Work in Progress Wednesday

It occurred to me that I have not posted about this piece.  I consider it my bead journal for August and September.  How is it that I worked on this for two months and never posted about it?  The seashell is the largest shell that I have ever found on a beach.  I almost didn't keep it because it had lost all it's colour and was only white.  Not very interesting.  However, I do love to rescue/upcycle things so I brought it home from the Bahamas.  I painted it with nail polish and love the way it turned out.  I also painted some large buttons with nail polish for this piece.

All the beads, buttons and shells were stitched to hand-dyed wool.  I will be using this piece for an altered book cover.  I am leaning towards putting all of my six-inch square water pieces into this book.

I am linking to
https://www.quiltfabrication.com/
https://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

Slow Stitching Sunday

I am absolutely loving the way this piece is turning out!  I discovered the podcast The Hidden Brain on NPR and have been listening to it while I stitch on my beads.  What an enjoyable past time.  At this point, I think I will stop working on this piece.  I am leaning towards calling it finished but want to reserve the right to return to it.  I really can't think of anything more to do on it but that may change.  I do not have to rush.

I am linking to
https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/

Water

Oh, this one was fun to create.  I finally was able to use the funky turquoise fabric that I bought so many years ago.  The textured fabric I added on top of that is interesting but it does make the beading I did hard to see.  I knotted some interesting fibres together and applied them.  I think that idea needs to be pursued further.

I am linking to
http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Work in Progress Wednesday

This is the start of my crazy quilt block for October.  I know, it doesn't look very crazy quilt like!  I am okay with that.  I enjoy pushing boundaries.  I am eager to get to the hand stitching part of this.

I am linking to
https://www.quiltfabrication.com/
https://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

Slow Stitching Sunday

I have a very good start on my bead journal project for October.  I am so enjoying this.  The beading process is a meditation for me.  Especially, when I stitch a mandala.  I only need to make one decision and then proceed to stitch it around the circle.  Once, that stitching is complete I make the next decision and so on.  I am hoping I can spend some more time stitching today. 

I am linking to
https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/

Water

I am still plugging away at doing a six-inch square of water each week.  I have over twenty of these pieces now.  I did a paint stick rubbing on silk and then stitched on some funky yarn.  Unfortunately, the sequins on this yarn do not show up.  I love the sparkle and always find it disappointing when the camera doesn't capture it.

I am linking to
http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/

Talisman Challenge

Last spring I signed up for the Talisman Challenge with San Francisco School of Needlework.  I didn't know it at the time but I qualified to receive some upcycled Swarovswki crystals.  I had to agree to send my work to San Francisco if accepted the crystals.  I applied the crystals to the tree shape on this bear.  I love my bear talisman.  For me, it signifies the strong Momma bear to whom I strongly identify.  Don't mess with my kids!

This week I found out that this piece has been selected to be in a show in New York City.  How cool is that!  You can see the challenge work at https://talismanschallengegallery.tumblr.com/