Monday, December 2, 2013

It is summer in the winter!

A Challenging Year

I've finished the fourth Tiny World Pincushion in my series of the Four Seasons. I found these cute little creamy coloured Wedgewood cups at the thrift shop and decided to make four identical houses but each would illustrate a different season. I drew my inspiration from my quilt A Challenging Year which is a year in the life of a cherry tree.


Here is the fourth and final teacup, Summer! A friend suggested that the little shrubs should be trees. Upon reflection I agreed with her since they were intended to be cherry trees. So all four now have tree trunks!

Summer
 
 
I used a variety of red beads for the cherries!
 

Summer close-up

Here are the four seasons together.


Close-ups of the other three seasons for your viewing pleasure!

Autumn close-up (before the trunk was added to the cherry tree)

Winter close-up (before the trunk was added to the cherry tree)

Summer (before the trunk was added to the cherry tree)

This is the cherry tree through the seasons in A Challenging Year.





The Tiny World Pincushions were made from a pattern by Mimi Kirchner. The instructions tell you all you need to make your own unique creations. You can see Mimi's latest pincushions including a castle here!

Now I've got a craving for cherries so hurry up summer! Until I post again, happy sewing!

10 comments:

  1. They are ever so cute. The previous shrubs do look much better now that they are trees. As for A Challenging Year, gosh it is absolutely stunning The details are just amazing.

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    1. Thanks Paula! I do like shrubs but as my critic pointed out to me, cherries don't grown on shrubs! I think I am happier with the trees. But the trees are not permanently attached so I can do some landscaping and if I want to add a shrub at a later date I can do that! I'll just make one and stick in in there!

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  2. You are so creative :)

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  3. They look awesome, Karen, and I love the quilt too! I also have a thing for cherries (and strawberries). The mix of beads on the tree looks great. Success all around!

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    1. Thanks Monica! I thought the mixed beads would make a little change from French knots plus they add a little shine just like real cherries!

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  4. The tea cups all together, look so pretty!
    I love your quilt especially, I was zooming in to look at your french knots! mine are getting better now and less like birds nests :-D

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    1. Thanks Kath. I am pleased with how the Four Season turned out. It was a good exercise to start with the same house and vessel and then see what happens when the "world" changes or the details. Very much like a quilt block in a scrap quilt. Depending on where you place the lights and darks or the colours you use, you can change the look of the block or in this case the pincushion! Keep practicing your French knots because they do get better with practice!

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  5. Those are so darn cute, love them. Thanks for sharing oh and I love the quilt too.
    smjohns63 at yahoo dot com

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    1. Thanks Shawn! The quilt came first and then it inspired the teacups! I guess that means we don't have to look too far to find inspiration for new projects!

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  6. Oooh, I love these pincushions so much! They could go down as apple trees as well by the way ;) So adorable!

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