Daisy Monogram - A

Here's the first in the Daisy Monogram series. For this "A" the letter is done in a varigated gray 5mm perle cotton using the Hungarian Braided Chain Stitch, (instructions are on Mary Corbet's Needle'n'Thread site if you need them and the link is broken). The flowers and leaves are detached chain stitches done in varigated green, pink, and peach.  

Right click and save the photo file for the design...

  ...and the layout.  

No need to draw out all the lines and chains for the flowers...just use "dots" for placement of the center and ends of the individual stitches.  

Winter/Christmas DYB Round Robin

  Finished up a block for the CQI Winter/Christmas DYB Round Robin. This block is Melody's and I loved working on her blue/white/silver winter block. I filled it up with stitching of metallic and shiny fibers then added tons of crystals and beads. Some snowflake sequins finished off the winter theme.  

Catching Up

Well, the sinus crud is still here...but much better. I'm trying to catch up on some stitching and other things. I have a new set of monogram designs for you...almost ready. Here is a sneak peek...and I'll post more when the first one is stitched up...half way there.   

  The design is traced on my linen, and I'm about half done with stitching the A portion. Sorry for the dark bottom on the above photo...but I just can't get a decent photo with this Ipad4 phone! I want one of those Canon Rebel cameras...but, they are so expensive! I've saving my pennies!  

  Yesterday, Aidan and I also made more paper ballerinas and hung a little mobile from the ceiling in the sewing room...  

  ...for Brady to enjoy!  

Baking Day

The baking bug bite Aidan and I this week. We made yeast rolls, twisted lemon bread,  

 cinnamon rolls, 

  and she made chocolate cupcakes with coconut pecan icing.  We had fun...and agreed not to do this too often...it was too much work! And, too much bread! Luckily I have mother and sisters to give some too...  

Erma's Block is Ready for the Mailman

My portion of this block for Erma is the center tree and the left bottom corner seams and silk ribbon work. I also added a few butterflies and beads here and there to finish out some areas. It has been a fun monochromatic round robin over at HGTV Message Boards and I hope we do another robin soon.  

Do you Have this Fabric?

This fabric is Benartex Heritage Prints #02587.  I have a friend that is looking for 1/4 yard (or even a fat quarter would work) to finish out a quilt, if you have some....and would not mind selling it, please contact me so that I can try to help her out. Thanks.

Seriously Mom...

Remind me again...why can't I bite her?   Aidan is truly lucky that Buddy is a very tolerant cocker spaniel!  

Is it time for her to go home yet?

Can't you just tell that Buddy just 'loves' to have Aidan visit? Ha!  

Jenny Does It Again....

If you have not noticed before...I just love the designs from Jenny of Elefantz. She has the cutest Shabby style Block of the Month starting today. To quote her blog: "

Every month on the 19th, from July 2013 to March 2014, I will releases two block patterns. In April 2014 I will releases the final block plus the quilt assembly instructions.

The blocks will vary in size and design, and will be shared randomly, not in a b c order.

The blocks are FREE for the their month of release only. 

When the next month's blocks are released the previous month's blocks will be $2 per set from my Craftsy Shop - so please download them to your computer in their month of release to enjoy this entire quilt design for free."

They are TOO Cute not to stitch! So, jump on over to Elefantz and check out this beautiful new pattern...get the free downloads for blocks 1 & 2 this month!...AND you can also enter to win a prize in her give-a-way today!

A little embroidery done...

Last week was wonderful...this week...not so much. I have a terrible head full of "well let's not say"...and it's slowly moving into broncils and lungs. I'm coughing, sneezing, and drowning. Hopefully, it won't be for many more days...the allergies are really stirred up! Last week, I managed to do a little embroidery piece. This is the motif on page 142 of Embellishing Crazy Quilts if you have the book. I just combined all of the circles into a long curved blossum of french knots, the leaves are fly stitch, and the stem is well...stem stitch. There is a tutorial on making the leaves on the blog...just check the tutorial page.  

  I did manage to get a little stitching done this week on Erma's block for the HGTV Round Robin that I'm in...a tree in the center of the block. More to do on this, then I'll post another photo for you. The tree is also from the ECQ book partly...the limbs and trunk are on page 143.  

Back in the Saddle Again.....

