The Love Out Loud Sleepover

In our Youth Group I'm a Co-Leader of a Girls Small Group ('Love Out Loud' is our groups name) with Terri and we had a sleepover at my house!!! It was so much fun too!
First thing in the morning we had Crepes! I pre-made everything the day before so all I had to do was warm everything up in the morning! They were a lot of work beforehand but it was worth it. I had a request for them by one of the girls and as I was making 2 batches taking me 2 hours I thought...why did I agree to do this? LOL But then the happiness when I told her about them was exactly why. She was thrilled AND everyone loved them too thus making all the work and effort worthwhile in every way. LOL

Then we started to decorate flannel pillowcases for our group. I pre-sewed the cases from colorful flannel fabrics so that we could embellish them together (the fun part!). I also pre-made some heart appliques out of flannel prints.

Here is Terri ready to learn! She's never embroidered before.

I went around showing everyone how to do the blanket stitch around their applique hearts.

I also showed them how to create their own designs using stencils and a fade away pen or a pencil (we used both). Above is Amanda and she did the star in backstitch and found that it was very soothing and wants to do embroidery on her own now! I was plesantly surprised! I wasn't sure this would get a good reception from the girls but sure enough they all seemed to love it! Also I promised them a CQ day in the future because they saw Stephanie and Amanda's CQ pillows and wanted to make some too!

Here is Elizabeth, she already knew how to embroider so she was off and running. She's very creative and made bows to applique on the designs too. Right here she's shoving her needle through a bow! LOL

Here's Terri's work!

And here is what I was working on!
I had taken more photos but my new camera seems to "eat" photos and I don't know what happens to them they just mysteriously disappear. I know I had more than these yet where are they? Hubby is going to try to recover them off the SD card so if I find them I'll update this post.

Princess Block: #4 Complete

Here is another Princess Block that I've completed!

I started by adding a piece of pink tulle to the princesses hat and a teddy bear button in her hand Then I started adding jewel butterflies and sequin butterflies are fluttering around the block.

I added a rainbow braid to the right corner and above it added Rebekah's name using running stitch in pink and whipped it in purple, then added yellow and green buttons.
There is also some pre-made silk ribbon flowers that I attached above the princess.

The bouquet is made of of different ways to make flowers like using lace gathered together and a blue tulle gathered, an organza yo yo flower and some leaves made from lace. I added some feathers and buttons beads and some reclaimed wedding lace leaves and tatting that had been reclaimed from a mistake a friend was working on instead of getting trashed.

I added little buttons and running stitch "seams" to the patchwork print along with a fairy button.

Pretty Stash in Jars

Recently I was inspired to put stash in those pretty jars you find for the kitchen and have it out in the open so when I was browsing target I got 3 in different sizes. One for lace, DMC floss, and silk ribbon spools. I love it!
Here's a link to the glass jars online.

I put them on top of my little curio cabinet for now. I can reach them and they are out of the way yet I can see them. It's a fun way to have some of my stash, I enjoy it.

A Piece of Heritage: Almost Finished

I'm almost done with this piece! I finished sewing down what I'd planned so far, and I still have some more to do. You'll get to see that later but for now let me show you what I added since the last update.

You can click on the photos to see them larger. I added some vintage bugle beads with some tiny size 15 gold seed beads on the seam at the top of the photo then I stopped at the next seam and added tiny vintage buttons down the length of it.
I also added a pearl and pearl colored seed beads to the butterfly and a vintage button above the butterfly with a tiny stone star bead in the center!
I love how the seams around the photo are embellished and frame it nicely.
I adore this project so much! The colors and the feel of it, I think it's one of my faves I've ever done. LOL But then I think every project is my fave ever at the time! LOL Maybe it's that it feels special to me and it's in a style I've wanted to do for a long time.

Baby Shower Gift

I made these for a soon to be born baby girl named Eden! They are iron on transfers from a Monogram book that I put onto pre-made receiving blankets I bought.

This one I filled in the 'E' with yellow stem stitching and also stem stitched the vines in. The flowers are pink french knots.

On this 'E' I chain stitched the outline in pink and then chain stitched the flowers too I love how it gives them a dimensional look! The center of the flowers are french knots with 3 strands of thread to make them large. The leaves and the outline of the 'E' are done in stem stitch.

A Piece of Heritage: inspired

With Mother's Day coming up I thought I would dig out this "Heritage" block and start working on it! I don't know why I didn't get it out sooner but sometimes that's just how it is. Anyway at least it's out now and I'm finally making progress it will be finished soon! I started out putting in 3 spiderweb roses and then ideas started forming and I held tryouts for hours! LOL

I added this button cluster of vintage mother of pearl buttons and a silk ribbon bow on the large one. To the left you see the flower in the antique lace has a sequin and a cream pearl pinned, if you look at the large photo you'll see two vintage leaves pinned too with some small light cream lace on the seam underneath.
I also added a butterfly applique Lillian had given me!

I'm still adding to this motif, the 3 spiderweb roses started it all then the vintage wedding lace, the vintage rhinestone and cream pearls, and finally the bronze leaves. I'm planning on adding cream sweetheart roses mixed in.

