More Close Up Photos of My Crazy Patch Embroidery

This is Button Cluster of some Victorian buttons...I love cameos...The verticl seam on the left is the Double Herringbone Stitch. Check here: http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/herringdouble1.html

for a wonderful Stitch Library by Sharon B.

So pretty...
Intricately and beautifully designed just the other day. This block took me approximately three hours to sew together. Now once I start the hand embroidery on it, it may take dozens more hours work before completion. However the weather outside looks frightful, so this project looks delightful...

I also visited three thrift stores today and found lots of little treasure including some Perle Cotton which I love to embroider.

Check back to see my progress.

I am also wondering if I should start a Crazy patch exchange with others. Anyone interested in Crazy patch Exchange...plmk. I think it would be fun.

I had FUN embellishing my new blocks!

Once I started, there was no stopping me. The weather was too windy to go for a walk so I was happy to continue with my present WIP...and if one did not have to sleep I would still be stitching...lol. I will still be adding more beads, etc, but thought I would update you all. I know how I love checking other blog sites FREQUENTLY, so here goes my day number 2 results. Hopefully there will be more 'rainy' days this summer for me to complete. Have a HAPPY everyone!

Three more seam treatments from Pam's Ebook

I absolutely LOVE stitching these seam treatments from Pam Kellogg's ebook:

Elegant Crazy Quilt Seam Treatments Volume 1 EBOOK

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9421393

A complete guide to working Crazy Quilt seam treatments with waste canvas. Create perfectly spaced and sized stitches every time!

I actually sat outside in the sun and really enjoyed stitching these three seams. Lighting was perfect, hubby and puppy were very happy to be outside in the sunshine with me and I thoroughly enjoyed my day (especially when refreshments were served too)! Too bad I had to stop and do some errands. Have a happy day everyone. I can't wait to stitch another seam and complete this block.

More seams before embellishment added

TRYING TO COMPLETE CRAZY QUILTING BLOCK

The bottom seam is something I just 'made up' ...was very confused what design to do - as usual, so just used some straight stitches for now. Sometimes I think I am too 'anal retentive' or fussy to do this free style work...(C:
After asking for hubby's 'approval', I added the beads to the TOP lace seam just this morning and am quite pleased so far...I must have tried 20 different beads before I felt these burgundy beads looked okay. (I guess). Any comments about what to do would be appreciated. Perhaps I should sign up for Sharon B's online course about crazy quilting as I LOVE stitching these blocks, however find ideas for properly embellishing can be over whelming at times. I see so many BEAUTIFUL and ELEGANT blocks you ladies stitch..

Crazy Patch Anticipation

Since I have been consumed in completing my last Mystery Stitch Along I have been excitedly collecting embellishments for my next project. I am convinced 'hunting' for these crazy patch items is absolutely the most FUN! However I have also found some wonderful 'treasures' for my next 'million' projects. I will have to live to be one hundred to complete all these projects I dream of!

Quite a few wintery Saturday evenings ago, I sewed three blocks with these blue and pink themed fabrics. Hopefully they will be my next project. The colors are definitely different from natural light, and I imagine my next photos will display differently.

Waking up with more fresh snow on the ground I have decided I will spend more time stitching instead of working in my garden...back to complete my spring robin stitch along...only one day or so to go...yippee!!

...please stay posted for my next update.

HAPPY Spring Everyone.

Quote:

We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.The elderly usually don't have re- grets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."It's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

My Second Seam Treatment Waiting for Embellishment

I loved the appearance of this fan stitch on Pamela's Band Sampler! And it was fun to stitch. However I now realize printed fabrics do not work too well in CP. I also used Perle cotton, now realizing embroidery floss may have given a nicer effect, but once I add my beads, this treatment will look better. I can hardly wait to complete this crazy patch but am concentrating work on Part One of Pamela's Mystery SAL. I seem to be much slower stitching than the other participants, but I promised myself to concentrate on completing each 'new' project I start this year.

My favorite quote for today:

"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies."-- Mother Teresa

More WIP's Finished

I have also started some new stitches on my crazy patch block #4, however I am not too happy with my 'initial' waste canvas technique ..hopefully my stitching will improve with practice as I think the larger size WC would have worked better! Now I will do the other seams. Please check back later to see the embellishments. I also learned from this (my very first CP) to use plain fabric so my stitching is not 'lost'!

I have almost completed the other three squares. These squares are 18 inches square and I have learned this is too large a size for a beginner like me! Because I loved the embellishing part, my poor husband is disappointed as he thought I was making a large 'QUILT' to keep him warm...alas this may be a wall hanging instead!

Yes, my Mystery Quilt is almost finished as I had set sewing aside before Christmas anticipating and my Dad's hospital stay. Remaining work on my quilt is sewing the five rows of blocks together and adding the inner/outer borders. Then I will post a picture. The fabrics are all batiks and I am quite pleased with the end result even though I had an unfortunate dilema with the background fabric. Would you believe the color of the dyes looked PEACHY...ALMOST ORANGE in my home lighting instead of the blue/green shades in the quilt shop! This mystery quilt is quite an invesment as I selected different fabric for background!

I feel very good today as I also completed a crocheted outfit for another one of my naked Barbie dolls. I find crocheting can be done much easier than other crafts. I will photo once accessories are done.

I also have supplies ready to start Pamela's Spring SAL. I am participating in the robin-spring themed project because my Dad, who passed away February 6th, 2008 loves robins and most other birds. His favorite hobby was building all sizes and shapes of birdhouses for their cottage at Clear lake.

Please see my other WIP's and completed projects here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/22417689@N03/

"When I count my stitches I count all my BLESSINGS too."