Crazy Kites

Doesn't this look like fractured glass!

It's the "crazy" version of my new pattern Crazy Kites. The design is available as a traditional quilt AND crazy quilt...in the same pattern. Just hop on over to Shawkl.net to get the download pdf pattern today!

I'm thinking that this would be a great pattern to do totally SCRAPPY as well...since there could be over 200 patches of unique fabrics that way. So, going to being making "kite blocks" with scraps as I get them (yes, I already have tons...but you know how they multiply!)...and when there are enough blocks...BOOM, I'll assemble as a crazy quilt. That gives me loads of new blocks to embellish as well! With the new book launching in a few weeks...that will be super convenient for new seams!

Blocks in this pattern are suitable for paper piecing as well...super fast!

Bunny Block

This block was both fun and stressful to do. Why do we always worry over what our peers think? It's a social thing I suppose...but it makes me sometime second guess if I like or dislike an aspect of my work. However, after a smidge of time living with this completed block...I have to say that I'm pretty happy with it now.  

 

So much so, that it is framed and sits in my entry way. (There is no room on the wall for hanging...but I like that it sits on the hutch along with framed photos of my grand-parents, parents, children, and grand-children. A place of honor in my home.

 

   Thought you might like some closeups...here is the central part...my dimensional Bunny. When Pam sent me an email asking if I'd like to contribute a block...she specifically asked if I would do a dimensional bunny...knowing that I contributed a mini-lesson in this technique to Pat Winters magazine before. I was honored and readily agreed. Of course, then I freaked out! Ha! He sits amongst some tiny French Knot flowers made with 2mm silk ribbon. The larger flowers at his base are porcelain teensy beads and 7mm SRE French Knots. The little bunny tail is a rick-rack rose.  

  This blue flower is from an embroidery design found on Mary Corbet's site. I had done this in acrylic bell flowers once before and liked them so much...but thought that ribbon was a better choice for this block. And as a nod to tradition CQ work; I added a wee little spider and web.  

These ants are a very favorite little group of critters that I enjoy adding to many blocks. The idea is not mine, they are inspired by the blog header on Allie's site. I do  mine in different beads, but the original "genus" idea is all her's. Thanks Allie!

This little hedgehog is all bullion stitch on a bed of felt. A simple child's coloring book shape was reduced to about 1.25 inches wide...and covered in embroidery. He is not hard to do at all...just begin at the rear with bullions...and continue to full until you reach the front. Add a seed bead for the eye and he is done. The thread is a variegated brown/black. He travels through a flower bed of irises. The little rose cabochon was beaded by me...and gifted by Maureen Greeson. Thanks again Maureen, isn't it just right at home here?!  

Here is another spring garden bed...with tulips. When I think of spring...flowers are the first thing to come to mind. I wanted to include many in this block...without them being the main focus. Hopefully that has been achieved.  

Lastly, my most favorite part of the block. The basket of flowers. I began with the basket shape from a photo of a basket. The flowers are perle cotton french knots (Seam #12 in my book) and the roses are made in 2mm gold silk ribbon. The leaves are 4mm silk ribbon, and the bow is 7mm. I just love that this really looks like a basket...so will call it a success! So, there are the closeups...hope you enjoyed the block as near as I could get you! Can't wait to get my calendar...and see all of the work by the other ladies too!

Butterflies & Dragonflies Begins

Got my block pieced today for the CQI Round Robin "Butterflies and Dragonflies" which mails out on March 15th. I love pastels!

Some Effort...but Not Enough

Have you started a project...and just totally lost interest in it? At present that has happened to me regarding this CQ project.

It was started as part of a challenge on HGTV Message Board, but my "muse" decided right smack in the middle of creating it...that she didn't want to work on it. And I just have not found my "mojo" yet to complete it.

So, for now at least...it is another UnFinished Object in my craft room. I'm in the middle of stitching the French Knots for the cattails...hopefully, it will not remain un-attended for too long. 

What do you do when your muse leaves in the middle of a project?

Beaded Seams

Here are a few beaded seams finished recently...eye candy anyone?

They aren't completely finished...but close!

Melissa's Hearts and Flowers Block

Here's a crazy quilt block I'm beginning to stitch on for a cyber pal, Melissa. She pieced the block...and swapped with me. We are both going to keep the theme "flowers and hearts" in mind as we embellish each block. Oh, and you might want to check out Melissa's blog "Honey Bee's Bliss" as she is a whiz at silk ribbon...and I love looking at all her eye candy on her site!

