CQ Valentine Challenge Contest

Yea!!!!!!!! I can finally show ya'll what I have been busy working on for the past month or so.  I'm so happy to have another project done and one that I really enjoyed creating.

2 months ago I Challenged a group of Crazy Quilters on the HGTV board to a Valentine Contest.   Each participant was mailed a kit consisting of 7 items - 2 pieces of fabric (red & cream) 2 medium size lace motifs,  2 small heart motifs, 2 charms and 1.5 yards of pale pink rayon ribbon.  The Challenge was to create something no smaller than 10" using every item but with the extra added bonus of adding anything else they wanted to incorporate.  Materials in the kit could be altered as long as they were used.  If you'd like to see some pretty eye candy please check out the CQ Valentine Challenge in my Flicker Albums.  The names of each participant and their Winning blocks are noted under their names.

This was my entry into the Contest (12"):

CQ Valentine Give Away Winner & Devils River

Oh My! I am amazed that there was a grand total of 114 ladies who left a comment for a chance to win my Valentine Heart.  Thank you all for stopping by - I'm sure there will be many more Give Aways throughout the year so please stop by again.  I got hubby to draw a name out of my basket just before he went to bed... and the winner is..........

Judy of apronstrings !!! Congratulations Judy!  Could you please contact me at bnickilee@aol.com with your mailing address so that I may mail out your heart.  I have decide not to post a picture of the inside goodies right now so that they will arrive to you as a surprise.  I read that you are new to the world of Crazy Quilting so I hope you enjoy these pretties.  Not sure if anyone has told you but... CQ is extremely addicting! 

Looks like a busy week ahead for me and not much time for stitching.  We've decided to get rid of the bathtub and make a huge shower.  We've lived in this house for going on 13 years now and neither one of us has ever taken a bath... always a shower.  The tile area is absolutely horrible - hate it!  I think it must be the original tile from when the house was built in 1986.  I've picked out some pretty beige, stone looking tile with an darker accent for a trim.  Demolition will begin Tuesday morning and I'll start tiling Thursday with hopes that it'll all be done by next Sunday...anyone want to take bets?  I bet ya'll didn't know I am a lover of tiling?  Well before CQ I was addicted to mosacing - love it!  I've done a few jobs but my favorite is my gorgeous turquoise bathroom counter top. 

Just this past summer I spent 3 weeks down at the Devil's River in Texas.  My bestfriend Bev finally built her dream home atop the cliff over looking the most gorgeous River.  I always promised her when she was ready, I would be there to tile her ktichen. She picked out stainless steel tiles - talk about a Challenge!  Took 4 days to complete but in the end it turned out fabulous and to the 1/4"!  I don't even think I have to tell you how much fun we had being together...3 weeks was just not enough time.

Hard to believe this wasn't here a year ago -
it will now be my forever favorite place to visit.

Ahhhhhhh A well deserved float down the River

 

Bev, thrilled that the tiling is done!

Happy Valentines - Let's Celebrate with a Give Away

Happy Valentines!  Wishing you a day filled with love, hugs and kisses!

Last year on Valentine's I was given a big beautiful red heart filled with chocolates.  As Forest Gump would say "Life is like a box of chocolates"  Well, sorry to say those sweet chocolates are long gone but I might have something for all you CQ lovers out there that is just as sweet.  How about a box full of pretty laces and some other CQ surprises?

For a chance at some real CQ candy, just leave a comment and on Sunday, February 19th, I will have my wonderful husband draw a name out of a basket.  If you do not have a Blog, please leave an email address where you can be reached in case your name is pulled.

A couple CQ treats to be sure to check out :

1. 
Crazy Quilts are Quilts Too Contest - hosted by Thearica Burroughs, be sure to stop by and check out the many beautiful entries to this Contest and then peek into the wonderful CQ blogs that have been linked.  pigtalesandquilts 

2.
Check out the List of wondeful Online Classes that Maureen Greeson has put together - Online-Crazy-Quilting-Classes

3.
The Spring Time 2012 Edition of Pat Winter's "Crazy Quilt Gatherings" is out!!! Head on over an place your order - I'm proud to say I have every copy so far - yummy eye candy! gatherings

There's a Crazy Quilt Show Going On & Online CQ Classes Available!

Over the years I have been to tons of Quilt Show but seldom see any Crazy Quilts featured. Well,
Thearica of pigtalesandquilts has taken it upon herself to give all us Crazy Quilters a place to show off our stuff. With lots of eye candy to be seen over the next few weeks you certainly are not going to want to miss this show Crazy Quilts are Quilt too!

