Message in a Bottle Contest - 2nd Place!

Here it is a month later and I finally have some time to sit and catch up on all my Blog reading and even post some pictures.  By now you'd think we'd all be enjoying some beautiful spring time weather but Noooooo old man winter still is hanging on - temps today were in the low 40's which wasn't quite warm enough to start melting the snow.

I've been quite busy over the past month.  Rob's mother is now safely moved into an Assisted Living facility and now we are left with trying to clean out the condo and get it ready to sell.  Not too busy though...found time to work on an entry for   Thearica's  "Message in a Bottle" Crazy Quilt Contest.  The perfect theme for me as ya'll know how I love anything that is related to the ocean and the color blue.  I've decided my entry will be called "Mermaid's Fantasy Land"

Each person who entered the Contest purchased a ready made kit which consisted of fabrics, silk ribbon, thread, beads, lace, charms and of course, a little glass bottle with a cork (message in a bottle) ... all of which needed to be incorporated into your choice of design.  If you look closely you will see that I fused some of the fabric and made seaweed and fish out of it.  Also cut apart some of the fabric to use the turquoise sequin trim and lace for some of the ocean and even dyed some of the silk ribbon for some bright colored seaweed.  I estimate that I spent approximately 80-90 hours just in all the hand sewing not to mention putting the block together and the time I spent taking things apart that just didn't fit.  All in all... love it!


UPDATE!  I was just notified that I took 2nd Place with my "Mermaid's Fantasy Land" - $50 Gift  Certificate to Thearica's shop and a 2013 Pat Winter CQ Calendar - doing the happy dance!!!  To see all the entries ,please check out Thearica's post:  Message in a Bottle Contest Winners  Next time Thearica has a challenge - jump in - so much fun!

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Mermaid's Fantasy Land

Sept CQJP & A beautiful gift from Judy



 

Oh... happy days are here!  I am finally caught up with my CQJP 2012 blocks...well not counting my October block that I'm still working on.  I am so happy that I pushed myself through the year to continue making a block a month - really gives you a feeling of accomplishment and I'm now looking forward to CQJP 2013.  If you haven't joined in, in passed years - you need too!  Just think, at the end of the year you have 12 pieces of your very own work that you can do what you will with them.

 

A while back I had found an adorable picture of a mother and child and thought it would make for a beautiful pillow.  I'm actually planning on making up most of my CQJP blocks into pillows or purses to be part of my pretties offered at Christmas in my Etsy shop.

 

For the frame I used a vintage doilie (I will be listing quite a few of these in my shop) and embellished it with tea stained silk ribbon, beads, porcelain beads.  I bought the porcelain beads from Thearica's shop over at crazyquiltingsupplies   I'm not sure if she has had the time to upload these pretties but I'm sure if you contact her she'll be happy to sell you some.  Be sure to check out her fabulous selection of Pearl Cottons and Silk Ribbon - colors to die for!

 

I also tea stained the little angel, teddy bear, baby carriage, dragonfly, bow etc. to give the block a vintagey feel.  I know every time I finish a block I say the same thing "this is one of my favorites" Guess I should try and vary my color choices from time to time and step outside my box of blues.

 

 



 

 



A couple months ago I blogged about a one-on-one swap I was having with my friend  Judy.  The other day I received my pink and green block that I had sent her to work on and was blown away with how beautiful it came home to me.  Hard to belive that Judy just started Crazy Quilting!  The detail, stitching, embellishing and endless hours Judy put into embellishing this block will be cherished forever.  My plans are to make in into a pillow to match another block that I previously made using the same fabric... should be a pretty pair for sure!  Thank you Judy for swapping with me - I'm game for another one when you're ready!

 

 

Lately it seems I have been spending most of my "dyeing" time filling custom orders.  I did find some time to play with lots of new colors and laces and hope to start uploading the many beautiful laces I have dyed for RavioLee Dreams in the coming days.

With fall comes a change in colors .... ya'll know I love my pastels but working with darker shades seem to be just as pretty.  If you are looking for a particular color, color combination or themed motif/lace, drop me a note. 

Happy Fall!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm baaaaack! & June CQJP 2012

Hi All!  Well I'm finally back... been a long couple of weeks trying to recuperate from my shoulder surgery and I am now happy to report that I am sooo very happy that it's all behind me.  Surgery went well and now I am looking at starting PT next Tuesday for about 12 weeks.  Dr. says as long as I do what I suppose to do then he sees no reason why I won't be back kayaking in the spring.  Guess Nicki has to be a good girl.  Thankl you everyone for your thoughts and prayers and beautiful cards.

Laying around in a recliner for the past couple of weeks gave me plenty of time to think about things.  One thing I have decided is that I have got to try and take better care of myself now that I've hit that big 60!  So.. starting tomorrow I am embarking on a new exercise program = a slow by st4eady one at that.  My girlfriend Elaine came over today for a visit and one look at her was pure inspiration.  She has reached her goal of loosing quite a bit of weight and she looks Maaarvelous.  She told me of a great program - www.Couchto5k.com so I looked it up, printed out the schedule and will get started tomorrow.  I feel my writing it down here will hold me accountable to report in each week as to how I am doing.  I need to do this to get myself moving and feeling healthy again... slow and steady.  Anyone want to join me in keeping up with a weekly log in of how we are doing?   Seriously, if you are, contact me as I would love a partner!

I did manage to get a little bit of CQ in.  I completed my June CQJP 2012 Block - as you can see it is a bit out of my normal color range.  This block was actually part of a CQ Block swap and I was sorry to see it go to it's new owner - I love the way it turned out.