I coffee dyed the butterflies, one is an applique and the other is a little tatted butterfly that Gerard made and I had saved for just the right spot! I figured it was perfect for his Mom's special block.
I also added a simple feather stitch to the seam in cream bamboo thread!
I have a few other special ideas to finish off this block but I'm saving them for later, plus I need to finish sewing these things down! LOL
It's such a special block I just love it!

New Couch Pillow Covers!

Click on the photo to see it larger
I found this fabric at Fabric.com designed by Anna Griffin (my favorite) and bought a little and fell in LOVE with the print! I ordered some more not really knowing what I was going to do with it just that I wanted it badly! LOL I just love the way the flowers are gathered together, so free flowing and the selection of flowers and colors just speak to me! So elegant yet relaxed and comfortable at the same time! So when we started house hunting and found one we love and have made an offer on I started thinking about what my new living room would look like if we got the house. I thought hey my red curtains will go in the living room now with the couch and I thought my fave fabric is the perfect tie it all together thing! So I decided to make some new pillowcovers for our couch and loveseat. I found this great tutorial for envelope pillowcovers, and made 4 for the smaller pillows which are 22x22. I'm going to do the larger 24x24 pillows later when I find a good complimentary fabric.

Mr &Mrs Pillowcase Set for Us

I loved the Mr & Mrs set I made for a wedding gift so much I made a set for us too using my favorite colors!

Mr &Mrs Pillowcase Set

Here is a Mr & Mrs pillowcase set that I just embroidered for a wedding gift! I love how simple the design is it's an Aunt Martha's Iron on pattern. Dark blue stem stitch for the words and center of the flowers in french knots. Light blue lazy daisy stitches for the flowers and green lazy daisy stitches for the leaves.

Strength CQ Block: a ton of work done

I've gotten a ton of work done on this project! First I started by getting the roots hand sewn on, and then I moved to hand appliqueing the tree trunk. Which was so easy since watching that hand applique vid on YouTube! I just can't believe how simple it really was I had some idea in my head that applique was hard! LOL Then I adjusted the top added another velvet piece and pinned it.

I feather stitched around the sun and I'm going to add little seed beads to it too.

I also added a "carved" initials for me and my hubby in a heart! I also added some beautiful oya flowers to the special spot.

Strength CQ Block: figuring out the tree

Well here is my fiddling idea for the tree. My plan is to applique the trunk, I've never done applique before so that's something new! LOL I found a hand applique video on YouTube that made it seem easy, only difference for me is I can't iron on freezer paper to crushed velvet! HA But still it's needle turning so I need to figure out what shape I want the finished trunk to be.
The leaves area is going to be large puffy silk velvet that I plan on wrinkling up and getting it really textured maybe using some beads so it's not going to look like it does in this photo. LOL
The roots are a textured yarn that I looped and twisted, I still have a few more roots I need to add and I think I need to get those sewn on before I applique the trunk.
Anyway the applique has me intrigued there is some really pretty stuff out there not just folk art type which is what I associated it with before. Here is a blog that got me interested in applique she's got some really pretty stuff and I love how it's mixed with embroidery too.
I love how with crazy quilting you get to mix the types of needlework there are! So fun!

Strength CQ Block: the idea and piecing

Well I was challenged to create a piece of art to represent strength in my life so I thought about it for a bit and drew out my idea. My dear friend Christina says that I'm like one of those trees that has really deep roots and can't be blown over easy. That is how I feel no matter what happens in my life my faith is unshaken even when it feels like a hurricane!!! That strength only comes from God and is only possible though a relationship with the One who loves us more than we can imagine!

"The LORD is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." - Psalm 28:7

"The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace." - Psalm 29:11

"O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God." - Psalm 59:17

Then I pieced 3 blocks one green 3x11, a brown 3x11 and a sky 8x11 so when sewn together they are 11x14 a typical size for framing.

Here is more of my idea for the tree. I have no idea how it will actually be done! I want to make the trunk out of crushed velvet and that's all I know right now.

White on White CQ Block: Finally Framed

I had the idea to use fabric as matting instead of the real stuff so me and Hubby worked on it and finally got this block framed and it's hanging in our bedroom! Woo Hoo!!!

What we did was take foam board and cut it out to the right matting size then we took acid free permanent glue stick and rubbed it covering one side of the cut board and placed the fabric on it and wrapped it around. Then the center was cut in a large X and wrapped/glued to create the finished Dupioni Silk Matting. After all that it was simply putting it all together in the frame! I had gotten a set of 3 of these frames from Big Lots which had icky art in them and was deep enough to be a little shadow boxed. Perfect for framing CQ! I still plan on creating 2 more blocks to hang them all together instead of a wall hanging.
Here is more info and closer photos of the block!

Roses'n'Lace Block: a sneaky peek

So far I'm almost done with this seam/motif! It seems like I never have time to work on it! Well I just need to finish adding in some beads and I think it will be finished! Anyway just thought I'd let y'all see a little peek! LOL

Roses'n'Lace Block: a tiny bit of work

I've been so busy lately that all I've gotten to complete on this block was to hand sew the doilies down and start on a seam! I'm going to do a swag of roses inspired by antique china patterns, so far I just got the stem stitching base down and my silk ribbon picked out!

