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!