Garden Book Cover

I am doing a fabric book swap. The theme is Spring Flowers. My book is "Gardens at Midnight". I think this might be the cover, except I don't know how to put the title on it. Or does it need a title on the cover? Or is that the fun of being involved in something like this, working in parameters and problem solving?

Garden Book

This is a doodle that I created in a staff meeting. Last week's challenge for Art every Week is to doodle.
Here is the what the doodle inspired in stitch.

Trellis Stitch - Stitch Explorer

February's stitch from Sharon B. is the trellis stitch. I did it square first because I thought it would be easier. Also, the video tutorial did it square, which made it easier to follow. I started it earlier tonight while I sat in my car waiting for my son at soccer practice. After I did it square, I wanted to try circular. The first one is small but very messy. I switched threads and did the green one and it turned out a little more even. I am not sure if it was that I am getting the hang of it or if the thread made a difference!

Chicken Scratch Embroidery

I am TRYING to keep up with Sharon Boggins' Stitch Explorer 2009. This is my second playtime using this month's (actually now last month's) stitch, chicken scratch. I really do like it. It looks a lot better in person, as there is a variety of textures. I painted the fabric with Stewart Gill paints, and then bonded the fabric to deco bond, so that I wouldn't need to hoop it. I used gold tape for the double crosses, wool tapestry yarn for the running stitches and Carron's Watercolor cotton threads for the woven parts. I am doing a Spring flower swap at the end of the month and am trying to figure out how to incorporate this into it. I am thinking this might end up being a fence??? I hate that it will end up in the giant piles of fabric samples that sits in the every corner of my studio.

Paper Casting

I have been wanting to try paper casting for awhile. Michael's sells a kit but it is kind of pricey at $60+. For my birthday a few weeks ago, my sweet hubby bought me the kit and a book on paper casting. Here are a few of my first attempts. I love them. I still need to wait unitl they dry before paining them or trying to add them to other pieces.

Thead Painting Class Coming Up

This month in my art quilting class I am teaching "Thread Painting". This is my class sample. It is not my design but came from Elly Sienkiewicz's classic applique book, Spoken Without a Word. Thread painting is a form of free-motion machine embroidery. If you have any interest in the class you can call Tiny Stitches at 770-565-1113 or email me at sharonahmed2000@yahoo.com.