More Cat Dolls

I've been slowly but surely stitching up a few more crazy quilt cat dolls.  This one is ready to sew together.

And this one is almost done.  It needs some more beadwork:

I'll finish this one up next week.  For today, Scott and I are heading out to Galena, Illinois for the weekend.  Of course, I can't stand not having my computer so I'll be taking it with me and I'm sure I'll have some photos of this beautiful place to share with you tomorrow.

Handmade Boutique

With mom, Kathi and myself making things for our Boutique, there are days when I feel like all I do is spend my time on the computer, taking photos, editing photos, writing descriptions and uploading!  Ok, so nothing in life all fun and games all the time.  For every fun thing, there is a down side.  For me, I just try to stay on top of things to keep myself from getting overwhelmed.

With all that said, here are the newest additions to our Boutiques:

A pretty Birdhouse Door Pillow by mom!

Victorian Style Christmas Tree Bird Ornaments by me.

and a Hot Pink Needle Felted Rose Brooch by Kathi.

I'm still working on some new Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls and then I have a custom order purse to do and I'm planning on a Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness Purse to have ready by October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Summer's winding down and I'm very much looking forward to having more stitching time and a little less to do outside.  Although I will very much miss my hummingbirds when they leave.  They're quite active at the moment!

Frames For Peacock Crazy Quilt

Yesterday, I shared photos of my Winter Crazy Quilt Project which will be a Peacock Quilt.  Deb at Mosaic Magpie blog asked if I would post a photo of the frames that my dad made for me.  Here are the frames:

Since I want to stitch on the side pieces simultaneously, I asked my dad to make me two frames. 

Here is a photo of the blocks which are now attached the frames with thumb tacks:

 I have never liked stitching without a hoop or frame to hold on to.  I stitched my Lucky quilt entirely in hand with out a hoop and I will never do that again!

Hoops or frames will hold the piece taught so that it doesn't get askew and out of shape from the stitching.  It helps to keep the stitching tension more even.  However, with crazy quilting, due to the fancy fabrics and embellishments, a hoop or frame that fits the entire piece is necessary.  Hoops will leave marks on fancy fabrics and it's too hard to move a hoop around once the embellishments start to go on. 

I'm very fortunate that when I need a custom sized frame, I can ask my dad or my husband to make me them for me!

Winter Crazy Quilt Project 2011 - 2012

I won't start on this until the end of October or the beginning of November but it's ready to stitch so I thought I'd share it with you today.

My Winter Crazy Quilt project for this will be a Peacock Quilt:

This beautiful peacock design was a pre-stamped design on black satin.  I stitched it back in the 1980's and never finished it into anything.  I think it's the perfect focal point for a crazy quilt!

I want to stitch on the side pieces simultaneously so my dad made me 2 custom sized stitching frames.  I've already added the blocks to the frames and secured them with thumb tacks so this project is ready to stitch on.

If you're new to my blog, I cope with Seasonal Affective Disorder Syndrome, which has already set in by the way!  And it's only the end of August!  Anyway, I've found that having a Winter Crazy Quilt project to work on throughout the cold, snowy and dreary months, helps me to get through until Spring which is my favorite season.  By March or April, I'll have a nice finished crazy quilt to hang in my home.  This quilt will hang above the television in my bedroom.

Snowman Ornament Needle Felted

I just had to share this sweet little needle felted snowman ornament that Kathi made:

Is he too cute or what?  And he's so soft and fuzzy!  She made him entirely of wool roving and he's all needle felted.  Not sewn together piece by piece.  He's needle felted together!  I've done some needle felting but I can't imagine doing anything as 3 dimensional as this little cutie!

Kathi also made some beautiful needle felted rose brooches:

Gorgeous!  Absolutely gorgeous and so creative and where she finds the time to make things with a full-time job, I don't know!

Anyway, I thought you would enjoy seeing Kathi's latest creations.  I'm still working on making more cat dolls.  I'll have more photos as soon as I get a few more stitched.