Take a Stitch Tuesday - 111 Zig Zag Coral

I had a hard time getting the hang of this stitch.  Actually, I don’t think I got the hang of it!  I tried perle # 5 (lavender) and perle# 8 (red/orange).

 

Linking up with Take a Stitch Tuesday at Sharon B’s Pintangle blog.

Monday Morning Star Count - Almost a Strip

I stitched the eight flower clumps into two pieces – almost a full strip.  I’ll try to get these two joined, then attached to the main part of the quilt top for next week.  I’ll need a jillion hexagons for the backside edging.

 

I’m linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts. 

Needlequest - Blackwork 18 May

Here’s my progress this week.

 

Each letter is 28 stitches x 28 stitches.  I basted the blocks ahead of time, which has minimized the chances of miscounting, but not eliminated it all together! 

Check out Sew in Love to find out more about Needlequest.

I Didn't Know!

I usually try to follow the rules, but to tell the truth, I didn’t know about these.  Thanks to the Spinster Stitcher for pointing this out!

Two Gardens and a Tablecloth

Because of the Golden Week holidays, our little stitch group hadn’t met in a couple of weeks.  When we met this week, my two fellow stitchers worked on their gardens and are making great progress.

 

I worked on my table cloth and have almost finished one corner. 

 

This pattern takes a bit of concentration and is probably best done when I’m not talking.  I found myself “unstitching” more than once!

Spring in Hokkaido

 

Work in Progress Wednesday - Pearls and Pieces

This week I worked on the pearls of the Queen’s veil and skirt and the pearls and crystals at her waist.

 

I also pieced the main part of the hussif and the two side pockets.  I hope to have some embellishing to show next week!

 

Linking up with WIPW at Sharon B’s Pintangle blog.

Vacation Kanji

We were gone four days, so I had to take my Japanese class homework along.  We had been assigned 35 Kanji characters to memorize and practice writing.  I already knew the meanings of 14 of them, but needed to learn the others and learn the stroke order for all of them. I practiced pages of them, and still need to practice more!

 

While we were on the trip, I looked at the signs and was surprised to see how many of the basic kanji we are learning were on the signs!

The car kanji 車 was everywhere on road and parking signs.

 

 

Book 本  (also one of the two kanji in "Japan" - Nihon)

 

Mountain 山

 

Three 三

 

 

Inside 中

 

 

Water 水

 

These are just a few of the many I saw and could recognize.  It’ll be a long time before I know enough characters to actually be able to understand what the signs say, but it is kind of exciting to see a few things I recognize.

Monday Morning Star Count - Eight Flower Clumps

I made eight flower clumps of six or seven flowers each this week.  After I get these put together into one strip, I’ll attach it to the rest of the quilt top.  I still have a few flowers left to even out the edges.  I like how it is coming together.

I’m linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts. 

The May 2014 Quilt of the Month at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum is "Grandmother's Flower Garden". How great is that? The quilter's name is Carrie Stelzer and the quilt was made 1931-1934.  You can read more about the quilt and the IQSCM here.

Needlequest - Blackwork 11 May

I’m joining the Needlequest Challenge at Elizabeth’s Sew in Love blog.  This month, the challenge topic is blackwork.  I really like blackwork and I always want to do more of it, but there are so many things I like to do that I don’t make more time for it.  (I’ve finished several blackwork pieces since we’ve been in Japan – Kingfisher, Peacock, Roses, Ojimi, and a couple of small things).

I’ve had this blackwork alphabet chart for quite a long time.  I’m glad to have a reason to get started on it.  I’m using 26 count linen, with Needle Necessities Spring II thread (50/50 cotton-rayon) for the letters and Kreinik #4 braid for the blackwork patterns inside the letters. The designer is Lorraine Banniskis.