Margreet's owl on block..end in sight!!

The owl is cut out and appliqued on the block and I'm well on my way with the Art Nouveau detailing.. I'm still working on a hoop so will leave bead work and ribbon pine cones until the very last... With any luck I should be able to finish this block tomorrow... Monday at the latest... I'm loving these colors and decided that I'll use earthy greens for the DYB RR coming up.

Things are going better now as Wednesday was a very bad day. I started the day with no Internet access, spilt a large mug of coffee all over my desk, then the tractor wouldn't start and it went downhill from there ending with a lamb tangling with a porcupine and getting a face full of quills..

But the next day my dear tractor man came and got it running, Wil showed up and helped me catch and load the sheep I was selling and now I can get my alfalfa into the barn... Definitely looking up.. having grand time with GD and visit is flying by.

Owl is Finished

The little barn owl for Margreet's Art Nouveau block is finished and ready to cut out and applique to the block... Just one technique I wanted to point out.... I outlined the sections on the wing in black. Since I didn't want it to look like stained glass when finished.... as I filled it every once in a while I nipped the rust threads into the black outline... which broke up the line visually.

I also used two contrasting threads on the wings...closer in color than the two I used on the chest.

Yesterday we went through a bunch of old pictures... By far this was the favorite....when the kids coerced Gpa into going on a monster roller coaster... He's the one hanging on for dear life....

Owl and mini-tutorial

First the owl... I have left it at a high pixel so when you enlarge it you can really see the stitches.. Notice the smoother texture of the face using just one strand of thread and the different texture of the chest created by using two contrasting threads.. I created the "feather scallops" on the chest by doing a horizonal guideline as well as a vertical guidelines...

I used to have a terrible time filling in irregular shapes until I worked out a techniques for myself which I call "halfsies."

I'm sure there are conventional ways to do this but "halfsies" work for me...

The rust colored shaped around the owl's face is a good example.. It is not only curved, it changes shape as it goes around... I always also have difficulty explaining things that are simple to do but here it is. I will answer questions...

I just have the wings and feet to go before he is finished.. but another granddaughter is coming tomorrow for 11 days... Here's picture of her about 15 years ago.. I'd like us to don hats and do it again now that she is 20 years old..

Morris and my Bra!

It's a sorry state when your dog spends more time with your bra than you do... I do admit that I hate wearing one and seldom do. So it was often hanging on the closet knob or on the bed post and it has become a favorite of Morris. Whenever he can snag it he dashes off to some corner and cuddles with it... It's a sport bra and very soft. Then if I need to appear in public I have to go searching for my one and only bra..

I have a lot of "M" adjectives I use for Morris...like marvelous and magnificent. But modest isn't one of them. His preferred sleeping position is on his back. I think he is dreaming of some perky poodle coming along and sniffing his "parts." In reality though he will settle for a tummy rub while he is sleeping.... If you come along and rub his tummy while he's sleeping he makes all these lovely moaning sounds and almost purrs..... This coming Friday is his appointment for the "Big Snip". Then only perky poodles in his dreams.........

New thoughts for give-away prizes.....

Well so much for housework... I went to the gazebo to water the rose cuttings and then decided to take the old cushions off the gazebo chairs and then I decided they needed a coat of spray paint and all the time I'm thinking what would be a special give-away prize and of course I can have more than one prize...I notice others do that...

Anyway in thinking of things personal from me...how about one prize being a start off my grandfather's rose..? Of course I can't send it out of the country and it is hardy to zone 3/4 but it would be a nice prize I think...


And then maybe if someone lived where they didn't have room for that beautiful rose I always have my pincushions... Would anyone like these for prizes?


Well it is 9:30 and the sheep are still waiting for breakfast and rather noisily if I say so myself..... I will keep on thinking while I'm feeding my darlings... Took these pictures yesterday for new sheep friend Inga... 3 bags full.