Lace & Pearls -- Nicki

I am the last person in the Round Robin to work on Nicki's block for Lace and Pearls. When it came to me, I felt that it had plenty of pearls...but needed more lace.So, I started by adding a lovely piece received from The Netherlands...a parasol lady.

At the top of this lace, I added a velvet rickrack seam treatment with some pearls and silk threads.Lastly, a lovely lace heart sent to me by Annamaria of Romania...a dear and generous cyber friend. 

Some simple roses were added to the center of the heart, enough to draw some color from other areas of the block, but not too much to over-shadow the lovely lace.Hope you enjoy the photos...and I'm sure Nicki will love all the lace!

Simple is Complex!

I just spent two hours moving my desk (15 minutes), re-routing all of the cords (10 minutes)...and trying to get my large monitor to talk to my laptop and be visible as my main monitor (1 hour and 35 frustrating minutes).
Geez, it should be simple...now, I just want to go take a nap!
But, I have more baby blankets and burping cloths to make...so, will have to settle for a piece of pie and a glass of milk to calm my nerves (and my stomach...which is surviving today on coffee alone so far.)
Technology is wonderful...and horrible at the same time!
My eyes were getting so tired from viewing the laptop monitor that I decided to move my desktop flat-screen monitor over to the desk so I could use it most often. It does help, and that means that I can do more writing as I need to so badly.
Now, to go and move one of the old dinosaur monitors from the garage back upstairs...so the desktop will work. Mostly, we play Clifford the Big Red Dog on it...so that does not need a flat-screen style. With summer on top of us...Aidan will want to do her own "office work". I think I shall teach her to type this summer...ffff jjjj ffff jjjj...wish me luck.
Oh...wait...I want to show you what Aidan has been working on. Let me go get a pic for you...

 Not bad for 8-years old! And, I'm no longer having to stitch the "spokes" for her...she is doing the roses and the leaves ALL BY HERSELF! I'm one proud Nana!
She still has a ways to go on those detached chain stitches...but, I'm happy with her progress so far. :)

Babies, babies, babies!

Both of my nieces are expecting. And, they are sisters...so that's even more fun! The eldest is having a girl...her first after two boys. And the youngest is having a boy...her first child. We have the first baby shower in two weeks...so this weekend, I've been busy! And, still loads to do...but here is the first little dress to get completed, with matching booties. 

 And a fleece blanket with lace trimmed in pink silk ribbon.No time to talk...have to get back at it.

Wine for Meg

Finished up my part of Meg's block in the "Wine" crazy quilt round robin over on Crazy Quilting International this past week, but forgot to post. Life has been nuts!The ladies did a great job of filling up the space, but the center of the block needed a motif and here's my seam work.

 Here is the whole block...as it will get mailed to Meg in the next couple of days.

 

And the winner is.... Val!

Val has won the drawing for the book...Creating Crystal Jewelry with Swarovski by Laura McCabe. I highly recommend it as a good buy for all!Here was Val's comment: "A beaded rivoli a month sounds like fun! The cabochons are lovely. The white with the pearls look bridal, and the purplish-pink is sweet. Oh, a book draw? Please count me in. I love doing these little projects when I have the time and inspiration too."Congrats Val...and thanks to all left comments. Wishing y'all better luck next time!Hugs!

Quick Bead Project...Perfect for Stitchers

A new little beading class will be offered over at Maureens Vintage Acquisitions today...a beaded bookmark. Just click on the Take-it-Anytime button tomorrow and you will find it.

However, it is so much MORE than just that. This technique makes lovely beaded trim...that can be made to an an exact length. I like to use it to cover the rim of band boxes and tins after the top has been done in crazy quilt fashion or embroidery and lace. Or, use it in garment construction too!...as a lovely trim to cufs or pockets!But, it doesn't just stop at trim...it can be a piece of jewelry! Add a clasp to the ends and you have a bracelet...a little longer and you have a necklace.Attaching a charm to one end and grosgrain ribbon to the other makes a bookmark. These are super gifts for teachers...and it only takes about two hours (or less) to complete the project...so several can be made!Hope you will consider taking the class...it is VERY reasonably priced...and available any time.I'm always here to answer any questions...but have also spend hours drawing the charts and creating the narrative to explain just how to make the bookmark...so you would be fine just on your own as well I'm sure!