I have always loved color, lace, beads and all things pretty so what better way to combine all of these pretties into one hobby.... or should I say addiction. Over the past 6 years I have Crazy Quilted just about anything I could think of: Blocks, needle books, pillows, purses, framed art, jewelery. lampshades... you name it I've tried it. One thing that remains a constant in my work is LACE. When I first started out I could only find ivory/white lace and since I'm a lover of color I had to change it up a bit by dyeing my own laces. With so many people asking where I got my laces I decided to open up RavioleeDreams last year and have had a ball doing what I love.... playing CQ.

Here are some of my favorite work from the many projects I have made and worked on:



Last year I was one of the lucky few who was able to attend a Crazy Quilt Adventure in CT hosted by Maureen Greeson of maureensvintageacquisitions  Maureen has done it again, but this time she is making it so that anyone and everyone can take a class. 

If you are a Crazy Quilter or have never tried but dreamed of creating beautiful  items using luscious fabrics, beads, lace, silk ribbon, beautiful threads and would like to learn, please check out Maureen' s Blog for information on some fabulous online classes : Online-Crazy-Quilting-Classes  Over the next year there will be some incredible teachers teaching what they know best about Crazy Quilting.  To name a few -  Pat Winter, Betty Pillsbury, Kathy Shaw, Cristen Brown and Nancy Eha will be hosting classes in the very near future.  And while you are visiting Maureen's Blog, check out her fabulous store!

Another New Baby coming to my house!!

OMG!  I haven't been this excited since Lily came into our lives!  I did it! I did it!  I pressed that "Buy it Now" button and in a matter of 19 more days this brand new baby will be mine! Singers' 160th Anniversary Edition!  Thank you Rob - you are the bestest husband in the world!

Yesterday my friend Lynn (Thank you! Thank you!) posted on the HGTV forum that HSN was having a special on this Anniversary Edition for $389 Free shipping all inclusive of attachments and carrying case.   When I logged in to HSN there had already been 4800 units sold and I was panicking because I couldn't get a hold of Rob to tell him that I had found the perfect B'Day present for my 60th B'Day.  Well.... long story short, he was out of the office for the afternoon so I got on the phone with Lynn for some moral support and hit that magic button... yep, I did it - somewhere just after the "Units Sold" was reading 5200 units.  Rob came home, said he got my email and decided to go on line and order it for me as a surprise for my birthday but they were already Sold Out!  I let him think for a brief minute that I was bummed out but started laughing because I just had to tell him "I got it" went ahead and bought it.... lucky guy, now he doesn't have to stress out over what to buy me come July 4th LOL!  He said to me afterwards, "well most women would want something like diamonds or rubies... I'm the lucky one - you just want a sewing machine"

Another Day in Lace Paradise!

Ever feel like you are dancing your way through life?  For the past couple of weeks I feel just that... sorta of Flights of Fancy.... working on one project and then flittering over to another.  In a matter of a couple weeks I have been dyeing lace, crazy quilting, working on my TAST and CQJP projects for 2012, rearranging my Crazy Quilt Room (again!), putting the binding on a surprise quilt, making promised gifts, finishing up a couple of Crazy Quilt RR's and uploading new pretties just in time for Valentines to my Etsy shop  RavioleeDreams.   Please come take a peek.  

With Valentines being right around the corner I think it'll be time for a Valentine Give Away - hmmmm let me see what I can come up with - please stay tuned! 



An Incredible Surprise!

Happy New Year! 

 May 2012 bring you all health,

 happiness, peace at heart

 and lots of love!

Have you ever found yourself dancing alone in your kitchen, singing a crazy made up song and just being plain silly?  If so - feels good doesn't it?  Well last week I found myself doing just that.  I think my new pup Lily was thinking "OMG! is she for real!"

The reason for my giddiness - I had just picked up a box at the Post Office that I was not expecting.  At first glance I noticed the return address and was thinking "now what in the world is Jayardi sending me?"  Jayardi is my friend Jean who lives in WI.  We met on the HGTV Quilting forum about 6 years ago and have met once in person in NH at Quilting Retreat in 2009.  She is such a talented soul and just as sneaky.  Little did I know that when I opened my mouth a couple years ago and told her I loved a quilt that she had made that she would send it to me.  Look at this BEAUTY!  It's mine!  All mine!  I still can't believe she gave this up and sent it to me. 