This will be mailed by mid February...so, I thought I had better get started. My first thought was to do some seams, but then I had a second thought that the block was so small...about 9 inches...and I might stitch myself into a fix if I didn't figure out what motifs I might want to add. Embroidery is the first medium that jumps into my mind...so off I went to hunt some designs.

The first was easy, a simple monogrammed "M"...for Melissa of course! And this one was so fast to stitch, I just couched some 7mm silk ribbon down with silk thread in a matching color. Add a rose and some French Knots...done! Yeah!!

 The next motif was a bow with hearts...and I'm working on that so will have some photos later this week I think of a finished product. I don't remember where I got this little heart from...but most likely it was the Flickr Pool I belong to called Hoop Love Vintage Transfers. Check them out! They have some great embroidery motifs you can use on your own projects...and contribute some to the pool too!

 That one's a little hard to make out...perhaps this last one will be better. By the way, these were printed and then I traced the image on to tissue paper...so any errors are my own poor tracing skills...not the creator of the design. LOL! This last little flower is from a design of Hanging Flowers that Mary of NeedlenThread posted. If you have not checked out her site...you are missing a wealth of embroidery knowledge! It is my very favorite site to visit!

So, I'm off to stitch some more!

Christmas in July...start early!

A couple of years ago...perhaps even three...I designed a couple of shadow applique quilts for teaching; and I still use them in my college classes. One was a Christmas quilt filled with lot's of holiday memories...and when I brought it to the HGTV Message Board Group...I called it Christmas in July. I think that's the month we started the quilt process. It is still in the same state as this photo shows...still needs an outside border!

 

Oh, I have the borders...all cut out and in the basket with the quilt center...attaching them is just way down on my priority list. The second quilt I mentioned...Bunny in the Pink...is a complete top...and has been basted together...and I will be hand quilting it. So, Christmas will wait.

But, no need for anyone else to have to wait...so, if you'd like to create the quilt...it will be in the files section of the Yahoo Group site. Shawkl_Blog_Files

Basic Start Block Continued

I posted this basic block with seams on Wednesday. Here is the rest of the work...ready to mail it out tomorrow. After the basic embroidery combination seams...beads were added to enhance the seams.

 Next, the silk ribbon flowers and butterflies were added; as was the embroidery vines and leaves.

 And, if you want to see details...here are close-ups of the Silk Ribbon Embroidery areas.

And lastly...the charms and beaded butterflies were added to fill in some more space. All done!

More PinCushions!

I've been busy working on some crazy quilt round robin blocks, and having a ton of fun! But, I can't show those since only small "peeks" are allowed. So, I'll show you some shots of three more pin cushions I've been working on. These are already mailed and received...so no secrets here. I cut the tops of the photos...haven't done that in a long while...so the shots are not complete. Instead, they are mostly of the stitches enlarged. But, sometimes, that's better I think...you can see how to complete them and I hope you try them out. Enjoy!

It's the Simple Things

Today, I figured out how to do a very simple thing on a crazy quilt project I'm working on. And, it just made my entire day go so much better! Now, I'm sure there are millions of women who would have concluded this long before I finally got around to it...but, that doesn't make it any less sweet that I have finally accomplished it!

I've really be stumbling along trying to figure out how in the world to transfer a design...easily...to a CQ block if I couldn't iron on it. I can't claim to have even thought this up myself...as one of my wonderful cyber buddies beat me to it...but, that doesn't bother me one bit.

Here it is...tissue paper! Yep, plain ole...get a pack for a buck at the Dollar Tree store...ordinary tissue paper! I traced a tree from a book (Crazy Quilting by Christine Dabbs) and then pinned it to my CQ block. I did a simple straight stitch (cause that's what I know)...to complete the outline of the trunk and limbs. Now, I could go back and fill in this space; but, I'm happy with it now. Then I did simple lazy daisys for the leaves (did I mention 'beginner') :)

For the flowers, I used tiny spacer beads with a tinsy little #15 seed bead (rocailles) in the center to hold the spacer down. Viola!! A masterpiece....well, at least Me and my Mom love it!

Crazy Quilt Art Block

Well, since I've already admitted that I don't know how to do Crazy Quilt seams...but am trying...I will show you my crazy quilt art block, contributed to a dear cyber friend in a block swap.

You will note that it does not have any finished seams...that's because I didn't know how to do them. So glad that my friend gave me complete license to use my imagination and create this fairy wonder world. Very few embroidery stitches were used, and all are very basic...french knot, straight, daisy, and fishbone. I did simple spider-web roses and iris in silk ribbon (really, you don't get any easier than these).

I was very happy with the composition and the theme carries well, I think. Especially for my very first full-size (12 inches) crazy quilt block. My friend seems happy to be the owner now...and that is all I was hoping for.