Which Way to the Chocolate?

Which way do I go to get to the chocolate? 

Slow Stitching Sunday

I've appliqued all 7 of my butterflies I made last week to my quilt.   I then made a bullion knot  (with between 15-30 wraps depending upon the butterfly) for the body.  The antennae are pistil stitches. I used 1 strand of #8 black perle and 2 strands of DMC glow in the dark embroidery floss.  The entire quilt is quilted in glow in the dark threads (more on that in another post later on) so I think the butterflies needed a bit of glow too.  Now I need to finish sewing that purple spider and web binding down around the 59x63 quilt and I'll be ready to show off my challenge project in more detail. So...I'm about ready to sit and relax and stitch down that binding. 

And if there's more time left before bedtime after that then I'll work some more on my CQJP 2013 Project - my Crazy Cravings lap quilt.  

The way things are going in this crazy world all of the foods in my quilt might well be banned in my descendants life times.   

Registration is open for Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2014 in case you are interested. I already know what my project will be! 

If you are doing some slow stitching this Sunday or want to see some awesome slow stitching projects visit Kathy's Quilts Slow Stitching Sunday. 

Slow Stitching Sunday

I've finished the embroidery on four dishtowels which will be Christmas gifts - part of sets which will consist of an embroidered dishtowel or two, crocheted dishcloth and a couple of potholders.  I make lots for friends and family. 

I was looking for my chicken embroidery transfers for the next set but they seem to have flown the coop. I have a friend who likes Black Americana so I'll embroider her towels next. 

I've prepared 3 blocks for my Crazy Quilt Journal project - a lap quilt called Crazy Cravings.  I pin fabrics to a muslin foundation, blind stitch them together and then embellish the seams.  

A lovely lady (thanks, Kathy!!! ) sent me some fun fabric snippets for my quilt. 

After I finish these three blocks I will have 14 - 12 inch blocks. I'm thinking I'd like to have at least 20 blocks. 

If you are hand stitching anything today why not link up to Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy's Quilts. And, if you aren't hand stitching why not check out what everyone else is stitching. You'll be inspired to try some hand stitching yourself. 

Crazy Cravings in August

I've finished my August CQJP 2013 block for my Crazy Cravings lap quilt. Details follow.

This is supposed to be braid stitch. I wanted it along the seam to kind of mimic the white icing on the cupcakes. I need a little practice at this as it is sure kind of wonky looking.  A Bella Online article with a picture of what this stitch is supposed to look like (last on page) says it takes lots of practice to get this right.

I embellished another seam with some lace, herringbone stitch and some bullions and french knots.

Another seam just had running stitch and lazy daisies and french knots. And in the chocolate swirls I used a strand of metallic and a strand of brown and chain stitched in the lighter parts of the chocolate. 

Here's another wonky seam. On one side my spacing of buttonhole stitches is farther apart than the other side. 

Another seam has some ribbon and lazy daisy stitches on it and finally I added a piece of painted lace and a cupcake button.

So far I have 8 blocks completed. Here's the August block along with 3 others. My design wall (cutting mat propped up against wall with left over piece of batting on it) isn't big enough for all 8.    I've got a long way to go yet. I think I want at least 20 blocks.

Crazy Cravings - June Update

This is my June block for Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2013.   The blocks are eventually going to end up in a lap quilt I've named Crazy Cravings. 

Now that I see the embroidery close up I think I need to whip stitch the back stitches on the whipped cream and blueberries and maybe the leaf since you can't really tell what those are.  I can make out the strawberry and the tart okay.

 Here's another close up of some of the stitches. I back stitched some of the words already on the fabric.

 I think the name of the stitch down the side in 3 colors is called a scroll stitch (or was it coral stitch) but really don't remember. I think it looks like frosting.  And speaking of frosting...I outline stitched the frosting lines on the cupcakes.

Here's a pick of the block with 3 of the others I've completed. I now have a total of 6 and think I need 20 for my quilt. 

I've started on July's block. I hand piece my blocks and use an iron on embroidery transfer for the large middle space.     I have a funeral to attend later in the day and then I think I will do some Slow Sunday Stitching.   Kathy's Quilts has a linky party going on if you'd like to be inspired by some of the hand stitching projects. 

CQJP2013 - Feb Block

My February block for the CQJP 2013 Journal Project (CQJP 2013).   My blocks will go into a lap quilt called Crazy Cravings and will be worked in mostly brown, blue, pink and cream/white - the colors of most of my cravings!

And since I will be working on my CQJP 2013 March block later today I'm linking up with Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy's Quilts.

Crazy Cravings

I've finished a block for the CQJP 2013 Journal Project. It is one of what will be 20- 12 inch blocks for a lap quilt I'm calling Crazy Cravings. It will be mostly worked in aqua, pink, cream and browns and be full of all the fattening things I constantly crave. Cookies, cupcakes, specialty coffee is represented on this block.

Since the blocks need to be washable I won't be using any beads but I will be using buttons. I found these cute gingerbread boy buttons that feel kind of rubbery. Each block will have some sort of embroidery motif like my cqjp 2012 Crazy Basket Case lap quilt. I used purchased pink lace in upper left corner but I hope to crochet some lace edgings from some old patterns I have in my possession.

