Kreinik Threads

I didn't have a lot of stitching time yesterday but some.  Here's an update on my Irish Lady Crazy Quilt Pillow:

And here's a closeup of the beading on my fill in work that I did with Kreinik metallic thread #4 Braid:

Linda B asked me if Kreinik threads are difficult to stitch with.  The answer is no, not really.  Kreinik #4 and #8 Braids are no more difficult to stitch with than embroidery floss or Perle cottons.

Blending Filaments, which I use to create my spider webs can be a bit challenging since it's so fine.  You can read an article I wrote last October on working with Kreinik threads here.

Marie Antoinette Crazy Quilt is Featured!

I'm absolutely thrilled today!  My Marie Antoinette Crazy Quilt was featured on Lauren's Marie Antoinette's Gossip Guide To The 18th Century blog today:

Lauren's blog is beautiful!  Here you'll find anything and everything related to Marie Antoinette, 18th century France, fashion of that era, auctions, historical references, art, music, poetry and so on.  I've been following Lauren's blog for quite some time.  If you have a fascination with Marie, France, Paris, History or anything related to the 18th century, you will love this blog!  Thank you Lauren!

St Patricks Day Cards With Glitter

I've been chattering a lot lately about St  Patricks Day.  It's the beginning of Spring and it's coming!  I know it's a little bit early but when doing handmade things to sell, working well in advance is a must. 

I'm used to that though.  When I worked with cross stitch and craft magazines, I had to work 6 months to a year in advance so making things a couple of months ahead of the the holiday or season is nothing new for me.

These are the pretty St Patricks Day Cards that I made for the shop:

Although needlework is my specialty, I have to make cards because I have to use glitter!  I love glitter!!!  And these are quite sparkly!  

Irish Lady Pillow continued

A quick update on my Irish Lady Pillow:

And this is something that I'm going to be experimenting with more on upcoming projects:

"Fill in" patterns using my waste canvas technique.  Basically, Blackwork but in this case, I used a single strand of Kreinik metallic #4 braid.  Just a sneak peek of things to come.

Victorian Irish Lady

My family thinks I'm goofy!  Okay, I really am!  But I love St. Patrick's Day!  My grandfather was Irish and I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not but I really think that I like it so much because it's the beginning of Spring.

The thing that gets me through the cold, dark, snowy months of Winter is the fact that Spring is the next season and Spring is my favorite!

So, I started another St. Patrick's Day Crazy Quilt piece:

I have always loved this pretty lady image in the green hat!  I don't think I've ever used that image on a crazy quilt piece before so here she is, in all her Irish glory!

This will be a pillow.  When I finish up on this project, I'll be putting together an online class and then starting on my 3rd Elegant Crazy Quilt Seam Treatments Ebook.

Although I no longer design or spend my stitching time doing counted cross stitch, the background that I have in that will probably never leave me. I like the perfection of working with charted patterns.  I like how I can apply charted patterns to crazy quilting.  And therefore, I will move forward in the direction of applying my charting skills to my beloved passion, crazy quilting.

So, stock up on 8.5 count and 10 count waste canvas!  There are loads of great new crazy quilt ideas and techniques coming this year to Kitty & Me Designs!