Blackwork Basket

Today I put in my last stitch on the last block of the Blackwork Baskets.   I started these around mid January, 2008.  That year I completed several of them and then for some reason I don't remember.... I put them away and didn't get them out again until Bonnie challenged us to take just one hour a day and sit with needle and thread.  That did it for me.  Now let me show you all of the baskets together. 

I've been playing around with EQ and have come up with a couple of colorways that I'm pondering.  The background fabric that I've used for the baskets is a white on cream.  For all these many years I've always thought I'd set the blocks in black.  But while I was playing with the layout it suddenly dawned on me to try the opposite of black.  So I'm thinking creams and off whites might be the way to go. 

What do you think? 
Now you have to pretend the block backgrounds are cream instead of grey.  And I couldn't get them to rotate the way they should be but I think you can get the idea. 

Thanks for stopping by....Linda

Design Wall Monday...& One hour of Needle & Thread

I haven't done much work on this 'Walk About The Daisies' this last week so it's still up on my design wall.  All the rows are finished .... they just need to be sewn together.
My wall isn't big enough to hold all of the rows so I have the last three rows just laying on the shelf above my table.
Can you see them hanging down on the right?
 I'll try to get these sewn together this week so I can figure out the borders.  I think I know what I want to do.  Now it's just getting it done.
I have Christmas projects to get started!!  hahaha

I thought I'd show my progress on my Blackwork Basket so far.
This is my last block to embroidery before I can start setting them all into a top.
I didn't put in as many hours with needle and thread this week as I have the last couple of weeks... but it is coming along nicely.

I'll have it finished this week.  I've also played a bit in EQ7 and I'm pretty sure I have settled on the layout and color that I want.  I'll keep pondering for a bit though just to be sure. 

So since it's Monday I'm going to grab my cuppa and head over to link up on Judy's Design Wall.  And while I'm at it I'll link to Bonnie's  One Hour Of Needle & Thread. 
Let's go see what a few quilters ham been up to.      
Thanks for stopping by....Linda

Slow Stitching Sunday...

Today Kathy is talking about Hoops (Kathy's Quilts: Slow Stitching Sunday) So I figured I would link to her post and show the hoop I use for my embroidery.
I love this hoop!  It's a spring hoop and so easy to move around.  I just grip the two 'handles' and quickly move the solid hoop (on the back) just where I want it.  It's also easy to rotate those handles around to get them out of my threads way.
 When I first started doing much embroidery I used the hoop that tightens with a screw thingy simply because that's all I knew about.  And if that's what grandma used then it was good enough for me.
Well.... not so much!!
I really really disliked having to unscrew that hoop to move it and then trying to decide where to center my fabric to get the most stitching in before I would have to move it again.
And then I found this one!!  I don't know what the name is or where I even bought it.  But I do know that I would never want to be without it.  It's just so easy to adjust the fabric just a little or a whole lot.
So with that I do think I'll spend a bit of my lazy afternoon with my hoop and fabric.
Have a great Sunday.

Just a quick edit.  After posting that I didn't know the name of this hoop I did a google search and found this.  http://www.joann.com/darice-spring-tension-hoop-5/prd12000/   

Thanks for stopping by....Linda

One more block finished thanks to Bonnie's challenge to sew One hour a day.  I didn't work on it at all this weekend but just last night was able to put in the last few stitches to get this one done.

Here's the next block I'll be working on now.  This is the last block to embroidery and then I can start setting them together.  Now I'm going to have to get serious about the color I will use for the rest of it. 
Of course black would be the most obvious color but a solid is not what I'm after.  I'll be looking for something with a bit of texture and marbling.  Perhaps a lightly patterned gold on black might be pretty. 
But that's what I'm using for my Carol Doak BOM so that idea is out. 
Looks like a shopping trip is in order.  lol 
Thanks for stopping by....Linda

 Last week Bonnie Hunter tossed out a challenge to use just a needle and thread (no machine) and sew for an hour a day.   She thought we could post about where we sew and keep track of our time and show how much we get accomplished each week. 
Well that's exactly what I needed.  So this week I got back to my chair and pulled out my Black-work Baskets. 
I started these baskets way back in 2008 and worked on them off and on for a couple of years.  Then for some reason I just set them aside.  With this challenge I figured these would be a great project to work on. 
 This is my recliner with my snuggle quilt and my favorite little pillow and the floor lamp that I couldn't do without.  I have a large basket that sits on the floor right behind the light and I keep some of my yarns and needles in there.   I sure don't have any shortage of things to keep my hands busy.  I love to crochet' and I've made several scarves and dishclothes.  Nothing fancy by any means.

Here I am all set up to embroidery.  Must have my ice water and Chap Stick! 
And my little mug rug.  I just love that little thing.  I'm thinking I may have to make a few more.  

See that green thing?  This is what it looks like inside.   I really don't like threading the needles one at a time..... so I do several to be ready.  It's just a simple piece of fabric and batting.  The batting grabs the thread and keeps them from unraveling all over the place. 

I know Bonnie and others are using a calendar to keep track of their time ..... but I really don't want to have something that big so I did find this little tablet from one of my favorite quilt shops and decided this would be perfect. 

So this is where I started this week and after 6½ hours this is how far along I got. 

I'm going to try to put in a little more time this week.  I know I can get this block finished and get another one started. 

Now I'm heading over to Bonnie's Quiltville (One Hour of Needle & Thread) to link up.  Grab your cup and follow me.  Let's go see what others have done this week. 
 Have a great week and.....

Thanks for stopping by....Linda

So here is the backing for Trent's quilt.
Sorry I forgot to post it with the quilt. :)
I think he'll get a kick out of it don't you?

And while I'm at it.... here is the lastest basket I have finished. Countdown now..... only 2 more to go.

Good morning all. Today is looking to be a rather sunshiny slightly breezy rather warmish day.
(that's just a nice way to say HOT!!)
In fact my Firefox weather bar shows the next couple of days are forecast to be in the 100s again. Sheesh!!
So it's a good thing I've gotten back to my embroidery so I can sit here in my nice AC.

I finished another Blackwork basket last night while watching the best Big Brother episode yet this year.
Ronnie is gone!!
Our boy Jeff rocks!!
And Chima is in for a BIG surprise!!
Aren't we happy campers today? hahaha

Oh sorry. I got a bit sidetracked there for a minute. Back to the embroidery. I started these way back late 2007 and put them away last April. Well.... the other day I decided to finish the block I had started way back then and here it is.
Just 3 more to go then I can start deciding how to set them.

I've gotten Trent's quilt on the frame so I'll start quilting it today. It usually takes me several days (or weeks) to finish the quilting because I just don't stick with it for hours on end. The back screams to much. Even though this quilt isn't that big I think it will still take awhile.

Have a great day all.