Easter Earrings

April showers bring May flowers.  I have no clue what March showers bring but it pretty much rained here all day yesterday.  Better rain than snow, right? 

My neighbor Peggy and I were able to do our 1 mile walk in between the raindrops so after that, I just stitched.  I finished up on my yellow crazy quilt hanging pillow:

And then I started stitching on the pink one:

Today is a stay at home day (I think) so I expect to finish up the stitching on it.

I also spent a little time listing some new earrings that Kathi made:

Chocolate Easter Bunnies and Easter Baskets with colored eggs!  I've never seen more elegant Easter Earrings anywhere!  They're in the shop!

Nice Outside

It was so nice outside yesterday!  Warm, sunny and the Robins are already singing!  I didn't get any stitching done.  Instead, I sat on the deck for awhile and then out by the firepit where Bubba had a small bonfire going.

Since I don't have any updates for you on my current projects, I thought I'd share an oldie but a goody:

I made this crazy quilt purse a few years ago and it's still one of my favorites.  The vintage pin with the pansies in the center was the inspiration.  I thought the black would really make the brooch pop and it did!

Little Basket Crazy Quilts

Been doing some stitching on my little basket crazy quilt blocks.  Here's the blue one:

And I stitched on the yellow one for awhile yesterday:

The Flea Market and Antique Show in Grayslake Illinois is today.  I'll stitch on this for a little while before we go up there to walk around.  Maybe I'll find a goody or two.

A Tisket A Tasket

A bunch of little baskets!  I thought I'd do a couple of little crazy quilts.  Door pillows actually.  I sewed these a few weeks back:

The little baskets are from a set of vintage hankies that I bought a few years back.

I started on the blue one last night:

These would make a really cute bellpull but I love making the little handing pillows.

The First Robin of Spring!

I finished up my custom block last night:

The photo is a little dark but if you click on the picture, you can see it close up.  I've already taken off the fabric strips that I had to sew to the edges to put it on my frame so it's ready to send back now.

I also finished up my little Pink Purse:

I had to kind of wing it with how to finish it.  The frame is different than the one used in the finishing directions that I have.  I basically had to glue the stitched piece into the frame using E6000 Jewelry Glue.  Then I glued a piece of braid over the edge inside the purse.  I should have taken a photo of that.  Anyway, it's fully lined and it's just too cute!  I used black Velveteen on the back and lined it with the little rose print that you see on the right hand side of the purse.

Finally for today, I saw my first Robin of Spring yesterday!!!!  Actually, I saw 2.  One on my way to WalMart and another on my way home from WalMart!

This is one of my all time favorite photographs.  This is Allison Aller with a little Robin the she rescued from her shed a few years ago.  Allie graciously gives me permission to post this photo every year when I see my first Robin of Spring!

Crazy Quilt Progress Photo

Well, my husband sent me a text message yesterday saying the saw 2 Robins!  I haven't seen any yet but I know I'll see one any day now!

I did quite a bit of stitching yesterday on my current crazy quilt project so here's an updated progress photo:

Today, I'll be finishing up the beading on the applique at the top.

I also added a few more of my mom's embroidered pillows to the shop yesterday:

They're so pretty!

Small Embroidered Pillows

I kept myself quite busy yesterday but I didn't get much stitching time in.  Looking back, I'm not really sure what I all did! 

I'm in the process of rearranging things here.  Cleaning out, organizing and updating.  I want to repaint my room where my big computer is and where I store my craft supplies.  I'm not one to have my supply room look like a supply room!  I'm trying to get it to the point where I can make myself a little stitching corner with a comfy chair and a nice lamp.  A place where I can sit and have peace and quiet.  So I know I did some more cleaning out and I did laundry and I baked some muffins and probably a bunch of stuff that I've already forgotten about!  LOL!

Anyway, here's an update on my current project.  I started the beading the lace applique on the bottom:

I'll be adding sequins to the leaves next.  I expect to have plenty of stitching time today so plan on seeing a really great progress photo tomorrow!

I also added a few more of my mom's handmade pillows to our Boutique yesterday:

I guess I did quite a few things yesterday!  Nothing that took large amounts of time but a lot of little things that all add up to a productive day!

BTW - does anyone want to take a guess as to what color I want to repaint my room? 

Coconut Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe

I made these yummy Coconut Chocolate Chip Muffins yesterday and thought I'd share my recipe.  If you like Coconut, these are awesome!

Coconut Chocolate Chip Muffins

3 1/2 cups Flour
1/2 cup Sugar
5 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
2 Eggs
1 1/2 cups Milk
2/3 cup Vegetable Oil
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Coconut Extract
2 cups Shredded Coconut
1 12-ounce bag of Semi Sweet Cocolate Chips

In large bowl, combine dry ingredients.  In small bowl, combine wet ingredients.  Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.  Add the coconut and then the chocolate chips.  Mix well.

