Sitting on It

Backing fabric and perle #8 quilting threads have arrived. I don't have a table large enough to pin a quilt easily so I have to sit on the floor and on top of the quilt to pin. And since I don't have air conditioning (really!) and since it's been over 90 degrees lately and since I'm going to be hand quilting this one and have it on my lap -  I think I will be "sitting on it" for quite some time. My goal is to have it completed by September 1.

Butterflies and Dragonflies

This is my last block I need to stitch on for the Butterflies and Dragonflies RR over on CQI Yahoo Group. Each lady sends around a block and the other ladies embellish it according to theme. This is Meg's block and she mostly wanted dragonflies so I added a beaded turquoise one, an organza and bullion one and a perle #8 one in gold. I also added an organza fluttery butterfly to break up the herringbone seam I added at top. I also added the curvy stem stitched seam with buttonhole flowers.

This is Meg's whole block after several ladies have added their touches.

Sewing Seams

I'm off this week. We were supposed to be camping with extended family; however, my husband has had to have hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments unexpectedly (2 hrs a day for 20 days) so that threw a wrench into our plans. Instead, the granddaughters (aged 7) are camping with us in the backyard out here in the country.

Today I set up the sewing machines I bought on sale for them a couple of months ago and they got their first lessons in learning to sew straight seams. I tore up some muslin I had into strips as well as a  45 cent sheet from the thrift store and they spent a couple of hours learning about sewing machines and sewing seams. They think they are ready for pillow and/or pillowcase making but I told them I need to see quite a few straight seams before they advance on to that.    Groan....

Dessert Plates

I've finished my dresden "Dessert Plates" top full of chocolates of all kinds.  I'm waiting for the backing fabric (chocolate macaroons) to arrive in the mail. I have already received the variegated brown perle #8 I'm going to use for the hand quilting. Not sure I like the border that much (it's kind of bright but fabrics do match the centers) ...but it will have to do now.

Linking up at Connie's Quilting by the River Linky Party

How Do You Like My New Threads?

They glow! I already had the white skein and the DMC spool. Combined together they glow pretty well in the dark. My new threads include several different types from Kreinik - grape and watermelon 1/16 ribbon, tangerine 1/8 inch ribbon, lime and lemon #8 fine braid and tangerine and blueberry blending filament.

Working on another of my Midnight Fantasy Garden blocks. I crocheted the white embroidery floss (6 strands - 7 hook) and the tangerine and grape 1/16 inch ribbon into flowers. It was not difficult to work with and the ribbon seemed like it was made of plastic. The fairy wings have some stem stitched white floss and stem stitched lime braid as well as some violet silk (or was it rayon) stitching like is on her dress and then all is outlined with lime backstitch.  I used a glow in the dark fabric pen to color in fairy skin.

Haven't used the blending filaments or the 1/8 ribbon yet but stay tuned...it's a work in process.

I'm Not a Bright Person...

...so how did I end up with so many bright fabric scraps?

I'm using up smaller scraps too small for further Heartstring quilts. This is my first spider web (or is it cob web?) quilt since my previous attempt using my 30s fabrics that did not go well. So, this is practice before I return to my more controlled spider web (or is it cob web?) I'm using scraps so didn't get too concerned or rip out a piece I saw turned wrong side up. I'm not even concerned that some of the webs are touching and some aren't (at least I don't think I am. Really, I'm not).  After all...I'm not a bright person ;-) and I'm using up scraps and I'm practicing building a better web. It's a MODERN quilt, I say. Oh, what a tangled web we weave....

And I'm looking for the bottom of the scrap boxes. And I'm linking up to Connie's Quilting by the River linky party. 

Centered

I took a little bit of advice from everyone's comments when I asked what I should use for the dresden centers - solid, complementary, gold...14 more to go.  Thanks, everyone. 

Centered: Self-confident, goal-oriented, and well-balanced.

Not sure about the self-confident part but I have a specific goal in mind for these and I sure hope they now look well-balanced. 

I Spy Some Heartstrings

I finished a set of 24 blocks for a children's size quilt for the Heartstrings Quilt Project using blue polka dot fabric for the centers.

Not sure if I have any more strings left to make any more sets before the challenge ends in August but I have a bin of smaller strips as well as crumbs.  I've already got something in mind for the smaller strings. Stay tuned...

Crazy Basket Case (June CQJP 2012)

My June block for the CQJP 2012 project. 

I've been making blocks for a lap quilt using mostly red and white fabrics, threads and embellishments. 

I'm calling it Crazy Basket Case and using some vintage transfers that include a basket from my stash as well as some found on the internet. I try to include some new stitches on each month's block and two baskets. Since it is a lap quilt everything needs to be washable because sometimes things are a mess around here. 

You might need a closeup of the bunny and basket since she is done in white on white and I, for one, can't see her very well. I assume bunny is a she since she has that pink bow around her neck. 

Roses are Red, Skies are Gray (continued)

More hourglass blocks for my "Roses are red, Skies are gray" lap quilt.

And what is the difference between gray and grey? (Or is that a gray area???? ) 

Sweet

Rehearsing Kona Cocoa I ordered on line and received today. 

