msapplique

well, not really sunshine – just a bright sunny yellow. ^_^

i worked really diligently the other day- the last day i had tv, which helped to keep my butt in the chair and needle and thread in my hand – and finished the blossom for the ‘petite’ susan.  i still have the second leaf to do, but thought i’d share anyway – cause it’s a little dark and rainy here today.

obviously that’s not really a ‘petite’ flower!  this is just the 3rd of the 4 ‘abbreviated’ designs i have done – which are the start of a new series called “La Petite Nearly Nouveau”.  Each one will be a single blossom and couple of leaves, minimum.  the hibiscus also has a bud.  i have just gathered the fabrics for the cone flower and the single tiger blossom is also waiting. ^_^  these babies will be totally different from my usual fare – as there will be no framing circle – each rests within an 8″ square.  you can do them as individual ‘mini’ wallhangings – or combine them to create a larger piece – perhaps with some ‘pieced’ blocks in between??  as with all my patterns, my intention is to provide you with something that sparks your imagination. ^_^

the other thing these are ‘for’ – while they are ‘small’, they are not what i would call ‘simple’ or ‘beginner’ – they are just a smaller project, one that should feel a little less daunting, yet still allow for you to stretch a little – i think they might call it ‘growth and development’??? ^_^  well, i like to think so, anyway.

first, will speak of a new idea i just had and have already begun!  i wanted to offer the tiger lily in yellow, but wasn’t too keen on doing  a whole new sample, even if i cheated and just fused it.  then thought, well, maybe just the one blossom??  and that led to – hey, maybe a new ‘mini series’ – as in – some 8″  squares with just one blossom and a couple of leaves?!  so, now have those drawn for the tiger and the susan!!  tried to take pictures – camera battery dead.  rats.  have my eye on the hibiscus as well – then, who knows.  they will be offered as kits only – kind of like the beginning ones.  haven’t yet calculated the price – off top of my head am thinking around $10??  could end up more??  fabric will include enough for binding, so you can actually create a ‘mini’ wallhanging. ^_^  do a few and hang in a group??

so, for the color on this rainy day – thought i’d post a couple of the samples i did using tammy’s hand dyes.  these are available on the webpage for $16.50.  if you love and you already have the pattern – fabric would be $8.50. ^_^

a few days ago, with the urging of my good friend tammy, i finally forced myself to pick up pencil and apply it to paper.  it was scary and i expected the finished design to take several day.  amazingly, the drawing was essentially finished in that first day.  the following day, i finalized, retraced in ink and added numbers.  also chose the other fabrics – that is, other than the flower petal ones.  those had been chosen and dyed by tammy some time ago – the reason she was bugging me. ^_^  i even got the loooong piece of stem made – my way (which you can see in the blog entitled “skinny stems”).  it will be enough for all of the stems – i will just adjust the width as required.  and late that same day, sat down to stitch!!!  didn’t get much done, but was at it the next day – which i am calling “day 1”.

so, here are pictures of the drawing and where i was after ‘day 2’ – am now in ‘day 3’ and moving right along!!

      well, can’t seem to get them separated here – on well, guess you can see well enough.  while i like the fabric i’m using, ‘ok’, i have just ordered something that might look even better??  if i still think so when i see it for real – will have tammy dye it this same color and will use it in the kits.  will also, then, probably sell this one as fat qtrs – for those who prefer it.  i realize you can’t see that fabric much yet – stay tuned. ^_^