mallakoo

A very looooooong summer vacation....

2008-04-09T10:26:00.000-07:00

There has been not much stitching lately and shall be even less as the spring progresses and the summer comes. My garden absorbs me totally, as every year. So, if somebody peaks here, don't wonder my absence. I'm safe and sound enjoying my new gardening projects LOL. We'll meet in the autumn, I hope!

TIFC March / Heart

2008-03-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

For the March challenge Sharon presented a color scheme and a concept: little things that we notice. I decided to piece a heart in modified March colors for I did not find exactly matching colors in my stash. I had also the concept in mind: my 7 sweet little grandchildren!

I was not very focused stitching it... I am going to make a series of 3 hearts and this is how the 1st of them turned out.

Judyth's spring block

2008-03-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

I am participating in a block swap in the CQforNewbies group. The title is spring and my swap partner is Judyth. She made a lovely challenging garden with a pathway and a big tree. I had no idea what Judyth had in mind but I tried to create a flowery spring garden with all sorts of spring flowers.

I did not use SRE for I think that Judyth does not like it. So I stitched and used some beads. On the block you can find alliums, tulips, crocus, anemones, muscaris, forget-me-nots, awakening ferns, bergenias... a kind of a picket fence...

In the upper left corner you can see alliums and pink tulips.

In the lower left corner there is a big container with pink roses and daisies. The container is made out of a print appliquée.

Under the tree there are ferns & anemones, along the pathway bergenias and muscaris.

Well, I got a bit carried away and it was hard to stop LOL. But I succeeded to stop at this point - and there is still something for Judyth to add: more rocks on the pathway, branches & leaves and possible flowers to the tree and maybe a bird bath on the empty patch...

It was very fun stitching this block, my 1st ever swap block. Good to have this to do for I have spent nearly a month without CQuing!

Gifts from a CQ friend

2008-02-13T09:41:00.000-08:00

It's so nice to have CQ friends all over the world! One of them is Helena, a Finn who lives in Germany. I 'won' this beautiful blue bookmark in her blog, only because I happened to say my comments in time. She posted also these beautiful laces and some silk ribbon dyed by her. I was very surprised and happy! Thank you once again Helena!

TIFC / Childhood memories

2008-02-06T05:14:00.000-08:00

I have stitched and stitched. .. I arranged a good lighting beside our dining table in the living room, so I can stitch while looking (or listening at) at movies. After several movies the little wallhanging is now ready.

It is very naive and primitive - but this is the stage I am LOL. No artistic work yet, maybe never... These blocks are like samplers: I have used all stitches I know so far, I think.

I am wondering what people make out of their blocks... It seems in a year I'll produce quite a pile, so any reasonable use would be appreciated.

TIF Feb / Childhood memories

2008-02-03T06:52:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking & working on our February challenge. I am going to follow both the concept and the colors. My TIF work is going to be a two (or three) blocks' CQ wallhanging. When thinking of things I am old enough to remember I want to emphasize also the ways these things have changed since my childhood.

1st block describes the change in attitudes
I was a child in the late 1950's and the early 1960's. Those were years of cold war and economic troubles. Most families were following the conventional family pattern: it was the husband who worked and brought home the money while the wife took care of the home and children. There were many conventional unwritten rules in the society - especially what a woman could do and what she shouldn't by no means do.

There has been a HUGE liberation in attitudes allover the society - and towards women especially: we have more freedom and less conventional restrictions due to our sex. I remember my grandmother wearing dresses that were so long they reached her ankles. She was very strict on her clothing, and mine as well. Walking barefoot in the summer was not decent! The housewife next door looked over 60 - although she was only 35! All this due to conventional clothing. In 1960's no woman over 45 wore a pair of jeans, they were the outfit of hippies, teenagers and rebellions.

As to education and careers there were many restrictions: this is appropriate for a female, that is not. No one could think at the time that Finland once would have a female president!

I have to mention my grandmother once again. She was a half orphan and the youngest of 8 children. At the age of 19 - in the year 1900 - she crossed half Finland in order to have a dairymaid profession. She was a 'working girl', which was very exceptional at her time. This is of course something that I do not remember but found out when doing genealogy research.

The 2st block describes technological progress
I lived in the outskirts of a small town and we had one or two cows. But I often went to buy milk with my girlfriend with a big milk pitcher. We didn't have TV until I was 10, nor a telephone until I was a teenager. At my teens my father bought his first car. Public transportation was poor, so we used a bike.