I thought it would be darker but I guess it will do okay as a background for the blocks. 

Not sure what to use yet for centers. Any ideas? 

Clearing out my chocolate, cupcake and candy stash - mostly pinks and browns.

Linking up at Quilting by the River and Quilt Story Fabric Tuesday

Sewing Blues

I finished 48 blue string blocks with black centers for Heartstrings Quilt Project.

I'll wait until I do another set of 24 kid's blocks before I mail them off.

 Also worked a little this weekend on sewing together my double 4 patch blocks I've had laying around for a couple of years from a swap with a yahoo group I no longer belong to because I didn't like the direction it was headed. 

And finally since  I like blue so much I am participating in a Double Disappearing 9 patch swap with the Block_swappers Yahoo Group.  I made 32 blocks (8 sets) for swapping and some for myself besides. 

And...maybe I will use up some of the blues I like so much and have more scraps for another blue heartstrings quilt. 

Zen and the Art of Crazy Quilt Embellishment

This is my work on one of the blocks for Lisa with a Vintage Valentine theme. Lisa requested "clean and serene Zen feeling" for her blocks. My life is anything but in Zen mode right now so hope my disconnect between body and mind finds this block kind of Zenish looking.   I used the muted tones in the block which I hope adds to the serenity. The left side has some variegated feather stitch with some variegated leaves. Right side has some variegated brown chain stitching and some gray silk ribbon flowers with variegated pink centers.  To denote balance I added one of those silk ribbon flowers to the left side. And since it's a valentine theme I added a mother of pearl gray heart. But Lisa requested nothing too heavy.  I haven't stitched with a heavy heart. Clean and serene? Zen feeling? The jury is out on that.

Does a Midnight Fantasy Really Have to Include Viagra?

Every time I make a post about this Midnight Fantasy RR I'm in I start to get spam messages about all sorts of male member enhancement drugs. The spammers must key off of "midnight fantasy" or some such. I'm here to tell you that not all Midnight Fantasies include drugs but who knows that the silky women here are thinking or what their men are lacking.

At any rate...this is the last of the blocks I need to stitch on in this RR.  Before this arrived Meg, Lorrie and Lynn had their way with the block and left little room for me. Only one seam was left and it was dinky. So, I had to add my stuff here and there.

I added a large pansy up in the corner to offset the large broderie perse flowers Meg had added (and I love). Below that I added some transparent ribbon pansies. It doesn't show well but the bluish ribbon is variegated and the leaves are greenish. Ribbon was 1/4 inch.

And these pansies are made of 5/8 inch ribbon - deep purple and yellow. The flower meaning for pansies is "thoughts" (pense) and again...who knows what those silky women are thinking but how about a pansy for their thoughts.  I added 3 of these to the block. 

This is the itty bitty seam the ladies left for me to embellish. I added a bush of one petaled kiko flower stitches. I love to add together DMC antique effects thread plus DMC. It really does give a sort of antique effect although this photo doesn't show it all that well. The variegated green stems are mixed with gold antique effects and the flowers are a rose colored DMC mixed with a darker rose colored antique effects thread.

I crammed a few more kiko flowers over in a small blank spot on the other side of the block. Flowers have five petals this time and reverse color scheme.

And finally, this side of the silky lady was empty so it only seamed appropriate that I add a few sweetheart roses since that appears to be what silky lady is sniffing while she experiences her midnight fantasy.

Roses are Red, Skies are Gray

A few months ago I saw an hourglass quilt I really loved on the cover of a quilting mag while browsing at a store.  I thought that would be a good block to use for my collection   hoard of roses fabric. I didn't want white as the neutral color so chose some grays from my stash. I have lots more rose fabrics but may have to pick up more grays. 

This will be a lap quilt. Another one for my favorites collection. (I love Cherries/ Hi-Ho Cherrio was the first fav). 

And here I would insert a photo of some of the roses blooming in my garden, but it has been raining off and on all day. 

Roses are red, skies are gray. 

(Actually, some roses are yellow and some white).

Linking up at "Quilting by the River" linky party and "Quilt Story" Fabric Tuesday

Fool's Goldwork

I'm in a Fool's Gold RR over on the Crazy Quilting International Yahoo Group. The purpose of this RR is to use faux gold threads and trims with goldwork techniques instead of the more expensive gold threads. Each member of the RR stitches together 6 - 6 inch blocks to send around to each member to embellish one. 

Kerry had some lovely wedding dresses on her block and wanted romantic theme. I started on the block by adding lace and stitching to each seam. What's more romantic than lace? 

Roses might be just as romantic as lace so I added a couple. I first cut felt and then covered it with silk on one and organdy on the other. Then I stab stitched them to the block and added stitching first with backstitch then I wrapped the backstitches with perle 5 gold threads. The outside of the roses are couched with flat gold trim.  Next I laid down a couple of different trims to simulate some foliage and added beads. I also added a few leaves. Then I added some feather stitch of variegated pale pink and white perle and added bullions wrapped in gold thread. The leaves were done in 2 strands of DMC and 1 strand of gold DMC antique effects. I really like to add DMC to all the antique effects threads. More beads and gold trimmed ribbon with french knots finished it off. 

The end.