Guess it's my turn...

The snow has just begun...

I have pre-salted my steps...just in case there were to be an emergency and I have go down, or someone has to go up. But, I plan to stay in until this all melts...the dog however is not. Ha!

Here's the view outside my kitchen window.

Not near the snow the rest of the country is getting...but enough for us to close down schools and most businesses here. When you live without snowplows or salt/chemical trucks...you just have to wait it out.

Luckily...in three days...it will be 60plus degrees again...weird weather!

Hugs, to all...

 

Planning Ahead

Are you busy? Of course you are...and so am I. That's why I look for as many "shortcuts" as possible. Like printing my embroidery designs onto fabric instead of tracing them. Just printed a dozen up and sewed some extra waste fabric strips to the side...this makes loading them into a hoop much easier.  

  And, I have several hand made small hoops that allows me to load several hoops at once. Then I just pick and choose what I want to stitch on. If I get bored with one design...I can move to another quickly.  

  So far, I have one completed...  

  And one almost completed this week.  

  Hugs,  

Future CQ Classes...

Just a quick note to let you know that I've updated the Free CQ Classes page. It now includes links to available supply lists (more to be published as I write/update them); links to more general class information; links to the class schedule for 2015.   So check out the information....and mark the Open Registration Dates on your calender so you won't miss those announcements. As always, I'll open the classes here on the blog...so if you follow, you'll get the news. The dates are a heads up for those that travel, etc. to be watching the blog posts during that specific time-frame.   As you will be able to determine from the schedule...I'm very busy. So, please don't ask me to "pre-register" you for a course. I'm sorry, but I only do that for extraordinary reasons...as it is a lot of extra work for me...and if I "promise" and forget...then everyone is unhappy. So, all are treated the same...register when the classes are OPEN. All classes are FREE instructions. All classes are very detailed and require a ton of reading and printing of instructions/handouts. All classes require supplies (these may already be in your stash, but if not you will need to purchase them) All classes are taught in a positive environment...if you can't comply with my ideals of "positive environment"...you will be dropped from the class. I don't have time to deal with folks that bash other people's attempts or want to be disruptive. (Thankfully, I have not had to do this...but the disclaimer is so you know that I don't tolerate this type of behavior.)   Hope to see you in future classes!   And, those 140+ individual in the Basic Class right now...work, work, work! The Intermediate Class opens on the 26th of February!   Hugs,  

Books are back...

Both the "Embellishing Crazy Quilts" and the "My Crazy Ideas" books are back in stock on my Etsy Shoppe.  

EQC is all about stitching seams using templates,  

and MCI is a journal specifically designed to chart crazy quilt seams and embroidery motif ideas. If you purchase both together...make sure to use the "combination" item instead of both individual books...it will save you some cost to the books. Hugs,  

It's right around the corner...

Spring! I know it doesn't feel like it today...but look at what I found on the other side of Mom's house!   

  These daffodils have their heads closed up tight...but they are about 8 inches tall...and will be open soon!  

F Monogram Complete

  Got the monogram completed...and like it. Don't "love it"...as I'm going to re-design and remove a lot of the larger curve...it is too distracting. Of course, that background is also distracting...but it doesn't bother me much. But, still a good result for a first design attempt...and it's a good working model too.  

  It's been a nice couple of days...stitching some! Aidan is here this weekend...and we are also cooking good things and being lazy in front of the television. Today, we will be experimenting with dying some lace pieces....so sure to have "colored fingers" too!    

  Hope everyone is having a good weekend!  

Sharing a Silk Ribbon Design...and a Boo-Boo Story

Ever have one of those days? You know, when things just start off badly. Well, today is shaping up that way. Woke up at 4 a.m.....why? don't know...tryed to go back to sleep...tossed...turned...finally two hours later just "threw in the towel" and got up. So, I'm tired and cranky! Last night I worked on the above Silk Ribbon Embroidery design and thought I might get to stitch on it soon.   

  So, this morning, I pressed a piece of cotton to my freezer paper...cut it the size my printer likes...and printed the embroidery design to the fabric. I set the opacity so that it doesn't print "DARK"...but this was too light. See the little dash marks? But no flowers! They have faded into the back.

Drat, and I already used the fabric piece that I really wanted to stitch on! But, I do have a "backup" piece. But first, lets just darken the image a tidbit...and reprint on the same fabric. Printed beautifully.  