It is amazing how huge and rapid the technological development has been in many aereas. When looking now at my grandchildren I keep wondering... At the age of 5 or 6 they are professional internet users; they know how to switch between the numerous TV channels; they are used to DVDs; they are used to send e-mails or text messages on mobile phones; they know how to use micro wave ovens...

This all is amazing. So much has happened in such a short time - my lifetime.

---
This is all I intend to describe in my CQ blocks. I am after an antiqued, weathered and naive look. I'll try to keep the stitching simple, and not use any shiny pearls or beads, nor fancy threads or silk ribbons. We'll see how I succeed to interpret all this.

The BIG recycling project

2008-02-01T05:26:00.000-08:00

In the autumn I have sewed already a big pillow out of green dyed recycled tablecloths etc. My intention was to make a couch cover for the kitchen. But I have changed my mind: I'll sew pillows out of all of them, to be used here and there, and in the summertime in our terrace. The embroidering is quite careless, and you can see also unfitting machine sewn seams *embarassed*. Excuse is: I lost my patience!

Inches swap

2008-02-01T05:21:00.000-08:00

I have participated in 2 inches swaps in the Finnish quilting group. One was titled autumn, the other blue. I put the inches in golden shadow box frames and now they decorate a narrow corridor wall. They look like little windows and I like them very much.

TIF - February

2008-02-01T02:42:00.000-08:00

Sharon has presented us our February Challenge: some things we are old enough to remember, pondering how life has changed in our life time. The color choice is also interesting and rather unusual: different shades of blue + pale beige & strong earthy brown.

I have not made up my mind yet as to which concept to follow. It will be interesting to see what the others create. January Challenge produced hundreds of beautiful & inspiring works!

Victorian lady - finished

2008-02-01T02:24:00.000-08:00

I added a very bold cluster of buttons. I mean very bold! And a few other things. I tried to press the block, but it sure was difficult. Could not use enough hot iron because I was afraid that those tiny pearls might melt.. I have bitter experience with my ATC...

When looking at the photo the 2 dark buttons don't look nice. In real life the other is much darker, so they do not look as ridiculous. The photo is always ruthless - so maybe I'll have to replace the left one and put a smaller button instead.

Now I have to figure out what to do with her. Maybe a lid for a treasures' box?

Victorian Lady

2008-01-31T09:24:00.000-08:00

I have received the silk ribbons from Vikky Clayton. So I had to try. I pieced a rather romantic block using a siggie lady I got from Judyth. I am not a lace person So here I could use only one narrow little piece no matter how hard I intended LOL.

The block is not quite finished. I'm going to add a cluster of buttons & beads & do some embroidering.

Seam embellishment of the week

2008-01-30T00:33:00.000-08:00

I can't tell why ordinary buttonholes are so difficult for me. The result is always uneven. Because I do not like them, I've used them seldom. In my pink block I made small fans out of them adding beads.

I have neglected my block lately because I have had other things in my mind. We live in an old house and we have here a serious clutter issue. That is because my husband wants to keep everything and can't give up anything. Well I have spent 7 whole days now cleaning and sorting our stuff (mainly his). The house is less cluttered now, I am satisfyed. Maybe this situation calls some Zen mood, I hope LOL. - Still we have our carage untouched. It is meant for 2 cars, but now can't take even one. Decluttering the carage will be a BIG job when the weather warms up.

Seam embellishment of the week

2008-01-16T00:28:00.000-08:00

Now the stitches used are the chain stitch (or lazy daisy?) and the stem stitch. When embroidering my spring block I made a seam very similar to Lesa's - as if I had anticipated LOL. The stitches are not quite even because I measured by eye only. As to stem stitch, I love it! It is so useful in making waves and curves. On my spring block the tiny flower basket is sewn with stem stitch.

I have to stop embroidering my spring block, even if I don't want to! I have to leave some seams unbellished for my exchange partner as well.

ATC series

2008-01-13T00:51:00.000-08:00

In the past few days I have been concentrating in ATCs. I find them very interesting and quick to do. With tiny additions / embellishments they turn out great. And not much in advance planning is needed! I decided to turn the edges under while not being satisfied with buttonhole edges and sewed a piece of felt behind the ATCs.

Seam Embellishment of the Week

2008-01-10T03:51:00.000-08:00

In the group CQfor Newbies there is going on 'Seam Embellishment of the week' by Lesa. This week using lazy daisy. I intend to participate also in the group's ATC swap in order to find some use for my scraps. I made this ATC using only lazy dasies & beads. I succeeded in spoiling the small beautifully shiny white pearls: - they melted under the hot iron! Must be more careful in the future. I am not happy with the edges. I have to sew them by hand because my sewing machine is so old.

