Carole Samples debuts as Morris's benevolent angel.

For my March CQJP Miss Carole Samples debuts as Morris's benevolent angel.   Anyone reading my blog for a while will remember when Morris chewed up my absolute favorite Carole template #23.  For days every time I looked at him I said "BAD DOG!!!!"  As it turned out Miss Carole read my blog and took pity on Morris and wished him to be out of the bad dog house.  She truly became his benevolent angel and sent a replacement for my favorite template #23

So on the block, as well as in life. Morris's angel has a cloud with a silver lining to come to his rescue.  Her cloud is a lift-up peek-a-boo and reveals the new template en route.   I still have the mangled template and it will be attached when I make these blocks into a book...











So here are all three so far....

Move-In Day for Needles....

From its inception I had planned this needle book to be a companion piece for my stitch journal and don't they look as compatible as two peas in a pod..?

I worked on it yesterday when my "CQ stitchers in training" were here, throughout the evening and  started again about 5:30am to finish...

Since the needle book is quite small, all the laces used on it were in proportion...very fine and delicate indeed.  The ones we keep in our special stash....

Just a few this things to note.  The rose on the cover is silk fabric and about 3/4" thick and very  dense.  I intend to use it as a pin cushion for threaded needles.  I followed the directions fairly closely in Susan's class but because of the lace, I didn't sew the outside and lining   right-sides together and turn.  I pressed the seam allowances back and hand stitched them together...  This allowed me to use  a very heavy interfacing rather than card stock and sew  my pages in before I added the outside..

Instead of a tie to knot for closure on things such as this, I prefer to use elastic cording and a vintage metal button... It  makes me think of boot buttons and button hooks... I've always used the gold elastic cording they sell for gift wrapping and it would have been my first choice here but, alas, I was out so used white elastic cording.

To attach the elastic cording I first do the ends with this super knot I first learned in a Robin Atkins class  and Sharon B. also taught it in her class last Sept.  I'm sure it has a name but if I knew it I forgot.  It's perfect for finishing cording and gimp with no fraying and can be added to the outside of the piece.

Now a quick look at the interior and then I'll go off to actually add my needles... Thanks so much for following the journey of my precious little needle book...  And a HUGE thanks to Susan Elliott for instigating this project.

My awakening.....

I am obsessed with wonderful embroidery scissors and have several gorgeous (and expensive) pairs. I have a couple antique sterling needle cases, an antique pearl-handled awl and many special hemostats etc... I do have several needle books which I use all the time but I stick needles and pins at random in them and their main focal point is the scissor holder. 

It wasn't until Susan Elliott did her post   on how the Japanese pay respect to their important tools that I realized  how cavalier I was about the lowly needle.. They were dispensable and I'd just open a pack and grab another.  I then realized that a needle is the most important tool in my entire life.  I have favorite garden tools I want buried with me...  I have a huge chef's knife my dad gave to me 50 years ago that I treasure.. but as a tool I had given little thought to all the tiny needles I've used.  So this little needle book is my way of rectifying this horrific oversight on my part.  It is my way of honoring all the needles I've used and discarded over the last 66 years.

So last night I started laying out the laces... I fuss and stew about the foundation layer and then proceed to bury it with the other laces.... but I'm making progress.  I love this little image because she looks about seven years old and I was that age when I embroidered my first set of dishtowels which had puppies and the days of the week on them.

I used every spare minute I had yesterday to work on the inside of my needlebook... It was always like 15 minutes intervals when I needed a little "sit-down" but I  got a lot done.  That is what I LOVE about my tiny work table by the window in the living room.  It is so conducive to short bits of work.

I have the lining done and you can see I have changed my choice of lace and also changed the little pocket to silk from felt. And of course I couldn't resist adding some gold cording.  It's ready now for a good pressing.

As it turned out I didn't have enough of the teeny-tiny tatting to go completely around the labels so they all got a little "crown".  This is the smallest bit of lace I have.  It is only about 1/32" wide and I have hoarded it forever for something special for me and this was it.

It's the little things that add a special touch and for me it was the fact these  precious labels were woven ...not printed.  In fact I went back this morning and ordered Susan's last set so I would have them for another book for a gift...

I chose to sort my pages by "use" rather than "alphabetical"..  So they start with embroidery and then beading, milliners, sharps, crewel, tapestry, quilting,  etc.

I have been been cleaning and getting ready for DH's big party today..  Years ago he took a fondue class at the community college and each year he throws a major "fondue event"... which requires more planning, work, mess, and supplies than a major theatrical production.. And that is just the fondue part.  I do all the rest including the dinner later which will be rather simple... seafood risotto and a green salad with strawberries over ice cream for dessert.

Needlebook Progress

I had hoped to have yesterday and today to work on it but yesterday was occupied toting my mother all day.... But I got a good start today...  I love the colors..  I see a problem putting the lace on the front cover and may have to make a few changes.

Hand work for later this evening and of course I'll have to add a bit of gold... I don't see me using the little pocket for scissors but definitely for a needle threader..  If the shape seems wrong it is because I cut it a bit larger and will trim it to size when all is attached.

The directions called for just sewing these lovely woven labels down.... but always having to do things my way, I decided to attach them to grosgrain ribbon first, then sew them down, and finally edge them with the teeniest, tiny  tatted lace if I can find it... I like the idea of them all having a little frame...

I am so excited about this little needle book...and so glad Susan Elliott put it out there...