 Close up photo to show some of the seam treatments.
-The arched seam is just straight stitches. I used 2 strands of brown for middle arch and used antique gold for the outer arches because small cupcake fabric has gold in it. Bullions connect the arches.
-rick rack is stitched down with variegated silk thread chains, pistil stitches and lazy daisies.
-aqua/teal variegated double lazy daisy flowers with french knot centers
- herringbone seam stitched once in 3 strands of brown DMC and then again with 3 strands of tan DMC

And then there's the cookie. I cut a cookie motif from some fabric and appliqued it on to the block. I left a small space for stuffing with some left over batting and then stitched closed and further embellished.

I haven't forgotten about my CQJP 2012 lap quilt - Crazy Basket Case. It is still a WIP. I will post an update on that tomorrow (if I remember).

Dresden Chocolates

Earlier this year I found the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild EZ Dresden Challenge while browsing the web looking for Dresden Plate quilts.  I already had Darlene Zimmerman's EZ Dresden ruler sitting in a drawer for months. I picked it up with a 50 per cent off coupon thinking I would someday make a quilt just like Grandma used to make but with 30s reproduction fabrics and muslin and an EZ ruler and rotary cutter and...well, the quilt wouldn't really be just like Grandma used  to make with all those modern conveniences.  So, I went searching for some more modern Dresden Plate ideas and the challenge bug hit me. (I do love a good challenge even if it's a personal journey).

I've been on a kick making lap quilts with fabrics consisting of some of my favorite things. (So far I've finished Hi Ho Cherrio!  celebrating my love of Cherries). I figure someday when I may have to go to a nursing home (heaven forbid) I'll take some of my favorite things with me.   Anyway...one of my very favorite things is Chocolate...chocolate chips, chocolate cookies, chocolate cupcakes, mocha coffee, chocolate candy, chocolate ice cream, strawberries dipped in chocolate...so that's what this quilt is all about...a love of CHOCOLATE.  So, I dug into my stash of chocolates (I don't buy collections of fabrics just hoard the ones that appeal to me), ordered up some Kona Cocoa for a background fabric and started off cutting up chocolates.  I was skeptical that a ruler would make light work of so many pieces, but it really did. Good thing, too, because I knew I would be working massive hours of overtime in July and August so knew I had to work quickly to finish my quilt if I wanted to enter it in the challenge.

I also challenged myself to do some hand quilting. I've seen quilts on blogs quilted with perle cotton #8 and knew that was what I wanted to use. And, since I love variegated threads I purchased some variegated brown for the quilting and a new quilting hoop for my lap (or is it an embroidery hoop?)  also with a 50 per cent off coupon. I bought a few different types of thimbles also but decided building up a callous and using it was easier than using any type of thimble.  Another challenge was quilting during the hottest part of the summer without air conditioning. (No, this old farm house does not have A/C). Unfortunately I didn't sweat off any calories ;-(

Here's some of my imperfect hand quilting up close and personal - the design I quilted between the Dresdens.  There's actually a double row of stitching there but where the dark brown thread starts the stitching blends into the background. And that's all right with me.

So, now my challenge entry is finished and the time to blog about it and link it up has arrived. So, without further ado...I'll force some quilt pictures on you all...

The yellow, turquoise and lime green centers and strips in the border are rather bright for me (even looking through sunglasses). I couldn't decide what to use for the center of the Dresdens and several people suggested using some of the colors that  were in some of the fabrics. Most of the fabrics were pink and brown so I decided to pick up the aqua, yellow and lime green.  It has grown on me now. If I hadn't taken the suggestions from others I probably would have used some drab, darker brown for the centers.  I also made some mini dresden fans for the corners. 

 All Dresdens on deck...

The backing and binding fabrics were on sale too at Connecting Threads. How lucky was that? Now it's all washed and crinkly and ready for my lap this winter.  The only thing missing is the label. I couldn't decide on a name...Dessert Plates, I Spy Chocolate, I Love Chocolate, Pass the Chocolates and other things came into my mind. But I THINK the label will read Dresden Chocolates as the name. But, it's not labeled yet!

Also linking up to Freemotion by the River Tuesday Linky Party. 

Working on It

Handquilted in variegated brown perle #8. This is my first time hand quilting and I rather enjoy the process even tho' this old farmhouse has no a/c and it's been over 100 degrees on some of the days I've worked on this. (Call me driven? Call me crazy?) I love this embroidery frame (or whatever it's called). On the other hand, I've tried to use several different types of thimbles and liked none of them. The callous on the end of my finger will have to do.  I may add binding tomorrow and be finished with it. Then I'll wash it and hope none of my thread knots come loose since this is the first time I've done the hidden knots and I've done a lot of them.

I love chocolate! 

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.

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. 

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

Stuff...All Kinds of Stuff

I made this Victorian Heart Pincushion as a challenge project with the Yahoo Stitchmap Group (see link on sidebar). Since I don't know anyone that sews I get to keep it as my own Christmas present.

Potholders for my DD and SIL who are avid mushroom hunters.

These are kind of pasta or Italian themed. They will go to some of the many family members I try to give a hotpad every year. Inside is Insulbrite and terrycloth so they are thick.

Peace, baby! Groovy potholders for some of those 70s love children! (Where are my bellbottoms when I need them).

Yummm...chocolate.

The chocolate hotpads will go into kitchen sets for some lucky gift recipients. The chocolate embroidery transfers are enbroidered (by me) on flour sack dishcloths and I crocheted a dishcloth to complete the set.

A couple more crocheted dishcloths on a pile of hotpads waiting for embroidered dishrags (er, I mean dishcloths) to complete a set.

And, finally, I think this is the last of the pillowcases I think I need to make for gifts. These go with the "Fruit Basket Upset" quilt I made for my oldest son for Christmas.