All except the fact that IT IS UP SIDE DOWN! So my first F has it's tail pointing to the sky...and the second has it's head pointing in that direction!  

  So, into the trash can it goes! Geez!  

Third time...got it printed on the 2nd fabric selection. Now I know you are saying...who can see that?   

  But, up close...as it will be in my hoop...I can see it just fine. Hope this day improves! You are welcome to save the photo above and stitch this yourself if you like. The letter "F" is my father's initial...so thought I'd do this project in memory of him. And, before you ask...nope, don't have any other letters designed...yet.  Hugs!  

Cool New Tool!

When you use silk ribbon...it needs to be ironed. It gets wrinkles, fold lines, and such as it is stored...and as it is used. I'm always used a standard iron, a smaller travel iron, or a curling iron in the past...but no more...now, I have this handy little travel size flat iron! I love it. The photos are not perfect...but I'm trying to hold the camera in my right hand and the flat iron in my left...and that's hard...hugs!   I got mine on Amazon...love that place...and here is the link if you want to read more about this model...there are others there too.   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ACB6IH6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1    I do find that the ribbon is so thin that I have to use the very tip of the iron, where the plates meet each other without any teensy space between...but that's fine.      Works great!    

Morning All!

I've been making some changes to the blog. Some, I'm not sure I'm even going to keep...but we shall see. Every just wake up and feel like "changing something?"...I do, and usually it means that I'll be moving furniture that day! When I was younger...it meant that I'd cut my hair or dye it again! So, now that I'm getting older...does changing my blog mean that I'm too old to push the couch around? I hope not! Hugs! You might also notice that I've added a "donate" button to the blog. No, I'm not in dire straights...or anything. But, some have asked if they can contribute to the cost of the software costs and such for the classes. I do spend money on a Creative Cloud subscription with Adobe each month for their entire suite of software....which I mainly use Illustrator at the moment to draw diagrams and artwork for the classes. So, I thought I'd just make it easier...if you want to throw a couple of bucks into the pot...that's fine. If now, I'm perfectly fine with that too! Hugs! At least now, I've given you a way...so you don't have to ask.

Intermediate Crazy Quilt Classes

Several ladies have been asking about the registration window for the Intermediate Course. Well, thought I'd take some time today and give you the "scoop".
Last year, I offered the Intermediate Class for the first time...and had about a dozen ladies sign up for this pilot class. We had a wonderful time, and they did some amazing and beautiful work during the Autumn and Winter months.

While I "thought" that I had done a good job of limiting the class to just the basics...it was quickly apparent that there was just TOO MUCH information to have just a continuing single class. AND, I had a second problem...what was included was just a small fraction of what I WANTED to include.

So, after much thought and pencil to paper...I have developed a plan.
I'm going to be offering a series of Intermediate Level Classes. If you choose to take them all...you could consider it a "Course". Each class will have parts or tasks...and you receive the next task as you complete the prior one...same process that I use in the Basic CQ Course.

I am going to continue to require that students take and finish the Basic CQ Course before taking any of these Intermediate Classes. Here are my reasons for that:

1) The classes are held on a private blog...which works a bit differently than a public blog. In the Basic CQ Course, each student learns how to properly get registered and use the blog for class. This sounds simple...but takes several days for some students to work out the "bugs" of actually getting logged in and maneuver around the site.  So, by requiring this basic class first...students will know how to use the blog as a teaching/learning platform...and I will not have such a high curve of "getting started" in the intermediate classes.

2) Tasks are completed and photos are published to the class blog. Feedback comes from me in the form of comments; and from other students in the form of positive remarks. Subsequent tasks are emailed upon completion of the prior task. This method of processing through a course curriculum is new to most. It is my "method of teaching" and having the basic course allows everyone to have a good working knowledge of my teaching methods and the rhythm of a class taught by me.

3) Information presented in the Basic Course will not be repeated in the Intermediate Course. But, the information will be built upon. So, students that do not get the handouts on Templates, Embroidery Stitches, Ribbon Stitches, Basic Design Principles, etc. will not have these to refer back to in the Intermediate Course.

4) The Basic Course has nothing to do with a person's skill level. It can be taken by anyone. If you are comfortable with the material provided you can move through the class in a couple of weeks. If you have more constraints on your time or your talents...you can use the entire 12 weeks provided in the schedule for you to complete the course.

