Day 7 "Stitch Me Up" Blog Hop---MY day!----GIVEAWAY

It is finally here!!  It is my day to share what I have made up for the blog hop. Thanks to Mdm Samm, our fearless leader at Sew We Quilt and our cheerleader Jane of Jane's Fabrics and Quilts for putting this together for the hop participants.  Thanks also to our sponsor Colonial Needle!

Way back in January when we signed up we were sent a sheaf of patterns to select from designs by Cyndi of Bee Tree Designs,  Mdm Samm's adorable wee tots and sophisticated ladies designs as well as two pattern from Debbie of Busy As Can Be.

I have worked with Cyndi's designs before---her basket blocks that I am doing in 30's green---and began fooling with the elements block files she had sent.   In the end, however, the design that spoke to me most was the Victorian cottage---in red, classic embroidery.  It reminded me of a home my grandparents had lived in for a time in Missouri and a house I go by frequently on the way into town.  You know, one of those that you wonder what it looks like on the INSIDE?

I was recuperating from bilateral cataract surgeries and had also participated in the "It's All About Me" hop so did not get started on my piece till a month had already passed.  I had asked Jane if I had to actually make something with the finished stitchery, thinking I would add it to a mix of another designers blocks, some that I had downloaded in my files several years ago would have worked well.  I ordered the gorgeous Presencia Finca perle cotton #12 thread selection that was offered at a great price.  I had hoped to use it on my piece but was afraid that I would not have enough to complete the entire proposed quilt.  I dropped back to my standby two strands of DMC floss. 321 this time instead of 498, the more scarlet (Roll Tide!) color.

 Shown below marked for quilting but I am glad that I had tested that Frixion pen on something else recently or I would have freaked getting the black marks out after all that stitchery!

The stitchery was finished earlier in March, pressed and pinned to the design wall.  Finally last week it hit me what I wanted to do with the piece!   I have 3 other redwork/embroidery quilts waiting to be hand quilted and only have the first one started---- HERE for the Santas in 2011, HERE for Alex Anderson's 12 Days of Christmas in 2010 and HERE, Pieces of My Heart calendar cats circa 2006 maybe?  The thing is,  I don't need another quilt just yet unless it is going to be my goal to have one for each of my 7 nieces, some day!! You get the picture----I love to embroider!

BUT you came to see what I did with the stitchery piece THIS time.  I made an embroidery roll/tote out of it finally using up some redwork fabric that has been, er, antiquing for some time!  It IS rectangular---bad camera angle in spite of my standing on a stool atop it.

Quilted up, top side

Folded up

Opened up

The ziploc idea is from Fons and Porters book Quick Quilts From the Heart.  I had made one of their chatelaine and sewing kits for a secret pal years ago but never one for me!   The shape of the case with the needle case and zip pocket was modeled after something that was made for me by a quilting friend.  I just modified its components to make my own desired version!  Recently a dear friend had given me a red work panel piece that I had considered using on the inside pocket but instead I appliqued the adage on the pocket to dress it up.  (THX Maggie.)  It reads "I count the stitches line by line and watch the threads record the time".  One of Cyndi's baskets is at the ready on the left.  

                                                                             

Showing more detail

The scissors holder strap idea is straight off my old bandage scissors/pen holder from back in the nursing days.  It was blue velcro---this is color coordinated fabric with snaps. Must be quilt-y! Actually I had planned to use more of the strap/tab material  for a covered button closure but duh!  That would have landed right in the middle of the stitchery.  Scratch that idea!! The elastic spool holder idea is from my cosmetic case I use for hand applique and quilting.  Thread Heaven fits in it well.   

And then last Thursday, as I was putting the fabrics away, I decided that I needed to include a thread catcher similar to one I had made the preceding week for a guild challenge  project.  This thing twists to close up and I used the other half of the 4 inch embroidery hoop minus the hardware, taping the edge closed. I showed the first one so you can see it open and the new one, closed up and ready to slip into the zippered pocket.   Pattern can be found HERE in pdf format.   The fabrics coordinate with the needle case thing above.

I do have a little giveaway and am willing to ship wherever----the embroidery hoop is a 7.5 inch and the clover threader, well let's just say my missing one mine showed up a couple days after this one was ordered. My temporary loss is your gain, should you win.  I may toss something else in for padding too.  Please comment should you want to be entered in the drawing and make sure you are NOT a no-reply blogger.  You don't have to be a follower but should you feel inclined to do so, add a 2nd note telling me that for a 2nd chance. I'll have DJ and Skyler help me with the drawing on Easter Sunday.  Good luck!

So there you have it!  Thanks for stopping by to see how my project turned out.  Here are the participants that share the day with me----hop on over to see what they stitched up as well

THURSDAY MARCH 28th

Kristin @That Other Blog

Robin @That Other Blog

Jane's Fabric and Quilts     sorry I messed up the link but corrected now!

Dexterdays The World Through Our Window

Sew Nicely

thistle creek cottage

My Art, My So Called Life

Just Sew Sue

Co mne bavi...

TeaTimeCreations

Read, quit, cook, pray

Cate's Linens

Shade Tree Quilting

Ladybug Dreams