CQJP 2012 - Book Finished

Today I would like to share a few photos of the book I completed from my CQJP 2012 project blocks. This is the first time that I have worked tone on tone blocks. The concept just never appealed to me. I assumed that tone on tone would be tedious and boring. I WAS SOOOOO WRONG!



The binding/spine was a little more difficult than I anticipated, so it took a bit longer to get it finished. And since the pages are hand stitched to the spine, I opted for a doubled strand of hand quilting thread.

All in all, I'm quite happy with the way it turned out. In fact, I like it so much that I'm thinking about making another book for me in the CQJP 2013 challenge.

Another fun bit of news... My cover block was featured by Craft Gossip on December 17th! Thanks for the heads up, Terri/Shell.

Well, that's it for now. I hope that everyone had a nice Holiday Celebration, regardless of what and how you celebrate. I also wish everyone a safe, happy, and fun New Year!


Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!

Gerry

Victorian Ladies DYB - Round Three

Tonight I finished the third of five blocks that I will work on in this round robin. This Rengin's block. She lives in Istanbul, Turkey and this is our first time that we have gotten to work together.

I had no idea what I was going to do with it when I chose it but in the end it really surprised me. I grabbed the dyed lace as a starting point and I guess it really did set the tone. I'm very happy with it and I hope Rengin is too!

I should be able to grab a photo of my third block shorty, and then I'll update this post. I believe Rengin is the next to work on my block too.

12/08/12 - Update. This is the block that Rengin worked for me. I am so happy with it. It's so beautiful and very much in keeping with the style that Cathy chose as a starting point.



Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!

Gerry

CQJP 2012 - December & More

Victory!!! Here is my black, December block. This block will be the back cover of the book that I will be assembling over the next week. This book is a Christmas gift to a special someone, whom I cannot name just yet.



This page will be the front cover for the book.



This page will be the inside cover and dedication page.



I have printed off several "Arizona Fun Facts" onto cotton and will be adding them to the pages before adding the batting, lace, finishing the edges, preparing the spine, binding, and adding the closure.

Wow - that sounds like a lot to do still!!!! Hopefully, it will be a breeze. :-)

Have a great weekend and I'll see you back here in a few days (fingers crossed).



Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!

Gerry

CQJP 2012 - November Block

My goodness, where did this year go? Here I am posting November's block, with just one more to work and BAM - the year is over!!!

This is block #11 for November. I will start working the last block soon. I'm hoping that when the time comes to assemble the book that I don't have too much trouble with it. But we will see...........




Here's the recap so far!



Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!

Gerry

Victorian Ladies DYB - Round Two

This is the work I did on Lisa's block. This was a fun block to work. The little girls are so cute! It's difficult to see in the photo but in the upper right hand corner there is a tiny hanger with a ladies boot, handbag, and parasol.

This is the block that Hideko worked for me. I really like the how these blocks are turning out. I really appreciate that they are being worked in such a cohesive manner. It will be really nice to have a 'set' when they get back home.


Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!

Gerry

CQJP 2012 - Aug. - Oct. Blocks

Finally! I'm caught up on my CQJP 2012 blocks. And none too soon, considering it's the very last day of October.

August Block:

October Block:

September Block:

Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!

Gerry

Victorian Ladies DYB - Round One

Connie's blocks are the first to arrive at my house in this DYB. And this is the block that I chose to work on.

Connie's blocks are made to form a circle when finished. The 'wedge' that I chose sits at the top, center of the circle. The photos on her blocks are all women in her family, who lived in the Victorian Era. This particular lady is named Valentine.

This is a photo of the work Cathy did on my block. She said that the purple lady spoke to her, and she has done a lovely job with it!


Well, I just received Lisa's blocks in the mail. It's time to chose one and get started on it!


Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!

Gerry

Apron Addiction

This is a repost (slightly modified) from Christmas 2010. I've been pulling fabric off of the selves and auditioning them for some new apron projects I have in mind. And since aprons seem to be such timeless and collectible items, I thought I might just try my hand at a few in my Esty Shoppe. At least I would finally open up a few patterns and actually cut in to a few yards of fabric. And hopefully, I won't just end up expanding my own ever-growing collection!