Okay...this is getting long winded...so let me just end by giving you my proposed breakdown of Classes for the Intermediate Crazy Quilt Course (ICQC) upcoming Classes.

ICQC-101: Piecing Crazy Quilt Blocks

101-A-Working with printed images

101-B-Color theory

101-C-Selecting fabrics

101-D-Designing blocks

101-E-Adding lace and trims

101-F-Piecingblocks

ICQC-102:Working w/Paints, Dyes, Inks

102-A-Backgrounds

102-B-Silk Ribbon

102-C-Lace

ICQC-103: Embellishing w/Threads

103-A-Combination seams expanded

103-B-Monograms

103-C-Basic Motifs

103-D-Motif Vignettes

ICQC-104: Motifs w/Fabrics & Threads

104-A-Fabric manipulations

104-B-Applique

104-C-Raised Applique

104-D-Working w/slips

104-E-Stumpwork

ICQC-105: Embellishing w/Ribbon

105-A-Silk Ribbon Florals

105-B-Manipulating ribbons

ICQC-106: Embellishing w/Objects

106-A-Beaded seams

106-B-Clusters and trails

106-C-Filling w/beads

106-D-Cabochons and handmade buttons

I would love to hear your feedback and ideas about this proposed Course content. If I've left out an element of CQ work that you want to know more about...let me know.

These classes may overlap in the scheduling...and will not be offered in order necessarily. These will be technique classes and not have to rely on each other as a rule. But, having a block to work or practice on is important...and understanding COLOR THEORY is even more important...so I am making the ICQC-101 Class a per-requisite for the other ICQC Classes. The others can be taken in any order however.

Registration for the ICQC-101: Piecing Crazy Quilt Blocks Class will open on 26 February...so mark your calendars.

I will provide a general supply list for each course prior to registration. Some are still being worked out...and when they are all completed...I will also post them on the blog under the Classes Page. As of now, I'm still in the planning or editing phase for each. They will be announced as they are completed. If you have taken the Basic CQ Course...then you know how detailed and complete my instructions are...so these students will understand that it takes time to do this writing and stitching of the models. The rest of you...well, you'll just have to trust me that it will be worth your time.

All of these classes will be FREE...at no charge.

There will be a need for supplies of course...which will cost money...unless you have things in your stash that you can use. Hopefully, you will! I'm also okay with you substituting different colors of ribbon, paint, dye, etc.

My goal is to share information and yet, not require you to mortgage the house to learn new techniques.

Now, that's not to say that a "GOOD SIZE STASH" is not worthwhile...because it most certainly is! And, I'm all for Shopping Trips! And mine are all usually on-line...Ha!

Hugs to all!

Edited to Add: The next BASIC CQ Class will be open for registration on 2 May. However, the current ongoing class is moving along so fast...I am toying with the idea of opening another one in February...so keep watching shawkl.com for that too. Hugs,

 

Crazy Quilt Quarterly Spring is almost here!

The Spring 2015 Crazy Quilt Quarterly magazine is about to launch! This is Pam Kellog's first edition...after taking the editor position.  She asked me to write an article about "CQ Classes"...and I was happy to do so. It's not what you might think...does not mention my Shawk Class at all really...but I do hope you will read it anyway. Hugs!   Got my heads' up copy today..and the magazine is SUPERB! Y'all are going to love it! So, keep you some "pocket money handy" the 1st of February...so you can get this download from MagCloud then.   Watch Pam's blog for more info on when to order... Kitty and Me Designs.    

Little Hedgehog

A student asked me about the little hedgehog on my block for Pam Kellogg's 2015 Crazy Quilt Calendar today. So, thought I'd post this little pattern for everyone.

 

 

You can reduce or enlarge to fit the space you want to fill. Here's how I created my version:

 

Step 1: Size shape to about 1 1/4" wide, cut it out of good quality wool felt
Step 2: Sew to CQ Block with tiny Blanket Stitches in matching color sewing thread
Step 3: Begin at the back and create layered Bullion Stitches in variegated brown/black floss. Stop at dashed pattern line. Look at the photo for direction of these knots.
Step4: Add black seed bead for eyes.
Step 5: Add Satin Stitches in black floss for end of snout.

