WIP Wednesday at TN&TN

I'm really enjoying The Needle & Thread Network!  We have Canadian quilters, fibre artists, knitters, embroiderers, rug hookers, felters.  Weavers are welcome too!  We do "WIP Wednesday" to link up work in progress.  We have "Feature Fridays" if you want to have your moment of fame showing off your blog.  And now we have a "Canadian Call for Entries" page as well.  I love the way it's growing!

I'm linking up my work in progress.  I have seven little Prairie Rugs done and the edges steam-pressed back.  Now I need to stitch the back edges down and figure out how the heck to present these.  Mount them?  Wood... fabric... What color?  Hmmm... I'll have to think about this.  These are all very precious to me so I want them to be displayed well.

Prairie Rug #1

Prairie Rug #2

Prairie Rug #3

Prairie Rug #4

Prairie Rug #5  (my favorite fall colors)

Prairie Rug # 6 (my other favorite)

Prairie Rug #7

Do recognize that last one?  It's inspired by the photo I took on Christmas Morning.  I did it from memory - but I got it pretty good hey?  lol  I've stared at that sky photo for HOURS.  I had better remember it!  : )

Christmas Morning 2011 photo by Monika Kinner-Whalen

See you!

Postcards & a BIG Thank You!

I really need to thank all the amazing people who have been getting involved with The Needle & Thread Network.  Not sure what that is?  The link is HERE.  I started it in the fall.  It's an open link-up blog specifically for creative Canadian stitchers & fibre artists.  I love to see what everyone is working on each Wednesday.  I love to blog hop and meet like minded neighbors.  We have about twenty regular women posting weekly and nearly 80 people signed up as followers.  When I feel like that number is low still, I am reminded that Canada is only one-tenth the population of the United States... and then I think, "Wow!  What a big group we are!".  I can find a handful of American link up parties like this, but finding the Canucks is like finding a needle in a shag carpet.  lol.  So for this group, I am so very thankful!  If you are interested, please sign on as a follower.  Once we hit 100 followers, we will start a 'feature Friday' where you get to know these creative souls a little better and take a good look at their best creations or online products & art for sale.  Please note - this group is open to embroiderers, weavers, fabric & quilt designers, fibre artists, crochet & knitters...  anything related to fiber including home sewing and garments.  If you have a favorite Canadian blog that fits this description, please pass this info on to them!  ; )

And now, for some Friday Finishes!  Well - I signed up for THREE swaps.  (WHY MONIKA!?  WHY!?).  lol  I couldn't resist.  For one swap, I have to make three 'Self Portraits'.  They are nearly finished.  For the other, I have to make 'Year of the Dragon' themed cards... nearly finished.  The third swap is for 'Embellished Owls'.  I didn't think I would join this last one, but then I started staring at this fabric.  I think it came to me from a swap via the mail.  I'm not sure!

I have never used those self-threading needles before.  I change thread colors A LOT in my work, and I must say that I absolutely love these!  'POP' and it's threaded.

I stared at the fabric for a while, and then after nearly three hours of sewing, I did this!

It's all by hand with two strands of embroidery floss, and ooooh it's so cute!  It's so cute!

I did the borders with a decorative stitch, and then narrow satin stitch on the machine.  There was the before & after shot.  It turned out so lovely, and I adore the colors!!

sweet!

The question is, "Whoooooooo's going to get it in the mail?"  ; )

Works in Progress Wednesday @ TN&TN

I'm working!  I'm working!  I have been doing so much 'paperwork' (ie: computer documents) it's incredible.  I finished my article for A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine.  That's one important deadline completed!  Break out the bubbly!  I filled out application forms and guild membership forms.  I wrote out the tutorial for my guest post at 3CS, which is coming up very soon.  I will blog when it happens so you can go see.  My thing will be threadsketching.  I have yet to add all the photos and maybe a video.  It's a lot of work!  : )

I have my project well under way for the big show!  Flo at Butterfly Quilting was sweet enough to bring me some patterns to pick from.  I found a great one!  Thank you Flo!

paperwork.

I copied out the pieces so I wouldn't wreck hers.  I used gift bag tissue paper.  Why not?  I also had to add over and inch and a half of waist length.  This is a big learning curve folks!  Remember, I can't follow a pattern!

using my window as a light box

That's all I can show you there!  I am documenting it so I can post it all later (when my hands are recovering).  Smart hey!?  I finished this and finally got a half decent photo of it.  That was no easy task.  With all the colors in there and even good day lighting, something kept registering funny and messing up the hues.  So I tried a technique I had heard of before.  I laid a greyscale paper on the side of the piece, lined up the camera, focused, and then removed the grey paper before snapping the shot.  It worked!  Brilliant.

Bloom, complete.  2011

I'm also preparing for the online course Embroidery, Embellish, Create by Karen Ruane in the UK.  I am so excited!  We just got our supply list from her and I'm getting it all together.  It's all white on white embroidery including cutwork and cross stitch...  (yessss).  Can you believe a guild friend of mine here in Saskatoon is signed up too?  We'll have to present our finished projects to the guild for show and tell I think!   Just look what this fabulous woman does!

Karen Ruane's photo of her work, blogged with permission

Her class begins Monday.  My postcards class at Bernie's is set for Sunday, Sept 18th. There are a few spots left if you would like to try your hand at quilted postcards.  Just email me.  mysweetprairie@gmail.com
Speaking of which, look what arrived in my mailbox from PostcardCottage!  Thank you so much Heather P. of Mississauga, Ontario. : )

"My Favorite Place" postcard from Heather P.

No Jesica's Quilt?  No Jesica's Quilt.  I dislike my quilting and am pulling out a lot of stitches.  I will post after I redo it!  :(  Linking to The Needle and Thread Network...  come join if it fits!

LINK HERE

See you tomorrow!
~Monika

Start Your Engines!

I've opened a second blog.  It's not for my art or sewing.  It serves a different purpose.  It's for Canadian needle arts / fibre arts bloggers to be able to network.  I try and I try, but finding other sister-blogs is often like finding a needle in a haystack.  No, really.  I suppose that is the natural result of having only 1/10th the population of the United States.  Going to the store to buy a Canadian magazine is like going on a treasure hunt.  Here in Canada, you'll find shelves upon shelves upon shelves of American publications.  If you want a Canadian magazine, (A Needle Pulling Thread, Quilters' Connections) you need to go to a specialty bookstore even in this, the largest city in our province.  I don't really understand how this came to be.  I want to give my readers this background so that you will understand that I am not trying to be exclusive.  I just want find those 'needles in the haystack'.  And so, The Needle and Thread Network was born.

http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/

Anyone can drop in or follow this blog of course, but I strongly encourage Canadian bloggers to link up on Wednesdays for a WIP (work in progress) blog sharing.  I'm gathering a small group of moderators.  So, sign up!  Sign up!  Please Follow / Join / spread the word.  Once we hit a good number of followers, we'll do a "Friday Feature Artist Blog" post where you can show off your work, your blog, your store, etc.  Sound good?

See you tomorrow, and see you on Wednesday over at TNTN!~

~Monika