America Semiquincentennial Commemorative Pattern for Imaginating

I was asked by Imaginating to do a special commemorative pattern to celebrate our nation's 250th birthday.  I'm thrilled that is has now been released:

 

 

 

This pattern is not available from me.  You can purchase it at Everything Cross Stitch. 

 

This pattern is next on MY stitch list!  I'm finishing up a project and then I'll be starting on this next week.

 

Easter Embroidery

Hello and Happy Easter!

I thought I'd share some little Easter Door Hanging gifts that I made for my sweet neighbor ladies:

 

 

 

The patterns came from my collection of Vintage Iron-On Embroidery Transfers.  I used the Crayon Tinting technique to color them before stitching. 

 

Have a wonderful Easter Sunday and don't eat too many Chocolate Eggs! 

Cross Stitch Colorful Cats Monthly Series

Just Released!  The April and May Colorful Cats cross stitch patterns are now available:

 

Ask for my cross stitch patterns at your favorite needlework retail store or find them here:

Kitty And Me Designs on Etsy 

The Top Is Done

It took me 6 days but I finally completed the top of the McHenry Landmark Crazy Quilt:

 

 

The lace, trim, yo-yo flowers and buttons are all sewn on by hand.  The lace is vintage, given to me by my mother in law.  The buttons are vintage Mother Of Pearl.  Took me hours to go through my stash and find enough of them with the shank and the right size!  The leaves have vintage 2 hole MOP of buttons on them too but they have a green tint to them.  They kind of blend in which is what I wanted.  The only thing not vintage are the little vines.  That trim is in my stash and I thought it was perfect to go with the little blue flowers.

 

Here's a closeup of one of the corners:

 

So the next thing to do is go to Hobby Lobby and get the backing fabric and about 50 black buttons to sew on the back for the purpose of holding the layers together so it doesn't sag while hanging.  Despite no do-dads other than buttons, this quilt is quite heavy.  

 

It measures 65 inches wide X 55 inches high.

 

Be sure to click on the photos to see them up close.

 

I'm going to take a little break before finishing it up.  I had to do all the hand sewing while sitting on the floor.  My back needs the break! 

 

When it completed, it will hand in my hallway.  I'm planning on doing a presentation on it for the Historical Society at some point. 

Back To The McHenry Landmark Crazy Quilt

It's been awhile since I've been able to work on the McHenry Illinois Landmark Crazy Quilt.  When my dad got sick, I had to put everything on the back burner so I could focus on taking care of him.  He actually helped me arrange the blocks before he got sick!

Anyway, I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday. That was tough.  All I could think about was mom.  We used to go there together and spend hours just looking at everything!!

Anyway, I bought black satin for the borders so I'll get to sewing that on over the weekend.  Then I can do the handwork. 

I have some vintage lace that my mother in law gave me so I plan to hand-sew that on and then I'll be adding all these little fabric yo-yo's in the corners.  I think I made these while dad was in the hospital:

These will go in the corners as flower sprays.  I will use vintage "Mother Of Pearl" buttons in the centers and probably add some embroidered vines.

But one step at a time.  Once the border fabric is on, I'll have to hand sew more of that trim around the perimeter of the blocks.

So....Methinks I'll actually get it done soon!  But the handwork will take me awhile!  Wish me luck!