Further Down the Rabbit Hole

Posted on June 15, 2017 by craftycreeky

I’ve made good progress with my Down the Rabbit Hole quilt, I got a bit behind but this week I finished appliquing all the leaves and today I finished all the houses!

I think last month I was debating whether to add some more leaves, well having spent quite a few evenings stitching them all on, I decided I had sufficient, I can always add some later if I feel the need! It was reassuring that I could see the improvement in my leaves as I stitched them. Once I got the knack of only turning a tiny amount at once and holding it down with my thumb nail I cracked it.

The next task to give me a bit of stress was trimming the centre to the correct size, I’d left a bit spare to allow for fraying and I knew I had to make sure it was accurate. I had to double check that the middle of the circle was in the centre of the square, I must have checked the measurements about 10 times, including the diagonals (my dad was an engineer, somethings you never forget…check the diagonals!) before I finally trimmed it.

Adding the mitred border was easy after that! Sarah included really clear instructions on her video on how to get a perfect mitred corner, it must have helped as they came out pretty well!

A stressy bit again, Sarah strongly encourages us to cut away backing fabric behind applique due reduce bulk when you start quilting. It was with some trepidation that I pulled the glue spots on the centre wedge away from the backing and cut away behind. I confess though I haven’t cut away behind the flowers, that was like one step too far!! As soon as I cut the centre away I laid the quilt as flat as possible and stitched the centre of the rabbit hole, I wanted to make it stable straight away. I found some of Lewis & Irene’s Spring Hare fabric in silver grey, it’s the same print I used in my Splendid Sampler quilt with pink hares on. I think it’s perfect for the centre and I’ll be using it to stitch rabbits with on the outer border.

So this was the official photo for the end of month three!

The houses were fun to do but they did take time, after all there’s forty of them! The roofs are paper pieced which after the Splendid Sampler quilt, doesn’t faze me at all. The main houses were fiddly with all the little windows. I did have a few issues with the builders!!

I nicknamed the row Coney Lane. Number Four, the Old School House, was clearly built around 1750, one window is blocked up due to the window tax, the foundations weren’t quite deep enough, maybe due to a lack of building materials, so Capability Brown had to create a higher hill behind! I think the builder needed to go to bed!

I tended to cut the strips slightly bigger than I needed to allow for trimming, I always tried to start sewing at the same side so at least one edge would be straight….so I don’t know what happened here, this one thinks it’s the leaning Tower of Pisa! Luckily I had enough spare to straighten it up.

At first I left myself a little spare in the height of the cottages, thinking it may help, I stitched them all from the bottom, it was only after I’d stitched 1 to 6 together that I realised the Beekeepers Cottage and Heather Cottage (Numbers 5 and 6!) had no leeway above them and they were too tall, so out came my friendly stitch ripper and after that I trimmed them all to the correct height before I stitched them together.

The only one I would change with hindsight is number nine, it didn’t look such a contrast when I was planning it and it’s unfortunate that it has lined up exactly with the roofs either side. The next border is going to be a darker purple, I’m hoping it won’t stand out as much then. One thing is for sure, I’m not unpicking it! Maybe I’ll embroider street names on it, Rabbit Road, Coney Court, Lapin Lane, Bunny Bank…

It was with some trepidation that I measured the finished rows of cottages, to my amazement they were all the right length, so I’ve stitched two on and the other two will be attached as part of this months work, making suns for the corner squares.

I’m really enjoying this quilt-a-long, it’s certainly pushing me out of my comfort zone, but that’s how you learn isn’t it? It’s been great seeing all the different colour schemes on facebook, ones with midnight blue backgrounds, a lovely one in about 36 shades of grey and an amazing one which is like a colour spectrum going round the quilt.

Posted in Down The Rabbit Hole, Serendipity | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

A walk from my Garden.

Posted on June 14, 2017 by craftycreeky

Last month Kathy from Living in a Rapid City posted about a walk round her neighbourhood, I thought it was a lovely idea, it always helps when you can picture someone in their own surroundings. So thanks Kathy for the inspiration, I thought I’d take you on one of my dog walks.

To set the scene, I live on the edge of a market town called Otley, it’s about 12 miles out of Leeds. When I say edge, there’s nothing but green fields and Otley Chevin behind us and it’s about a 20 minute walk into town.

Behind our garden is an old railway line, Otley lost it’s railway station in the Beeching cuts of 1965 and our section has been turned into a footpath, perfect for walking our dogs. This photo is from just outside our gate, with Rosie disappearing into the distance as usual!

A short distance along is what we call The Hump, it’s obviously where there used to be a bridge for the farmer, rather than maintaining a bridge they’ve filled in the cutting and we walk over the top. From the top of the hump there’s a lovely view through a 5 bar gate into the fields beyond, I love this view, with all the wild flowers in front.