Crazy Quilts and Puzzles: Is there a connection?

The other day I saw that Pat Winter was working on a Puzzle and it got me to thinking...
How many of us Crazy Quilters also share a love of doing puzzles? I know that most of the time we also share a love for flowers and a lot of the time gardening too, a love of old pretty things, lace, buttons, and the list could go on and on! LOL I know that my dear friend Wendy also loves to do puzzles and so do I, is it just a coincidence? One time when me and my hubby were working on a puzzle I told him that when I'm doing a puzzle it's a lot of the same feelings I have as when I'm working on a crazy quilt block...the feeling of accomplishment when you get just the right piece in just the right place, and the need to keep going...just one more piece...LOL!
So if you are reading this I'd love to hear from you, just leave a comment! I'm curious to know how many who love CQ also love puzzles or if you love one but hate the other? And why?
It will be so fun to hear your answers!

Was Harvest Challenge UFO will now be Roses'n'Lace

After starting this block as the Harvest Challenge Block , I ended up letting it become a UFO (UnFinished Object) for a long list of reasons. Since the challenge is now over, you can see the results HERE, I'm now going to resurrect this block as the Roses'n'Lace Block. I'm now excited to work on it again and I'm taking it in a new direction. I think one of the reasons I couldn't work on it any more was it just wasn't feeling "right" to me, it's hard to explain it, kind of like it wasn't being true to me in a way. As I've been browsing antique stores and enjoying rose tea cups and beautiful lace and linens it's given me a desire to put that down in "art" form. I've been thinking about it a lot so I got it out and some of my new doilies and love the effect so that is the direction I'm going to take now. I wish it was easier to explain but instead of trying to do what I think I should do with this block, instead I want to be true to myself and do what I want to do. Part of what makes my work unique to me is putting what I love on my blocks, and everyone's likes/dislikes is what makes each ladies work unique and special to them too. I enjoy pushing myself to try new things at times but sometimes it's best to stick with what you love and that's okay.
I guess in a way I had forgotten that, I think everyone does from time to time. So the lesson for myself is to just do what I love to do, this is my art expression, not anyone elses. God has given me a wonderful gift that I enjoy and so I want to do just that and give praise back to the One who made me who I am through my work.

Vintage Embroidered Pillowcases

Here are some vintage embroidered pillowcases I picked up also while on vacation!

I've never inherited any linens so it's fun to adopt some! They are so pretty too!

Pretty Hankies

Here are some other hankies I found while on vacation!

This is one of my favorites, it looks like it was handmade.

This one is another fave, very delicate and thin also looks handmade.

Isn't this poppy hanky adorable? The flowers are raised too, and it also looks handmade.
Click on the photos to see closer.

Glass Buttons

Another find while on vacation! Aren't these glass buttons dreamy! I especially love the flower shaped ones! Oh and they are all a medium size just perfect for most crazy quilt blocks!

Crazy Quilters DREAM!!!

While on vacation I found a Dream Shop for Crazy Quilters or really any needleworker who love, love, loves vintage and antique sewing related things! I have to say if you are ever in the area it is a must stop little store. It's small and kind of hidden but worth finding! Click on the photo above to get the info on the shop "Stitches In Time Antiques".

Here is what I bought but I held myself back really! I was drooling over everything...drawers and drawers of LACE!!!!!! And buttons!!! And there was even some crazyquilting there too! Tons of antique buttons! Even tatting shuttles! Needless to say I wanted the whole shop! LOL
Isn't that lace bundle at the top interesting? The shape of it I thought lends itself to crazy quilt seams! And the little Irish crochet doilies!!!! Adorable, and I have plans to put some of them on my old Harvest Challenge block that got UFO'd it will now become my Roses'n'Lace block!

Here is a close up of four antique buttons I got. I just love the strawberry ones!

Here are other buttons I bought too.

I couldn't resist this wedding hanky, I love to collect them and this one is 3D!

Crafter's Shop Find

On our way back home we made a road trip of our time and stopped at Antique Stores along the way. At one of our stops in Stockton there was a little shop called "Creative Crafters Vintage Nook". We stopped in and found that it is a gem, so if anyone is driving by Stockton you'll want to take a pit stop to this sweet shop! Click on the photo above to see all the info for the shop.

I found 2 tea cups I couldn't live without, some pretty buttons and an apron. The buttons were a scoop for a dollar!

The yellow tea cup is a Shelley! It's probably a newer (I think it's a 1945-1966) one but still, any Shelley is a find so we snatched it up at the affordable price it was! LOL

I also loved this one with the pretty green all over and yellow roses.

Here is the adorable apron I got! It's made by one of the crafters who sells in the shop.
I also saw a tatter's booth, who also was going to do a demonstration for them and maybe lessons if there is an interest. They also loved that I do tatting too, everyone was so sweet and friendly!