Working on Gifts...

...so mixing more soaps! Aidan helped me with a few when she was visiting this week....but also took most of those home with her... :)

So, got up and got busy today!

Several bars and some mold variety for folks this Christmas. Found these great and pretty little boxes on Amazon they are called "Chilly Gift Boxes" and are so pretty. Very shabby chic style!

Wish they came in more than just the four colors!

Also, spent some time last night designing little round labels for the back of the molded soaps...and some "wraps" for the bar shaped soaps. I had a blast doing that!

 

Fancy Seams #19 through #26

More beautiful seams, from Laila Pye! Trying to catch up after Thanksgiving activities...here are Seams #19 --

Seam #19:

Seam #20:

Seam #21:

Seam #22:

The next page of seams will be done by Katie Bock, so be sure to jump over to her blog Sewing with Katie and check out her work on Seams #23 through #26 and I'll see you back here on the 27th.

Up for a Quilt-a-Long?

I think I  have "quilt on the brain" lately as I just can't get the Celtic Candy Stripe pattern out of my head.

For the past couple of years actually, I've been doodling and playing around with the idea of changing the Celtic Knot pattern by adding more "ribbons" and still having it on point. I started and stopped several times in re-calculating the size of all of the rectangles in this design.

Then, finally...last month I decided that "enough was enough" and I just needed to stop procrastinating and just finish up this idea. Now...I want to sew it! But have absolutely no time really...but can't get it out of my head.

So, as I always do...I'm pushing myself to get it done beginning the first of the year. I'll be hunting through my fabrics for just the right ones as I have too many to want to go get more (unless necessary...hee, hee!)...so, not sure which variation I'll end up with.

If you want to join in the adventure and create this quilt top along with me...1) get your pattern from the Etsy shop...2) determine the quilt size you'll be making...3) begin your own "shopping" adventure in your stash or at the fabric store...and 4) prepare to begin cutting patches in January! (Hint: When choosing fabrics...go with non-directional prints, tone-on-tones, batiks, or solids. Directional prints or strips will be too difficult to work with as the ribbon turn all sorts of directions.)

Lastly, follow along on the blog in January then for my own progress reports and photos as we proceed.

Fancy Seam Designs

Today is Seam #18, Page 12 in the Crazy Quilting Volume III: Fancy Seam Designs book...and is stitched by Laila Pye. Her use of orange, yellow, and green is so fitting of this time of year!

New Pattern - Celtic Candy Stripe

I loaded the Celtic Candy Stripe pattern to my Etsy shop this morning. This elevates the basic Celtic Knot Pattern by adding more "stripes" to the design of the center medallion.

This allows the creation of a variety of color combinations for the medallion; by creating each ribbon in a different color...

... or duplicating a couple of ribbon colors...

... or duplicating all three of the outer ribbon colors.

Just as the original Celtic Knot pattern, this quilt is made primarily of squares and rectangles. The only triangles are the corners and center outside background pieces. The pattern is in full color and has detailed instructions with plenty of diagrams to walk you step-by-step through the piecing process. Twin, Double/Queen, and King sizes are possible. I hope you enjoy this new pattern!

Fancy Seam Designs --

The Fancy Seam Designs Stitch-a-long  is a challenge to stitch all 500 seams within Crazy Quilting - Volume III: Fancy Seam Designs, by Kathy Seaman Shaw (available at Amazon.com)

Today is Seam #13 (which is on Page 10, last seam on that page).

Next week, Katie Bock resumes here stitching...and will create the seams on Page 11 of the book. you can check out her work on her blog Sewing with Katie and check out her work over the next few days of seams; and I'll post a peek here as well!


Happy Stitching!

Making Soap Bars...

...with friends is a great way to spend the afternoon!

Francis, Pam & I added scents, color, and some surprise things to Melt & Pour soap bases yesterday and really enjoyed our adventure.

And we got some really nice smelling soap as well!

The Melt&Pour was from BulkApothecary and simply is melted in the microwave in small amounts (we didn't even measure...just did a bowl at a time...).

Wonderful silicone molds can be found on Etsy, Amazon, Wish...or other sites by just searching for "soap molds" generally.

I totally recommend this as a great project for a group of friends.

Plus, the clean up was easy...cause it's SOAP!

Silk Ribbon Embroidery Stitch Guide...is now on Kindle!

If you don't like carrying around a paper copy...but rather have the "how to" instructions close at hand electronically...you might like knowing that you can get the SRE Stitch Guide on Kindle now.

Is is $2.99 (cheapest price they would let me set)...but free to "borrow" if you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber.

Hope this is convention for some of you..."tablet folks". :)

Fancy Seam Designs - Seam #12

Here's the next seam...

