Christmas Presents, Just the Beginning

I bought a new clock.  We've had the same living room clock for 22 years.  In fact, Bethany got a little freaked that the old one was coming down.  She couldn't imagine it not being there.  Weird.

I remember buying it.  It was the first thing that I bought to decorate our apartment when we moved out of base housing.  I felt really guilty for spending $20 on something that wasn't necessary for our survival.  Yeah, we were that broke.

 But, the new clock I bought off eBay was smaller than I expected...

So, after a week of staring at it, I decided to fix it.

I've had this 3 part stencil for years and have put it in several rooms through out the years but I really like it.  So, I used it again.

It's a little scary until it's all done. My paint is a little juicy in spots but if you look at it from a distance, it looks great:)  As does most of my art...

 I've been working hard on my crazy quilting skills.  I wanted to finish my class blocks before I moved on to a new project.  It's getting a bit tough.  Midway through, I realized that I shouldn't have used  so many prints.

I used Joyful Embellishments for most of my inspiration.  I'm not at the point where I can look at something and know what I want to do.

I really liked this rose stem.

And,  I started a new project.  Because, you know, it's fun.  I also need to get busy on Christmas presents.

Again, more Joyful Embellishments.  I also used fancy fabrics that were given to me by a Stitching Angel in Crazy Quilters International.

I used Allie Aller's method of piecing the circle block.  I used a woven interfacing on all the fabrics before piecing, as well as, the foundation piece.  She doesn't use a hoop on anything.

I loved not having the awkward hoop.  The stitching was suprisingly easy.  I was afraid with all those layers, I'd be struggling.  Not the case. 

 I really liked working in the green and purples.

 This is my first CD pin cushion.  A little more difficult than I imagined...

 Stuffing it and getting it to smooth out around the CD was a real pain in the rear!

I need to make 2 more of them.

So, if you're my secret pal at the guild, don't look because you'll see what you're getting for Christmas.

And, this cute little guy is my Crazy Quilt International post card swap.

The Power of a Stitch

A friend from work commissioned me to make pillows out of her Mother-In-Law's embroidery blocks.

She plans to give one to each of her husband's children for Christmas this year.  She told me there was no hurry but I couldn't help myself.  It got really excited to work on something new.

I tried to choose simple, traditional fabrics that Mrs. Stubhart might have used herself.   I didn't add anything but a little color to frame her work.  It was important to make it about her stitching and not my pillow making.

 The pillows are lined to give them a little extra stability.  The backs are envelope style for easy removal.

This one is pretty cool and funky.  Her variegated thread made it look really modern.

   I love this green one.

 Marsha kept this one for herself.  The fabric is a sweet little pink tulip.

It was a real honor to work with Mrs. Stubhart's stitching.  A lot of the girls at work had a tear in their eye when I brought them in.  That just goes to show you power of stitch.  I could only hope that my family feels the same way about my work when I've passed.

I know I have a doily my Grandma Bradley made that I treasure.

I hope the Stubhart family has a very Merry Christmas!

Victorian Boot

I finished my Victorian boot!  It's something I've been working on for several weeks.  It's my first Victorian boot so naturally I obsessed over it.  Since I've been taking these crazy quilting classes on line, I also joined some on-line groups to help with inspiration.

 Crazy Quilters International Yahoo Group is doing a Victorian Boot swap.  It could be any theme you wanted.  Didn't have to be Christmas themed if you didn't want.

My original thought was to do pastels.  But, then I was at Joann's and they were having a sale on some fancy dress fabrics in jewel tones.  So, inspiration struck.

Another peacock.  I know, shocker.  It seems to be my thing recently.

I stitched the bird and used fancy yarns as the tail.

The snow flake is done in a crochet thread that has silver metallic running through it.  I was freaked out using it because it was so think and chunky.

 This floral spray was done with some of the ribbon I dyed on my earlier quilting class.  I dyed the yellow and the coral.

I used Joyful Embellishments FB group and TAST as inspiration for my sections.

The spider web and fan were inspired by Joyful Embellishments.  I did the funky fly stitch above it to mimic the dots on a peacock feather.  It's weird but honestly, what I did first was awful and had to be ripped out.

And, the kicker is ... It's for an exchange.  So, I have to fill it and give it away.  I'm really proud of it.  And, I kinda want to keep it.

