In The Works (and Stuff)

I decided to do something for my 9 year-old (second) nieces in Nebraska. They are fraternal (not identical) twins. They are very cute, polite, and fun girls. Anyway, this is what I made for them....POSTCARDS! My first attempts at them. I had to chuckle because the same day that I finished the first postcard, I received my wonderful little postcard from Jeri.








I had originally intend to serge the outer edges but my serger became possessed by the "ruin your work GODS" and damn near ate my blocks. I'll have to over-haul that thing later. I'm still not talking to it.

Anyway, all that's left to do is to finish sewing the edging around the second postcard, find some of those blasted clear plastic protector/mailer duhickies, and get them sent out. Did you notice my 'signature' spider? I need to perfect the embroidered version of it.




I've also been toying around with some girly, dress-up type quilt blocks. I'm not sure if I like them or not. Maybe they will grow on me before I decide to yank off the good stuff and chuck them out. Time will tell, I suppose.

I bought another crafting book at JoAnn's last week, and some patterns. All McCall's for a buck. I also bought more fabric. I probably won't use in my lifetime but it was soooooo cute. I swear it was calling to me. I need to start wearing earplugs when I go there. It's getting really difficult to find a place to stash it all. My collection certainly gives "stash" a whole new meaning. LOL.


Oh well. It was a HUGE sale. You know, the kind you just can't pass up. I got the book for $5 and is very cool. There's a little bit of everything in there. I also couldn't pass up on discounted fat quarters or fabrics for $1 per yard. I didn't take photos of them but I bought 9 remnant pieces of silkies for crazy quilting. Most are near a yard and at 70% off! Brocades, silks, wovens, etc. NICE, NICE, NICE. Here are a few of the others I picked up though. The Asian fabrics are fat quarters.


















This last fabric I picked up awhile back. I thought it would be fun to have. Maybe for a spring or garden themed block. Or something!?!?!?












As alway, Happy Needling!

Big Thanks To

Candi for sending these goodies along with an RR block for me to work on. I apologize for the photo. I had a hard time with light adjustment today. The bag is a shiny Burgundy, edged with antique gold trim, and has a draw string closure with beads at their ends. Look at the butterfly. It has springs on its wings. Too cute! I was very touched by the Breast Cancer pin that was tucked away inside. I'm not familiar with the threads but I'm excited to try them. And last but certainly not least...the buttons, oh my, the buttons! They are gorgeous colored and etched glass. The photo does not do them justice.


This darling little postcard was sent to me by Jeri. It was a complete surprise. On the back she simply wrote, "A Gift of Art From Me to You!" Each petal on the flower is a separate piece, sewn down and topped with a clump of sparkly beads in the center. The flower is resting on a patchwork of assorted black and white patterned fabrics. It's so COOL! The outer edge is serged.

I only have two questions:
1. How do you get that edge? My serger is so loose and sloppy. (And yes, I have read the directions! Maybe I need to do it again)
2. Where do you get the clear plastic packages that you mailed it in? I've looked EVERYWHERE for them!


Thanks soooo much ladies!

Today is a Good Day for...

Sharing Things I Like.

It seems that nearly every day while working my way through my blogroll I find something fun and interesting. However, I seldom have time to do much more than "save it for later." But since I have designated today as my blogging day, I will list links to some of them. That way you can enjoy them too. Even if you only have time to look.

This work is done by Ingrid Siliakus. This link will take you directly to Ingrid’s Gallery. And finally, a tutorial on "Making a painted fabric trim frame". Thank you Cyndi for keeping things so interesting!


Next, is Yola’s blog. (I sincerely hope I got the name correct.) It’s a French blog but she’s made it very easy to translate. That’s a bonus for those of us who only speak English. Anyway, on her ‘home page’ she offers this introduction:

"My blog is like a library, like a magazine. You can find lessons in sewing, embroidery and crochet. There are also patterns of appliques, of stencils and quilts, links to recipes, health and fashion. You can find a lot of links to videos. I spent a lot of time in looking for interesting stuff and I hope that it'll help you in your work. Don't hesitate to let your commentaries under my messages. Thanks."

Yola truly does deliver what she promises. I have found myself checking her blog first many times when I’m trying to find a tutorial, or video, or just some place fun to spend some time.


Renea is involved in a wonderful project called "American Hero Quilts." Perhaps this is a project you would like to become involved in. So far, I’ve managed to start sorting through fabric (slowly) and hope to launder and mail them out soon. I know I would never be able to keep a commitment to actually finish a quilt. (So, so sad but true.) At this link you can jump to fabric requirements.


For the crazy quilting junkie, I offer a link to Allison’s blog. She and a number of remarkably talented ladies have been working on the most AMAZING quilt. It’s called, "Purple Heart." Allison has been very generous in sharing the ‘construction’ process. She makes it look ‘sew’ easy. LOL.




Vivienne’s granddaughter has made her very own library bag. The smile on her face really says it all! Vivienne has posted photos of this creative process on her blog.




Rivkah's blog offers some neat tips for the doll maker. This one is for making Faerie shoes. She also does some creative and interesting altered art and mixed media projects.


Catherine. And look at it when it’s finished. It’s sooooo pretty you won’t be embarrassed to have it out in the open!



Jo is always doing some fun and unique work. Recently, she’s been working on Spirit Dolls with her CQI (Crazy Quilting International) group. For anyone who loves to CQ, embellish, AND PLAY WILL DOLLS, this could be your place. In fact, it sounds like too much fun. I'll have to keep it in mind (for when I actually can commit). Anyway, here’s just a peek (or two) of what she's doing.