 

 

My 1 on 1 CQ Block Swap with Judy

Ever work on something that you just had so much fun that you wished you hadn't finished it?

A few months ago I met and became quick friends with Judy, apronstringsandothertiesthatbind
Judy was just getting into Crazy Quilting and me being a CQ Pusher, was drawn to her.   For some other unknown reason I felt a special closeness to her, like maybe she was brought into my life for a reason.  Lately I have been a little down  about one thing or another ( mostly health problems) but also I felt like I had lost my creative mojo.  Judy enthusiasm for learning CQ put a little spark back where it belonged.    Please take a minute and read Judy's post she made today on her Blog - her beautiful story reflects the type of person she is and I am so happy that even though strangers, I feel we have become good friends.

Judy and I decided that it would be fun to do a one-on-one CQ block swap - one with no restrictions and no time frame.  NO time frame?  That is the best!  I let her block sit around for a few days and then slowly began working on it... a little bit each night.  Funny how you think one minute you are going to do one thing but the next day, you change your mind.  The fabrics in Judy's block are vibrant in color and were so much fun to embellish.  This one's for you Judy and will be on it's way home to you tomorrow.

My very first attempt at Bullions! 
For some reason I could never wrap my brain around this stich!
Thank you Mary Corbet for your wonderful Videos Tutorials!
needlenthread

 

A Little Summertime CQing

Can ya'll believe that it's getting close to the point we are saying "summer is almost over?"  Where did it go?  I hope you all have been having a great summer and enjoying the warm weather.  We up here in MA have been having one heck of a hot sunny summer and I for one am loving it!

A while back I mentioned that I had hurt my shoulder while walking Lily.  Well, after month of being in pain and 4 weeks of PT, it has been determined that it's now time for an MRI.  So... here I sit waiting again for an appointment and then I'll end up waiting for the Dr. to schedule a surgery date.  Seems like a long time to have to put up with pain and most of all put up with the fact that I wasted a whole summer not being able to kayak.  Boo hoo.  Well one thing for sure it hasn't stopped me from CQing and it won't stop be from enjoying my grand babies when they come out in another couple of weeks.

I am currently hosting a CQ RR on the HGTV Quilting forum.  15 ladies split into 3 groups.  I have completed 2 blocks so far and am now waiting for my next set of blocks to come my way.

This is one of Ann's blocks - I chose to use the chain stitch to outline the leaves and also added some bead and SRE:

Another Block I finished was for Nancy - I loved the vibrant gypsy colors and used a piece of my dyed lace along with a pretty beaded up heart shaped you yo as the focal.

Of course summer in my back yard would not be complete without me playing in my dyes.  I preparation for my upcoming shoulder surgery I decided to spend 3 weeks dyeing laces - YES, you can say I am hoarding them... it's a severe addiction that there seems to be no cure for.  I am, and I will admit "a hoarder of laces".  While I'm down recooping, it'll give me plenty of time to start uploading lots of pretties to my Etsy shop for the Holidays.  Here are a few to tease you.

 

Want to see something purty?

A couple months ago I signed up for a RR on the CQI Forum.  I had always wanted to to step outside my typical blues & greens or pink & green colors so decided to go with a Pink & Black color pallet.  The theme of the RR was Roses.  I created my 12.5" block using dupioni silk, satins, brocades, velvet and and a pretty little silky and sent it on it's way wondering how it would be returned (always love a mystery).  Well.... no surprise to me I received my block back dressed out to the max with beads, buttons, silk ribbon, beautiful stitches and even a fabulous spider!   Thank you Ely, Rita, Gerry & Lorrie for creating such a beautiful block - I just LOVE it!

Catching up on some CQ RR's & more Dyed Pretties

For the last couple of weeks I've been playing roulette with my  CQ needles,  my dyes and lots of tiles/grout for my new walk-in shower.  Yea!  The shower is finally done and I'm happy to say that I actually enjoyed my first loooong hot shower in my own home in over a week! I'll post pictures of the before and after once the walls are painted.  I'm thinking maybe I'll give myself a break from this type of hard labor until next week.  Already have my paint picked out (warm coco) and have plans on making a one-of-a-kind shower curtain - wait until you see what I've dreamed up - I can't wait to get that project started!

After my days of tiling & grouting I relaxed by catching up on some of my RR's.  3 of them are already in the mail leaving me with about 4 more to do.  Once I've completed these RR's, I need to get caught up with the TAST and CQJP projects.   I've decided to combine both and actually have January's done.. but here it is March so I guess I need to get my mojo working overtime!  After that I think I am going to give my hands some much needed rest as they have seriously been hurting over the past week.  I know I should have elected to have the surgery in January but I just didn't have the time to have my hands tied up for weeks at a time.  Tough getting old.

A weeks worth of CQ -

SRE Spider & Cabbage Roses for Kathy S

Framed Hat Lady for Kathy S

6" Vintage Valentine for Connie

Roses for Rita

Butterfly & Roses for Ely

Cabbage Rose Frame for Ely

 

6" Under the Sea for Ruby

Not sure where I got the energy but I also dyed up about 200+ pieces of new lace.  Pictures have been taken, items packaged so all I need to do now is upload them into my shop..... when I catch my breath.  Please peek into my Etsy shop during the next week for lots of new Spring Time pretties!

Pretty Spring Time Trio

Gorgeous new Rose

Is this not the most beautiful heart you've ever seen!

Can you just picture the center cut out
so this could be used as a beautiful frame!