We've done so many Fargo Roses lately, that I thought I'd "entice you" with a substitute...clay rose beads!

You can search for these on Etsy, Panda Hall, Wish ..or just a general Google Search!

Fancy Seam Designs - Seam #11

The Fancy Seam Designs Stitch-a-long  is a challenge to stitch all 500 seams within Crazy Quilting - Volume III: Fancy Seam Designs, by Kathy Seaman Shaw (available at Amazon.com)

Today is Seam #11 (which is on Page 10, second seam on that page).

Hope you enjoy stitching this seam!

This seam includes some  Fargo Roses and Detached Chain leaves.

You can also see the seams stitched by others if you are a member of the Facebook Group, Modern Crazyquilt Seams here.

Hugs,

Fancy Seam Designs - Seam #10

The Fancy Seam Designs Stitch-a-long  is a challenge to stitch all 500 seams within Crazy Quilting - Volume III: Fancy Seam Designs, by Kathy Seaman Shaw (available at Amazon.com)

Today is Seam #10 (which is on Page 10, first seam on that page).

Hope you enjoy stitching this seam!

This seam includes some Woven Roses and Stab Stitch leaves. To keep the roses of a uniform size, make a little cardboard or plastic template. Simply draw the 5 "spokes" for the base. Put little "Dots" at the end of each spoke; and one in the center...then use a 1/16 inch hand-held hole punch to punch-out the dots. Mark the placement of every rose, stitch the spokes with Perle cotton...anchor your ribbon and being the weaving...then end the ribbon at the back of your work. If this is a new rose for you, the only thing you may need to know that may not be in the book...is that you need about 18-20 inches of ribbon for each rose.


You can also see the seams stitched by others if you are a member of the Facebook Group, Modern Crazyquilt Seams here.

Hugs,

Stem Stitch Rose Instructions

Seam #2 in our Fancy Seam Designs Stitch-a-Long has stumped a few folks...the little rose in the design is a Stem Stitch Rose variety. If you have not stitched this before...here is a little pictorial tutorial for you.

Fancy Seam Designs - Page 9 seams

Isn't it great to have friends! Even here in cyber-land...I'm so thankful to have some good friends.

A very favorite is Katie Bock, she and I have worked together on several publications this past year...and she has volunteered her beautiful stitching talents to help me out with the Fancy Seam Designs by stitching the seams on the odd numbered pages.

So, for photos of Seams #5, #6, #7, #8, and #9...hop on over to her blog Sewing with Katie and check out her work over the next five days of seams!

Then, I'll see you back here for Seam #10 next week.

I'll have some more friends check in on this challenge later on as well!

Hugs!

Fancy Seam Designs #4

The Fancy Seam Designs Stitch-a-long  is a challenge to stitch all 500 seams within Crazy Quilting - Volume III: Fancy Seam Designs, by Kathy Seaman Shaw (available at Amazon.com)

Today is Seam #4 (which is on Page 8, last seam on that page).

Hope you enjoy stitching this seam!

This seam includes some long Stab Stitches with silk ribbon, as well as knot/gathered roses (also know as Fargo Roses).

I have used dark blue 4mm silk ribbon for the roses, 7mm light purple silk ribbon for the Stab Stitches; Green perle cotton sz 8 for the leaves of the roses and the stab stitches; a trio of sz 15 pink metallic beads finishes out the ribbon stab stitches; and the sequins are 5mm blue round and 4mm clear slightly cupped with seed beads to hold them in place; embroider is in blue perle size 8. 

You can also see the seams stitched by others if you are a member of the Facebook Group, Modern Crazyquilt Seams here.

Hugs,

Fancy Seam Design #3

The Fancy Seam Designs Stitch-a-long  is a challenge to stitch all 500 seams within Crazy Quilting - Volume III: Fancy Seam Designs, by Kathy Seaman Shaw (available at Amazon.com)

Today is Seam #3 (which is on Page 8, third seam on that page).

Hope you enjoy stitching this seam!

This is a simpler seam design having no silk ribbon or elaborate additions. The sequins are 6mm blue, 5mm blue, 4mm white, with a blue seed bead anchoring the stack. The embroidery is in two shades of blue perle sz 8. 

You can also see the seams stitched by others in the Facebook Group, Modern Crazyquilt Seams here, by requesting to join the group.

If you don't "do facebook"...you can use the RSS Feed on the right side bar to list your email and get these blogpost delivered to your email each time a stitch posts. In answer to a "no reply" comment...Yes, I'll try to get a Pinterest Page up today.