CQ Block for Pat

This is a round robin block for a swap over on HGTV Message Board. I'm thinking of changing out one of the ribbons...because it seems too dark in the photo. Camera shots have a way of showing you things that just are not so clear when you are looking right at an object.The swap is a set of 6-inch blocks...with each person doing one block. So, this block will travel to the next person in the group...and she will add her own block to the set...before sending them on to the next person.If you want to create crazy quilt blocks...jump into a "newbie" or "beginner" swap...the best place for that is over at Yahoo Groups...Crazy Quilting International...in my humble opinion. CQ for Newbies is another great group to consider too! I belong to both...and many more.

Black Beauty

Here ya go Ms Eileene...a black oval cabochon turned into a beautiful ring...you should be all set when rings GF! Ya'll don't miss out on the current give-a-way...so read the last post!

BJP2012 Change Up

I'm in love with beading rivoli's now! Thanks Eileene!And, I've decided to change my idea for the Beaded Journal Project this year to a beaded rivoli project each month...since I have four rings done. Aidan loves hers...and I talked about that yesterday... and these three are going to be in the mail to my pal soon. 

 And as a treat for all of you too...I'll be drawing to give away a copy of Laura McCabe's book that was mentioned yesterday...compliments of Ms. Eileene!

 so just leave a comment and tell me what your favorite type of bead is. I have to be able to contact the winner...so make sure your profile includes your email address...or leave it on the comment. I'll close the drawing on Wednesday at midnight....my time! That 5/16/2012...midnight central time zone.

Crystal Ring

A dear friend contacted me yesterday, to see if I could make a beaded ring for her...from a book that we both have. I just love this book...and had wanted to try a project from it...so, sure I thought...why not. Well, some supplies have been ordered...but I had enough to try a small version of the ring...in plain crystal (but really, there just is no PLAIN crystal)...

 This one will go to Aidan...as a present for her completing the second grade with such good grades...and only two trips to the principals office all year! Ha!I'm sure it will mostly get to live in her jewelry box...but, that's okay.

 The band is beaded as well as the front.Oh, the book is Creating Crystal Jewelry with Swarovski by Laura McCabe if you want to check it out!

My muse is happy...and I'm going back to stitching something tomorrow...not sure what yet, my list is long...but something will have to get done.....before I start stressing over deadlines. Hugs!

Thread Cards

Yesterday, I spend some time wrapping gorgeous silk ribbon around thread cards. Now, they are neatly lined up in a small box, instead of squished into baggies. I have a few more to go...but thought that you might find a use for these thread cards yourself.The graphic are cropped and combined; their original source is the Graphics Fairy website. Mine have my initials in the little pink circle...but thought you could use that space to put the color number. There is also a little white box below this circle to write the thread color name. Open a word document and paste/place the photo file there...spread it to fill the page and print. These are obviously in color, although I printed mine in black and white onto card stock paper. I then glued a second piece of card stock to the back to make it stronger for wrapping. Enjoy!

My Muse is Like a Crow...

because she is attracted to Shiny Things. Even though I have a ton of writing and sewing to do these next few weeks...she would not let me really get going on anything...because she wanted to handle some gorgeous beads. So, I pulled out some Czech Glass Buttons and started to work.

 These are cobalt blue...and just simply take my breath away they are so pretty close up. The sheen reminds me of rich velvet it is so opulent!

These set the bar extra high for the Bling factor...and the heavily beaded gold one will be a great addition to a gold work project I'm thinking...and the seed beads on it are 24K gold. That's why it shines so!

 These are just pure fun...and will make great motifs on crazy quilt blocks.Some of these are headed off to CrazyQuiltingSupplies for Thearica to add to her inventory of beaded cabochons. But, you can always go there and get the Czech Glass Buttons before any beading...and do your own. Just hop on over and take the Beaded Cabochon Class now offered at Maureen's as a take-it-anytime class...just check out her class page at MaureensVintageAcquisitions.It is easy to understand because I've included tons of color charts and her kit offered is the exact same cabochons in the photos for the class...no guess work!

CQ Block Finished

I started a new CQ block while at Retreat last weekend...and got some stitching and lace put down. But, not much further than that...so when I got home (after laundry and stuff) I've been trying to finish it up. And, it is done...of course since it is one of nine...and the first one at that...I still have a ways to go. But, here it is finished...and before beads (above)...

 and closeups...hope you enjoy and try some of the seams yourself!