Back in class...

I was always one of those kids who loved the start of the new school year.  I not only looked forward to seeing my friends, but I just really enjoyed learning.  One of the things I like most about quilting is that I'll never know it all.  There will always be something new to it - a new technique, a new notion, loads of new fabric, new patterns, new quilts, and on and on.  I can be a perpetual kid.

My latest learning curve is a small crazy quilt I'm working on.  It has to be 10-12 inches square and depict a nature theme.  This is my first ever crazy quilt and I can already see how a person could dedicate years (and lots of $) to this art.  I spent an inordinate amount time just deciding on a layout.  But last night, I finally finished putting the background together...

Crazy Quilt background

Thanks to a very generous friend for supplying me with the fabrics for this!  They're a combination of silks and damasks and velvets and other 'difficult' to work with fabrics.  She also gave me a selection of beads, charms and laces to use to embellish the patches.  (FYI - She has an online store where she sells some of these items.  It's http://coveryourlittlepiggies.com/.  Check it out!)

Now I've got to get started on embellishing it.  The deadline is coming more quickly than I'd like.  But this will be a great chance to finally do some silk ribbon embroidery.  I've been wanting to try it for years.  I'll share some progress pictures as I work on it.

On a different note, I won a giveaway from Spun Sugar Quilts when they were doing the blog tour for Barbara Cline's new book, Star Struck Quilts.  I didn't win the book (which I wanted) but I did win this little prize pack...

Prize pack

I so love getting packages in the mail!

Until later...

"My God shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." 

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

The little details...

Not too long ago, someone turned me on to Sandra Leichner's blog.  She's a quilt artist whose talent lies in combining applique with embroidery to create some amazingly lifelike quilts.  And she's inspired me to try to step my work up a notch.

Lately I've been working on block 10 of the Ladies of the Sea quilt by Sue Garman.  I haven't finished the entire block yet, but already I've found some places to add some special touches.  Here's a picture of the cornucopia on the block without any embroidery...

And now I've added a stem stitch to the red and green apples, a small satin stitch to the bottom of the pumpkin stem and some straight stitches to the top of the oranges...

It didn't take a lot of time, but I like how it looks.  What do you think?   I also added some detail to the Mayflowers on the block.  Here's before...

And after I added a turkey stitch to the centers...

I'm now working on the actual ship, the Mayflower.  I don't know if I'll find any areas to add to here because the ships are already pretty detailed.  But I do know that I'll keep an eye out in the future for more opportunities.  For such a small time investment, I think the embroidery adds a lot to the overall look of the block.

P.S.  If you haven't read Sandra's blog, I'd recommend you take a look.  Especially if you like applique as much as I do!

Until later...

Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. 

Philippians 2:6-7 (LB)

Home sweet home...

I hope you had a wonderful long Labor Day weekend.  Gabriel and I have returned from our travels where we had a great time with family and were both thoroughly spoiled.

I don't know if I've mentioned before that Gabriel is not a world traveler and she's not very fond of the car either.  By that I mean, she hates to get in it and when I force her, she usually pays me back with copious amounts of puke all over the seats.  Unless Mr. Quilting Bug (aka her hero) is with us, then she's on her best behavior.  But for various reasons it's usually just the 2 of us, a bucket of vomit and a trunk full of cleaning supplies.

I hope I'm not being too graphic for you...

However she was really a perfect angel on the drive down this time.  Thank you Benadryl!  Until we actually arrived.  I brought her to play with my sister's new dog, but she was a pill to anything with a tail.  She was mean and cranky and generally out of sorts.  But with a lot of this...

Gabriel sleeping

and this...

Papa and Gabriel

she perked right up.  And by the next morning she was full of vip and vinegar and ready to take on this one...

Chance and his new collar

Chance was the reason I brought Gabriel down.  They played and played and then played some more.  My plan for Gabriel to drop a pound or two might have worked except I forgot to account for a certain someone's constant need to feed anything that breathes (aka my dad). 