Bitch Is Crazy, the Odyssey Continues

 

Hi there!  I've been deeply embedded into my new obsession.  I've been taking Kathy Shaw's free crazy quilting classes. I'm taking #4 now and I start #5 on  Monday.

This current one is Fabric Embellishments.  My most recent task was embellishing a silkie.  Then, I had to frame it.  Naturally, she wanted us to show that we could frame it in a way that balances the entire block.  Which meant I had to finish the whole block.

Not sure why I made such a big block...

I used Joyful Embellishments on Facebook for some inspiration.  And, Take A Stitch Tuesday.

 I learned how to do all the ribbon embroidery in previous classes.  Same with the spider web.

This wreath was one of the Joyful Embellishments I saw and knew I'd have to use.

 We learned to do monograms in a previous class.  I'm telling you, these classes are amazingly informative!  I do like these ribbon letters.  I tried to do a Laverne and Shirley "L".

The tumbling daisies are from Joyful Embellishments, too.

I had been inspired a few years ago to make a crazy quilt inspired by my life.  The name was going to be Bitch Is Crazy.  I really felt like I needed to know more about the techniques before I got to my life's story. So, I put it off and put it off.

This motif was from Pinterest.  I just searched crazy quilt motifs and this one came up.  I sort of free handed the fines based on the picture I saw.

The giant rose was a woven rose made with ribbon I dyed in another of Kathy's classes.  I also dyed the green leaves, and tiny roses on the silkie.

I used a pink heart bead to try to make a rose bud.  Not sure if I was super successful, but I tried.


So, if you've ever wanted to go on the crazy quilt journey, I HIGHLY suggest you go to Shawkl.com and sign up for one of her free classes.  She takes donations, if you feel moved to donate but otherwise the classes are free.  There are a lot supplies to purchase.  Especially the dyeing class.  That  one cost me about $50.  The first one was about $30 but I had absolutely no silk ribbons.  She also requires that you have hoops large enough to cover the whole project.

Thanks for stopping by!  Talk to you soon!

This and That

I don't think I've shown you my Farmer's Wife blocks yet.  I have 4 total but I can't find the pictures of the first 2.  Who knows what I did...

Anyway, I'm pretty sure these are the only 4 I'll be doing in the foreseeable future.  Paper piecing.  You feel me?    I didn't enjoy them at all.  So, why bother.  I'll let other people do them.  These guys are destined to be poor little orphan blocks.

 I've been trucking right along with Brooke's Publishing's Advent Animals.  She's delayed a few of the latest animals but I'm so far behind, it didn't affect me at all.

 The penguin reminds me of work.  We used to use the penguin on our logo.  Formal wear, get it? Hot cha cha cha.

Pearly Pig is fabulous.  She has the best lashes!

I've also been working on my Crazy Quilting classes.  I started the Thread Embellishment Class.  We've made trees and vines and webs.  I'll share those pictures next time.  And, maybe I'll find my other 2 blocks.

Hope you're having an amazing day!

Am I Still Having Fun?

This is my daughter Sierra.  Yes, that's her real hair. Sometimes when you allow your children free artistic expression it manifests itself in interesting ways.  If you don't like her hair, give it a few weeks.  It'll change.  Just like the weather.

It's hard to down play the roll Pokemon has played in my children's lives.  3 out of 4 were total Poke Masters.  In fact, Sierra's first word was Pika.  So, when she got her job cleaning at a local card shop, I made her a Pokemon apron to wear.  It's bigger than I planned but at least I know she won't be flashing too much skin while working...

I made Hunter some Pokemon shorts when he was 5 that were so big, he could still wear them when he was 12...  My apparel making skills haven't improved much.

 I also made a new iPad cover.  My other one had holes worn through it. First I made one from a pattern out of some beautiful asian fabric but it TOTALLY did not fit my iPad... And, it was the last of that fabric.

So, on my second try, I used my left over curtain fabric.  Just in case.  Still one of my favorite prints.  The colors make me super happy.

I used some cool new ruffled elastic.  Gonna buy more of that!

 We got a new baby in the family recently.  My brother-in-law and his wife had a little girl.  They live on a horse farm but when I saw Lori Holts' pig pattern, I knew she was getting a pink pig quilt!  Here, piggy, piggy!  Squeel, snort!