Spoon into cupcake pan lined with cupcake papers.  Fill almost to top but don't over fill.  Sprinkle with sugar and bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until done.  Makes 18 muffins.

Small Pillows For Easter

For the past week, I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Robins but instead, I keep getting snow.  What's up with that?  Even the most mild of Winter's seem to go on and on and on!  But I know those Robin's are on their way!  They usually show up here in Northern Illinois the first week of March.

I made some more progress on my current crazy quilt block:

It still needs more bead work and I think it needs some silk ribbon flowers.  Stop by tomorrow to see where it goes.

In other news, it looks like my mom has been busy!  I didn't think she was working on anything for the shop but she gave me some new things to list.  Beautiful little pillows for Easter!  Sweet little hanging pillows:

I don't know which one I love the most!  All are available in our Boutique.

Finally for today, a cat photo!  This is Lucy and this is what I have to work around:

Lucy loves to lay on my laptop.  Probably because it's warm.  I really want to be a cat in my next life and live with someone like me!

Update On Current CQ Project

Just a quick update for today Ladies.  I didn't have a lot of stitching time yesterday.  Just enough to add a few beads and the spider:

Here's a closeup of the spider on his little gold web:

I'm going to tear myself away from my computer now and stitch on this for an hour or so before I go into town for errands.

Online Crazy Quilt Classes

I spent the majority of day yesterday working on my custom order.  Here's where I'm at with it:

This photo looks kind of washed out again.  It's much prettier in person.  I'll try to get a better photo tomorrow.  The next step is to add beads and sequins.  Lots of bead and sequins!  And if you look closely to right of the focal point, you can see my spiderweb worked with Kreinik gold Blending Filament.  I'll add the spider today too!

In other news, Maureen at Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions is hosting Online Crazy Quilt Classes!  She added my first class on working with my Waste Canvas technique.  If you'd like to learn how to create perfectly sized and spaced stitches everytime, do sign up!  Maureen is offering all sorts of creative classes.  Please hop over to her website and check them out!

Finally for today, I thought you'd enjoy seeing my new table centerpiece:

Yes, that's my Simba!  He suddenly thinks it's fun to lay in the middle of my dining room table!  I don't think it's fun, but it is cute!

Spring First!

Finally, it's March 1st!  According to my calendar, it's Spring!  I just won't have it any other way!  LOL!!  March is coming in like a lion though.  Terrible winds yesterday and it looks like southern Illinois had some awful tornados.  Hopefully, March will go out like a lamb!

I have loads to share today!  First, I finished up my little pink purse.  Here's the stitched piece:

And this photo should give you an idea of what it will look like on the frame:

I paged through my books the other day that have the directions for attaching the purse to the frame.  I don't like how they do it but I have a few of my own ideas.  I still feel kind of clueless but I'll figure it out, one step at a time!  I'm going to get this assembled over the weekend.

In the meantime, I'm getting ready to start on another custom order.  I don't usually take on this type of project.  The lady who made this block asked if I would stitch and embellish it.  Normally, I prefer to work from start to finish but I must say, I loved the colors on this project so I agreed to do it.  Here's the pre-pieced block:

Last night, I pulled some trim and lace pieces for it:

I went ahead and hand painted the floral lace pieces right away so I could start stitching on this today.  The colors look a little washed out here.  I'm sure future progress photos will show a little better. 

One other thing that I wanted to share with you today is regarding storing supplies.  As most of you know, I'm a craft supply-a-holic!  I love craft supplies and have way more than I'll ever use but I don't care.  My only concern is in how to store my things.  I do have a room devoted to storing my supplies but I don't want it to look like a storage room.  It's 10 feet square and I have to have my big computer in there too.  I'm trying to organize my things so they're easy to see and get to but not all over the place!  I want to get a smaller desk for my computer and put a comfy stitching chair and lamp in one corner.  Just a little quiet space where I can stitch if Scott is watching football or racing.

Anyway, I'm sure this has been thought of and applied before but for anyone who needs extra storage space, get yourself a "back of the door" hanging shoe bag:

I picked this one up at WalMart for about $8.00.  The pockets are clear plastic so I can see what's in them.  And what's in them?  My collection of fancy yarns.  No, I know I don't crochet much but I love fancy yarn.  I like to use it on my crazy quilts and when I make purses, I like to crochet my own trims for the bottoms.  Anyway, now I can see them all so I can use them more!

This would be perfect for storing lace, threads, beads, buttons, anything really!  Even fabric if your collection is small.

