Crazy Quilt Birds

Things here are finally winding down.  I still have some loose ends to tie up but I've had a little more stitching time.  I've been stitching on 6 inch crazy quilt blocks and I'm probably up to around 70 by now.  There's no set number of blocks.  When I get tired of doing them, I'll sew it into a quilt.

For now, I've done one of my favorite themes, a peacock:

The peacock is embroidered with 3 strands of DMC rayon thread.  The tail is fancy fuzzy yarn.  The do-dad at the top of the tail is an earring from the 40's or 50's.  I bought a pair of them at flea market that my husband and I went to years ago.  It was probably a dollar for both of them.

Click here for the Embroidered Peacock Tutorial. 

This block features a lace applique hummingbird that my friend Lula sent me years ago.  She's since passed away and I've been thinking it's time to use some of the nice things that she sent me.

I hand painted it and then added the sequins.  I love anything sparkly!  I did some silk ribbon work on this block and you can see some of my vintage tatting behind the bird.

Speaking of hummingbirds, I can barely keep my feeder full now!  I seem to have a lot more this Summer than past years!  It's okay with me.  I love them! 

Pink Block Completed

 Just a quick update.  The pink block is done:

 

I work my little spider webs with Kreinik Blending Filament.  Just one strand.  I like the sparkle.  It can be a challenge to work with but like with anything, patience pays off.

I haven't started another block yet even though I have a few sewn up.  I might pull out my cross stitch project that I started last year and see if I can put a few stitches in without miscounting!

I will get back to some cross stitch designing but I'm taking a break for now.

Have a great weekend!

 

Working On Heart Block

I've been stitching on this little crazy quilt heart block:

 

I have a few more do-dads to add.  It'll get a little spider and web as well as a little bird and a few more beads.

I hand painted that little piece of vintage lace at the bottom along with a few other pieces for upcoming blocks.  I had wanted to do some silk ribbon embroidery on this one but I'm running really low on most colors.  I'm going to have to order some soon.

It's been so long since I really was able to focus on any stitching.  Yes, I've done some but it was more robotic than actually thinking about what I wanted to use so I've forgotten some of what I have.

Now, I have my craft supplies as well as mom's and I really could use a larger closet!  Mom was the queen of craft supplies!  I have her fabrics, lace and trim, yarn, beads, sequins and other do-dads.  And I have her beloved sewing machine along with my grandma's machine which is the one I use all the time and my antique treadle machine that I want to get back to using. 

My cousin Kim has her mother's machine, a treadle machine like mine and my mom's back up machine. 

Mom's prize possessions were her sewing machines.

When I get to finishing my McHenry Landmark Quilt, I will probably use mom's machine for that since that one is mobile and I can put it on the dining room table so I have more room to work.  The McHenry quilt is quilt large and very heavy! 

As you can see, the blocks are sewn together and I've hand-sewed trim between the blocks.  Next, I need to go to Hobby Lobby and get some border fabric for it.  Once I do the borders, more of that trim will get added.  For now, I'll just work on the little 6 inch blocks.

More Crazy Quilting

I think my blog needs some cleaning up.  It seems too cluttered now.  It's been a long time since I've even thought about it.  I've made a few changes but there will be more.  I haven't had time to do much blog hopping so I don't know what's in and what's out anymore.  What are your thoughts?

I have another crazy quilt block to share today.  

I finished this one yesterday.  The heart was a cross stitch ornament that I made my beloved mother quite a few years ago.  There were two of them.  I took them apart and using fusible web, I applied it to the block.

Here's the one I'm going to start on this afternoon:

I have some other cross stitch ornaments that I made for mom and I'll do the same thing.  These small blocks are a nice way to display memories.  Quite honestly, I'm lost without my mother.  She's been gone 2 years now and I still can't wrap my mind around it.  I can't change it but I can do this.  Many of my upcoming blocks will display things in memory of mom.

If you click on the photos, you can see them up close.  Sorry if the photos aren't perfect.  My digital camera went out a few years ago and I never got around to getting a new one.  Replacing it is on my list.

A Little Crazy Quilt Eye Candy

I've mentioned in my last couple of blog posts that I had a lot on my plate.  My plate is finally just about cleared off.  I need some time to let the dust settle and get my brains back in my head like my mom used to say, but hopefully, I'll begin to get my routine back.

When I'm completely done, I'll share what's been going on but in the meantime, I've done a little bit of stitching.  I can't focus on cross stitch for right now.  I keep making mistakes for which I have to rip and that's not fun so I've done some 6 inch crazy quilt blocks.

I started doing 6 inch blocks a few years back with small things that I've collected or saved over the years.  I thought that it would be a nice way to display them.  I probably have over 60 blocks now with a lot more do-dads to use.

So this one is a 4th Of July block.  The Uncle Sam and the little beaded heart at the top left were Mill Hill pin kits that I made years ago.  I've used a lot of Mill Hill pins on these blocks.

This one is another Fish Under The Sea block.  I used some Shibori ribbon for waves.  The Swordfish is a pin that my husband bought me at a flea market years ago.  The little Treasure Chest was an Avon necklace.  My mom sold Avon for many years and I've been using the pretty jewelry pieces on these blocks.

Fancy yarns and fibers are couched on, beads and sequins add sparkle....I love my sparkles!!  I added a few crystals near the treasure chest and the tiny seashells are glued on using E6000.

Yesterday, I pulled out my McHenry Landmark Quilt.  It's been on hold for a long time.  I need to get some border fabric for it.  I'll talk more about that when I can.  For now, I thought I'd share some eye candy!

 

Cats And Mandalas PDF Entire Collection

Hello everyone!!  Still have a lot on my plate right now but I was asked if I could put the Cats And Mandalas series together as a PDF file set and offer them at a special price.  So I did.  You can find them in my Etsy shop for $95.00 US.

I will send you a link via an Etsy message, where you can download all 12 patterns.  I usually respond right away but please allow 24 hours for my reply.
 

2025 Colorful Birthday Cat

I apologize for being MIA lately.  It's been a rough few years.  I have a lot on my plate right now.

The 2025 Colorful Cat Birthday gift is now available.  Being that it's a Jubilee year, I named her Jubilee:

To receive her on your birthday, join Fans Of Kitty And Me Designs Facebook Group.   The "sign up" information is listed at the top of the page under "Featured".

If you signed up for previous years, you WILL have to sign up again for this year's cat.