#1 RR-Cathy L.

 Got a few hours to work on some more crazy quilt rectangles and finished up Cathy L's heart block. It was fun sorting through all of my beads searching for tiny hearts!

 It's rainy this week, so might not mail back until after Christmas with all of the stuff still left to get done...and the post office is so busy...waiting might be a good thing!

CQJP2012 Deadline Fast Approaching

Just a quick reminder this morning...If you wanted to register for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project this year, and have not done so yet...The deadline for Registration is 27 December.So, hop on over to CQJP website and read all about the challenge,and get your registration information sent in to cqjpchairperson@cqjp.org

CQJP2012 Blocks Started

Yesterday was an interesting day of piecing crazy patch blocks. The final decision on the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012 blocks was to go with the minimum size of 6-inches (so hopefully I'll get them done on time next year)...with everything else I've also signed up for! More on that later!

White is the color of choice...and monocromatic blocks are a real challenge for me...because I dislike them! 

 So, also hopefully...I won't be ready to discard these half-way through the year! 

 Next challenge, I created the muslin backing...and covered that with a white bridal fabric, from an old wedding gown...so that the lace would have a white background.

 The blocks have few seams...but lot's of lace trims to break up the space...so, there's another challenge.

 And, the final challenge is that I'll only be using white to stitch and embellish with...well, white or clear...cause I want to use some AB Crystals too!

No theme, the white is difficult enough!Wish me luck! And you can watch my progress on the blog of course!And, if successful on the CQJP2012 Blog too later on.... And...to answer Mary's comment. No, there is no requirement to do the squares all first then embellish each month. You can piece and embellish as you go if you like. For me, I think I'll come closer to actually finishing if they are all pieced and ready for me to stitch on. And, I'll also be more like to have a project that "works together" if I piece them all at once. So, for me...this way works best! No rules in CQJP...other than the size requirement regarding how you create!

Nine Patched

These are 8-inch blocks...and will be a batik (mostly) wall hanging. The batiks are the same that I used in the 12-inch blocks. The larger blocks will be for the bed-quilt and not have lace or beads. These 8-inch blocks are definitely for lace, ribbon, beads....anything goes. The beautiful little silkies were sent to me by Pat Winter with a note to "play with abandon"...and so I shall!The lace is just pinned on at the moment...but here are photos just the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eleven of the twelve silkies are images best viewed when the blocks are set on point...so, I'm thinking on that. Setting them on point might make the finished quilt too large with the setting triangles in place. I'll have to draw that out and determine my plan for completion before I start stitching.

Sewing Pals

Yesterday was a bit rainy, but I did manage to get my 8-inch crazy quilt blocks completed. I'll show you more of those in the next post. First, I thought I show you my view from the work area...sewing machine, ironing board with fabric strips and iron,...and my Buddy snoozing in the window seat.

Here's a better photo of him. 

 Contentment...except for the fact that he is still not sleeping in his own doggie bed.

Sara has now completely taken that over! And, quite obviously...she is not concerned that Buddy will mount a sneak attack to take it back! 

Buddy has settled into the window seat quite comfortably...I put him an extra blanket there to make it softer. I felt guilty that the puppy pushed him out of his bed. But, he does have it better at night...he gets to sleep at the foot of the bed...and she sleeps in her training pen. Bet he says "Nanna, nanna, boo boo!" right before going to bed at night!

Button Jewelry by Dawn

I was delighted, when Dawn of NorthernAdornments kindly sent me a photo of a pendant she had created using one of the Czech Buttons that she had purchased from my Etsy Shop. It was stunning wrapped in wire...so, I asked if she would mind my sharing her work here on the blog. She said Yes!...and sent me an additional photo of a second button creation too! 

 How nice is that...thanks so much Dawn! Your work is beautiful....and sure to be inspiring to others as well!

Twelve by Twelve

Yesterday was a very productive day. I pieced twelve blocks...twelve by twelve each. Well, at present they are about 13 inches not accounting for the muslin backing, which would make them about 18 inches...but will be trimmed to 12" finished size once stitched.

 Fabrics are some upholstery samples sent to me by Tammy, one of my three secret sisters this year; batiks I purchased while on retreat in November; and floral cottons that I have had for a while and wanted to use in something special.

