Crazy Quilting Crazy Me!

I think I mentioned the other day that Crazy Quilting has been screaming at me again.  It started either Thursday or Friday.  It's all I've been able to think about doing lately!  It really is my true passion.  I enjoy doing other things and I've done quite the variety of projects lately but I'm definitely moving back towards my passion.

I pulled out a block that I had pieced awhile back (I always keep a few blocks sewn up and tucked away for when I don't have the time to run my sewing machine) and I started stitching:



I hand painted my lace pieces early this morning.  This block will have a peacock on it.  I've done several peacocks like this but it's been awhile:



The above purse is one I did a few years back!  I have always loved this one.

Anyway, I started the beading on the blue & green block this afternoon and will have another update for you tomorrow.  I wanted to start on the peacock but I'll have to turn my big computer on to print up my pattern for the body.  I was too lazy today!  LOL!!!

Actually, I wasn't lazy at all!  I pieced 3 more CQ blocks, all for purses with ladies on them:







They don't look like much at the moment, but you know, by the time I'm done piling on the stitching and embellishments, they'll look like a million bucks!

I'm assuming that my need to get back to Crazy Quilting is a sign that my depression is again receding some more.  I'm past the medication withdrawals but still feel the meds are too high.  I will get off this stuff. It might not be until next Spring or Summer, but I will get off of it!  In the meantime, I saw my Dr. again last week and she told me that when I see her again the end of July, she'll drop it again.  It'll be interesting to see if I feel better with another reduction in the dosage.  Will have to ask her if I can expect another week of withdrawals.  I don't care if I have withdrawals.  Trust me, I've been through worse!

One of my main concerns is that the Zoloft has parked 13 extra pounds on my butt and I refuse to tolerate that!  I'm having a terrible time getting it off. It just doesn't want to budge and with the way I eat, it shouldn't have gone up in the first place!  I mean, I live on fruit & salad!  Anyway, just a bit of a vent here.  I'll get on with my post!

In other news, I plan to do the finishing on my Mary's Garden Art Quilt tomorrow.  I'll write the final part for the tutorial and get that posted in a few days.

Oh, and I keep forgetting to mention that we're having a huge sale in the shop!! HUGE!!!  We're going to change directions just a twinge.  More crazy quilting, more embroidery with crayon tinting, more of Kathi's gorgeous jewelry and some embellishments!

I think I have some angels who are trying to tell me something.  Several of my long time readers have emailed me recently, asking I will ever offer hand-dyed vintage lace like I did a few years back.  It took 3 messages before it finally clicked in my ADHD brain!!!  So, I have decided (since I can't walk away from a bag of vintage lace at flea markets and antique shops) that I will indeed begin offering that again and I'll also offer some hand-dyed silk ribbon, perhaps some dyed fabric and some of the other little do-dads that I find in my junking travels!

So, we're having this huge sale in the shop to make room for Autumn & Winter things and for some supplies.  I know that many crafters and stitchers do not have access to the wonderful flea markets and shops that I do and it certainly would be fun for me to offer those treasures.  I just love playing with dyes!  It's like coloring Easter Eggs!  LOL!!!

So, please visit my Etsy shop and see if there is something that you can't live without.  I really need to make a section for Embellishments! 

I guess that's the news for today everyone!  I'm quite tired now so I'll leave you with a photo I took this afternoon in my "garden":




My garden is a mess.  It's overgrown with perennials and weeds.  I was way too sick last Summer to do anything with it and this Summer, I still don't have the energy.  Fortunately, in every mess, there is inkling of beauty!!!

This Weeks Treasures

Thank you everyone, for your sweet comments on my Pink Saturday post.  I am really enjoying being part of this fun and very pink blog experience!  I've already met some incredibly sweet and gifted bloggers who also adore the color pink. 

I did a bit of shopping this week.  A trip to Hobby Lobby on Wednesday resulted in some nice additions to my bead stash (like it needed additions!):



A few things were on sale and few were on clearance!!

I also picked up some large hole paillettes:



I plan to crochet some edges for my crazy quilt purses using my funky fuzzy yarn and these pretty sequins!

This morning, Scott and I headed up to Elkorn, Wisconsin for the Holy Grail of Flea Markets.  We got rained on but that certainly didn't stop me from finding a few goodies for my stitching!

First, a vintage machine embroidered handkerchief with strawberries on it.  In all years and years of junkin' I've done, I have never seen one of these with strawberries!!!  I also found a pretty little vintage shoe clip.  I love the Jadite colored flowers:



My vintage embroidery transfer patterns have been rather scarce this season!  Luckily, I found 2 today to add to my collection:



While dodging the rain in one of the buildings, I found this bagful of pretty trims.  Nothing terribly special but I use braided gimp for a variety of projects and the gold trims are suitable for so many things:



My final Flea Market find for today is a nice little collection of vintage millinery flowers:



By the time we were done, the rain had stopped, the sun came out and it was becoming quite juicy outside!  I was glad to get back to our truck and the comfort of being in air conditioning!

