to work on assembling their

projects. I especially enjoyed seeing how each student chose to 

personalize their own embroidery envelopes with beads or more stitches.

Stitching away...Andi in back and Debbie in front.

 There was even time for sharing stories, learning more about each other

and sharing ideas and requests for me to teach future classes at the shop.

Lunetta's kit

Lunetta is a girl after my own heart. She had to straighten up all her

pieces before she'd let me take a photograph of her work. Just like I would!

She added lots of French knots on her needle case. LOTS! She said she just

couldn't stop once she started. hee hee Then she added pearl beads on the front.

Debbie's kit

 Debbie used different floss colors on each of her interior pockets.

Her work was lovely, too and she made great progress on her kit.

Andi's kit

 Andi decided not to put beads under the hearts on the front of her kit, 

but she was fond of the lazy daisy stitch, so she used those to embellish

her hearts instead. She also had all her pieces stitched so she spent the

 class time assembling her pieces into a finished envelope. 

The last things I taught them were how to make crocheted button loops

and how to make cording. They were all really tickled to learn those things, 

which they'll be able to use in many other projects in the future. I couldn't 

help but smile when I saw the "light" go on and they'd learned something new.

They're also looking forward to a continuation of techniques when 

they move into my next class in hand embroidery, the "Over The River

and Through The Woods" quilt that we'll begin on February 28th.

All in all, yesterday was a thoroughly successful day and I must 

always remember to thank God for all the gifts and answered prayers.

My Next Class...

Crabapple Hill Studio

 There is still one session to go to complete Arlyn's Embroidery Envelope. 

When that class is completed, I'll be teaching a full project in four sessions.

It's called "Over The River" by Meg Hawkey of Crabapple Hill Studio.
It's another project incorporating hand stitching into the design.

There will be plenty of time for my students to complete their homework 

because there will be a month between each session. Students will have

the option of making three different table runners (one with each stitched

section and one set of blocks (Flying Geese, Star or the Square-in-Square).

Of course, they can complete a whole quilt, as pictured, it that's the preference.
The whole quilt measures approximately 51 1/2" x 57 1/2".

Pattern Image

I'll be doing the model in colors and fabrics close to those in this photo,

and the gals who have paid their class fees are already busy choosing fabrics.

By the time next Thanksgiving rolls around, all of them will have their own

"Over The River" table or guest room accessories!

I wish you lived closer so that we could all play at our machines together!

One more thing:
I've added a new video to Handsome's musical assortment in my right sidebar.
This is from the North Port Concert Band concert on January 10, 2013.
I hope you enjoy it as much as the audience did,
and yes...that is me whooping at the end.
(link)

Taking A Day Off...

Martta Wendelin

I'm going to take the day off to catch up on my emails and play.

Thanks for all the wonderful comments you left for me the last

few days. The class was so much fun and my students are all so

enthusiastic. We stayed right on schedule all day and, if they do

their homework between now and the 31st, we'll finish all of their

embroidered envelopes so that can take them home - ready to use - 

after the next session. I can't wait to see how their embroideries turn out.

I will answer one question from the comments I received

about the American Treasures Album Quilt:

Mandy said:

"Very impressive work. Could I ask what size each block is?..."

Thanks for asking, Mandy. Each of those blocks will finish to be 15" square.

I haven't decided yet whether or not they'll be sashed, and we're still 

thinking about how the borders are going to look. It's a very exciting process.

This sentence is a link to Pearl Pereira's (P3 Designs) quilt.

She's the designer of most of the blocks. (I designed "Wisconsin" in her style.)

She didn't use sashing between the blocks and it's quite impressive that way.

We won't applique' the borders as she did, but we may use all our

fabrics from the blocks to do a patchwork border. Still deciding on that.

So, I'll be catching up with all of you who left comments for me in the 

past week, and doing a little "homekeeping", too. I'll be back tomorrow

to show you what I'll be working on next. Have a great day!

Ready To Roll...

I'm finished!
(Putting my feet up now and feeling quite smug, actually.)

Embroidery is all done.

Buttons have been sewn in appropriate locations.

All the parts are sewn together.

Cording was made and attached so the envelope can be securely closed.

I really love how it turned out!

The kits are ready, too.

I cut the fabrics, wound threads onto bobbins and added a few special

 Brynwood touches to complete what my students will receive from me

to make their very own beautiful Arlyn's Embroidery Envelope.

 

All my preparations are done, so all I have to do is pack 

everything into a tote and meet my students at class.

If you're an occasional reader, I want to ask you to come back tomorrow while

I'm teaching. I have an update to share with you and the photos are going to 

make your mouth water. I'm very, very, extremely, over-the-top excited!

I just know that while I'm teaching class, you'll be drooling! Trust me.

Needlework Makes Me Happy...

 I thought I'd share a few closeups of the class project I'll be teaching on

Thursday of this week. I really like the way it's progressing and I'll finish all the

 details today. It's a two-part class...this week and then again in two more weeks.

My case uses darker wool for the inside, but all the stitches and pieces are the same.

 The first class will teach the students how to lay out all of the pattern pieces for

cutting, and how to transfer the embroidery patterns to the fabric pieces. Then I'll teach

all the individual stitches they'll be using as embellishments: back stitch, fly stitch,

whip stitch, lazy daisy stitch, French knot and Colonial knot. It's a four hour class,

so we'll easily get all of these things accomplished before they leave for the day.

I'll show you what it looks like all assembled - after Tag's Tuesday post.
(The little ham gets cranky if he misses a week!)

I'll be back with more on Wednesday!

Cutting and Kitting...

 I'm teaching a class in hand embroidery next Thursday in Venice, Florida. 

Today, I spent part of the afternoon cutting the hand dyed wools to go into the kits.

They're beautiful, pastel shades of soft fabric that will become needlework organizers. 

The pattern is Crabapple Hill's "Arlyn's Embroidery Envelope".

 I found out yesterday that I have eight students in my class who are

all eager to learn hand embroidery. I'm really looking forward to it!

After I cut all the fabrics, I turned to another task.  I have to make my

model for the class! (I know. I haven't done that yet and still I have a

full class! Pretty cool, right?) I'll probably finish my own piece today,

and I'll show you what it looks like as soon as it's put together.

 Gotta run. My needlework awaits...