Continue reading →

Posted in Home, Serendipity, Walking | Tagged , | 24 Comments

Bilberry Sampler and a new stitch-a-long!

Posted on June 13, 2017 by craftycreeky

I started a mini sampler last month, I’d popped it in my bag when I went to Denman College just in case I had a few spare moments! I started it on the train on the way home, but until this week I hadn’t picked it up since.

I bought the Bilberry Sampler last year at the Knitting and Stitching Show, it was in a bargain bucket for the grand price of £3.50, and that included all the threads!! I love the delicate colours and as there are bilberries growing on Otley Chevin it felt local! It was designed by Tina Richards Herman for Shepherds Bush.

It’s a strip sampler, there’s a little cross-stitch but it is mainly what I would call hardanger embroidery, pulled thread with perle cotton, and lots of different embroidery stitches. So far I’ve stitched double back squares, Italian cross, 2-colour rice, Parisian, St Andrew-St George, cable, satin. herringbone, double herringbone and hem-stitching. So lots of new stitches to learn. It’s only three inches across so it doesn’t take long.

Continue reading →

Posted in embroidery, Serendipity, Stitch-a-long | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Travelling Sketchbook goes on my Favourite Walk

Posted on June 10, 2017 by craftycreeky

I’ve been concentrating this week on my entry for the Travelling Sketchbook, I stitched Catbells first, this is my embroidery of Catbells with the reflection on Derwentwater;

For the facing page I wanted some kind of map showing my favourite walk, a perfect day for me is to catch the launch from Keswick over to Hause End, walk up through Manesty woods to the footpath which climbs up to the ridge of Catbells. Climb up to the top where the view is just breathtaking, looking across to Skiddaw or over the other side to Newlands Valley, down the other side to the duck boards which cross the marshy ground at the end of the lake before catching the launch back from Lodore to Keswick.  I pondered about stitching an actual map, but the scale was all wrong, or embroidering the route…when a comment from Kate Chiconi about inchies made me think, this would work in inchies. So I have stitched nine inchies to represent the different aspects of the walk.

I’ve not made proper inchies before and all the instructions I found were for machine stitching, so I sort of made it up as I went along… Continue reading →

Posted in embroidery, Serendipity, The Travelling Sketchbook | Tagged , , , | 29 Comments

Travelling Sketchbook visits Catbells

Posted on June 8, 2017 by craftycreeky

Over a year ago I happened to read about an international travelling sketchbook that was being organised by Anne Lawson in Australia, I love the idea of a sketchbook travelling around the world with people from lots of different countries and crafts adding something so personal to them so I immediately asked if I could take part.

‘The Sisterhood of the Travelling Sketchbook’ (to give it it’s full title!) has been wending it’s way around the world every since, from Australia, to America and then over to Europe and a couple of weeks ago it landed on my doorstep. It was pretty exciting and awe-inspiring to finally see it for real, I’ll show you when I have finished my entry, this is a half way post!!

I mulled over ideas of what to do for several months, I wanted something to represent the English countryside that I love. At first I wondered abut embroidered flowers, then Yorkshire scenery, but I finally decided on Catbells, as soon as I thought of it I knew it was the right theme for me, it’s a very special place for me and it’s the countryside that I love. Hence you will have seen several embroideries of Catbells over the last few months as I practiced different ideas and techniques.

This was my first attempt, which I was really pleased with.

For this one though I also wanted to include the reflection on Derwentwater, I order a few different shades of organza from Stef Francis, organza is very shiny, which took me a bit to get used to as I’m not really a blingy sort of person, but it does give the light I needed for the lake. Continue reading →

Posted in embroidery, Serendipity | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Monday’s Meander Round the Garden

Posted on June 5, 2017 by craftycreeky

It’s been damp and murky today, so it’s lucky I took advantage of the nice weather yesterday to take some photos! June is a lovely month in a typical English garden with lot of plants coming into flower. There’s roses, peonies, geraniums. geums, day lillies, irises…

I’ve got several peonies around the garden, the common deep majenta one and a white version too, I’ve also got a couple of more unusual ones which are still fairly young but managing a few blooms this year. I was really pleased to see the pink and white frothy one appear as I moved it over winter, they have a reputation of not liking being moved, but I think as long as you keep the soil depth the same, they seem to cope with it. The flowers are stunning for their few days of glory. I only realised last year (when I bought a bunch of peonies) that they also have a beautiful scent. Continue reading →

Posted in Garden, Serendipity | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Stitch-a-long 11

Posted on June 3, 2017 by craftycreeky

Well it’s three weeks since I last posted about my Lattice Flower embroidery. It’s a silk ribbon  embroidery and stumpwork  project designed by Di Van Niekirk. I’ve made good progress this month, albeit over only about three nights maximum. This is where I was three weeks ago, having just finished the delphiniums….