In other news, I'm suddenly missing crazy quilting.  CQ is all I've been able to think about so I plan to run my treadle machine this week and sew up a few blocks to stitch on.  I'm wanting to do some new purses.  In the meantime, I had this one sewn up and plan to stitch on it now:



This one will have a peacock theme.  Please come back to watch my progress as I stitch on it!

Happy Pink Saturday! My Pink Needlework!

Hello everyone!  I'm thrilled to be participating in Pink Saturday again this week!

Today, I thought you would enjoy seeing my Pink Needlework.  I adore needlework.  I always say I was born with a needle in my hand.  My mom and grandma taught me to stitch when I was around 8 years old.  I've done everything from old-fashioned outline embroidery (I've been collecting vintage embroidery transfer patterns for years), to needlepoint, punch needle embroidery, counted cross stitch, art quilting, Elizabethan Blackwork and so on.  I've done almost every type of needlework imaginable!  My absolute passion is crazy quilting. 

With that said, I will get on with my pink photos!  First, my little kittens in a basket:



I stitched this piece a few years back.  It currently hangs in my bathroom.  The pattern is a vintage Vogart embroidery pattern.  My dad made the simple frame and I hand painted it.

The next piece is a decorative towel that I made for my bathroom a few years ago.  It's a peekaboo kitty and also from a vintage Vogart embroidery pattern:



This pretty project hangs in my computer/craft supply room.  It's a design I did awhile back when I was designing counted cross stitch for magazines.  It's called, "Garden Jewels".  I adore hummingbirds and I thought they would be pretty with some colorful fruit.  I did not stitch this piece.  It was worked by my dear friend Kim:



This lovely pillow is another design from my large collection of vintage embroidery transfer patterns.  I crayon tinted the cardinal bird and then did the embroidery:



This pillow is a small piece that I stitched back in the 80's.  It was a pre-stamped design:



Here's how they look sitting in my white wicker rocking chair:



I bought this precious little sampler at a flea market this past October.  I only paid $12.00 for it!  All that stitching and it was only $12.00!!!  There's something really sad about that.  At least to me.  Anyway, it's dated on the back and was stitched in the mid-70's.  I left it in the original frame:



Last but not least, is my Pink Crazy Garden Quilt.  I know many of my followers have seen this numerous times but in case anyone visits who hasn't seen it, I thought I'd post it again.  As I said, Crazy Quilting is my true passion:



That's my Pink Saturday post everyone!  I hope you enjoyed seeing my Pink Needlework!

I'd like to thank Beverly at How Sweet The Sound blog for graciously allowing me to participate in Pink Saturday.  I so much enjoy it!  Please hop over to Beverly's blog and visit some of the other Pink Participants!

Ramblings For Today

First, I would like to thank everyone who left comments for me on my Pink Saturday post!  I'm just thrilled to be able to contribute to such a fun and lovely gathering of pink blog posts!

If anyone would like to contribute to Pink Saturday, please visit Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for more details.  I will be participating again this coming Saturday so please stop by to see my pink contribution!

I would also like to thank everyone who voted for my Pink Crazy Garden Quilt photo:



I entered the photo at a contest that is hosted by Daisy at Daisy Pink Cupcake blog.  To be truthful, I don't even know what the prizes are.  I would just love to win!  If you haven't voted yet, please hop over.  My quilt photo is #7. 

And speaking of contests, my sweet friend Pat Winter is hosting a Give Away.  Please visit her blog for the details.  All entries must be entered by Friday June 25th Midnight CST.  If you've never been to Pat's blog, you're in for a real eye-candy treat!  Pat's photos are gorgeous.  Her Crazy Quilting is pure perfection and she currently has studio photos on her blog which will make you drool all over your keyboard!  You will love Pat's blog!!!!  Oh, and I forgot to mention the photos of Pat's beautiful home!  Pure eye-candy!

In other news, I will be hosting guest bloggers twice a month.  I thought it would be fun to introduce my readers to some of my favorite bloggers.  My first guest blogger will be posting on July 1st.  Please be sure to stop by for that.  My first guest is an incredibly gifted crazy quilter and she collects many of the same things that I do!  I know you will enjoy meeting her.

I will have the final installment of my Art Quilting 101 Tutorial in a few days.  I need to put it together and take photos for you as I go along.  I spent most of today running errands and cleaning.  Although I really wanted to sew, I never feel right about doing fun stuff until my chores are done!

Finally for today, Kathi has worked 3 more pairs of the Pink Resin Kitty earrings that have been so incredibly popular:



These are the last 3 pairs that will be available.  Kathi wanted everyone who wanted a pair to have the opportunity to purchase them.  They are in the shop now so if you've been wanting a pair, please order as Kathi will not be making any more in this style.

I will leave you with Kathi's newest pretties:

Please Vote For Me!!!

I entered my Pink Crazy Garden Quilt in a contest at Daisy Pink Cupcake.


I'm contestant #7 in Contest #2.  Please hop over and vote for my quilt!!!  Please!!!  I would just love to win!

Thanks!