Turning stitched pieces into wall hangings

The main reason I decided to learn how to sew was not to quilt. That was an accidental obsession. The main reason was because I wanted to do more with my cross stitch than small pieces and framed pieces. While I like bell pulls, not every piece is shaped right for bell pull, and sometimes you get one that just needs some framing (cloth, that is). This first piece was something I'd stitched about 20 years ago - and never got around to framing. Once I learned how to sew, I turned it into a wall hanging. The four ribbons at the top are loops, through which I'll stick a dowel for hanging. I will call this piece Fruit Basket - it's from a very old Just Cross Stitch magazine issue.

Here's a closeup of the stitching.



The back has no quilting - just the stitching around the edges. I used the "birthing a quilt" method to finish this.





This second piece was stitched in January and February of this year, and I did the "framing" two weeks ago. This is more like a quilt - I used batting, did some quilting in the ditches around the edges, and also used the "birthing a quilt" method to finish it off. The piece is called Desert Sunrise, and it's by Black Swan Designs. It has almost a hundred little beads that don't show up too well in the photos.







This is the back - I used muslin and did some straight stitching in the ditches around the edges.

Back from the Sierras

Just drove back from the Sierras - had a 5-day weekend since I took personal leave on Friday and today. We camped at East Fork Campground on Rock Creek - I'll be posting pics on my travel blog, Wanderlust, in a few minutes. When Don was off fishing on his own, I did some stitching (of course) and reading. One of the first things I did was put the binding on this mini-quilt - it's made of four "orphan" string blocks from my string quilt blocks. You see, I'd been tooling along, making 5 1/2-inch blocks, and ever so often I'd accidentally cut one to 5 inches. No way was I going to throw them out! So I put four together, made it into a little mini-quilt, and added binding. This made a perfect hot pad for our table in the trailer, so that's probably what I'll use it for.


I also finished May and June from Crabby All Year, so I'm a month ahead on Daffycat's SAL.
I also stitched a little flower (English paper piecing) and will make it into another mini-quilt, and finished a little wedding gift for my sister (who got married on Saturday). I'll post a pic of it once I've finished into a wall hanging.

Tennessee block for Don's quilt

This is one of Marcia Hohn's designs from her website Quilter's Cache. Every once in a while I'll make a block and eventually I'll have enough for his quilt. These are 12" blocks, and I told Don I'd do his quilt in "manly" colors.

Where have I been?

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted. But be patient; I've been stitching and quilting and will soon have lots of great pics! I'm stitching a little wedding day bell-pull piece for my sister, who's getting married next weekend, and I have several other WIPS - Crabby All Year, which I'm stitching along with Sharon of It's Daffycat, Chatelaine's Alpine Garden Seasons Mandala, and the old Lizzie Kate Flip-Bits year. I've finished the top for my Victory Quilt - I need to make the sandwich and quilt it. I've made a couple of other tops, and need to sew the binding on my little Washington I-Spy piece. I just started a new top, called America the Beautiful. I learned to paper piece, since there are two eagles in it.

So, eventually, I'll take pics. But for now I'm off to the Sierras for a long weekend of stitching and reading while Don fishes.

Later!