 It's a hard place to be if you're looking to drop some weight.  Or even maintain your current weight.  In fact, it's always best to wear some stretchy pants when you visit.  Luckily, I know the score and packed appropriately.

So I spent the weekend visiting with my family, eating copious amounts of artery clogging food and I even spent a whole day with my mom cleaning out her sewing room.  I love organizing things.  And sewing.  And fabric.  And spending time with my mom.  (Not necessarily in that order.)  So I had a grand time.  And when we were done, we had even found room to hang a few of the wall hangings I've made her...

Mom's sewing room

It turned out to be one of those rare visits where I got to spend a lot of time one on one with each of my parents.  It doesn't happen that often and I really treasure those moments.  I know I'm so blessed to still have both of my parents with me and trust me, I don't take it for granted.

I'll leave you with one last picture from my trip.  This is my parent's cat, Cricket.  She's the momma to my Jack and Sam.

Cricket in the pantry

Until later...

"God is able to make all grace abound to you so that in all things at all times having all that you need you will abound in every good work."  

2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)

Package time...

It's package time again.  I love getting packages in the mail, but this one isn't for me.  It's for my mom.  Yes, it's that time again where I put together a bunch of quilt related items and share them with my lovely and talented mother.

Note:  It's actually part of my dastardly plan to get her as hooked on quilting as I am, so when she retires we can spend our days together quilting.

August Package

Have you noticed that each package is getting later and later?  This is her package for August and here it is already September.  At this rate, she's going to have to wait until next spring for her December package.

But I digress (as usual).  Included in this month's package are September's Camelot Snowman (which I already shared with you), "Pigs in a Blanket" (old news again), the new Fons & Porter Love of Quilting magazine, the Fabric Fusion coupon book from JoAnn's and block 8 of the Imperial Splendor Block of the Month also from JoAnns.

Another tangent - When I went into JoAnn's a couple of weeks ago to pick up another of these blocks, I was shocked to discover them all gone and a new block of the month in its place.  I'll admit I started to get a little panicky.  Here I am getting my mom hooked on making this quilt and she wasn't going to be able to finish it!  I asked several ladies if they moved them to some other secret area I hadn't found and no one seemed to have any idea.  Finally, one of them suggested checking out the clearance bins.  Lo and behold, they happened to have exactly the blocks (and setting kit) that I needed and all on clearance.  I did my happy dance right there in the aisle.  OK, not really.  That last part was an exaggeration.  I did my inner happy dance and let out a tiny barely audible squeal.

So back to her package, I've also included the first block traced out of the Crabapple Hill Winter Wonderland pattern for her to embroider along with the supplies she'll need to get started.  I figure she can decide whether she'd like to do it in red or blue.  My guess is blue looking at her house, but it's her choice.  It's a quick project she can easily pick up and put down whenever she has the time or inclination to work on it.

I threw in this picture of the September snowman because this post was getting way too wordy with not enough pictures.  When I look at blogs, I like to see lots of pictures.  Let me see if I can throw in some other random ones.  How about this?

Another picture of Gabriel's tongue with a now defunct Rocky in the background.  We now refer to him as Rocky top and Rocky bottom.  Can you guess why?

And what about David?  This cats knows how to nap.  Of course he's young and flexible so he can contort himself in all kinds of positions.  It's like when I see kids sitting indian style and I think, "I used to be able to do that.  Way, way back when."

OK, I've really digressed.  I think I must be getting loopy from lack of sleep.  I hope you're enjoying you're holiday weekend!

Until later...

Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. 

Proverbs 4:23 (GNT)

Pigs in a blanket...

Pigs in a blanket (noun) - 1. Hot dogs, wrapped in melted cheese and tucked into browned biscuits. 2. The name of the new quilt for mom.

Pigs in a Blanket

The pattern is by McKenna Ryan and is part of her "Back to the Farm" series quilt.  My mom collects and displays pigs.  She has tons of them!

This quilt finishes at 19.5" x 29".  I used all stash for the entire quilt and fusible applique for the pigs.

Please excuse the cat paw and whiskers.  It's very difficult to get a picture of anything without one of them making an appearance.

