Flower Fairy Block Finished

For the last several months I've been participating in a round robin at CQ International. This is actually a "DYB", or "Do Your Block", where each person in the RR completes and entire 5" block for the owner, who pieced them. This block is for Ritva in Finland.


There was a printed blue patch under the green on the lower left area. It bothered me and didn't seem to fit, so I covered it with this lovely silk, tacking it here and there to create some texture. I love how the tree seems to nestle in.. The venice lace trimmed with a variegated orange/purple thread sits over and in front of a needlelace trim that I salvaged from a scarf I got earlier this year at an estate sale. The rest of the trim and scarf was shared with the ladies at the CQI retreat in September.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to introduce any pinks into this, but I figured a little bit on the variegated ribbon for the spider web rose was OK. My DH said it looked good, so I was immediately wary. He's an engineer. Enough said.

I've crocheted a lot of these little baskets in my time, but I THINK this one was from a swap. The button in the lower right was painted with alcohol inks by my friend Donna Johnson, who sold a lot of these at the CQ Retreat in Omaha this year.

So, this block will go in the mail tomorrow to The Netherlands, its final stop before going home to Ritva in Finland.

And my giftie for National Tie One On Day is baked.

This is a loaf of whole wheat bread, posing (see, it's smiling!) on a vintage tea towel. I've also got an apron for Lisa Sue - it's one I made last year from vintage and modern fabric (didn't sell in last year's boutique, and it fits her personality. It's the one on the left.

That's it for now! I hope to get in one more post before Thanksgiving. More bread to bake tomorrow (for us for the holiday weekend), some email to answer, and then back to stitching.

Life is good!