Happy Valentines Day

I've been working on some heart applique blocks...and today seems a great day to post a photo. You can see that I have a few to get done...so no chocolate for me today! I have to finish stitching these down to their background squares...and them trim up to size.

 I use the "freezer paper" method...it is what I stated with and for simple shapes like this heart...the one I gravitate to for the best results.

Wine Round Robin Begins for Darlene

 

Just getting started on my work for Darlene in the CQI Round Robin "Wine". Isn't this a really pretty block to work on! The colors are not as in the photo...the "blue" is really very dark purple.

 My first element is a bunch of grapes. They are felt circles sewn down with blanket stitch. The little leaves are trimmed from velvet craft leaves, and the little curly vines are DMC Color Infusion memory thread that has been curled around a large needle to make tight little spiral springy vines. I'll be back when I have more done....

Midnight Fantasy Finished for Cathy L.

My portion of the Midnight Fantasy Round Robin block for Cathy L. is finished. I've added some ground cover floral at the "foot" of the large purple flowers...and some ants climbing up a stem. Thanks to Allie A. for "how to" on the ants!

And, because no little girl should go out at midnight without a protector...even a fairy...I've sent her along with her little Teddy. (And, if you want to learn how to do Soft Sculpture Applique, I have a class open now over at Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions).

Here's the entire finished section.It's ready to go into the mail.Also, I would like to add...if you want to participate in some really fun Round Robins, you should go to Yahoo Groups...and check out Crazy Quilting International. A great bunch of ladies!This won't mail out until the end of the month...so I can show it off to friends until then!

I'm dancing in buttons...

 Gorgeous buttons arrived yesterday...and I loaded them on my Etsy Shop this morning. Check these new arrivals out! I have been waiting and waiting to get some of the small cobalt buttons...but they are always out of stock. But, not now...so I have ten to share!

These are the new designs..and the glass is so carved it is just stupendous...love the aurora borealis colors!

And, check out these gorgeous flowers. Each petal is etched in the glass and a tinsy tiny little gold stem and trim accent the delicate looking flower. I got them in white/pink, peridot green, and aurora borealis colors...Just gorgeous......but aren't ALL handmade glass buttons that way...gorgeous! I could just sit and stare at them all day long! Beautiful!If have never treated yourself to a Czech Glass Button..really, you should...every woman should own a button this pretty.And, they also make beautiful brooches if you turn them into a cabochon (cut the shank off) and bead the edge. 

Don't know how to convert a button, edge with beads, and create a brooch? Well, I have a class being offered over at Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions...and you can learn. She has all the supplies even...in a handy little kit. So, no need to hunt all over town for cabochons and it also includes one of my Czech Glass Buttons too!

Midnight Fantasy RR - Cathy L.

I'm almost done with my work on Cathy L.'s block in the round robin, Midnight Fantasy. I have a couple of little "surprises" to include...then will be ready to mail it out.Cathy included this guidance in her instructions..."...this block, along with other blocks, will be part of a wall-hanging that will glow in the dark, have leaves to lift, etc...interactive for the grand-kids..."Well, Cathy...I think that this is a great idea! And it takes the block into a whole new realm...away from traditional CQ into the ArtQuilt venue...and I love that!!Hopefully, the grand-children will spend countless hours searching for little hidden treasures all over the wall-hanging...Oh, BTW...isn't the little fairy so beautiful! Cathy stitched that area herself, before sending her block around. Didn't want ya'll to think that I stitched her...even though I'd LOVE to claim such whimsical work! Just so pretty!

Just Could Not Resist...

Found this photo on the web, and could not resist making this sign.I'm going to add it to my sidebar...just to remind me to have some fun!Life is just too short not to enjoy it! You are welcome to grab it too...if you like.Hugs!

Roses, Roses, Roses...is back Home!

And isn't it glorious! I just love all of the beautiful stitching and ribbon work the ladies did! Thank you so very much to Cathy L., Meg W., Rita C., and Ruby R. for their beautiful work. Want to see some close ups? Of course you do!!!