I outlined each applique piece with mono-filament thread and did a back and forth meander over the background 'mud'.

For the label, I found a picture of a pig and added the text to the background before printing it out on fabric.  It's the first time I've tried this and I think I'll do it again.  Of course, the names have been changed to protect the innocent!

Pig label

I probably should have colored in his tail loop, but oh well.  I made this pattern one other time for a friend.  Only I reduced the size and hand appliqued it inside a heart.

Quilt block for Q

I really enjoy McKenna Ryan's patterns.  There are usually a lot of small pieces in them, but they really lend themselves to a realistic look.

Once I've finished a project, I have to clean everything up before starting a new one.  Are you like that too?   Part of the cleanup for me includes cutting all my project scraps into useable sizes (a la Bonnie Hunter).  Here's what I ended up with after making this quilt...

I have yet to really use these scraps, but one day I'm going to be able to whip up a scrappy quilt in no time flat.  Or so I like to imagine.

I hope you're having a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend.  I'm busy celebrating a special someone's 9th birthday!

Until later...

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  

Romans 12:18 (NIV)

Stash Report Week #35...

August 27 - September 2, 2010

This should be a quick report.  I bought no fabric this week.  Yeah me!  And I used very little too.  I finished a quilt for my mom's August package and I'll give it to her tomorrow.  (Yes, it's a little late - again.)  I used 1 yard for the backing, binding and sleeve.  It's a small quilt, only 20"x29".

And I used .25 yards of blueberry and cherry fabric for the pincushions I just finished.  Each one only requires a 4" square so they're definitely not stash busters.  If you haven't seen them, I've been going on and on about them for the last several posts.

And finally I used another .25 yards for another item in my mom's package.  I'm going out of town today but have set up a couple of automatic posts where I'll share pictures of her new quilt and her August package.  (I don't want to ruin the surprise for her by sharing them before she gets them.)


So...
Purchased-this-week: 0 yards!
Used-this-week: 1.5 yards
Purchased-to-date: 197.25 yards
Used-to-date: 328 yards
Net used: 130.75 yards

And because no post is complete without a picture of my pets, here's Gabriel...

I'm hoping by the time anyone reads this, she's exhausted from playing with her new buddy.


Until later...

Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.  

James 4:17 (NIV)

And they're done...

I've finished gluing the last berry and bug to the pincushions.  They are now completely done!  Although I'll need to spend the next hour peeling glue off my fingertips.  Not that I'm complaining.  I actually find that kind of fun.  Did you ever pour glue in your hands as a kid, let it dry and then peel it off?  OK, perhaps I was a weird child...

I managed to find a few cycles before my acupuncture appointment to stop by JoAnns and find the perfect buttons and berries to top off these pincushions.  I especially like these ladybug buttons...

Sunflower pincushions with ladybug toppers

And a single sprig each of cherries and blueberries was enough to dress the rest of the pincushions.  I just cut them off of the stem and glued them to the top in groups of three using the Fabri Tac glue.  (That stuff is really sticky!)

Cherry and Blueberry pincushions

I made a total of 24 of them, although I don't know that the guild will need that many.  But that's OK because any extras I can take home and use as little gifts for my sewing friends.

It's nice to finish a task and I'm ready to move on to the next one(s).  I have 3 on my immediate to-do list:

1. LeeAnn's Twist quilt (king size)
2. Finish designing "Outdoor Living"
3. a 12" x 12" Nature CQ quilt

To be honest, I'd rather make the king-size quilt than the 12" crazy quilt.  That little thing has me so intimidated and I've started and stopped on it several times.  I need to just buckle down and do it because the deadline is September 22.  Does anyone have any crazy quilt tips for me?  Things to make it easier or things to avoid?  I'm a complete novice at this and would appreciate any and all advice.

Here's another weird picture of Sam.

Sam

I forgot to weigh her this morning so I'll have to try to do it in the morning before I leave.  Here's hoping she's lost some more weight!

Until later...

God feeds the birds and you are far more valuable to Him than any birds! 

Luke 12:24 (NLT)