This is a post from early March, 2007 by Lin for a crazy quilt kimono she was working on. This link will take you to posts referencing "Kimono".




And finally, rounding this post up today, is another non-English blog that I love, Quilterin. It's a German blog but it's written in both German and English. This is such a fun blog. There is always something new and different to see.

Happy Needling!

Lucky Number 13 on a Friday

Today is one of my favorite dates:
Friday the 13th!



I like it not because I'm not superstitious but because I consider 13 to be my lucky number. I'm also fascinated by numerology. And although the number 13 is predominantly reoccurring in my life, there are also a surprising number (pun intended) of occurrences with combinations of 10's and 3's.

Anyway, for me 13 is not just an arbitrary number that I have chosen. It's something that over a period of time, I have come to recognize as being true. I suppose you can find similarities or occurrences of just about anything if you look for them. But I have encountered enough of them that I no longer write it off to coincidence.

To cite a few examples:

I have 13 letters in my name.
I suffered my most heart-breaking event on the 13th (at 1:45 am).
And years later experienced my most happy moment on the 13th (at 1:45 am).
My DS's birthday is on the 13th and is exactly 13 days before mine.
I'm a Lefty, and our 'Day' is celebrated on the 13th.
My best friend's birthday is on the 13th.
My employee number on my first job was 13.
My employee number on my last job totalled 13.
My bank account number totals 13.
I met my DH on the 13th.
And more recently, I was the 13th member of the Around the Block quilt ring.

If you're curious about Friday the 13th, fear it (Paraskevidekatriaphobia) or have a fear of anything 13 (Triskaidekaphobia), these sites offer some very interesting facts, trivia, urban legends, and things to come:
1. Brownielocks and the 3 bears;
2. Wikipedia;
3. Urban Legends and Folklore;
4. NASA.

Another Life Lost to Breast Cancer

We returned home yesterday from a very sorrowful trip to the Mid-West. My DH's sister, Lou lost her fight with breast cancer at 66. She will be missed. She touched so many lives.

The truly sad part of it is that she was always good to have her mammograms. But somehow she missed one. And as life would have it, she developed breast cancer during that time.

She is survived by her two children, her three grandchildren, a sister, and two brothers. She was a teacher and loved teaching. She was a good Christian, and a wonderfully caring person. She always remembered everyone's birthdays and anniversaries, and would often send a card or make a phone call just to say, "hello."

As a memorial to her, I made this CQ Block for her daughter, Mindy. I was very flattered that she chose to display it with other treasures and memorial items at Lou's service. I hope that looking at it will bring a smile to her face in troubled times.

This is, of course, the naked block. I didn't have anything particular color theme in mind when I pieced it but I am very happy with how well it turned out

I chose this poem because it most suited the sentiment that I was trying to convey, based on what I knew of their relationship. The angel represents the promise that Lou is cradled in love. And I wrapped it in a pink ribbon to symbolize Breast Cancer Awareness.

The names encircled in the hearts are those of her two children. I placed the heart and key below to symbolize their love for their mother. The roses above is a reflection of how much they cherished their time together before the diagnosis, and especially afterward.

I placed the spider and web on the block in hopes that it will bring good luck and good fortune. The chain and the blue beads (at the lower left) symbolize the long and painful road that they traveled while fighting this cancer.

The flower buds (and flowers below) are meant to represent the miracle of life, and the bare branches, the promise even though life must end it is always made a new.I would like to think that the stars are angles looking down upon the earth. Watching out for those of us left behind.


The dragonfly, to me, is the perfect symbol of Spring, sunshine, and sweet smelling flowers. Of new life, of new beginnings, and of hope for the future. The three crystals attached to the heart below are meant to represent the love bond between Lou and her grandchildren.


You see it here as a complete block.

And here as it was presented, framed.
In closing I would like to sincerely thank each and every person who kept our family in their prayers during this difficult and sad time.

What I've Been Working On

This first photo is the heart that I made for Susan. She is the April birthday girl in the Sharing Our Hearts (SOH) swap with CQForNewbies (CQN).

These (6) photos are of the embellishing and stitching that I did on Faith's Fairy Tale Round Robin block for Crazy4CQ. Of course chose Peter Rabbit for her theme.

I added the burgundy ribbon around mama rabbit, the purple flower chain and the button cluster. You have to look really close to see the chick, green pepper and bunny buttons. I also added the 'fuzzy' yarn with two more bunny buttons and the carrot with the "P" monogram. And at the center, above those beautiful SRE flowers I added the word "PETER."


(***CORRECTED***)
And NO I didn't work the SRE flowers. That lovely work was done by Faith. Teresa worked the spider web and the tatting. And the darling white cross stitched rabbits and adjoining seam treatments were done by Rebecca.

These next (5) photos are of Lynn's Fairy Tale Round Robin, Rapunzel block. I added the 3 beaded hearts. They stand for "Love", "Hope", and "Trust".

I also added the blue beaded treatment parallel to the prince's ladder.

(PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT I THINK...)
Judi added Rapunzel's braid. Isn't that clever? She also added the beaded, variegated vine the delicate flower and vine. It was meant to represent the Rampion from the story. And Candi added to SRE vines and flowers, the hummingbird, and the adjoining seam treatments.




This RR has been so much fun. Unfortunately, we had a couple participants who have had to drop out for "life happens" reasons. Hopefully, the next time around they will be able to join us!

Well, got to go there's more to blog :-)