Rainy Days & Mondays Always Get Me Down

Yesterday had me thinking of that song.  Rain, rain and more rain.  Add in a wicked stomach ache and, basically, I did nothing but lay on the couch and stitch.  Last week, I finished the Coxcombs and Berries block from Barbara Brackman's Hospital Sketches.  Just barely in time to start Pineapples before she issues the block after that...

I also started working on a series of displays for Jackmans.  They are due in August but they're all embroidery.  They're going to take a minute.  This first one is really cute, the Welcome Friends panel is removable.  You can unsnap and replace it with Home Sweet Home.  When it comes back, I plan on making a ruder version.  Rich is lobbying for "Fu** Off", with flowers, naturally.

During my convalescing yesterday, I got to work on my crazy quilt bird project.  I can't seem to finish one block all at once.  I tried with the lovebirds but then thought it looked forced.  So, I took off a button cluster, added ribbon work to the birds, embroidered the clover, added the metal bird toggle thing and re-did that seam.  I like it a lot better now.  It's cleaner.

Then, I finished a beaded oak leaf for the cardinal.  It's not quite what I imagined, but good enough.  I didn't have enough variety of gold beads to do my vision but also was too cheap to buy more.

I did a Pinterest search for bird embroidery ideas and this pineapple came up.  I loved it, saved it for a another time but then realized my flamingo could use a pineapple.

Last but not least, I added star sequins to my eagle block.  I did red/white rose garland around the eagle and embroidered some fireworks.  I think I need to add some beads to the fireworks so they sparkle.  And, I think I'll bring the garland in to the picture where they've printed the roses.  I've got a really cool, vintage Statue of Liberty button on order.  The same shop also had a flamingo locket that really wanted to come live with me as well.  So, I'm excited about that.

Now, to stop spending money on buttons!  I've got a trip to Ireland to save for!!!  We've got our tickets!!  The first thing I did was contact a tattoo artist in Kilkenny.  I'm a big fan of her floral/ watercolor work and am really hoping she's got an opening while we're there.  Fingers crossed.  I've purchased waterproof boots and tennies.  Mostly for Ireland but honestly, we've had so much rain, it was a good investment for home, too.

Holy Moly Batman, What a Week!

Well, first thing's, first.  I finished the main part of my Stevie's Quilt!  This was a beast of a project!  Initially, I thought I'd just do the center motif but when that was done, I decided to keep going.  I'll have to look to see when I started this.  Perhaps the first of the year?

Sierra

Rita Verocca named this quilt after her daughter Stevie, so I decided to add a butterfly for each of my daughters.  I let each of the girls choose what color butterfly they wanted to be.

Bethany

Melissa

Then, I was able to do a flag for Rich's quilt.  I did a second, smaller flag but I guess it didn't get photographed.

The Quilts From The Heart Quilt Show was this last weekend.  We had Maribeth Schmit come in from WI to judge for us.  She's one of the instructors for NACQJ, formally known as NQA.  She was a dream to work with.  If you're looking to hire a judge for your show, she's a great find.  Our scribes loved her easy form to fill out.  That happened on Friday.

We also had  Viewers Choice voting on Saturday when the show opened.  My crazy quilts did surprisingly well considering we all consider it a dying art.  You've seen these projects before.  I finished them a while back.  This first one got second with the judge & the public in the Crazy Quilt category. 

This one, got first in both.  And, get this, got Best of Show, with the public!  Amazing!  It's even got a block in upside down!  I guess that's the beauty of crazy quilting.  No one knows if something was on purpose or not!  I was really touched and honored by the out pouring of support from my friends & family at the show.  They even set up a special chair for me to sit in next to my quilt.

Ironically, the quilt that got in to Paducah only got 3rd from both the judge and the public!  The long arm quilter that did this quilt for me, Jane Hair, was our featured quilter!  It was amazing to see all her work in the show.  We had close to 200 quilts and I think 32 of them had been quilted by Jane!

Nerd Alert!

 

I'm so thankful for being surrounded by such great, talented, beautiful friends.  But, I'm also super thankful that nobody needs me for anything anytime soon!

Talk to you soon!