So pretty, tiny little sweetheart ribbon roses, delicate lace trims, silk ribbon roses, and perfect bullion rose cluster. 

What a great idea...cross-stitching some roses on top of the fabric! I'm gonna borrow this idea for sure...cause I have some waste canvas around here somewhere! Ingenious...and beautiful!

Delicate little lace trim, fluttery little butterflies, and one is painted with pink nail polish...which I do myself too! Loved that!

Aren't these just stupendous! I love the ribbon work, and the charms...wonderful!

This large rose just proves that you don't have to shy away from large motifs! Just lovely.

Pretty, pretty little ribbon clusters...like walking along a garden path.

A second little fluttery butterfly, Very unique...made from layers of fabric cut to shape. Hope you enjoyed the eye candy...as much as I am. It's even more glorious first-hand of course...photos just never do our work full justice. I'm a happy, happy girl today...after having received this block back home!

TAST - Week 6 - Chevron Stitch

Another great base stitch. On the bottom, I was wondering how it would look to have one wide stitch and one narrow stitch...but the same height. Looks like chicken scratch!

TAST - Week 5 - Herringbone Stitch

LOVE this stitch, and I use it a lot for base seams. I tried to stitch the top row as a tall stitch and got shorter at the end. I wish that I had made the tall end...much taller...but, hopefully, I'll remember what my thought process was when I look at this again...and won't just think that I was "wonky" when I stitched this!

TAST - Week 4 - Cretan Stitch

I really love the way this stitch looks...but just hate stitching it. I hope that with more practice, I'll begin to enjoy the experience because it is just wonderful on crazy quilt seams! And, I'm having a hard time with this linen, the count is so small that I can not see it well...and am just free-handing the seams. Think I'll be changing to Aida after these pieces of linen are all used up (since I've already cut a couple of dozen rectangles out!).

Quiet...

This has been a quiet blog for a few days...and that's how life is sometimes. My niece has been relocating, setting up house, and just needing extra help with her little ones while all of this was happening. So, Auntie Kathy has been lucky to be snuggling with a little 4 month old for the past few days. DMIL took on the care of the 2 year old. We have both been enjoying every minute! But, little time was left for stitching...or blogging...or much else! Babies take loads of time! Now, the house is quiet again...and I'm trying to catch up!I managed to get up to speed on my TAST weeks...and will post them shortly.And, have started on the Midnight Fantasy Garden...and thought you might to like to see the start.Here is the corner I'm working on...

I like the moon!It's hard to photograph black...but my idea is to have a beaded black seam...in the background. The covered wire will become stems for a group of fantasy flowers...

Here are the leaves that I've been beading on black felt. I tried twice to get a decent photo...so, you'll just have to use your imagination some!

February Funky Chicken

Finished my Funky Chicken block #2...so on track with this Block of the Month series by FatCat Patterns.These are fun...and certainly are Funky! Still need to find some time to blanket stitch the edges...but at least the fusible applique part is done!

CQJP2012 Woot! Woot!

Just have to give a quick shout out for CQJP2012! If you have not yet had time to check out the blog...please do so! Here's the LINK. Tons inspirational photos!...so, bring a cup of tea/coffee when you visit...you might be staying for a while!I love seeing all the different styles of crazy patch work...from all over the world.What fun...makes me just want to stitch something!

Today is Glorious!

First, because I woke up and my back was no longer hurting! Yea!...it's been really bothering me for a few days now, and making it really hard to get anything done.But, look what was in the front flower bed this morning!

Of course, the two above didn't last long...Aidan just can't resist picking flowers. At least, she no longer just pulls the heads off!

More getting ready to bloom...so you know that Mr. Winter is on his way OUT...and Ms. Spring is just around the corner!

Lilac Lady

This design is not new, I've stitched her before. She is one of the charts in my book, Embellishing Crazy Quilts...and is a favorite. This time, she is wearing light purple, lilac dress...with ribbon roses. Her bouquet of flowers is created with chenille thread, simple French knots.

Strange how the background color is different. Both photos were taken with the same camera, and at the same location...only difference was the time of day. The bottom photo is closer to the true background color, of light green.