The cover is now ready

2008-01-08T05:01:00.000-08:00

I have sewn the cover ready today. I used dyed hand crocheted lace to join the front and back together. Now my Stitch Diary is ready for use. I intend to make notes on good stitch combinations there, so that they are easily at hand.

Some details

2008-01-06T04:48:00.000-08:00

The half circles: Herringbone, stem stitch + SRE leaves + little beads.

The flowery border with feather stitch, SRE, lazy daisy, French knot & beads.

JAN TIF embellished

2008-01-06T04:22:00.000-08:00

The Stitch Diary cover is nearly ready. I have loaded lots of stitching & beads. Also did some SRE, mut my stash of silk ribbons & lace is practically zero. Must do some shopping.

The result is not very elegant, but I do like some parts. I like the half circles on the upper right corner and the flowery border in the center. In Judyth's newbie baggie I got the butterfly and the sequin charm in the lower left corner. Now I'll remember her everyday! Thanks Judyth!

My greatest dilemma is that I do not plan in advance. I'll try to learn to plan more in my future works.

TIF Challenge January

2008-01-03T11:43:00.001-08:00

When piecing the cover for my stitch diary there were many tiny left over pieces. So I made my first ever ATC out of them. I could not include quite all color scheme colors because ATC is so small. Well, it was fun doing it.

I have not yet dared to start stitching the cover... It is amazing and great to look at the profound planning of some participants. Planning is not my strenght. I usually get right into work. I hope I'll learn to be less hasty during the year LOL.

TIF Challenge

2008-01-02T11:04:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in Sharons TIF Challenge. For January we have got a color scheme and/or a concept of admiration. I decided to work on color scheme at first.

I got lovely fabrics from Judyth and think that these fabrics are close enough to January colors. I pieced a big block and intend to use it as a cover for my stitch journal.

Very encrusted

2007-11-28T08:52:00.000-08:00

My pink block is starting to be ready. Today I have added some small beads and decorated small fans on the curves.

Struggling....

2007-11-27T03:49:00.000-08:00

I've been working on my purple block but I am not very happy with the result. I wanted to learn to make petal flowers using Japanese ribbon stitch. And I wanted to add some nice complementary yellow colour. But my pale yellow ribbon was too wide; and the narrower ribbon was wrong color; and my base has a too tight a wave; and my needles are sure to be wrong ones because I broke two...

The left part is a bit better with white petal flowers though. I had to sew leaves because I do not have a good colored green ribbon... Argghhhh!!!!

Well it's good to show disasterous photos for a change lol.

Pink block on its way

2007-11-21T06:29:00.000-08:00

I have worked on my pink block for a change. Somebody stitched the flower petals with golden thread, so I had to try. I also put a hint of thin green metallic thread on the leaves and made another bullion rose border, which I like. Yet I do not have the slightest idea what to do with the 3 curves on the left upper corner...

Totally addicted....

2007-11-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

I'm totally addicted, please forgive me I have also had plenty of time to devote on stitching.... I've been working on different blocks. I find it very useful to leave a block resting for a while. At the moment I like best this purple block. I have used complementary pale yellow threads and also coached one brighter narrow ribbon. The rough/shiny contrast looks nice where there is thick lazy daisies and shiny thin lace - only it was very difficult to photograph. Hope you get the idea.

Lazy daisies

2007-11-19T01:43:00.001-08:00

I've been practising lazy daisies. This border looks better in real life than on the photo. I realize I need a LOT of practise in order to produce accurate stitches.

Encrusted class / lesson 2

2007-11-17T10:01:00.001-08:00

I've been looking at my blocks and finally decided to be brave enough to start with one. Of course working is difficult because I do not know what is coming in the next lessons. Well, it does not matter - this is practise!

I tried to produce one of Sharon's herringbone borders with bullion roses. I am happy I got the herringbones spaced well and the bullion roses are ok. But look at my lazy daisies Shouldn't they be among the easiest ones? I thought adding some french knots would make the border seem better - but not! I can't get french knots ok when using mouline threads. Only with perle cotton they are allright.

To me this part of the pink block seems quite busy now - but I have practised and that's the major point.

On the photo you see also a very useful 'template' which I found among my husband's tools.

CQ postcard in a frame

2007-11-11T23:55:00.001-08:00

The baby present is now ready. I put it in the silvery frame, so the flash makes a light spot unfortunately. It was fun embellishing it. I still am verry annoyed of the fact that I could not embroider his monograms. Need a lot of practise.