I’m working strictly to the order on my book, otherwise I know I’d do the ones that look easy first and then prevaricate over the difficult ones. The next one to stitch was the irises…

I’ve tried very hard during this project to follow the book, after all I’m trying to learn new techniques and there’s always an ‘easier’ way to do things. This is the first time in this project I’ve not stuck strictly to the  instructions in the book, though I did follow Di Van Niekirk’s instructions..

The book instructs you to use two sheets of dissolvable fabric, I did buy some of this to use, but it did look complicated as you have to ensure that every ribbon stitch is attached to another to secure it in place. I also felt it made quite a bulky flower.

DSC_0002

When I googled how to make an iris in ribbon embroidery I found a U tube video by Di van Nie Kirk showing three different ways to stitch an iris, I decided to do number three, the more complex of the three.

My first task though was to dye some ribbon. I’ve got some lengths of plain ribbon and lots of silk paint, so I chose a yellow, tested it on a bit of kitchen roll and then dunked the ribbon in it. The official line is ‘It’s come out just like my flag irises in the garden’,  the unofficial line is ‘It’s a bit bright, but I’m sure it will settle down!’

DSC_0002

The method I chose mainly uses detached chain stitch and ribbon stitch, I’m pretty pleased with the result. It was interesting to watch Di doing ribbon stitch, the way she almost strokes the ribbon into position first. The ribbon doesn’t fully cover the background picture, but I can always arrange it just before I get it framed.

DSC_0003

The stalks are made by binding cake decorating wire with embroidery thread. The wire is poked through the fabric at the bottom end, bound with thread and then overcast at the top.  As there are quite a few stems it does make for a bulky point, I accidentally missed one off, but when I realised, I decided it wouldn’t be missed and it helped to reduce the bulk a bit.

The leaves are supposed to be in an organza ribbon, I decided to use  silk ribbon, partly because I had some in stock and I find it easier to use, but also because I think iris leaves are quite fleshy and strappy.

DSC_0004

The flowers at the base are meant to be rock roses and forget-me-nots. The pink roses are made with a spider’s web rose stitch, this one I’ve done quite a few times through Marilyn Pipes workshops at Denman College, so I’m happy with these. The lavender roses are made using a French knot rose, which is basically like a French knot, but you gather up a length of ribbon too. These came out prettily enough, but very small. I don’t see how with 4mm ribbon you can get it any bigger. In the end I stitched three instead of two and added a few French knots.

So in three weeks I’ve managed to complete a whole panel.  I’m very pleased with the whole effect of this embroidery. The next panel is one of my  favourites, though it’s a lot of embroidery, hopefully in three weeks time I’ll have made some progress.

DSC_0005

The Stitch-a-long is organised by Avis of Stitching by the Sea, if you fancy joinng us, please contact Avis for details. There’s quite a few of us taking part now, all doing something different at our own speed. Please follow the lonks and see what everyone else is stitching. Everyone is one different time scales, so if therte’s nothing there, just pop back a bit later.

Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Catherine, Wendy, Mary Margaret, Timothy

DSC_0006 (2)

Posted in Serendipity, Stitch-a-long | Tagged , | 24 Comments

A Weaver’s Poem

Posted on May 31, 2017 by craftycreeky

When I first started The Crafty Creek I used to have a Poem of the Month, choosing one of my favourite poems. After a year or so I decided it had run it’s course, but today I came across a poem I thought some of you would like. It was written about 600 years ago by Kabir, ‘the Mystic Poet’

I think it’s beautiful and I now have ideas buzzing round my head for an embroidery…

The Weaver

How many know of the weaver?

Who spreads his warp

From earth to sky.

The two beams of his loom

The sun and the moon.

Two shuttles filled with

A thousand threads

Spread lengthwise.

Watch him as he weaves,

Karma with Karma

Woven with unwoven threads

How well this weaver weaves.

I discovered it in a fascinating article on the Textile Artist website. Bren Boardman describes how he uses sketchbooks as a way of developing his ideas. Sketchbooks are something Embroiderers Guild are keen for us to use but it’s a very new concept to me and as yet I haven’t really had the time to start one. If you follow the link you’ll see how the poem inspired him to produce a stunning piece of textile art.

It reminds me of the Carol King song, ‘Tapestry’, that’s another one I’ve always wanted to embroider in some way…

Posted in Poem of the month, Serendipity | Tagged | 4 Comments

Monday’s Meander Round the Garden

Posted on May 29, 2017 by craftycreeky

Well it’s been a pretty typical Bank Holiday weekend weather-wise, we’ve had some lovely sunny spells but this was the view from upstairs on Saturday! The noise in the conservatory of the rain beating down was quite deafening! Today it’s just damp and murky!

