March Update a little late

Well as the title said, I am a little bit late on this post. Actually I am a little bit late on my CQJP March "block".

I got stuck on two very small seams on one of the arm panels and distracted by a seam I didn't like on the other arm and it took more than 2 weeks to get over it! Here's the completed piece and a couple more closeups.

Received a beautiful Pincushion from Nancy Fitzpatrick and the Pincushion Swap I mentioned in a previous post.

I am now participating in a Crazy Quilt "Round Robin" sponsored by Crazy Quilt Diva's. We are to make 6, 6.5 inch blocks in the color, style, and theme of our own choosing. The group I am participating with is 5 ladies around the world and our group name is She-nanigans! Each person in the group is supposed to select one of the blocks and 1/4 of another block, embellish, and send onto the next lady in the group. Then at the end of the process I should receive back my 6 blocks all beautifully decorated! Here are the blocks I sent off to New Zealand this week.

Pretty bright huh? Well I had a hard time deciding on color and theme etc. Then I came up with what I think is a great idea. I want these blocks to be a wall hanging for my mothers kitchen, probably for her pantry door. Mom's self proclaimed decorating style is French Country without the Chickens. Her kitchen is a soft butter yellow with cobalt glass accents, hence the yellow blocks. And I didn't want to send her a crafty project that I didn't work on, so I made an additional 3 blocks, 1 square and 2 triangles, to finish out the bottom of the wall hanging that I will stitch myself. Here's all the blocks.

I have received my first set of blocks from Lydia Talton of Iowa. Since this is the first month of the swap, I get first pick from all 6 of her lovely blocks and that is a tough decision! I will post picks when I finish stitching of course! And here are a couple tangles for you.

Close up on ongoing embroidery for CQJP2015

Well it been a little while, so I owe a post here! Still working on the March CQJP 2015 portion of my bear, but I thought I would post some closeups of some of the stitch work I have done so far.

Crazy Quilt Pincushion Swap 2015

Well I am participating in my first ever Swap! It is a Crazy Quilt Pincushion Swap, hosted by Crazy Quilt Divas. We had a specific format to follow, using the tutorial by Lisa Boni Plooster. http://ivoryblushroses.blogspot.com/2008/08/sea-dreaming.html That way all the pincushions should "made" the same way, but I am certain none will look the same! Here's the story of mine! First, the Plan!

Layout with embroidery.

Putting it together. I wanted this pincushion to be really firm so it would hold up. Stuffed it so much, broke the cd!

Here's the finished product, signed and all!

And of course, no post would be complete without a couple tangles! The first one, I am showing a midway picture of the process. I couldn't decide if I should stay with just the circle or finish around, glad I choose to finish to the edge!

That's all for today! I will be sure and post further pictures when I receive my pincushion in exchange!

Beginners Crazy Quilt Class

I have been participating in an online Beginners Crazy Quilting Class presented by Kathy Shaw. Here is her website http://www.shawkl.com And now that I read up, it is a Basic Crazy Quilt Class. the next is an Intermediate class which I hope to participate in as well. The class is free. Kathy provides you with a basic supply list and step by step instructions. So everyone in the class works on the same plan, but our blocks all come out somewhat different. Here is mine.

Here's a few closeups too.

Today was Valentines Day. Unfortunately, my hubby had to work, but such is the life of a chef. So today I had my 2nd Annual Valentines Dinner Date with my friend Patsy. Here's a little tangle I made for her.

I hope everybody got to spend at least some part of the day today with someone they love!

February CQJP

Well I finished this months CQJP. This is the other parts of the bears body, the front pieces I think. I might remove the two buttons and do something else with that lace seam, but I can't think what right now. So I am going to call it done, for now!

And here's a tangle for you too.

Dyeing Ribbons, Clipping Dogs

Don't be shocked! I know it has only been a little over one week since my last post. Ok, go ahead be shocked!! Short update today. I am just trying to do better about these posts. Today I gave Ceasar and Sissy haircuts, which always takes some creative effort, so I thought they deserved to be mentioned.

After that, I dyed some silk ribbon for embroidery. This was a new process for me. I have been playing around using Letreset Promarkers and Prismacolor markers, and that certainly has its place. I will continue to do that. Today I also used Ritt Dye for the first time. Also love that effect.

Dyeing the ribbon is more cost effective than trying to purchase every color in ribbon. But I also like to make a more variegated look. Wasn't abel to get the green I was looking for with the Ritt Dye, but that may just take some trial and error. Here's the finished bobbins of ribbon.

And here's a Tangle for you.

Catching up to TODAY!

Okay, so this is going to be a H U G E P O S T ! ! So I hope you have a comfy chair, your slippers, and a nice cup of tea or something, because this may take a while. First, from the tease of the last post, you may have figured out that pile of fabric was for a quilt type project. Well it was. A special request, special use, new invention blanket for my niece Maxie. We call it the Bumper Blanket. Here's the layout.

And here's how it turned out, with swim noodles for bumpers and even a carry strap to take to physical therapy, or Grandma's house!

And here's the satisfied customer!!

My next project is an ongoing project that will take all year! I decided to participate in CQJP 2015. That is the Crazy Quilting Journal Project 2015. You can see mine and others work throughout the year at http://cqjp2015.blogspot.com The purpose is to complete one crazy quilt piece that is at least 8x8 inches every month for the entire year.

Well I am not one to really make things too often that will not have some practical use. So I didn't want to make a wall hanging, and I knew I didn't want to make a journal book. So I decided to make a crazy quilt bear! I found a pattern I like at http://www.funkyfriendsfactory.com And this will probably take me thru the first 9 months of the year, after that I am thinking about some awesome pincushions. Here's the pattern in the "design phase":

And here is my completed January piece. This is going to be the body back of my bear.

I am also participating in an only beginners crazy quilt class which should take another month to complete. It is just one small block and I will post a picture when that is done! Of course I am still doing the Zentangle thing. So here's a few tangles for you!

Hope everyone has a Crafty Time!!! And since I am participating in a monthly project, the next update should be no more than 1 month away!!!