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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Wednesday's Wanderings #29 & #30 - Slow Down and Smell the Coffee

Slow down and smell the coffee.


That's what I decided to do this week.
1.  I've made time to meet with some non-quilting friends for coffee. 
2.  I'm trying to learn to like to drink coffee, starting with it in the iced form,
so that I can meet my friends for a cup.
3.  Hand stitching slows me down and lowers my blood pressure.







I have an admission to make.  I often have issues with contrast.  It has happened again with this block.  The choice of the polka dot background, although potentially interesting, detracts from the hand stitching.  It is a lesson that I learn over and over, but I keep experimenting because sometimes  I end up with something fun and exciting. 
So I did take a "mulligan" (as my golfing friend has taught me) and redo this block. 
 
If you'd like to try it, here's the pattern I designed.


10 comments:

  1. I love how this block has turned out. It looks like someone's having a hot cup of coffee or chocolate on a snow day.
    Your hand stitching is gorgeous. I don't think anything can take away from it.

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  2. I just bought your Sew Embellished book and really like your ideas. I am trying to teach myself how to do handstitching. The problem you are having with contrast is a common problem I see with quilters. I have a background as a painter. You work too close. That is, you don't stand away from your work often enough. This is where contrast problems with appear. Put it on a design wall as you work and stand across the room. Your problem will instantly be solved, trust me.

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  3. This is lovely! Thanks for the pattern.

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  4. Love the hand stitching! I also have a bad time with contrast. I have started making myself use the Ruby Beholder before I complete the block, saves me some time!

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  5. I have to be careful of that too, sometimes I think a background would be fun only to find it competes with the design.
    I love hand stitching, but I tend to poke myself constantly, so that irritates me after a while, lol.

    Debbie

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  6. Love your coffee cup design! Hand stitching is a perfect slow down and be thankful activity. Thanks for the reminder to do it more often.
    Martha Ginn
    http://www.marthaginn.blogspot.com

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  7. I love the embroidery, but I learned a long time ago that if I'm putting that much into some hand work, I have to keep the background reading like a solid....though I do love polka dots too! Thanks for the pattern! It's really cute!

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  8. Fun pattern and great resolutions :-)

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  9. Your pattern and hand stitching are terrific, but I agree with you about the value. I have had that happen a lot and now try to put my work on my design wall periodically and step way back.

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  10. Your coffee cup is very cute! Good luck in learning to drink cffee--to me, it's the elixer of life!
    Thanks, also, for the pattern. You are right about handwork being relaxing and good for your soul and blood pressure. And, as a former coffee house owner, I love any coffee patterns!

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