 

Hope you enjoy creating him (or her). Hugs!

 

WHAT!

If you had been anywhere near my house today...you would have heard this word for sure. The conversation between my visiting granddaughter and me like this:   AIDAN: "Oh Nana, I forgot...I have to do an animal cell or a plant cell?" CONFUSED NANA: What? AIDAN: "You know, it's kinda round with little parts inside. And it needs to be in 3-D." CONFUSED NANA: What? AIDAN: "Nana, you're not listening. I need to do a cell for Science and it's due tomorrow, and I forgot about it. LESS CONFUSED NANA: WHAT! AIDAN: "The teacher said we could make it out of cake if we needed too." CONFUSED AGAIN NANA: WHAT?
Why is that when children have a science project...they "remember" it only hours before bedtime the night before it is due in school?
So, I made a rush trip to the local dime store to get nerf balls...no way was I going to try this with cake!

Here is the result before we glued it and the names of the descriptive parts on foam core board! You might recognize...coral beads (painted blue), gold bugle beads, white covered button (painted orange), and two pinto beans painted blue with darker blue squigglies on them.  Much paint was used...five different paint brushes...two paint trays...and Aidan was very happy. It was a good time when it was done! One I hope NOT to repeat however. Hugs!
 

Registration for the January BCQC is Closed

Wh The Basic Crazy Quilt Class/Course is now closed to any more registrations.   We has a huge interest in the past five days...and now have 144 folks signed up for the January basic class. That's going to be a load of fun!   The next class registration for the BCQC will be on 2 May. So, if you missed this registration window...mark your calendar for 2 May and check back here at shawkl.com to register then.   The last class of the year will be open on 8 August.   I'm working still on re-editing the Intermediate Classes...and hope to have something new on that in mid February.   Other committments are eating at my time right now.   Hugs,  

REGISTRATION for Basic CQ Course is now OPEN (Closes the 13th)

 REGISTRATION will remain open until midnight on January 13th   The class will run from 14 January thru 31 March  

  These 12-Tasks comprise this basic class:   1 - How to Use the Class Blog 2 - Selecting Supplies 3- Design Principles of CQ 4 - Sewing the Block 5 - Surface Beading Techniques 6 - Template Seams 7 - Shape Seams 8 - 11 Various Silk Ribbon Flowers 12 - Finishing (lace, charms, etc.)   The class is FREE, you will not be charged anything for the instructions.   Link to the Basic Supply List You WILL be required to get your own supplies to complete the about 8 x 10 size block. Basic CQ supplies include silk ribbon, pearl cotton threads, tiny beads, etc. as the photo above indicates. None of these are in large quantity for a single block.   You will be required to use a quilting hoop (Q-snap is fine). You WILL be required to access the private class blog (upon an invitation sent to you) and post photos of your work as you progress through the class. On March 31 the class officially closes
  If you are interested in taking this course, please email me at shaw.kathy@yahoo.com and provide me this information: Your first name Your last name You country of residence Your state of residence IF you live in the USA The email address you wish me to send class instructional handouts to.   After you register, I will send you a Welcome Email and Google/Blogger will send you (at my request) an Invitation to join the Class Blog where the class will be held.    This is an ON-LINE internet class.  You will need to follow some simple instructions to register and gain access to the private class blog. Your name and email will need to be entered; but NO social security or credit card information is required. Just basic information to "recognize" you as a class participant.   You will need to be able to take a photo of your work, and upload it to the class blog. You will get instructions on "blogging" so don't worry if you don't currently do that now; you will learn. But, you DO NEED to have an operating camera and be able to take photos. You do need a basic understanding of how to save these photos and then retrieve those picture files   NOTE: You will be given class handouts/instruction in the form of emails and pdf documents.  The pdf files can be opened with Adobe Reader (free software on the Adobe.com site)
 You need to be able to open these handouts/instructions and save them. You can also print as you desire. In total, the course contains about 300 pages of information...so paper/printer will be required if you want to retain a hard copy of this information.   Hugs, and I hope to see you in the class!  

I'm Cool!

Like my hand warmers?  

