CQJP 2013 - Block 5 and catch up

It is so hard to believe that it's now December and Christmas is only a couple of weeks away.  School has only a week to go and their closed for the Summer, well, what shall I do in the meantime?, loads in fact.  First off I want to finish my 6th Block for CQJP, I have finally completed no 5, and here she is.
Block 5 without the Ornament:

When you add this ornament, 

5 Gold rings becomes more clear.

So we now have the first 5 blocks completed, 

in fact 1 and 2/3 panels are now complete.

Now working on Block 6 - 6 geese a laying.....

I have also finished my cracker for the Southern Cross Crazies Xmas cracker swap.

Plus I've also done some other embroidery, but I can't show them right now, but stay tuned, January will reveal all.....to give you a hint, there are Australian Animals, Flowers and sea life involved.

Also been cleaning up, as I am getting a studio too soon.... hope to be in by Christmas..... The new carport is up, and the garage is now tidied ready for the partition wall to go in, then the wall into the spare room gets 'holey' and were in.....

Don't forget to download the app if you have an iPhone-iPad-iPod.... yes we're working on the Android......
Also don't forget to leave feedback on the app and here - all welcomed.

Arlene

App update and stitching catchup

Re the App.... Watch this space over the next two or three days, something exciting is about to happen....

In the mean time I have been catching up on some stitching...

DYOB Stumpwork: Susan's blocks
Can't remember what her theme was, but I gave the block a very "Australian' theme with the idea of the Kookaburra sit's in the ole gum tree.......

 One of my fibre friends gave me this Kookaburra button, and he was just perfect for the block.

Some more close-ups:

  

We have the Townsville Stitches and Craft Show up here last weekend, and whilst I was there manning our exhibits I got to finishing my block 4 of the Twelve days of Christmas. This first picture show's with the removable ornament, (which all blocks will have). 

 

 This is the Ornament removed from the block. A 3D 'Cally' Bird landing on a branch.

 Here is the block without the orny.

 Most of the braids, beads and embellishments came from one of the shops at the show, Zenozam.  They had so much stuff, just so cool. Make sure you visit their shop.  These lovely blue flowers were on their stand, they sold out of them.

 The flower beads above the bird was from their shop too.  Here is a close up of the 'Cally' Bird.

I have also finished a couple of our Fibres challenge pieces. Here is my iPad cover which was made from two 6 x 4 inch pieces of fabric.

This will eventually be one of the new projects in the first update of the app.
There were a few other items, but I forgot to take pictures of them.

Come back in a couple of days and there will be very exciting news and a giveaway, so click on the side to receive an email when I post.....

Arlene

3 French Hens.....

Finally got to work on block three of the CQJP 2013 project.  On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, three french hens....

 This is the block with the hen ornament. 

And then removed to show three more french hens. The three silver charms I purchased on Norfolk Island in February, the three buttons I got from Sunlit Blooms sewing, my local shop, just perfect.

Felt made Hen, fit's nicely in place.

Now onto 4 Cally birds...... gosh more birds..... did you know the first four days are all birds....

Arlene

On the 2nd day of Christmas......

My true love gave to me, two Turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.../
Welcome Block 2.

 The block elements are two stitched seams, one gold creten, and the other a combination of gold chevron, and detached buttonhole stitch with straight stitch beside each detached buttonhole, enhanced by gold beads. Stumpwork holly, with needle-lace leaves, wrapped branch and wrapped holly berries.  Goldwork '2' with thread padding, gold kid leather number, and bordered by no 1 gold pearl purl. Two lovely shank buttons, one poinsettia flower and the other the two turtle doves which are stitched through kid leather for extra strength to hold the orny when attached. Lastly two gold braids, and a cluster of gold beads to finish off. The Christmas ornament is ceramic, and is pink and gold on the reverse side. A items I purchased from a Fibers and Fabric's lady at our Christmas fair last year.

 And without the Orny.....

Stumpwork Holly

 And two turtle doves, this is a shank button I picked up at a wonderful craft shop on Norfolk Island.

Had a wonderful time stitching this block, now that's two down ten to go.....

Arlene

CQJP 2013 - January - Day 1

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me - A partridge in a pear tree......

So for January's block (yes I know I'm late, had to wait for my pears to be made by my friend Kathy) - I give you the first day of Christmas.

The partridge is removable, so it can be hung on the tree.  The partridge is made of felt, with blanket stitch in gold thread. He is mounted to a wrapped wire frame.

The 'one' is goldwork and their tree is chain stitch, stem stitch, and wrapped wires. 

The leaves are a ruched double wire ribbon. Like I mentioned before the pears were made by my Fibres and Fabrics friend Kathy S. (not Kathy Shaw).

Kathy has hand painted them for me to match the colour of the block. Kathy made me several different sorts, two shank ones, two 3D ones and 4 button types, all in various shades.

 Boy what a wonderful friend.  The shank one is the one that the partridge hangs from.

Finished of with the seams of gold creten stitch, burgundy chevron and cream blanket stitch.  The top left corner is trimmed with green and burgundy braid.  Here was my sketch of what I wanted to achieve for this block, I think I came pretty close to what I wanted.  I really think the pears make it.

Now onto February, day 2, two turtle doves!!!

Arlene

Catching up

Well over the past month a few items have made it down under.
First the Orny swap with Lisa

This is the one I sent, and below is the one I received from Lydia

Then the Lion's Christmas stocking swap, here is the lovely stocking I received from Suz














And the one I sent

Then for the Southern Cross Crazies Christmas Cracker swap, here is the one I sent to Natasha

 and below is the Cracker that Natasha sent to me.  The santa is cross stitched and the whole piece is quilted, so lovely.

 And inside the cracker:   There is a small teddy bear missing from the photo, only because he's already on my jacket.

I've even had a couple of finishes, I finished the Redwork course on StitchMap, it was a challenge, which I am thankful for my students I mentored, otherwise I don't think I would have finished it.  During the course we made motifs, and at the end we were to make them into weights, but I would never use them, so I made mine into a book cover for one of my favorite stitch dictionary.

 Back and Front cover

 Inside back - pockets for needles cards and small scissors

 Needle and pin booklets at the front.

Now I can take my needles etc with my stitch dictionary.
I've started on my CQJP 2013, but will post that sometime soon, it's looking quiet good already.

I'm not sure what my posting will be like for the next 4 weeks as I'll be away on the 2013 Australian Scout Jamboree which is being held in Queensland this year. I leave Boxing day and return home on the 22nd January, hubby will be at home looking after our two puppies and everything else (thank heavens for hubbies like this).

Thank you everyone for following me this year, and leaving comments, and especially the help on my tree skirt.

Have a wonderful holiday season, if you believe in Santa then I hope he brings you loads of pressies, and those who have other beliefs, God bless.

Arlene

Registration open for CQJP2013

Registration is now open until December 12th. CQJP 2013

if you enjoyed following my journey with my Xmas tree shirt blocks and would like to make something similar and want the motivation to do it, I would highly recommend joining, if it wasn't for this project, it would not have been made.

My 2013 project will be an advent wall hanging, here is a glimpse at month 1, drawing only.

Each number will be in goldwork, along with some other bits and pieces, the pear tree and pears will be surface embroidery and the partridge in stumpwork.  There off course will be 12, still need to draw the other 11.

Arlene