Cat Bowl Fillers

Mom has been sewing and made a set of Cat Bowl Fillers:

I have no idea what mom is working on now.  She doesn't give her secrets away!  She was talking about starting on some Christmas things but I guess we'll find out when we find out!

For me, I'm stitching up my Strawberry garden!  Photos are coming soon!

Hand Embroidered Gifts

Could someone please tell the weather that it's Spring now!  It's another cold and windy day here but we did have some sun so that was nice.  I'm just looking forward to green grass, flowers and leaves on the trees!

I finished up another of my Hand Embroidered Gifts:

The peacock is a vintage brooch that I've been saving for something special.  This pretty door hanging pillow is a gift for a friend.

In other news, I start stitching on my Strawberry Ornaments.  Stop back to see my progress!

Strawberry Season Is Coming To McHenry Illinois!

Okay, so it's only about 25 degrees outside here in McHenry, and the wind is howling and blowing but it's also March 20th and that means that Spring has to show up eventually!  I saw a Robin in my yard yesterday and I can hear the Red Wing Blackbirds singing out in the woods.

By this time of year, I have had my fill of snow, cold, wind and dreary, cloudy days.  In my anticipation of the arrival of Spring, I thought I'd start on some more of my Crazy Quilt Strawberry Ornaments:

They don't look like much now but when they're finished, they'll look like this:

Stop back to see how my Strawberry garden grows!  If you'd like to grow (make) you're own Crazy Quilt Strawberry Ornaments, the tutorial is available here.

Easter Bunny Bowl Fillers

Had to share mom's latest creation with ya'll.  These are Easter Bunny Bowl Fillers:

Bowl Fillers are a really fun way to decorate for the various holidays and seasons!  They're great for centerpieces on dining tables and coffee tables and if you cats (or dogs) these are soft and non-breakable!

Crazy Quilt Online Course

I finished up my crazy quilt block with the yellow rose which came from a vintage hankie.  As I mentioned the other day, I couldn't help myself, I had to add some pink!

This will be a pillow.  A gift for a friend.  I'll get it sewn up in a few days and post another photo of the finished piece.

In the meantime, for those of you who are taking my Online Crazy Quilt Course, I thought I'd show you how I make the eye move around my blocks using color.  Look closely at the pinks on the block.  Notice how the pinks flow.  Start near the bunny at the bottom and follow the pink buttons up to the large butterfly and Silk Ribbon roses at the top.  Coming down from the roses are 3 light pink butterflies.  Where does you eye end up?  At the pink flowers in the center under the yellow rose in the hankie.

That's how I use color to create my compositions.

And speaking of my Crazy Quilt Color and Composition Classes, this is Maria's block from Lesson 3:

Again, notice how Maria balanced her block with the hot pink flowers in the center.  This block is very well balanced, interesting with lots of pretty embellishments and pretty stitching.  Well done Maria!