Every year for as long as I can remember, Jean hosts a Scraps to Treasures Quilting Challenge.  All the money raised for the raffle of these quilts goes to Charity.  Each participant is required to send in a set of blocks (same fabric) for every person in the Challenge.  Once the blocks have been distributed you are to make a quilt using all the blocks plus a few extra that you can earn as Bonus Blocks.   It is simply amazing how everyone can have the same fabrics to work with and there end up being 30 totally different quilts.  This quilt was Jean's entry - she won 2nd Place.  Before the voting even took place I mentioned to her that I'd love to know who made it as I absolutely loved it.  Little did I know that she was the maker and that a few years later she would gift it to me.  I love you Jean - you are #1 in my book!

Oh, did I forget to mention that Jean is also a gifted artist when it comes to machine quilting?  Check out the back of this quilt - AMAZING!  It is just as pretty as the front.  I have the perfect place to hang this quilt - now to buy a beautiful rod.

 



Merry Christmas - See you next year!

Merry Christmas!

With Christmas only a few days away, the holiday rush on and not much time for anything, I thought I would sneak in here and wish you all a Merry Christmas filled with lots of love & happiness and a Happy New Year!  May you all find peace in your hearts and good health in the New Year. 

So many of you have come into my life this year as strangers

but as I close out 2011 

I say Thank You for becoming my new friend.  

Lily Lee is home and we're loving it!

First, thank you everyone for all your congratulations on me becoming a new mommy and your well wishes.  It is so wonderful to know there are so many dog lovers out there.  Before I get back to chatting about Crazy Quilting and Lace, I'd like to share one more story about Lily's homecoming.

Been busy dyeing up laces, putting kits together and trying to get into the Holiday spirit.  Well, Saturday came and all I can say is "Merry Christmas Seavey Family"  The best present in the world arrived around 4:30 - have to tell you is was love at first sight.

Lily's van arrived a bit late and Rob was kinda laughing at me as I was so excited I was crying... it was like a Hallmark card for sure.  As Rob and I sat in the parking lot waiting for the van to arrive from Alabama we noticed one by one cars pulling into the same area...some with couples some with families.... I just knew they were there for the same reason.  The minute the van stopped it was like magic - everyone quickly filed out of their cars and hurried over to stand in front of the Transport van.  The door opened, a small fella came out and immediately welcomed us and said "we are going to call the dogs names out one by one, when you hear your pups name please step forward... first name..... Lily! Will the parents of Lily please come forward.  OMG! Can you say excited!!

Lily was taken from her crate and handed over to Rob while I gathered up her paperwork.  It took us all of one second to fall in love with her.  I knew the minute we laid eyes on her that we had found a forever little girl and that she, a forever family with us.   I have to honestly tell you she is an angel sent down to take care of us.

Many many thanks go to all the ladies who were involved in our being able to adopt Lily and especially my friend Margo for giving us a good referral and to Candy who is a volunteer with Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue Corp, she  spent plenty of time listening to me go on and on about how much I wanted Lily and helped make it happen.  If you are ever thinking about adopting a rescue dog SGRR is the best - a first class organization.  The whole application process might be a little daunting but it is so worth every minute spent.  I can understand why they do such an intense screening, it is necessary to make sure that these pups go to the right homes.

Not wanting Lily to be scared, I sat in the back seat with her the whole ride home.  Funny, she walked into the house like she owned it.  Went to her basket of toys and right away was ready for play.  I'm thinking that she was not abandoned on purpose but maybe got lost and separated from her family during the bad weather down south had months ago.  She is so well behaved, knows all her commands, lets you know when she needs to go out and is so happy and loving. 

Sunday we decided to introduce Lily to the ocean.  She loved running on the beach and of course had to check out the water.  I was holding her leash when out of the blue she jerked away to chase a sandpiper and ended up in the water... she has officially been initiated by the New England seashore!  Sleeping now in the family room we have only one slight problem.... she sneaks off her bed in the middle of the night and seems to have claimed the sofa as hers - NOT!   Sweet dreams precious Lily.

 

We are expecting!!!!

Yep, you heard me right!  Rob and I are expecting!  Like all expectant mommies I've been pacing the floors trying to get things ready for the big day.  Food - check, Toys - check, Bedding - check!  The little darling even has a name already - Lily ... and of course Rob has suggested giving her a middle name so she will be Lily Lee Seavey.  The one thing that I really think is so cute about her is she already weighs about 60 pounds and has 4 legs!   Meet my Lily!