I managed quite a few hours in the garden this week, trying to clear the AA garden. On Tuesday when all the news came through about the horrific attack in Manchester my OH was working from home. He likes having 24 hour news on at such times but I find it hard to cope with, by mid morning I needed some fresh air, to clear my head and remind myself that we do live on a beautiful planet. I went into the garden, whilst I was digging a little wren came and sat on the top of the obelisk, just a few feet from me, and sang his little heart out for about five minutes. It was just what I needed, I stood and just listened to his beautiful song until he chose to perch elsewhere.

The early summer flowers are just starting to bloom, we have a rose called Teasing Georgia climbing over the arch, the first flowers have just come out, they are a lovely soft yellow with a gorgeous scent.

Isn’t this iris stunning!! I bought it last year at Thornton Hall gardens, the flowers are seriously big and absolutely gorgeous, a real velvety deep purple. They are about the size of my hand!  I just love it.

I’ve some little blue irises in the AA garden too, once they’ve finished flowering I need to try and move them as they are being swallowed up by the beech hedge and as I’m reorganising the whole area, now is the time to move plants.

The rhododendron by the pond has just come into flower too, this shrub fascinates me as the young blooms are such a different shade to the fully open flower. I’m wondering about planting a few more rhodies along the back fence as a natural weed control, as apparently other plants struggle to grow under them as the dead leaves give off a toxin.

Last year I moved a couple of clematis, they were just young ones in the AA garden. They’ve just come into flower and the blooms are those lovely big ones. When nextdoor finally get the dividing fence up I’m planning to plant lots of clematis.

The pond area is still my favourite part of the garden at the moment, the plants just seem to be working really well together. I noticed the other morning that when approached from the back gate the colours are amazing, there’s the different variegated hostas which are looking huge and luscious, the creamy variegation of the tall spiky iris leaves, together with the bright yellow of the flag iris flowers…Sometimes in the garden it all comes together 🙂

 

Posted in Garden, Serendipity | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Coney Lane

Posted on May 28, 2017 by craftycreeky

I’ve been working on my Down the Rabbit Hole quilt this week and I’m making good progress!

My main task is to applique all the leaves on my flowers. Sarah (the designer) has 52 leaves on hers!! I think I must have spaced mine a bit more as I’ve got 38. I might add a few extra afterwards.

It took me a couple of evenings to cut out all the leaves and finger-press the edges under. I love Sarah Fielkes suggestion of using an acid-free silver gel pen to draw round the leaf shape. It shows up whether the fabric is dark or light, it won’t damage the fabric and it washes out afterwards! It gives a very easy stitching line to follow.

My first plan was to just use two or three darker fabrics for the leaves, however I cut a couple of lighter, softer greens to try and I liked the effect. In the end I used about ten different green fabrics, so about four from each one.

I have found it difficult to gauge how much smaller they would look once stitched. It looked pretty full when I was arranging them all but now I’ve started stitching them they look so much smaller! Maybe I’ll add a few more at the end.

This is my first real try at needle-turn applique and I can see the improvement already. I’ve stitched about a dozen on so far and the last few I suddenly cracked it, just how small an area you turn under at anyone time and how to use your needle and thumb nail to turn it. This was one of the reasons for doing this quilt-a-long, to learn how to applique properly, so I’m well chuffed so far!

In between stitching the leaves I’ve also started the next border. I love this border, it’s a row of cottages, I’m calling mine Coney Lane after the old word for rabbits. There are forty cottages altogether, ten different designs down each side, so I’ve to make four of each cottage. I spent quite a while ‘auditioning’ fabrics for Coney Lane. To start with I picked out different shades of purples for the cottage with greens, greys and browns for the roofs. It looked a bit too much and having looked at all the photos on the facebook page I decided I liked the continuity of having the roofs in the same colour. I chose a soft blue/green plainish cotton. I’ve still one more border to put round the centre and I still haven’t decided what to use for that, but obviously it will affect the cottages. I think it will be one of the darker fabrics in either purple or green, so I changed a few of the cottage fabrics so they are more lighter shades and a few greens as well. I had two choices for the background, this one is actually the one I originally bought for the border, then I got cold feet thinking it looked like fish bones!!! I debated on one I’ve got in similar colours but more floral, however I decided to stick with my original choice, they are trees on a misty hillside!

I made my first cottages last night. The roofs are paper pieced and the cottage is stitched in strips. The windows are tiny, 1″ square, my time with the tiny pieces of the Splendid Sampler quilt came in useful here, I drowned everything in Best Press! I love these little cottages, looking forward to making the other thirty-six!

I’m linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday and Confessions of a fabric Addict for ‘Can I have a Whoop Whoop‘ why not follow the links and see what every one else has been stitching.

 

Posted in Down The Rabbit Hole, Quilting, Serendipity | Tagged , , | 11 Comments