Okay, if your are young...or not a fan of American Western movies...you might not get the title...which is a part to a cowboy song. But, I'm back home again. The trip to Huntsville was so very much fun for me! Kim was a wonderful hostess and has the coolest family! The ladies at the Madison guild were very gracious and I really enjoyed sharing my crazy journey with them on Thursday night. The gals that signed up for the crazy quilt class on Saturday just were a hoot! I enjoyed the class even more than them I think! We had a wonderful time stitching and laughing....at and with each other! I also did my part to help the local economy...and found some treasures!  

My Jingle applique quilt was in need of some additional red, yellow, and green...so I'm thinking these will be just great!

  There is a plan for a Sunbonnet Sue mini-quilt...so I needed some 30's fabrics to create that.  

My ideas for the applique medallion pattern include using batiks for the flowers...and I really scored with these colors!  

Lastly, I found some beads for hatpins and even a couple that will make great cabochons! Plus, some needles, glue pen, and other treasures! It's nice to have a chance to shop and actually touch the fabric...instead of buying on-line.    Oh wait, I almost forgot...these lucious fibers and threads! I'm just going to love working with these on my crazy quilt projects!  

Thanks again Kim and all the ladies of Madison/Huntsville for such a wonderful visit!    

A Really Cute Blog for you to check out!...

I found the cutest blog today...and wanted to share. Go check out beedeebabee.blogspot.com and you will not be disappointed!   I'm traveling tomorrow, early...and will be back on Sunday. This week has been full of last minute packing and getting my handouts, supplies, and examples assembled for my upcoming lecture and class...so no photos.  Hope to be back stitching things to share with you next week. Meanwhile...let me know how you like the felt hearts and animals you find at Paulette's blog...I love them, and they make me want to stitch something!    

Journaling...when I can stay awake...zzzzzzz....

We have had some light showers for the past week...and more rain is in the schedule for the next week or longer. Morning showers and late afternoon/early evening thunderstorms...Yuck! I'm in a perpetual nap level of energy...just zapped out! Hard to get motivated to create much...so doing things that don't take a load of brain power. Like journaling some new crazy quilt seam combinations. But, what I "need" to be doing is punching holes in those 30 mini-template sets for my class next week. Sssshhhhh, don't tell them...it's my little free giftee to each of them. That is, if I can get my behind in gear and punch all those little holes! If you are a dear friend...could you give me a swift kick please? But lightly...just a little luv tap... Hugs!

Dying Lace Motifs for Class

Last night, I finished up the items for my supply kits...for this next weekend's class at the Quilter's Combo quilt shop in Madison, Alabama (near Huntsville) on the 13th of July. There's still a couple of seats open...so, come on down and take a beginner crazy quilt embellishment class! The instruction package is only $20, and there is a kit packed full of silk ribbon, threads, beads, lace motifs, charms, and needles...for only $15. Yes, the kit is being sold under cost...but hey, that's the way I am! These are my lace motifs...three in each kit. The colors look kind of yucky on these photos...but are really green, peach, pink and pretty.

Next, I have to cut out little pieces of felt to hold the needles...and I'm ready to rock and roll! There is a lecture/slideshow/trunk show on Thursday night (11 July)...before the Saturday class...for the Madison Quilt Guild. So, if you are a member...don't miss the meeting!

Family Celebration Time - Fish Fry!

Today, we had a little family gathering at Mother's...with a fish fry. Here, my sister Anna is outside frying up the fish...and hush-puppies. Some (most) of the guys are out there watching...and "catching" hush-puppies!

Hope y'all all had a great and relaxing 4th of July! Happy Independence Day good ole USA!
You know you're from the South when you're outside catching hush-puppies! Ha!

Three Little Mug Rugs

These are ready to go into the mail. They are similiar, but different...and go to three different ladies that I'm swapping with over on the HGTV Message Board group.   I just knew that this little embroidery pieces would be just right for some project! Glad to have had them on hand for this Garden MugRug swap. Made my decision to join very easy...took less than an hour to get all three of these put together.    

Block Two Almost Complete

I'm still working on my blocks from Jenny's newsletter. If you get the Elefantz newletter and have not yet begun this project, you really should consider it...it is really very sweet and quiet nice to stitch. I still have to add the white embroidery (running stitch, stem stitch, blanket stitch) to the fusible pieces...but, it is almost done.   The little bird is looking a slight bit dark. But, I think the addition of the white stitching will help to balance him out. The thread color is a gray/brown and is the same as the words in the center block...so, I'm hoping that all will be fine when the blocks are together.
Hugs,