Yes, I know...I'm just a little crazy. It is cold outside...and inside is even a wee bit chilly!  We in the southern states are having a "polar freeze" according to the weatherman. Now...don't send me any ugly notes from the eastern and northern states...as I realize that we in the deep south are not even half as cold as y'all are. BUT, we complain when it gets below 50-degrees...because we are just not that used to a lot of cold days. And when it is below 35-degrees, we run to get extra wood for the fireplaces (and buy all of the bread and milk in the grocery store)...thinking that we surely are about to turn into Popsicles.  So, when the weatherman talks about it dropping into the teens at night...and 20's in the daytime...we are miserable! When I'm typing, and I do a LOT of that...my hands and fingers do not need to be stiff and cold.  And these hand warmers are good for helping to warm them up. But, they are not so good at letting me have a great range of motion. So, not so good for typing I found. Even with the fingers cut out, the "mouse" feels so strange in my hand that this is not going to work for long. The house is cool, but not cold...the thermostat is set to 68-degrees and I'm going to TRY not adjusting it...as I want to keep my heating bills down some this year. And then, I remembered that I had purchased a little desk heater some years back...before retiring. My office as always cold...and we were not supposed to get any of those floor heaters. So, I tried this little tiny desk top model since I could easily remember to "turn it off" before heading home... it is IDEAL. So, thought I'd share with you.  

It is tiny, as you can tell by the size of the stapler on the desk. But, it puts out a LOT of heat ...and does it quickly. So, my fingers are not out of the gloves...and are toasty warm. Might just move it to the floor so my toes can thaw out next! This model is a Lasko 102 "My Heat" and costs around $20 in the states. (Amazon Prime has it for $17 right now.)  I also have a Lasko 754200, Ceramic Heat model which is about twice the size of this smaller model, and uses radiant heat. But it does not get hot very quickly. I tried it first, since it is larger...but it blows cold air until the radiant heat elements warm up and that did not help at all.
So, if your hands are always cold when you stitch or type then you might want to check out one of these little heaters.  

Crazy Time?

Is it just me..or were the past three holidays just crazy nuts! At my house, it seemed like the clock was working at double speed at least!

Doesn't Mom's yard look like a used car dealership? This is the view we had at Thanksgiving...over fourty folks piled out of these vehicles...and the food was great! I'm not going to share family or food photos...to protect all who over-stuffed themselves!

Christmas was spend with my daughter at her house. Aidan gave out the presents from under the tree.

Sommer opened hers...

Kyle opened his...
And, I took photos! Hugs!

In December, I did manage to complete the blocks for the wool round robin at CQI, and mailed after the Christmas rush.

Then, unfortunately I had a little down time in mid December with my sciatica acting up...and am down again (almost) these past couple of days with my neck out of joint. Makes me kinda "cloudy headed" and hard to turn my head. Hoping it clears up (better already than yesterday) or I'll need to go see the chiropractor next week...and it is supposed to be really cold starting on Monday. Not, "Pennsylvania" cold...but cold for Alabama. We have had rain for two days...and more tonight and tomorrow expected. Dreary and yucky! Not great weather for being creative.

But, I still managed to draw out some patterns for my CQJP 2015 blocks.

And print the silkies for them. Now, I just have to feel like sewing!

Have also been working on editing the BCQC course will open for registration on the 10th of January. Still hope to get parts of the ICQC open at the end of the month...but, it may be February instead if my efforts keep getting pushed back.

Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays as much as I did...and hope that they were less hectic!   1/4/15 Edited to Add: BCQC=Basic Crazy Quilt Course; ICQC=Intermediate Crazy Quilt Course :)  

Happy Holiday Season to All!

Merry Christmas to everyone! Just jumping in for a quick hello...on my way out the door to spend a week with my daughter and lovely grand-daughter. See all of you when I return!
Hugs!

And the winner is....

Such a good week...and a very tiring one! Had a great visit with my grand-daughter who came and stayed for seven days. Did not accomplish a lot of stitching, but enjoyed her company so much! Thanksgiving was wonderful...loads of family...and food! Friday, was a day of recuperation from too much food!   Friday was also my birthday, and got to blow out a single candle when my grand-daughter brought me a piece of pie with a candle in the center, and a little piece of paper attached that said Happy Birthday. Thankfully, I got it done before the paper went up in flames!   And, this morning (a day late) I put everyone's name in the pot from the comments section and drew a name for the Elegant Stitches book. The winner is: Juli   I'll be contacting her for a mailing address to send the book. Thanks for all the lovely comments and birthday wishes!