Hugs,

Fancy Seam Designs #2

The Fancy Seam Designs Stitch-a-long  is a challenge to stitch all 500 seams within Crazy Quilting - Volume III: Fancy Seam Designs, by Kathy Seaman Shaw (available at Amazon.com)

Today is Seam #2 (which is on Page 8, second seam on that page).

Hope you enjoy stitching this seam!

I have used dark wine 7mm silk ribbon for the "knots" of the stem stitch roses, 4mm wine silk ribbon for the stem stitches, and 7mm green silk ribbon for the stab stitch leaves. The sequins are round sz 6 white and sz 5 pink with pink seed beads in the center; the trio of beads are sz 9 green seed beads, 3mm pearls, and sz 15 green seed beads; embroider is all done in metallic thread.

You can also see the seams stitched by others in the Facebook Group, Modern Crazyquilt Seams here.

Hugs,

Fancy Seam Designs - Day #1

The Fancy Seam Designs Stitch-a-long  is a challenge to stitch all 500 seams within Crazy Quilting - Volume III: Fancy Seam Designs, by Kathy Seaman Shaw (available at Amazon.com)

Today is Day #1, Seam #1 (which is on Page 8, top seam on that page).

Hope you enjoy stitching this seam!

I have used pearls (sz 4, 3, 2) sequins (round sz 8 white, round pink sz 5, blue cup sz 4, and 2mm pearls), iridescent sz 22 rocaille seed beads, ink perle cotton sz 8 and metallic pink braid sz 8.

 I hope you stitch this seam too...and will join in the fun over on the Facebook Group Site where you can post your photo when finished.

Links to Facebook Group (Modern Crazyquilt Seams)

Hugs,

Fancy Seam Designs Stitch-a-Long...starts 1 November

Just one more day until the new Crazy Quilt Stitch Along series...Fancy Seam Designs begins! We will be posting a seam a day until ALL 500 seams in the book are done.

What book? Well that is my latest book with Amazon...Crazy Quilting Volume III - Fancy Seam Designs...available in print and on Kindle.

And the "we"? Well that is myself and my pal Katie Bock...who will be stitching half of the seams (I have the even pages and Katie has the odd pages). She will post to her blog  Sewing with Katie on the days her seams are shown...and I'll link her blog post here. She'll do the same on her blog.

So, regardless of who you follow..you'll still get to see all of the seams. And, if you follow both of us...well, you'll see them twice. The blog posts may also have a bit of our discussion on stitching a seam...not required; but you never know what we will be talking about!

If you want to view all of the seams and post your own version...you might like to join in the fun with our private Facebook Group: Modern Crazy Quilt Seams

Here is a link to request joining the group if you want to follow along there (and post your own finished photos) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1078979698871402/





And, if you need a simple idea of "what to sew on"...just consider doing some simple sampler type blocks. These can be turned into a quilt top later on...or sewn together to create a long runner style sampler of seams. Then you need "ideas" you'll have a better idea of what a seam may look like once stitched! A great way to use fabric scraps...don't worry over color (but lighter or solids is easier if you are using the templates in the book)...just saying! :)

Quick Cajun Stew

Ingredients:

2-4 boneless chicken (I used 2)

1-2 polish kielbasa sausage (I used 1)

1 yellow or vidala onion

1 can stewed tomatoes

1 bag frozen cut okra

1/2 to 1 cup instant rice

1 can, Blue Runner Creole Bisque Base or

1tsp Gumbo File' spice

Here are the photos of the "supplies":

Instructions:

Cut up chicken, onion, and sausage into bite-size pieces. Place in large boiler with 1-2 cups water (I used 2 cups) and salt/pepper to taste. Cover and cook on med-hi for 15 minutes.

Here is what it looks like at this point:

Add okra, tomatoes, and bisque base or file'spice. Cover and turn heat down to low. Cover and cook for about 45 minutes.

Here is what it looks like at this point:

You can serve over regular rice...or add instant rice (as I did). Pour instant rice into the pop and turn off the heat. Cover and let set for about a half hour.

Here is the finished stew:

This is like a really thick soup. If you want it even thicker...add the full amounts of the meat and rice.

and...it was good!

Crazy for Hexagons

I just included a brand new pattern in my Etsy shop that would be ideal for crazy quilting.

 Here is the concept and the pattern page cover. 

The cost is $5.50 as a pdf full color download. The pattern includes full-size pattern pieces along with instructions on how to create this quilt easily using the quilt-as-you-go method of assembly. 

I counted the possible seams for crazy quilting...and there are 372 considering the 12 inside every one of the 31 pieced hexagon blocks; and all of the connecting seams once the hexagons are assembled. There could be even more if you pieced the patches too!