Build a Seam

The quarterly challenge in CQI is Build a Seam.  I built my seam and took pictures of each step.  I cropped each picture to just show the seam being worked on, so I had several strips that I wanted to make into a composite picture.  I asked another CQer how she did it, and with her help and several searches, I was able to make the composite.  Big problem though - somewhere along the way between the document in Open Office and the snipping tool in Windows accessories, it lost a lot of quality.  I may have to spring for a regular photo program like Photoshop Elements if I want to keep doing this sort of thing.

 

 

 

I used a blanket stitch for the first layer and added a herringbone to that.

Next I added some lazy daisy flowers and French knots before adding -

beads to the centers of the flowers. 

CQ for Newbies Heart Swap

They're having a heart swap in CQ for Newbies.  When I first joined I think the heart swap was my first venture. I have a few hearts that I received stashed away in a box. When I get a few more I'll have to figure out just what I'm going to do with them.
These are the ones I just finished for this swap.

Winter themed ATCs

In CQ for Newbies we're having a winter themed ATC swap.  Here are the 2 I've sent in. Now I wait and see what I get back. 

 

 

4th Quarterly Challenge

CQI has quarterly challenges. This last one was to make a strip quilt sampler. Here is what I did.

 

And here are some closeups......

 

 

 

Wine Traditional RR

CQI had never had a WINE traditional round robin and it sounded like fun, so I joined. 
I have a big cork collection so I had fun sewing half corks to everyone's block.  Some I was able to cut in half with a cleaver, but I discovered a small hack saw worked best on the denser ones.

Here is my blank block ready to send off for the others to work on.  I see I forgot to take a picture of my finished block, so I must do that before I can finish this post. 

This is the finished block. Isn't it great?  All of the blocks came out wonderfull and I'd not hesitate to sign up for another round.

Why I haven't been posting much lately.

This is Heartly. He came to live with us shortly after Thanksgiving and life is not the same! I wouldn't trade him for anything, but he sure has cut into my stitching time.

All About Grey

Last Spring CQI had a challenge which I joined. It was called All About Grey and the idea was to piece a block using only shades and textures of grey. I got my block pieced when life happened and I got a little bit behind. Finally, things calmed down and I did finish the block. It was really fun to work with all one 'color'. I had done this in round robins with pink and red, but grey was something different, and to do the whole 12" block by myself just added to the fun. ?

Here is the bare block - and the finished block.