Spring Hanging Pillows

I finished up my last 3 projects the other day and have photos to share!  Yeah!  One of my favorite things to make is door pillows aka hanging pillows.  I've made 100's of these over the years.  Some for myself, some for gifts and some to sell.  I have my little door pillows hanging on every door knob in the house and I change them for the holidays and seasons.  I love them!  They add color and a nice homey feel without taking up any space!  So here are my latest:

Also in our Boutique are another pair of earrings that Kathi made:

Her St Patrick's Day Earrings have sold out but a little birdie told me that there might be some Easter earrings coming!  These items and more can also be found at Etsy.

I'll be finishing up the stitching on my little pink purse today and then I have another custom order to do.  A pre-sewn block that I was asked to stitch and embellish so be sure to stop by tomorrow for updates!

Pink Cat

My pink cat crazy quilt hanging pillow is done and ready to be sewn up:

I think I'll spend the afternoon putting my last 3 projects together.  I have several custom orders to do and I like to stay on top of things.

I was asked to do a small purse on a frame so I started on this project last night:

I'll have to pull out one of my books that shows how to actually put the purse on the frame.  I've never done that before.  But first I have to finished stitching this so I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

I won't be taking on anymore custom orders this year. At the moment I have 4.  I'm going to be focusing on following my own muse, putting some new books together and working on some online classes for Maureen at Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions.  Of course, I'll be making things for the shop because I have to stitch.  It's just what I do.

Cat In Hat

A little progress on my pink Cat In Hat block:

The next thing I'll do is bead that lace applique at the bottom.

I also added 2 new pairs of St Patricks Day earrings by Kathi to the shop:

Look closely!  The crystals are shamrocks!  The prettiest St Patricks Day Earrings I've ever seen!  They're in the shop!

White Cat and Pink Cat

The stitching on my White Cat crazy quilt piece is done:

It was nice to work with this color palette.  You may have noticed that I've been doing a lot with pink, green and purple lately.  I guess those colors are my favorites but I really like all colors and want to do more with the others.

I ended up shoveling my driveway myself yesterday.  I haven't had to do it in years so I shouldn't complain.  The worst part is that it was very wet, heavy snow.  And may I say that Direct TV needs to put windshield wipers on their satellite dishes!  LOL!

You may remember that we upgraded to a high def. TV so we of course, had to upgrade to high def. Direct TV.  Well, it's a bigger dish so instead of putting the new one on the side of the house where I could reach it with a broom to brush the snow off, now it's on the roof where I can barely see it!  When there's snow on the dish, there's no TV reception!

Yes, I had to stand on a chair with a broom, taped to another broomstick and try to brush the snow off the dish without falling on my 50 year old butt!  Ha, ha, ha!  So, this message is for Direct TV!  I need windshield wipers on my satellite dish! 

Okay, now that I've amused you with my snow story, here's my next project:

It's not really a pink cat, but he's dressed in pink and I love images of cats in hats!

Dover Clip Art

Well, I've been watching for Robins and instead I get snow!  EWWWW.......I won't bore you with photos of that but I need to find someone to clean up my driveway and clean off my car for me before I can go over to mom's.  The man who usually does it for me just had eye surgery.  Maybe my neighbor boy will do it for me. 

Anyway, I did a little stitching on my white cat crazy quilt piece last night:

I added the spider and spiderweb and some bugle beads to the daisy lace at the bottom.  Just a few more flowers and this one will be done!

I was asked where I got my images for the bunny and this white cat.  I have just about every Victorian Clip Art book that Dover Publications make.  And those are where I get most of my images.  If you haven't been to their website, do pay them a visit.  They have loads of great books that you won't find anywhere else!

White Cat Crazy Quilt

Here's an update on my White Cat Crazy Quilt project:

The yellow flowers on the vine to the left are little gathered Picot Edge Satin Ribbon flowers.  Picot edge ribbons are approx. 1/4 of an inch wide and available at any craft store.  They come in tons of colors but I like to dye my own so that they're slightly shaded.  Satin ribbons take to dyeing very well and I use Rit dye for these so it's very affordable to do.  To gather, just cute the ribbon into 5 inch lengths and do a running stitch along one edge.  Gather it up, tie it off and sew it on.  Easy as pie!

In other news, the Spring 2012 issue of Pat Winter's Gatherings magazine is now available:

Pat's magazine is a must have for Crazy Quilters, Embroiderer's and textile artists!  And it's a must for anyone who just likes to look at pretty pictures of needlework!  Gorgeous! 

Finally for today, my latest YouTube video on my Crazy Quilt Purses.  Enjoy!

Easter Bunny and White Cat

I finished up another work in progress.  The stitching on my Easter Bunny hanging pillow is done:

I love the colors on this one.  The purples and violets and soft pinks are so Spring like!

And this is my current work in progress:

A little white cat, very Victorian, with yellow and blue flowers.

Not much else going on here at the moment.  Just some stitching and some Spring cleaning.  Have a great day everyone!