Marie Antoinette

I just added a few more of my Marie Antoinette items to my Etsy shop.  I thought to myself, how in the world did I get into making so many Marie Antoinette themed items?  I think I like the bling and fluffiness of Marie Antoinette.  The girlie stuff so to speak.  I can't say I'll be doing too much more in the way of Queen Marie projects but for now, I thought I'd showcase the things I've made on that theme.

First and foremost is my Marie Antoinette Crazy Quilt:

I also made a Marie Antoinette Crazy Quilt purse:

And then there was my Marie Antoinette Framed Crazy Quilt piece:

Marie Antoinette Brooches:

Marie Antoinette Jewelry Box:

Marie Anointette Art Quilt:

Marie Antoinette Journal:

 Marie Antoinette Gift Tags:

Geez Louise!  How in the world did I get into the whole Marie Antoinette thing?  LOL!!!

Ok, I think I've had enough of that theme.  At least for now.  It's time for a new theme.  Maybe peacocks?  Hmmmmm......there is something already in the works.  Stay tuned!

Also, today is Tuesday so it's Tuesday's Treasures at Shabby Lane Shops!  Be sure to visit all of the great shops that participate in this fun weekly sales event!  And of course, you have to visit my Boutique to see what we have on special for the Tuesday's Treasures!

Marie Antoinette Crazy Quilt Block #7

Block #7 of my Marie Antoinette themed Crazy Quilt is complete:

Those leaves are not purple, they're pink. 

I'm so eager to work on the last 2 blocks!  I picked up what I need to finish this quilt when I was at Hobby Lobby yesterday.  And if you remember the Button Crazy Quilt that I stitched before I got sick, I bought what I needed to put that one together too.  Stay tuned!

Girl With A Kitten Crazy Quilt Framed

Instead of writing one big long blog post today, because I have loads of things to share, I thought I would do a couple of short posts.  Simple and sweet!!!

So for now, I thought I would share photos of my Girl With A Kitten Crazy Quilt piece:

I've started another crazy quilt project and will have photos soon.  For now, enjoy the eye-candy!

Contest Drawing!!!

Hello everyone!  I have a really nice surprise for you all today!  I'm having a contest!  A drawing actually.  I made this sweet little sewing art quilt and thought about how nice it would be to offer it in a drawing for my blog readers:

Here's how it works!  There are 3 ways to win. 

***First, become a follower of my blog by clicking on the "Follow" button in my sidebar.  (If you are already a follower, you are automatically entered once.)

***Your name will be entered again if you mention my drawing on your blog.  Please leave a comment on this post so I know that you mentioned it!!!

***To receive a third entry in the drawing, post my blog button in your sidebar on your blog.  You can find to the left in my sidebar.  Again, please leave a comment here on this post so I know that you added it.


All entries will be put in a basket and when my blog reaches 300 followers, my husband will draw a name and I will post the winner's name here. 


So that's it everyone!  Good luck and please spread the word.  I had a lot of fun making this little quilt.  I used some vintage velvet berries from an old hat.  I hand-dyed the berries!  I ran all over the planet looking for a little sewing scissors charm.  I added some silk ribbon embroidery and wound thread on the tiny spools myself!!!

Good luck!

Vintage Handkerchiefs Flea Market Finds

Yesterday, Scott & I picked mom up and we headed to Grayslake, Illinois Fairgrounds for the Flea Market & Antique Show.   Oh, do I love going there!!!  We had a good time but didn't find anything all that grand.  I picked up a few more vintage handkerchiefs, some more vintage pink buttons and a little bag of plastic fans:



I'm planning on making myself a Marie Antoinette Art Quilt.  I saw the fans and thought, "oooh!  How perfect those will be!"

And pink buttons, well, I will adopt any vintage pink buttons that need good homes!  I have a weakness.  Kind like with cats & dogs.  I just love them!

This hankie reminded me of my husband's grandma:



Grandma Kellogg loved pansies!  She talked about them all the time.  The minute I saw this one, I thought of her and had to have it.

So those are my Flea Market Treasures for this week.  Our all time ever favorite Flea Market is this coming Sunday in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.  I cannot wait!  I find the best stuff there for the best prices!  And it's huge.  Hope I have the energy to walk the entire show. 

In other news, I spent the morning finishing up on my 2 latest Art Quilts.  First is Spring Song:



When Scott gets home, I need him to trim that branch down for me on the left side.  My hand isn't strong enough get through it with yard cutters. 

I also finished up on Teatime Kittens:



All that's left to do on this is make the quilt tag.  I'd like to do that today but I'm out of steam.

