Teaching Kids

On Wednesday evening I had a chance to teach some kids to stitch a simple project. I decided felt "pillows" would be simple, and possible. I had the kids draw the shape they wanted on a piece of paper the size of the finished project. Most of the kids used all the paper, a couple were quite a bit smaller. (We had 7 kids and 3 teachers.) I gave suggestions as to shapes, and showed a heart. We ended up with 4 hearts, a butterfly, a shark, and a cross. (Of course I did not have my camera with me, and by the time I got my hands on it, the kids were gone.)



We cut out the paper pattern, and used it to cut out the felt. We learned how to pull thread from a skein (craft thread) and make a knot. The most difficult part was threading the needle. I don't think I've ever threaded as many needles in one night before.

The stitching was challenging as well, but everyone got it. It was a good choice for thread on this count, because I only had 2 or 3 tangles/knots to undo. Then we stuffed our pillows and finished the stitching. (That was fun.)

I was worried that there would not be enough to do. The green/orange heart only took me 5 minutes, so I prepared a little example of other stitches they could learn.



I didn't need to worry. We did (mostly) finish. One or two kids took baggies home with the supplies. But we were the last group to finish and go out for snacks. I do think everyone had fun, though.

Weaving SAL

This week I finished a temari SAL (Stitch-Along) lead by Joan on the Talk Temari Yahoo group. Her instructions were wonderful, and I was very pleased with the outcome. There are four different weaving patterns, and her suggestion was to do each one twice. I'm not big on doing things twice, so I decided to use two colors; I only had to do each type of weave once in each color. (It makes me feel better, at least.)



Side one above, and side two below. The weaving was a lot of fun and hopefully something I will do again. Three of the weaving patterns give you hexagon spaces, while the fourth is the weave used on cane chair seats, and gives you an octagon space.



The simple band covers a multitude of sins!

Thank you Joan!

Spring Flower GITS

This GITS exchange has taken the longest of any I've been in so far, but I received my new temari in the mail yesterday, and it is beautiful.

This is the ball I sent to Jean in Canada. I had this with me on vacation in April, so you can see that it has been a while. It took me some time after vacation to get organized and send this out. It represents spring narcissus against the backdrop of the winter soil. Daffodils are always a sure sign to me that spring has arrived.



Here are three pictures of the ball I received yesterday from Jean. It is beautiful, and is the first one I've ever received with a tassel. That adds such a sense of elegance!

This side shows forsythia and apple blossoms.



This side shows three kikus in spring colors.



This third side shows tulips!



Thank you so much for such a lovely spring-time temari Jean!

New Camera!

I got a new camera last night, a Canon, and I tried it out this morning. Here's a row of my thimbles. I think this is going to work! I replaced a couple of the worst pictures in my earlier posts.



I took another picture of my small purse from Contemporary Embroidery, and I decided to post it here, because the picture is good enough so you can see the stitches. There are little tiny spider web flowers (see how to make the stitch here) and french knots, all on a yummy silk background.



DH was talking on the phone with a friend the other day, and made a comment that warms me all over. He said "It's because I married right. You know the old saying 'Happy wife, happy life.'" I'm not exactly sure what they were talking about, but I am happy, and the foundation for that is him and our relationship.

To DH: I'm glad to have had a part in making your life happy!

Cutest Grandkids in the World!

What's a grandma to do when these two cuties ask for a picture? Take it, of course and show it off to the world.

I can't believe how big these guys are getting. I can hardly pick P up at all, and I have to be careful with C, to not hurt my back. They both still like to sit in my chair with me when I'm doing something interesting, so I do get my cuddles.

C has decided that all her Webkinz need to be dressed.

I am very pleased and proud to be able to tell you that I passed my Japanese Temari Association level 1 and level 2 certification.

This is a scan of the translation of the Level 1 application. It feels quite strange to see the Japanese characters, but cool at the same time. After you are accepted at level 2, it takes a couple of years of practice to get ready for level 3. For these two levels, you only had to send pictures to Japan, for the next 2 levels you have to send the actual temari. After I had turned in my applications, I was ready to not look at a temari for a while, but I'm enjoying working on them again, and can face the prospect of 3 to 5 years of practice with interest. I think I'm addicted.

Some shopping and some stitching

Earlier I saw a couple of stitched fabric purses on Contemporary Embroidery's Etsy shop, and one of them made my heart go pitty-pat, so I went for it. Isn't this beautiful?



The fabric is silk (!) and the flowers are made up of French knots. It is very beautiful, but I'm not sure I am going to use it because I'm afraid of spoiling it. If I put coins in it, the inside will get very dirty, and I don't want that to happen, but I would love to have it with me all the time. We shall see what happens.

After I finished my last temari I picked up the thimble I had been stitching on, and finished that too. The base is from Chloe Patricia, and it will be a pin-cushion, when I find the small pre-finished cushion that came with the kit. I like the colors and the way it turned out.



I need to get back into making these, it is so satisfying to finish something so beautiful in just a little bit of time.

I Finished!

I took the last stitches in this one on Friday evening, and scared my family by breaking into a happy dance. They looked at me like I was nuts, but I couldn't help it, it turned out so beautiful. I couldn't see how beautiful it was going to be until I took the last stitch, and then I amazed myself. The picture, of course (even if it were a good one) doesn't show the beauty.



I enjoyed this one so much, that I'm planning another 482 facet temari, that reminds me of Queen Anne's Lace. I've been looking at that pattern (in Temari for 4 Seasons) since I got the book (which was my first Japanese book) and now I've advanced enough in making temaris that I know I can do it.

On Saturday I walked in the Hunger Walk, benefiting the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and our church pantry. We had 44 people in our walking group! You can see what a lovely day we had, just a little too warm, but since thunderstorms had passed in the night, we were grateful for the weather we got. (I'm the one with the floppy hat.)



Here's most of our group at the finish line. I've dithered the picture a little bit on purpose.



I was amazed that I was even able run errands with DH during the afternoon (after spending some time on the sofa, recuperating) and I'm only having intermittent soreness, nothing incapacitating. I did a 5K walk when I was in my teens for a Girl Guide (Girl Scout) badge, and it took us only about 5 to 10 minutes longer this time. I was quite pleased. Our pantry will get a nice benefit as well.