Tableau De Boucher..

I finally finished the Tableau De Boucher. And let me just say that "that took forever!".

 

The cow chart is cross stitched. I KNOW, I know...cross stitch is so 1980's! I still enjoy doing it though - even if it is old school. It's something that I can do while I'm sitting in front of the TV and I don't have to think too much. There are so many cute patterns to stitch. I thought it might be fun to incorporate cross stitched designs into some my quilts. For the quilted portion of this project I stuck with the red and black theme. I had some cute prints on hand so I did a patchwork border around the chart. I love how it turned out:  

 

 

 

Corner Detail

 

I hand quilted this piece for two reasons: #1, I love the look of hand quilting and #2,  I'm starting to experiement with machine quilting, but I'm not comfortable with it yet. I also used a white thread because I like to see the stitches. My hand work is just that...hand work. It's not perfect because it's not done on a machine. I think that's part of the charm.

(Giving credit where credit is due: The chart is designed by Marabaut d'ficelle. Her book is titled "Vaches et Cie" and is available on French Amazon).

Tracy

Easter Bunnies!

This morning as I was getting into my car I noticed two, big white bunnies hopping along in the side yard! I couldn't believe it. I've never seen rabbits in the neighborhood before. These were big and fluffy! What a wonderful start to the day :)

 



 

I'm hoping that they laid Cadbury eggs along the side of the house. I think I'd better go take a look. It would be sad if they did and my neighbor found before I did. :)

Tracy

Current Project

Over the past year I've been busy working at a "regular" accounting job. I like making money as much as the next guy (I am trying to pay off my mortgage after all). That job took all of my time though and I had nothing left to give to creative work, let alone the occasional blog post. As luck would have it the client that I was working for sold her business. Since it's under new ownership I decided not to stay on. Now that I'm back at home for a while I got busy right away on a few projects. Here's a hint of an almost complete wall hanging:

Black, Red and YoYos

Moo!



I stitched this cow butcher's chart (it's in French mind you!) several years ago but hadn't done a thing with it. I decided to use it as a component in a wall hanging. I'm hand quilting it so it's taking a while to finish, but I'm almost done. I was going to machine quilt it, but I'm just more comfortable hand quilting sometimes (control issues perhaps??). I recently bought a Baby Lock Symphany that will do free motion quilting, but I need to practice. Meanwhile I hand quilt in front of the TV.

Getting back to working on creative projects that I love has done a world of good for my soul! I'm sleeping much better at night and am much happier. :)

Happy Day!
Tracy

Sweet Burlap Nest #2

More fuzzy little chicks in a happy little nest!!

 

In my previous post, I explained how I made the little burlap nest. This one was made the same way. It's just a bit bigger. 

 

Once again, I decoupaged the inside of the bowl with small pieces of old book pages. I glued some dainty pink lace along the upper edge of the bowl. Then, I glued strips of burlap all over the outside to form the nest. I embellished the burlap with pastel threads so the nest would have subtle color, and also to add some interest. I just love how it turned out...

 

 

Look at the secret message in the bottom of the nest! "A golden egg, quite warm yet". "At last the large egg broke, and a young one crept forth".

 Spring Sweetness!

 

Happy Day!

Tracy

Sweet Burlap Nest #1

Spring has sprung and I've been working on some Easter decorations! I love the little fuzzy chicks!! They make me feel happy. I bought some up at the craft store the other day ($2.99 and worth every cent!) and immediately went to work on making a nest for them. I really love how this little nest turned out : )

I decoupaged a little bowl with bits of old book pages. I was so lucky to find this title: "The Little Girl and The Chickens" buried within the book. I had to make sure it had a special place in the bottom of the bowl:

I glued strips of burlap to the outside of the bowl. It's hard to tell from the photo, but I added some fine, gold metallic filaments to each piece of burlap. This gives the nest such a sweet, dainty look.

Isn't it just so cute? Hello little peeps!!

Happy Day!
Tracy

Fibber McGee and a Vintage Game Score Card

Here's a scan of a vintage game score card. It would be cute used as gift tags or in a journal I think:

 

When I was at the vintage shop last week I found this old game called Fibber McGee and the Wistful Vista Mystery. It's from 1940!

 

A player who has been appointed as the narrator reads the story from the orange book. There are blank spots throughout the story. When the narrator comes upon a blank spot, one of the players pulls  a yellow card from the deck. The various phrases on the cards fill in the story. Some of the cards have number printed on them which count as points. At the end of the game, the player with the most points wins. I'm not sure what the little round colored pieces are for:

 

Those round pieces would make a cute garland I think. But...I really like the yellow cards! I'm mulling over what to do with them. I know tags are the obvious choice, but I'm trying to come up with something different. Here is a scan of some of the cards that you can save and use:

 

 

Happy Day!

Tracy

 

 

Lukewarm Coffee Anyone? And Maddie!

I hate these coffee pump carafe things:

Why? Because I like my coffee HOT!

 

Sadly, these things seem to be everywhere now. Whatever happened to a coffee pot on a burner? When I'm out and stop for coffee I know what I'm in for when I see this contraption. Another lukewarm cup a Joe. I had another lukewarm cup to keep me company in the car on the way home from the market today. I nuked it as soon as I got home. There have been times that I've asked the person behind the coffee counter to microwave my cup for me. They've always looked at me as if I had a third eye. I don't ask anymore. :(

 

I'm seriously coveting this right now:

 

 

But alas, my budget won't allow it.  :((   My daughter and I were window shopping at Williams Sonoma in San Francisco a couple of months ago. While we were there, a nice clerk made us  cappuccino with a Nespresso machine. Fast & easy!! And the milk frother was amazing! I've been dreaming about one ever since. Maybe some day...

 

 

On a happier note, I finished Maddie today:

 

 

 

 

Happy Day!

Tracy