I know my medication is too high now.  I've asked my Dr. 2 times now if we can drop the dosage a little bit.  And I was told no.  So, I have an appt. with a new Dr. in 2 weeks.  She's been highly recommended by several people.  I talked to her this morning and I can already tell that I like her a lot and will be comfortable with her.

Well, that's my new for today.  More tomorrow!

Patriotic Home Decor

Just some photos for today everyone.  I'm quite tired now and still have to cook some chicken (cook is a dirty word!) and clean my bathroom.  These are our 4th of July home decor do-dads:













All are now available here.

Tomorrow we have flea market to go to.  Scott & I will pick mom up and head up there.  Keep your fingers crossed that I we find some great do-dads!

Trash To Treasure - Repurposed Junk

I really have to start taking photos before I start a "trash to treasure" project.  There is just a huge difference between what I start with and what I end up with.

As my long time readers know, I love flea markets.  I also love junk stores, garage sales and resale shops.  One never knows what little treasure might be hiding in the shadows waiting for me to come along and re-purpose it!

This was the most ugly tealight holder I've ever seen.  But I saw potential!  Note to self:  MUST REMEMBER TO TAKE PHOTOS BEFOREHAND!!!



Just look at my little Cottage Teapot now!  I painted it pink, added flowers and glitter and now it would be the prettiest little centerpiece in a cottage style kitchen!

Here's another of my re-purposed objects:



Again, this was ugly as sin!  It was a music box but the music didn't work.  The cage was wood & broken and the bird was red, black and white.  Not anymore.  My Cottage Birdcage is now white, the bird is pink, white and blue and I've adorned it with flowers & glitter.  It's like night and day!

Friday is garage sale day and Sunday is a huge flea market so I expect to find something that I can alter from junk to pretty!

In other news, mom & I have started on some July 4th things.  These are mom's little USA Heart Ornaments:



Aren't they sweet? I love the 4th of July!  I'll be at mom's tomorrow and Friday and hopefully will finish up on a few of the patriotic do-dads that I started on.

In the meantime, I've been working on my "Spring Song" Mixed Media Art Quilt:



I'll be adding a little nest with eggs to the bottom right-hand corner.  It will also get just a twinge of glitter.  I have one more sewn up to stitch on and I plan to sew up a few more next week.  I will be writing some tutorials on doing Mixed Media Art Quilts.  How to layer fabrics, how to embellish and what you can embellish with (just about anything) and so on.  It's really not all that different from Crazy Quilting.  Just no seams to cover.  Anyway be sure to stop back for those articles.

Let's see, what else did I do today?  Oh, galletas pour mi padre!  Sorry, just practicing the little bit of Spanish that I know.  I made some Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies for my dad:



You can find the recipe here if you would like to try them.

Before I head out for the day, please drop me an email if you would like to be added to my mailing list for our upcoming Kitty & Me Designs newsletter.  I'll add you to the list right away and send you a coupon for free shipping.

That's for today everyone!  Have a great evening!

Sneak Peeks!

I've been doing quite a bit of stitching lately!  In fact, I need to take some time to sew up a few things.  I may do that on Sunday but I also want to get some things planted.  I bought some Hollyhock bulbs and some seeds at WalMart today.  I don't have the energy yet to work too much in my yard but I've been wanting Hollyhocks for years!  They're so old-fashioned!  Anyway, I may do my planting on Sunday morning and then run my sewing machine Sunday afternoon.

Here are the couple of things I want to finish up.  First, I have 2 crazy quilt hanging pillows that I stitched:



I don't know which one I love more but I am leaning towards the green and pink one!

Next, I stitched up several crazy quilt cottage style hearts.  These will be Sweet Dreams Lavender Sachets:



It's kind of hard to tell from the photo what they'll look like when they're done!  Stay tuned for that!

Ok, so it's not a ton of stuff that needs to be sewn up but it will take me a bit of time.

My next project that I'll be starting on is this Pretty In Pink Mixed Media Art Quilt:



I'll be starting on this shortly and believe me, I plan to embellish it!

I have a couple of other finishes to share with you today.  First is my mom's Pink Heart Cottage Pillow:



I think I've turned mom into a monster! She's really liking pink these days and never cared for it too much in the past!

And then there's my Strawberry Fields Birdbath:



I can't help myself!  I just love doing these birdbath's with vintage glassware.  I'm already planning on some Autumn and Christmas birdbaths but I have to find some more old glassware.  Since Garage Sale season and Flea Market season are getting underway, that shouldn't be a problem.

And speaking of strawberries, here's my little Strawberry Basket:



Don't you just love strawberries?  I love the way they look and the way they taste!  Strawberries are my favorite fruit!  Have you ever tried slicing some up into some some sugar free vanilla pudding?  YUM!

MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL!!!

In other news, I'm offering FREE SHIPPING on MULTIPLE ITEM orders in my shop.  PayPal & USA orders only please.  The offer runs from now through Sunday May 2nd.

We offer so many lovely things that would be appropriate for Mother's Day gifts.  Please take advantage of this offer.

Well, I'm off to stitch.  Wait, must fold laundry first.  Argggg......

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!!

History Of Victorian Tussy Mussy's

My mom just goes to town on these:



Tussy mussy's are so beautiful and it never ceases to amaze me how Mom makes each one is prettier than the last!  I know she has some more in the works.

Tussy mussy's have become quite popular again.  During the 1700's, pestilence was quite prevalent while indoor plumbing was not.  Ladies would carry little bouquets of herbs and flowers to avoid the unpleasant odors around them.

In the Victorian era, every flower had a meaning.  Gentlemen callers would offer a floral bouquet to their sweethearts and the girls would have to decipher the meaning of the flowers chosen for them using a book called,  Tussy Dictionary.

Today, our Tussy Mussy's are used of course for weddings but we also use them as ornaments, gift holders and home decor just because they're pretty!  Mom's of course are adornments but many paper crafter's make them as gifts and fill them with candies & cookies, laces & other sewing trinkets and all sorts of little bits &  bobs.

Don't you just love old-fashioned things?  I do!

Mom's Tussy Mussys are available for purchase in our Boutique!

I have a couple of finishes to share with you too.  I made these over the weekend for gifts:





I don't know why I suddenly have a thing for making birdbaths out of vintage glassware!  I just love making these!  I've done what, about 6 of them now?  And there will be more I'm sure!  One of these days, I'll make one for myself!

I've been a busy bee all day today.  I ran my sewing machine and sewed up a whole pile of fun new projects.
Some Crazy Quilt cat dolls, some Crazy Quilt hanging pillows, some sachets and several new art quilts.  Oh, I'm just itching to play with those!  But I must finish up the little CQ door knob hanger that I'm working on now.

Please visit our Shabby Chic Boutique!

Marie Antoinette Mixed Media Art Quilt Is Now Complete!

I've kept myself quite busy today.  First, I finished up on Marie:



And here is a closeup of the center portion:



I'm so please with this!  I must do more!  I have Mozart playing around in my head now!

When I finished that, I made some Polyclay faces.  One will be used on my next Marie Antoinette project!  Wait until you see that one.  Still thinking through the "how to's".

While doing laundry (again) I posted several new items by Mom and I. First, Mom sewed up another pretty gift bag.  I think this one is my favorite:



And I added my little Hat Ornaments:



If you would like to see larger versions of the images, just click on them to go to my Flickr site.

Well, that's the news for today everyone!  I'm off to deliver a new litter of kittens!  Crazy Quilt Cats Dolls are coming soon!

Marie Antoinette Quilt And Some New Cat Dolls

Kind of a quick update today ladies.  My mom isn't feeling well and although I didn't plan on going to my parent's house today, I decided it would help mom for me to be there.  She has many of the same issues that I have and then some.  Yes, it is hereditary isn't it?!

Anyway, just before mom called me, I put a Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding in the oven.  I thought I'd share some photos with you while it's baking.  I'll take that with me when I head over to mom's.  A little chocolate always helps!

My pretty Marie Antoinette quilt is almost done.  The quilt itself is done, I just have to put it on the hanger.  I painted that at mom's yesterday so I'll bring that home and finish it up over the weekend.  Here's the quilt:



Be sure to click on the photo to go to my Flickr site where you see the large version.  I glittered the flowers and added some glittered paper butterflies.  I just love this!!!

Next on my agenda are a few new Cat dolls.  My little cat is my signature and it's been awhile since I made some of these:



They don't look like much of anything now.  Once they're stitched, they'll look like these:



I'm going to take my sewing basket over to mom's with me and stitch there:



When my new little cats are done, I'll make them available in the shop.

That's it for today.  My bread pudding is done.  I'll let it cool down for a few moments and then I'll head over to mom's.  I'll have more eye candy to share with you over the weekend!

Update On Marie Quilt

I haven't felt great today.  My husband took vacations days yesterday and today and asked this morning if I would like to go junkin' at the antique mall.  He thought it would take my mind off of how I feel.  What a sweetie-pie!

I of course, could not say no to junkin'!  I found a couple of nice things to add to my stash:

A vintage Tatting booklet, an old book of music, some vintage millinery flowers and a small package of old crocheted lace.