 I've been wanting a larger CQ project to work on for some time, and this next year...I'll get my wish! This quilt and the Dragonfly Garden quilt will be large enough to make into bedsize quilts with borders if I choose. 

 Today, I'm also going to piece a totally batik set of blocks...I'm thinking 8" size. And I still have to piece my CQJP2012 blocks...which I've decided to make totally in white...and 6". 

 Perhaps this weekend, I can get those done...while my muse is in the machine sewing mode!

Warning: Proud Nana Alert!

Yesterday, I went to Aidan's 2nd Grade Christmas Play...walked 5 blocks to get there because my daughter would not answer her phone...but, that's a different story. These photos are blurry...but I think you'll get the idea anyway. I was sittting in the second row; but was still about 30 feet from the stage...with my cellphone camera! So....considering...they aren't so bad.Can you spot my little brown reindeer?

She is explaining to Santa...who has a broken leg...and was just given some advice from his reindeer friends...and thanked them..."That's what Friends are for!"

If you have any children's plays to attend this year...and have not done so yet. One small piece of advice "Bring Cotton Balls for you Ears!". I'm sure that the teachers advise them to "speak up"....which translated in an 8-year old's mind means: "Talk Really Loudly...directly into the microphone.". I'm not sure why they also talk fast...but most of the time I felt that I was either "twitching" because a child was so loud that I jumped out of my chair...or confused because they mumbled and I had no idea what they just said.

What does translate well...is their obvious pride to be performing...and sheer relief when it's over! Ah....life lessons so early! Here is my precious Aidan...she also got the honor of being the last to speak..."Thank you all for coming to our 2nd grade Christmas Program. Have a Merry Christmas!". Nana was so proud!! And, still is....had to share...blurry photos and all! Merry Christmas to all the Nana's out there....and my condolences to those that are not...cause you are missing one heck of a ride! Hugs!

#1 RR, Arlene

Finished up Arlene's Christmas Block...thought a SRE Christmas Tree was in order. 

 It's already in the mail on it's way back to you Arlene! Ho, Ho, Ho!

A Lovely Surprise

The postman brought me this lovely surprise....all the way from Romania! I found a lovely blog last month, and had to start following it...check it you, you might agree! And, I was the 200th follower...and won a prize. How great is that! I didn't even have to enter to win! Annamaria let me know of my winnings of a hardanger bookmark and sent it off to me right away. It took the postal system over a month to get here...they are really bogged down with Christmas! So, I had totally forgotten about it coming...and was just even more delighted upon it's arrival! She also included two lace hearts...and aren't they wonderful too! I feel like Santa has arrived at my house early!

#1 RR - Jeanne G

Here's the next block completed...if you are following along. This block really spoke to my heart. The piecing is superb and the fabrics included cotton, silk, and upholstery weight cotton. The colors and textures of the fabrics were very pleasing to me. They also made me think of blocks constructed in the late 1800's by ladies whom really brought crazy quilting into the mainstream of stitching. Blocks would have been made of the materials on hand, and would have certainly included some cotton and some "household" fabrics...such as the upholstery...AND would have included any special fabrics that might have been available to the lady of the house. One such fabric was definitely silk. While it was not a common everyday cloth...there are articles of that time that speak to removal of hat linings, coat linings, and such...just to get the silks for the ladies crazy quilts. The plaid and the floral reminded me of everyday dresses. So, this block really spoke to me of that time in crazy quilting...as it was very reminiscent of traditional piecing. So, I decided to keep the stitching very traditional as well. No ribbon work and no beading...as those were not really done traditionally during the late 1800's. Instead, embroidery was the main focus...and some minimal pieces of lace might have been included. So, compared to other blocks...this one might seem a little "sparse". But, if you could really see it up close..and feel the textures...you might agree that the block is quite content with it's personality. 

Hopefully Jeanne G. will also think that it is quite acceptable as a traditional block. But if not, it is after all HER block...she is welcome to add more stuff or adjust as she see's fit. I can only answer for my own muse...and I'd like to have an entire quilt done like this I'm thinking...