I thought it would be fun to do some Mommy-Daughter aprons, and maybe even some Daughter-Dolly aprons. Anyway, I here are the apron set that I made for my nieces. And today's inspiration.

(Remember to click on the image to enlarge, then click again to "SUPER SIZE" it)

This is Monique's Teapot apron, mitt and pad. For the main fabric I used a Mary Engelbreit's Cup of Kindness, a yellow polka dots on black for the accent pieces and bow, and a solid yellow fabric for the lining. It's difficult to see but I attached an ME Teacup button to the center of the bow.



This is Alyssa's Bistro apron, mitt and pad. For the main fabric I used a vintage reproduction fabric which has an allover kitchen/food motif, a multi-colored, stripped fabric for the accent pieces, and a solid burgundy fabric for the lining and bow. Attached to the bow is another ME button. This one a bowl of cherries.



This is Sydney's Birdhouse apron, mitt and pad. For the main fabric I used an allover birds and birdhouse fabric, a multi-colored stars on red fabric for the accent pieces and bow, and a solid beige for the lining. On this bow I've attached a little bird and birdhouse button.



This is Emily's Fairy apron, mitt and pad. For the main fabric I used an all over purple on white fairy fabric, a purple and red on purple "Hot Mama's" confetti fabric for the accent pieces, pockets, and lining. And of course, added the purple rick-rack trim, and accented the top with an organza and beaded flower.



The first three aprons were made using Simplicity Pattern #3746. However, I did have to modify/resize the pattern for two of these aprons. The last apron was made using Simplicity Pattern #2492. On this apron I merged the "A" and "B" apron to achieve the look I wanted. I also modified the pocket and the ties by eliminating the ties at the back of the neck so that it criss-crosses in the back (like the others).

On all of the aprons I made I added the bows, and the linings, and created my own pattern for the oven mitts and hot pads.

Each one of the girls also received their ensemble with a package of cookie mix, a gift box of cookie cutters, a small rolling pin, wire whisk, spatula, and wooden spoon.

Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!

Gerry

Victorian Ladies DYB

Good Morning,
Just popping in to add a photo of my naked blocks for the upcoming CQI Victorian Ladies DYB (do your block) round robin that begins on September 1st.

(Image Source/Credit: Doll on the Hill Factory)

This round robin will have 6 participants, each piecing 6 blocks, 6" square. As the blocks are mailed out, each of the participants will chose a block to work on, with each person working the entire block. The remaining block will be completed by the block maker.

I will post photos as the rotation progresses.

Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!

Gerry

Pets Round Robin - Updated

Well, since I've already completed 3 of the 4 4 of 4 blocks I have to work on in this round robin, I thought it might be time to post a couple of photos. I've also received my finished block back.

This is my pieced block. It is a tribute to my sweet, Bella Donna.



This is the work I did on Darlene's block



And on Alice's block



And on Linda's block



Kristie's block will be the 4th and final block in this round robin. I don't expect to receive the last block until mid August. I'll post photo's here after I work it.

And on Kristie's block



And my finished block



Everyone did such lovely work on this block. Bella would be proud of how well she was 'captured' on fabric!

Thanks Ladies!!!

Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!

Gerry

CQJP 2012 - July

Here is the July (white) block. I pulled some of the colors out of the fabrics but tried to keep it as tone on tone as possible.



And here the blocks are so far...




Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!

Gerry

CQJP 2012 - June

Here is my completed June block for the CQJP 2012 project. It's an orange block although it really looks more brown in the photo. This one was a little more difficult to keep tone on tone, not having a wide variety of orange materials to work with. I'm finidng that the July block is presenting a similar challange. It's white. We'll have to see how that works out as I work through it.



Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!

Gerry

CQJP 2012 - April & May

Good morning! Just popping in to post a photo of my finished blocks for April and May.

If you woud like to see what the other participants have been up to, pop on over to the CQJP 2012 blog. Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!

Gerry