I had to do the Out To Pasture (from Lori Holt's Farm Girl book) blocks a few times.  My first attempt was too bold.  So, I've got  almost enough to make a charity quilt.  Maybe with a little sailboat block.

On Labor Day, I got sucked in on all the 50% off bead sales!  It was terrible!  I only went in for felt and came out with 2 new necklaces.  And, a bunch of beads and buttons that didn't work for my Crazy Quilt class.

The owls were originally supposed to be on a thicker tan ribbon.  After breaking 2 needles, I switched to the thin navy.

Now that I've worn it, I realize the thin ribbon accentuates my neck fat rolls.  I will be finding a way to get them on thicker ribbon...

 Cute owls.  A little like Polish Pottery, no?

This was basically ready made.  I attached a couple "chain" units to the medallion.

 Couldn't resist the art nouveau lady.  Haven't worn it.  We'll see.  

   

I've had an epiphany.  I don't like making large quilts anymore.  It just seems like a total chore.  Or maybe, I just need to take a break.  I've had this kaleidoscope quilt in my stash for several years.  During the Great Window Replacement of 2015, I stumbled upon it while I was supposed to be cleaning my studio.  The first picture's color is really bad.  The quilt is yellow, the room is yellow, so what do I expect?  Right?

First of all, I hated cutting the pieces!  Cutting through 8 layers of fabric and being accurate basically sucks.  It was kind of fun sewing them together to see the shapes.  I was SO done after the alternating blocks were finished that I skipped the pieced border all together and slapped on some standard borders. I really don't love this.  I loved the fabric before I started.  And, now I feel like I made something ugly with it.  Sad face.    Didn't mean to be such a Debbie Downer.  I hadn't realized how frustrated I've felt until I typed it all out.  Blogging can be very cathartic.

That being said, I'm going to go do something fun.  Something small, and done by hand.  Honestly, why do all this if it's not fun?

A Stitch in Time, Makes 10 million

It feels like I haven't been doing much lately.  But hand work really does take more time than machine work.  Obviously...

Once I started making these cute little Advent Animals, it's been hard to stop.  Other people in our Facebook group keep saying how quick they stitch up.  Me?  It's two full days per animal.  They're only about 3 x 4 inches big.  Perhaps I'll speed up some as I go.  Seriously, I can appliqué a 12" block in the same amount of time.

I did invest in one of those magnetic chart holders.  SO WORTH THE MONEY.  I've always really sucked at cross stitch because I could never keep my place on a chart.

With my new stand, my pattern stays visible all the time and the magnets can be placed around a section or just under a certain line.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm still screwing up.  Just not as catastrophically as before.

 This hedgehog.  So cute.  I am planning to change background.  I've got enough for 3 more on the oatmeal and then I'm going to change to something darker.  I had to add the outlining on several items because it faded away on the oatmeal.

Most of my time has been taking a Crazy Quilting Class online by Shawkl.com.  It's been a lot of fun and very informative.

She has you do things in stages and then you post a picture on the class blog to show your progress.

Another little hedgehog.

First we pieced the block.  Then she has you do the embroidery work on the seams.  She provides you with templates to help you get the proportion right.   That was difficult for me.  After so many years of taking tiny appliqué stitches, it was really difficult to make the big stitches.

 Then she taught us different ribbon embroidery flowers.  That was my favorite part of the class.

We did 3 different types of roses.  My favorite are the spider web roses.  They were the easiest and I think, the prettiest.  (coral colored, near the center of block)  I thought the Fly Stitch roses (plum) were beautiful but I really struggled with them.  I had to use pliers to get the needle through...

I added the button flowers.  Good old Pinterest.  None of the lace that I bought fit on my project.  So, I guess it'll get used someday.

She showed us how to make the cute little ribbon butterfly.  The butterfly cameo was bought 50% off at Hobby Lobby's Labor Day Sale.  The ONLY thing I bought, that worked out...

French knots in ribbon are rose buds and french knots in thread are, whatever those tall flowers are...

We made ribbon Irises.  Mine look a lot like the angry bitch Iris from Alice in Wonderland.  Or, angry parrots or something.












So, that's all for now folks.  I've got a few more things but I'll let you rest for now.  I just started another class with Shawkl.com.  Next, she's going to show me how to dye my own fabric and ribbons!  Can you feel my excitement?