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!

Crazy Garden Quilt Blocks And More!

Grab a cup of tea and a snack, sit back, relax and enjoy!  I have loads of things to share today with lots of eye-candy pictures!

First, I finished up the stitching on Block #9 of my Crazy Garden Quilt:

I added the second Hummingbird a vintage bee pin that I bought at a flea market awhile back.

And here are all 9 blocks together:

I just have to find some elegant pink fabric that I like and I can put it together.  I'm really looking forward to hanging this in my Living Room.  As much as I love my Lucky quilt, it's time to look at something new for awhile.

I'll let you know when I find the perfect pink fabric.  Ya'll know, the border has to be pink!  I must say, this project certainly helped me to get through the Winter months.  Now that it's Spring, I'm looking forward to making a few new purses and some other fun projects.  And since this project helped to get through this past Winter, I already have a project picked out to help me get through next Winter.  But I'll share that one when we get to October.

For now, I thought I'd share today's Flea Market treasures with you.  Scott and I picked Mom up at 8:00 am and we headed out to Grayslake for the Flea Market & Antique Show.  Dad isn't into junkin' like we are.  He's usually bored there but Mom loves it and always seems to have a good time.

Anyway, first I found this big chunky tassels:

Wait until you see what I'm going to do with these!  And yes, glitter will be involved!

Next, I found this great glittery dress piece:

I'm not sure yet if I'm going to use as is or if I'm going to take the beads and rhinestones off and just use them.  I have to think about it some more yet.  It was so sparkly I just couldn't pass it by.

I also found a doll head & hands, 2 embroidered napkins and a really pretty and unusual applique.  I'm sure you know those napkins will be cut up and used in something.  They were only $1 each and I thought they were so pretty!

Then I found 2 really pretty vintage hankies.  One has roses on it (I love pink) and the other one has flowers on it that made me think of the 4th of July:

I haven't decided on what I'll do with these yet.  Just add them to my stash for now.  I have a beautiful collection of vintage hankies but it just doesn't stop me from buying more when I see ones that I like.

I also found a beautiful vintage crocheted doily that I only paid 25 cents for but it needed a good washing so it's currently drying and needs to be pressed.  I think I'll just use that somewhere in my house.  It has those little roses crocheted on it but they're not quite pink.  More of a salmon color.  Quite antique looking and I couldn't pass that by for only 25 cents!

A now, for the latest creations from Mom and I!

These beautiful floral boxes, based on those little Victorian images of gift boxes, filled with flowers and doves sitting on top were lovingly made by Mom:

I just think these are so pretty!  And of course they have glitter on them!

Next, my Cherub Trinket Box:

I love making these!  What a lovely gift this would make along with a pretty piece of jewelry.  

I also did some gift tags yesterday at Mom's:

These are fun to make too.  The flowers came from a vintage greeting card.  The gold mesh is vintage too.  Scott's step mom found it for me at a garage sale.  She also picked up a roll of silver vintage mesh.

Last but not least, my Piece De Resistance:

A birdbath made from a vintage green glass candy dish!  It's one of a kind.  I picked up the candy dish awhile back and have been looking at it for a few weeks.  Suddenly, it looked like a birdbath to me so that's what I created with it.  

I can't tell you much fun it is to play with vintage items, thrift shop finds and yard sale do-dads.  I love to transform ordinary objects into new things and I love to re-purpose items.

For so many years, I wanted to work more with my hands.  I've always said, give me a pile of craft supplies and I will make something incredible with it.  Sitting behind the computer for so many hours a day didn't leave me with much time for doing crafts or art.  I was lucky to have time to stitch for myself.  Well, this past year has kind of taught me that you really have to do what you love and this is what I love doing.

These creations and more can be found here.

Have a great evening everyone!

Good Luck Robin

Cindy W. recently sent me some photos of a little project that she stitched from a complimentary design that I did back in 2007.  Ironically, or maybe not because it is March, I had just put out my little Crazy Quilt Doorhanger Pillow that I made using the design:

Cindy asked me where she could send people to find the pattern so, I decided, since St. Patrick's Day is next week, that I would offer the pattern here again:

Be sure to click on the image to go to my Flickr site where you can download the large version.

In other news, I just listed some Mother's Day Ornament in my shop:

These were made by Mom.

I just finished up my Cherub CQ Trinket Box.  I'll have photos of that to share over the weekend.  In the meantime, here is an update on Block #9 of my Crazy Garden Quilt:

I have nothing else on my agenda for today.  Well, I might clean my bathroom so I don't have to do that tomorrow.  Other than that, I'm going to head into my Living Room, watch some Food Channel and stitch on this block some more.

Oh, I talked to my Dr. today and apparently, it's too soon to cut back on the meds.  Ok, fine.  My head feels like a big bag of Poly Fiberfill but it's felt worse so I'll live with it for now.

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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Crazy Garden Quilt Block #9

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday!  Well, actually, it's Monday but we're having our get-together tomorrow.  I just finished making some Sugar Cookies and some little Haystacks:

 

If you'd like my recipe for Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies, you can find it here.  The Haystacks are really easy.  Actually, these are supposed to look like little bird's nests.  Anyway, you take a bag of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips and melt it in a double boiler.  Once melted, you add a bag of Chow Mein Noodles.  Mix well.  Break up the noodles a little bit and spoon into mini cupcake papers.  I added a Cadbury Mini Egg to the center of each one.  I pop them in the freezer so they get solid quickly. Very Springy!

Been busy today putting orders together.  I've been wanted to do some Mixed Media Art Quilts.  I may play around with my things a little bit after my bath.  I really love the idea of mixing fabric and paper and glitter and anything else I can up with to make a one of a kind art quilt.  It should be fun!

In the meantime, I thought you'd like to see the final block of my Crazy Garden Quilt before 

I start stitching on it:

 

I plan to start on this sometime this week.  My timing couldn't have been more perfect!  It's just about Spring.  Will have to ask Scott to take me back to JoAnn Fabrics soon so I can find some pink fabric for the border.  I don't think I'm going to shash between the blocks.  I'm thinking of using some white or light pink lace.  Will see when I get that far.

Finally, I'm just about done with my altered purse that I mentioned last week.  I need to do something with the handle.  I don't want to take it off because it's in great shape but quite dingy so I need to figure out what to cover it with.  As soon as I do, I'll share photos.  It's so pretty and shabby and girly!  Very glittery too but it was a challenge as I will explain when I post photos.  I plan to use it as my Flea Market bag.

Well, I'm off to wrap my mom's birthday gift.  Have a great evening everyone!