We stopped at Wendy's for a little tiny cheeseburger and then came home.  I put my Corned Beef in the Nesco (I don't cook!  Really I don't!) and now it's ready for some salad for tonight and tomorrow night.

While that was cooking, I played some more with my Marie Antoinette Mixed Media Art Quilt:

I added some do-dads to it and put the back on.  Traditionally, I would have put a "proper" binding on it but this is an art quilt so I cut the back larger than I needed, folded it over the top and topped stitched it down.  I'm quite pleased with it!

It isn't done yet though.  I added some glitter to the flowers and it's drying now.  I have a few more embellishments for it which I'll add tomorrow and hopefully, I can get it on the hanger.  I still have to paint that so we'll see.

Marie Antoinette Mixed Media Art Quilt

First, I'd like to say thank you to everyone who complimented my projects in yesterday's post.  If your email address is public, I can reply to each comment via email.  The only reason someone wouldn't get an email reply from me is because I don't have access to your address.  Please know that I truly appreciate each and every comment.  I know it takes time and it's just so nice to hear from everyone!

My head was sort of crazy today.  What a surprise!  I had a lot of trouble concentrating and focusing.  I somehow managed to finish up the tax stuff and when I was done, I said, "enough!  I'm going to play with my Marie quilt!"  And that's what I did.

I absolutely love Mixed Media Art Quilts.  I love how the creative energy goes into the design rather than the technical worries of perfect placement and finishing such as with sane quilts and even with Crazy Quilting, which certainly offers more freedom than sane quilts but for me, I still stress over skill & technique.

I think I can honestly say though, that I've got the Crazy Quilting thing down!  Mixed Media Art Quilts though, are another story.  I struggle big time with my perfectionism and doing things "the proper way".  I was taught not to mix paper & fabric, not to use glue on fabric, all sewing & stitching must be perfect and always, bind the edges!  Some of that is my ADD.  Some it is just what I was taught.

Well, I decided to just go with the flow on this one and not worry about all rules.  This is a challenge for me but here is what I have so far:



This is sewed, stitched, glued and I will be adding some glitter to it!  It isn't done yet, but I'm quite pleased so far.  I have some fun little elements that I plan to add to it.  One thing at a time though.  The next step is to finish up around the Marie photo.

Stayed tuned!

Spring Projects

Well, I have loads to share here today!  I haven't felt well the past few days.  I'm suddenly starting to think that my medication dosage might be too high now.  It's just this underlying feeling that things are better but perhaps the Zoloft, being at 100 mg is too much and perpetuating the screwy way I feel.  I called my Dr. and am waiting for him to call me back.  I'm going to ask if we can drop it to 75 mg now.  I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, I started stitching on the 9th and final block of my Crazy Garden Quilt:

The vine is supposed to look like Morning Glories but they didn't quite work.  We'll see what I can do with them when I add a few beads.

I also started another project.  I mentioned the other day that I was wanting to make a Marie Antoinette Art Quilt for a friend of mine.  This is what I have so far:

I'm really struggling with my perfectionism on this.  I have to keep telling myself that mixed media art quilts are not about skill or perfection.  They are purely for visual beauty, trying new techniques and new combinations  and creating something for the sake of creating.  Would have at least been nice had I gotten the foreground items on straight!  Oh well, we'll see where this goes.  BTW - it will have glitter on it!

In the last week, mom and I have finished up a bunch of Spring projects so I thought I'd share those photos with you next.  First are a couple of new Blanket Baby Bunny Ornaments by mom:

And I did some new WISH tags with Pansies:

And now for my trees.  As ya'll know, I love pink!  I had this idea for pink Easter Egg Trees made with pink pom pom's and tiny little Easter Eggs:

Each tree has 100 pom pom's on it!  They're dusted with super fine glitter.  So soft and petty!

Last but not least, is my Easter Egg Bottle Brush Tree:

I only made one of these.  I'm so pleased with how it came out!  Doesn't it just scream Spring?

And here are mom's newest Easter Tussy Mussy's:

Well, those are our newest projects.  All are available here .

I was going to go put my CQ Cherub box together but I'm kind of tired now.  I'll just bet the Zoloft is causing that.  I have a loaf of Cheese Bread on it's first rise in the Kitchenaid.  We'll be having that with Homemade Beef soup tonight.  I think I'll take it easy the rest of the day now and just stitch.

I'm still waiting to see a Robin here in McHenry, Illinois.  I know they're here because I can hear them singing outside.  I just haven't seen one yet.  I saw Red Wing Blackbirds this morning on my way back from WalMart.  That was a nice site but there's something about seeing the first Robin of Spring!

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