Crazy Quilt Quarterly Magazine Spring 2015 Now Available

The 2015 Spring issue of Crazy Quilt Quarterly Magazine is now available!

Click here to order at Magcloud!

New Computer Is On It's Way!

Well, I have loads of news to share with you today!  First, I decided on a different chair cover for my ugly, black (but very comfortable office chair).  The one I posted last week just wasn't quite what I was looking for.  Instead, I went with this brighter, more cottage style chair cover:

I may have alter it a bit to fit my office chair but I think it'll work nicely and it will certainly look better than this boring black leather!

My new white desk arrived and Scott has that all put together.  I think it'll look nicer than the artificial wood desk that I've been using since 1996!  Yes, I will take pictures when everything is back in order here!

In other news, I ordered my new computer from Dell!!!!  I know I was dragging my feet.  It's so overwhelming to get a new computer.  Especially when it comes to setting it all up and transferring files from the old one to the new one.  But it occurred to me to ask Dell if they offer an installation service and yes!!!!  They do!!!!!  So I spent the few extra dollars and they will come and set it all up, transfer my files, add my printer and scanner, install my software and then all I have to do is turn it on and get back to work!  What a relief that is to me!  I was dreading having to do all that.

Everything should be here by Thanksgiving!  Now I feel excited about it all!

Unfortunately, my refrigerator went out the other day.  Okay, talk about "not exciting"!!!  So Monday night, Scott and I went up to Home Depot and bought a new one.  It's arriving tomorrow.  At the moment we have everything on ice in coolers out in my mudroom which isn't heated (it will be someday) so it's plenty cold out there but certainly a great big fat pain in the butt!

Speaking of cold, yes, it's Winter now.  We had snow flurries again this morning.  I already miss sitting out on my deck everyday.  But I guess in time, Spring will come again.

I have been stitching but not as much as normal due to all the commotion with getting my office ready for my new computer and such.  I'll have some stitching photos soon.  In the meantime, the new issue of Crazy Quilt Gatherings magazine is now available:

This is Pat's farewell issue.  The next issue will be the Spring, 2015 issue.  If you haven't heard the news, I am the new owner and publisher.  I've been diligently working on the Spring issue and I can already tell you, it will be loaded with beautiful Crazy Quilt eye candy, tutorials and more!  The new title for this very needful publication is Crazy Quilt Quarterly magazine.  Be sure to follow me on Magcloud and look for the Spring 2015 issue on February 1st!

Crazy Quilt Gatherings Magazine Summer Issue

The Summer issue of Crazy Quilt Gatherings Magazine is now available!!!!

It's an absolutely gorgeous issue!!!!  Order it from Magcloud.

I've been stitching on some clutch purses.  This one is all stitched and ready to sew together:

And this is the one I'm stitching on now:

When I get this one finished, I'll put them both together.  And then maybe I'll start on a few Fall projects.  I know, it seems so early but I like the cheery colors of Fall and I do like to plan ahead!

Kitty and Me News Brief

Call for submissions!!!  Pat Winter is working on the Summer 2014 issue of Crazy Quilt Gatherings magazine.  She still has room for articles, tutorials and eye candy!  If you would like to submit your projects to Pat, you can send them to her email address.

In other news, I had the honor of being asked for an interview by Linda Pruitt of Abigail's Attic blog.  It's a wonderful blog post and it was a pleasure to answers Linda's questions.  Thank you Linda!!!!

For today's stitching photo, I've started on my 2nd Watermelon Purse:

I'm going to take a break for a couple of hours and stitch up one of my little cat dolls for a gift and then I'll get back to this.

Finally, I've updated my Call For Submissions page at the top of my blog.  I've added a few more ideas and suggestions.  I've also added this list of needlework techniques that can be applied to Crazy Quilting:

• Blackwork
• Redwork
• Felt
• Crayon Tinting
• Crochet
• Tatting
• Vintage Lace
• Vintage Hankies
• Beading & Beadwork
• Tambour Work
• Vintage Jewelry
• Angitque Motifs
• Digital Images
• Vintage Cards
• Vintage Photos
• Stumpwork
• Brazil Work
• Silk Ribbon
• Vintage Embroidery Patterns
• Counted Cross Stitch
• Trapunto
• Fancy Yarn
• Chicken Scratch (aka Snowflaking)
• Gingham
• Yo Yo's
• Smocking
• Shibori Ribbon
• Polymer Clay
• Goldwork
• Whitework

If you're looking for some ideas for tutorials and techniques that you can share in Crazy Quilt Gatherings magazine, perhaps one of these techniques will inspire you!  I will post more inspiring ideas soon!