Green pillow is now ready

2007-11-05T08:34:00.000-08:00

I took a photo on the big green pillow in its natural settings: on my kitchen's wooden couch. Now looking at the surface there are some aereas that are too 'empty', others that are not so nice. But I think the result is OK. The cover blocks are sewn with a slightly lighter fabrics. It's going to take a while until it's ready!

1st ever SRE

2007-10-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

I had some silk ribbons, so I had to try! The ribbon is a bit too wide, 5mm - a 2 or 4 mm wide would be better at least in the beginning. There is not much design - the silk ribbon roses & french knots lie over stitching LOL. Anyway to me it looks great! I might have another opinion after a few months...

Recycling - The big green project

2007-10-30T05:55:00.000-07:00

I have a big pile of green blocks, pieced using my green laces and embroidered motifs of old table cloths. This is going to be The Job for the winter! I really had lots and lots of unused old stuff, so I'm glad to have found a way of recycling them and finding them some use.

I'm going to sew a big cushion and a cover for a wooden couch in the kitchen. In the cushion I can use some buttons & beads, but not for the cover as I'll be sitting on it.

Here are a few samples of the blocks. They are all different, on some there are already some stitching done. I have been practising lately the French knot and the Cretans.

My pet Hani

2007-10-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

It seems that many CQers have dogs, so I want to present my dog too. He's called Hani (a bit like honey), 4 years, a Belgian sheepdog 'Groenendael'. He is a keen gardener and always wants to lie down in my borders flattening my flowers! He's very energetic and keeps me and my husband running. Very healthy, except he suffers from epilepcy, very common with this breed.

Lace treasures

2007-10-24T00:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was dyeing old laces and doilies. They turned great! Here is a photo on the yellow laces. I have some golden & brown printed cottons to combine with them.

The green dye went on and on... So I got a lot of green lace & green cottons. I have so plenty of those now that I might quilt a monochromatic green big quilt!

Do you have any ideas what to do with thease treasures?

Lovely CQ books

2007-10-23T07:19:00.000-07:00

In my eagerness I ordered 3 CQ books, and they have arrived now. This is a real hit, at least to me:
The Magic of Crazy Quilting, 2nd edition by Marsha Michler. I love the photos of the antique quilts!

Also this is good:
An Encyclopedia of Crazy Quilt Stitches and Motifs by Linda Causee
Very clear pictures on how the stitches are done and a good choice of stitch combinations.

I could have done without the 3rd book, but maybe I can get later some ideas out of it. It seems that SRE skills are a must to give blocks a more fancy look. But later, later!

Little gifts to garden friends

2007-10-23T06:57:00.000-07:00

Gardening is my passion n:o 1 and it takes 6 months a year of my time. This year I grew pumpkins for the first time in my life and participated in The Great Pumpkin War. That means competition on who grows the biggest pumpkin. I did not win, my pumpkin weighed appr. 42 kilos, the winner's 120 kilos!

I patched a potholder for the winner and a seed bag/purse for the guy who has donated me rare giant pumpkins' seeds from the Netherlands. This guy was the only male participant and we ladies said we were eager to grap his seed bags. In Finnish it has a double, playful meaning. Anyway now we know where he keeps his crazy growing seeds!

Red roses on black background

2007-10-23T06:38:00.000-07:00

This block looks almost sinful! I used to do dollhouses and roomboxes, and had a black fabric with small red roses left over from Ivan the painter's bedroom wall. I added some reds, blacks & golds - and a lot of beads etc. The block was mainly a bullion knot practice - I love and hate them!

I really don't have any idea what to do with blocks with these colors... Ought to give somebody as a present.

My 1st CQ block

2007-10-23T06:32:00.000-07:00

I've been discussing with Judyth about colors. The colors that I dislike the most are pinks, most reds and baby blue. But it happened that I chose two of those to be my 1st blocks! In the Newbie Group there is a swap going on swapping Winter blocks. I was too late to participate but wanted to try nevertheless.

It takes less than 2 weeks...

2007-10-23T06:12:00.000-07:00

...to build a serious addiction. I checked my e-mails and it was on the 11th when Helina posted me that fatal CQ message. A lot has happened since then:
- I've joined the CQ for Newbies Group
- patched my 1st CQ blocks
- learned quite a few stitches
- acquired 3 lovely CQ books

I'm afraid that I'm too talkative. Therefore I decided to start my own blog. We Finns are usually either very extroverted or very introverted depending on which part of the country we come from. I happen to be one of those lively and talkative Carelians whose origin lies near the Russian border.

So this be my heaven where I can talk CQ talk from the bottom of my heart!