When we first contacted Sunshine Golden Rescue we figured it would be months before we ever got a dog.  How wrong we were.  I almost gave up when I started filling out the application because there were soo many questions.  But... after taking one look at Lily's sad eyes and pretty little face my heart melted and I knew she had to be our dog.  My friend Margo adopted her dog Hunter through Sunshine and was sweet enough to give us a good reference - Thank you Margo!  I sent the application in on a Wednesday, had our telephone interview on Thursday and our home visit on Saturday.  The home visit really made me realize how terribly I had been missing having a furbaby around the house since Brat passed away last October.  Candy, the lady who came for the home visit, brought her gorgeous Golden (Jordan) with her.  Instant love.  Rob seriously wanted to dognap Jordan as she was so beautiful.  By Sunday evening we were approved and just this morning we got word that Lily is being transported up from Alabama this Saturday to Rhode Island.  Rob and I will be waiting there at 3:30 with open hearts to welcome this pup into our lives.  BTW - How long to you think it'll be before I start trying to dress her up in lace LOL!  Hmmmmm a Lace collar?  (Rob would shoot me!)

Look at this sad face - how could we resist!

Now look, all bathed and ready to meet her new parents
(my heart has melted)

Crazy Quilt Gatherings & Tons of Laces

It's here! The 4th edition of Pat Winter's Crazy Quilt Gathering Magazine.  For those of you who haven't seen this fabulous magazine... it is a must!  Every edition is filled with beautiful crazy quilt items, featured artists and tons of CQ tips and tutorials.  You can order your all copies here: 

magcloud.com   

Be sure to check out the back cover too!  When you do you will see why I have been a crazy lady for the past couple of weeks.  I have been busy dyeing up tons of pretties, taking pictures, cropping, resizing and uploading.  I will be loading up  RavioleeDreams  with all thing Crazy Quilt over the next week or so to get ready for the holidays.  If you ever see a particular piece of lace that you like and would like to have it done in a specific particular color, I can always do a custom order.

Thank you Pat for including me in your magazine once again!

And the 11-11-11 Give Away Winner is..........

Happy 11-11-11! Sending all the veterans around the world a big Thank You for all they've done to keep us safe.

Thank you all for your wonderful comments and taking part in my Give Away.   Please stop by now and then to see what other goodies I have in store as I hit various milestones.   I've been trying to upload my shop for the past few days but with this new computer I am having a heck of a time with the resizing of pictures!  Waaa I want my Windows XP back - it was so much easier!

As promised, a winners name  has been drawn out of my favorite little shabby chic bowl for a $30.00 Gift Certificate towards laces of her choosing and an extra little surprise.
And the winner is.........................

FlowerLady!!!!!

Ms. Flowerlady, thank you for visiting RavioLee Dreams and taking a chance.  Please contact me with your name and address at Bnickilee@aol.com.  We can chat about what laces you might like and what colors you'd like to have them dyed in.  Congratulations!



Another CQ RR Completed & Celebration Give-Away

Do you ever just take a minute, sit back in your chair and say "where has all the time gone?"  I find myself doing that more and more every day.  Seems like I was just updating my blog the other day and now I see that it has been a couple weeks!  I've always been told the older you get the more time zips by.  For the past two weeks I have been dyeing lace, cropping pictures. resizing pictures (which hasn't been easy with this new Windows 7 program) packaging lace all to get ready to load up Raviolee Dreams for the upcoming holidays.  WEW!  Good thing today is daylight savings...we all get an extra hour!

When last I wrote I had mentioned that I was coming up on my 600th Etsy Sale.  Well that day arrived so it's time to celebrate!!!  I'd like to celebrate by saying Thank you to all who have supported me by shopping at RavioLee Dreams.   Since 98% of my Sales have been my dyed laces, I thought what better way to celebrate than to make a gift of laces.  So my sweet friends, please stop by, leave a comment, tell your friends to come take a chance and on 11-11-11 I will award someone a Gift Certificate for $30 worth of custom dyed laces - you pick the colors!   Also included will be an extra  little surprise.

Now for some pretties:

I thought I would share some really pretty CQ blocks with you.  Recently a CQ RR I signed up for was completed and all of my 6 blocks came home... one still naked for me to complete.  This RR was called "Luscious Lace".  When I made my naked blocks to be embellished, I decided to incorporate little bird silkies and have the girls CQ around them.  Each block is 6x6 and will be used to make a Fabric Art Journal.

Made by Me, Nicki Lee

Made by Gayle

Made by Cathy L

Made by PegSue

Made by Lisa

Made by Arlene

 I just have to show you a close up of Arlene's Bug... OMG!  When I opened up my package of blocks I thought it was real!!!  This thing all but moves.  Didn't she do an incredible job

Arlene's Bug!!!!