Submission Guidelines and Schedule

I thought for today, I would share the Submission Guidelines and Publication Schedule for my upcoming publications.  I'm working on my ideas and although I don't want to jump the gun, I'm still bouncing off the walls with excitement for when I take over Crazy Quilt Gatherings magazine.  I've made a new tab at the top of my blog calling for submissions for upcoming publications.  Along with CQ Gatherings magazine, there will be other publications.  The ideas are running rampant through my brain right now.  But I'm trying to stay focused on just a few things.  I want to give everyone the opportunity to submit their work and see it published.  As Pat always said, CQ Gatherings magazine is a needful thing.  And I thought a few other publications would be fun for everyone as well!  So please read through the following and keep your eye on the tab at the top of my blog for updates.


*Starting with the Spring 2015 issue of Crazy Quilt Gatherings magazine, I will be the new owner and publisher.  This is an exciting endeavor for me and I hope it will be for you as well.  My mission is to help spread the word about the wonderful world of crazy quilting, to share crazy quilt ideas, techniques, patterns and eye candy with crazy quilters around the world and to give crazy quilters the opportunity to see their work published.

There will be a 3 month lead time on each issue so my publishing schedule will be as follows:

Spring 2015 issue - Release date:   February 1, 2015 - Submissions due by November 1, 2014.

*Suggested submission ideas and themes:  Valentines Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, butterflies, birds and nests, bunnies, pastel colors.

Summer 2015 issue - Release date:  May 1, 2015 - Submissions due by February 1, 2015.

*Suggested submission ideas and themes:  flowers, birds, butterflies, patriotic, swans, bright pastels, bugs, Summer themes

Autumn 2015 issue - Release date:  August 1, 2015 - Submissions due by May 1, 2015.

 *Suggested submission ideas and themes:  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Fall leaves, pumpkins, browns, orange, gold, yellow, reds

Winter 2015 issue - Release date:  November 1, 2015 - Submissions due by August 1, 2015.

*Suggested submission ideas and themes:  Christmas, Winter, Snowflakes, Snowmen, blues, whites, red and green

The suggestions for ideas and themes are only suggestions.  Please feel free to submit any of your work at anytime.   

I will add ideas and suggestions as they come to me. These are just ideas, not necessities to get published. It's important to me that you feel comfortable submitting your projects.  I know it can be a little intimidating to put our work our there as none of us want to feel as if our we are being judged.  That's not the case with these publications.  The mission here is to give everyone the opportunity to share.  Everyone brings something to the table.  That's my philosophy!  I hope it's yours too!

Along with publishing Crazy Quilt Gatherings magazine, I will also be publishing several supplemental Crazy Quilt booklets.  This is a list of upcoming publications:

2015 Crazy Quilt Calendar

Release date:  September 1, 2014

The calendar is already full so I cannot accept submissions for this publication.

100 Crazy Quilt Hearts

I do not have a release date for this publication at the moment however, I am asking everyone to start thinking about crazy quilt hearts!  I love them and everyone loves them!

Guidelines:  Hearts can be any heart shape, any color and any theme however, they must be crazy quilted, approx. 6 inches in size and they must be finished into an ornament.   You can submit as many hearts as you would like to.  If I get too many submissions for 1 publication, I will do a 2nd publication.

I will post more information on this publication soon so please check back often.

Basic submission information:  Please send unaltered, high resolution photos 300 dpi JPEG images.  If you plan to send a tutorial, please send a Word.doc or simply write out in an email message with photos as attachments.  Submission can be sent to my email address.  Also, include any links that you would like me to include with your work such as Blog address, Facebook, email address, Flickr and so on. 

Again, please be check the tab at the top of my blog often.  I will update it regularly.  If you have any questions, feel free to email me.