A Short Video of some Motifs/Techniques Learned in the Free Courses!
I know that it's still a little early...but the 13th will be here before you know it! Thought you might enjoy a little monogram design...use the flowers at the start and end if you like...or do your own embellishment. Enlarge to the size you need.I think an embroidery in the center of a lovely little Crazy Quilt Pillow would make a nice little giftee!Let's see if I can make that happen for my own Mom!If you need a different family endearment for Mother...just sent me a comment, and I'll post it here. 
on the computer? These past couple of weeks have been un-usually full for me. I've been very busy loading all of the webpages for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project and helping to coordinate a small retreat for about 18 ladies on the HGTV Board with me. There has been little time to stitch!I did take some CQ work to the retreat...and managed to couch down lace pieces on about nine blocks...and started the embellishment on one of them...but nothing really to photograph for y'all yet. I have been on the laptop...still working on webpages for CQJP the past five hours...and have been just wrestling with the software. After changing 3-5 pages..it wants to lock up. So, I have to come out...and then log in again...very cumbersome! So, doesn't look like much stitching today or tomorrow either!Normally, I spend about 3 hours a day on this laptop...unless I am writing classes...and that changes to about 7 hours a day.How about you?
Now how cool is this!! Today, I am sitting amongst twenty other ladies...having a sewing retreat, and having a lovely time. For the past couple of weeks I've been getting ready for this trip, and also working on CQJP website pages and have not been able to get much stitching done. I hope to get some crazy quilt stitching done this weekend, and post photos for ya'll soon. But, today...I thought you might like this photo of a van some of the ladies drove down from Maryland in! The fabric pieces are "attached" to the van with starch. And, in Tennessee...they started loosing some because it was raining!How creative!
I do...of sorts. I actually have been working on a pattern for a crystal tassle top mini-class. And decided that a crystal ball would be good to add to the class as well....it makes a super cool closure.
Just work a little perle cotton or crochet thread loop (cast on stitch over 4 threads)...or use a child's hair elastic band...to fit over the ball, which is treated like a button. Now, to just get the charts drawn and the instructions written.
Lyn sent along two blocks for the group to work on in the Midnight Fantasy Round Robin; but, she only required that we choose one to work on.
But, you know that when I have a CQ Block in my hands...I really NEED to stitch on it! So, I decided that both blocks should be "tied together" so that they would be a unit. Well, not literally tied together..no ropes involved...just having some of the same elements.
So, large machine embroidery butterflies, large sprays of pink rose buds, tiny cloisonne' butterflies, larger plum wire ribbon roses and seams with a touch of orange was my choice.
The blocks are headed to the last person in the group to finish up before going home to Lyn in Texas.
This block also has a spray of smaller rose buds with beads below my colorful seam.
I've been wanting to do a CQ Teddy Bear, and have not found the right pattern. I'm still looking. But, in the meantime...I'm doing a little bear just because. It's an easy pattern so far...one that I've had for a while...from Funky Friends Factory. So, we'll just hope for the best. Here are some of the parts with their seams stitch...still have to do the body, head, and arms.My plan is to stitch...assemble the parts...add beads & SRE...then finish the assembly. Then add more seam embroidery and beads where needed after it is put together. Yes, I know that is the hard way...but it is the way that keeps me from turning beads and sequins inside-out. And, after doing many, many beaded dottie dolls...I learned a few tricks to bead and stitch with a five inch needle...and hide my knots. Do you have a favorite little bear pattern? I'm welcoming suggestions...but want a vintage looking little fellow. I'm leaning heavily in the direction of a Gooseberry Hill pattern called the 1903 Bear Pattern. But, still thinking...and hope I don't get "burn out" from just muddling around with this little Teddy.
...and I shouldn't say who (her name starts with an S, ends with an I, and has HAR in the middle). She is a formatible women...very multi-tasker wizard type...very caring...very persuasive. The persuasive part gets me in trouble! I mean, I love her...and love her ideas...but some time I have to sleep! When I have one "project" that I have volunteered for...all of a sudden she makes me want to volunteer for another...then it is another. I'm never really sure just how that happens...but every time I hang up the phone with her...I could swear that I have agreeded to another small project (and usually thought up three additional ones all on my own...that dang Muse!)Anyway...I had a wonderful conversation with her grand-daughter a couple of days ago. A lovely little lady...all of five years old. She had managed to break an arm while playing...and we all are trying to make her feel better by sending butterflies. She had received mine, and a note from my grand-daughter Aidan, and had called to speak to us both...and say thanks.So, during the conversation...I asked her if she liked bracelets. Mostly because I knew that Aidan would be out of school this week...and needing something to do...so why not get her to make a bracelet. They are quick...and easy...and I could get one done as well. So, in reply she said..."Yes, that would be very lovely. I really like bracelets, and would like one from you and Aidan. Thank you. Also, I would very much like for you to stitch something for me...as I really love what you stitch."
Well...all I can say is..."The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"So, this is Belle's tin...with some stitching. And if you look at the upper left corner, you can get a glimpse of the bracelet that Aidan made as well. We'll be getting it into the mail this week...after the rain stops some.
