What I have been up to

Well I have been busy for sure with making lots of small items this month. And of course working on my crazy blocks as well. First are some postcards that I have made. Lots of them too. The first set is a set of 29 and they are called "Monets Countryside" I had this fabric for a long time and never really knew what to do with it. So I decided as it was so pretty and could stand on its own I made some postcards for some swaps I am in. And I still have about two yards of fabric left so I will be making more of these in the future for family I think. The bottom pic shows the different scenes.

Next are my shaker cards that I made for the swap. They turned out good and I really enjoyed making them. A little hard to work with the netting but was worth the effort. Once you get the cards made you put a piece of netting over it and leave one end open , then you add your little goodies and sew shut. Thats it and its all done. I may do a tutorial on how to do the shaker cards.I will definitely be making more shakers in the future.

Next is the Easter non-relg. cards that I made. These were a lot of fun also. I have had this fabric a while also and thought it was fun and would be fun as post cards. I mean everyone loves Charlie Brown and his friends.

Next we have the Easter relg. cards that I made.

Next is my "Love" cards that I sent out. Not Valentines but just cards on Love. Mine said " Love comes in many shapes, forms and fashions. Love great and small always finds us." I think they turned out well.

I also made some napkins for an Easter swap that I was in. They turned out really cute. Using the same Charlie Brown fabric as I did for the postcards.

I am only showing one set here but, I have made a total of five sets. The others are for Easter gifts and are waiting for their owners to recieve them on Sunday at our family get together.  This is will be a great time together as a family as Mike is so much better and is beginning to walk on his own some without the use of a walker. He is making great strides in his recovery and the Dr.s are so pleased and somewhat surprised. We all know that God is still in control of all things even his recovery.

Next up is some pics of my recent finds. Anyonw who knows me knows that I collect milkglass ware and hobnail. Not the fake ( you do have to be careful of just white glass pretending to be milkware) but I came across a really great find a couple of weeks ago and am just now posting about it. I found a set of  scone plates with the cups in mint condition. The set has eight of each plates and the cups. A creamer, sugar bowl and small tray. And a candy dish minus the lid. I liked it so bought it without the lid, at $1.00 I was not going to complain. The other items I paid an outrageously small amount for, so am happy all around. I would like to find a teapot now to go with these. I do know they made them as my mom has a really good friend who is in her late 80's and she has one. So I will continue my search for one and hope to find one sometime in the future. Anyhow, here are my great finds.

Are they not just lovely! I sure do love them and just love adding to my collection. The small tray is just like a larger one that I have that I picked up when I went shopping with my moms friend when she was here back last summer. Slowly but steadily my collection is growing. I recieved a lovely candle stick for Valentines in a swap that I was in and now I am looking for more of those. Anyhow, that is what I have been up to. Hope everyone has a Happy and Blessed Easter as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.

Blessings,

Wendy

Progress on Peacock Block

Yes two posts in one day. I thought the post below was important to do. Now for the crafty fun that this blog is about.

First is my Peacock Splendar block that I am working on. When completed this block will be framed. I love this block and the colors I chose to use. So far all I have added has been the lace and trim. I used some oya lace that I had been saving for something special that Rengin, you can find her here http://renginscolors.blogspot.com/  , made. We did a private swap and this is part of what she sent me. So beautiful, if you like oya lace and flowers you need to visit her blog and then go to her etsy store where she has all kinds of gorgeous oya's for sale. I also have some oya flowers that I will be adding to the block in future days. I like how it is coming along. I used the last of the vintage bead trim that I had on the fan blocks. I think it looks really nice and flashy which is what I am going for since peacocks are flashy in and of themselves.

Next up is the next block in the Heart 3 RR that I am in over at CQI. This block belongs to Diane and she will be framing this block when finished. First pic is of the whole block after my work. There are still two people who will work on Dianes block before it goes home. As it looks now Diane will not have to do any work unless she decides to change something on the block.

The neutral colors of the block was way out of my comfort zone, but I think I did pretty well and I am happy with the results. It seems I am really being stretched in the rr's this time with color being the main element of non-comfort zone. I am open to trying new and growing in that area. Will I ever go pastel or neutral, no way, I love deep jewel tones and brites way too much for that!lol.  At the same time I can appreciate the learning curve of the more for me sedate color families. I'm just a bold kinda gal!lol

Happy Stitching,
Wendy

Helping Our Environment

Want to help our environment? "My blog is carbon neutral" started in Germany, by the “Make it green” program. The goal is to reduce carbon emissions. How can you help? Blog about their mission, put their button up on your blog, and email them a link. They plant a tree for your blog, and you have just neutralized your blog's carbon footprint for the next 50 years! Your tree will be planted by the "Arbor Day Foundation" this spring 2010. Be good to our mother earth. For more information, go here: http://www.kaufda.de/umwelt/carbon-neutral/how-you-can-join/ and do your part.

More RR Blocks

Here is another block from the Encrusted RR that I am in over on CQI. This block was fun to do and I think turned out well. The center of the blocks were siggies made from vinatage valentines belonging to Cathy L's mom. She used valentine fabric to round out the blocks. My stash has a limited amount of red, but I think it turned out well in any case. This rr has really stretched my idea of what an encrusted block is. The more goodies you put on the better, not including any seams that you do. I am learning a good bit about encrusting through this rr which is what a rr is supposed to do when you participate. I am learning many new techniques as I go along. One I have used on this block I learned from Gerry K.  you can find her here at olderrose.blogspot.com , you should drop by and check out her blog. She is always doing wonderful things on blocks that she is working on. The heart on the bottom right hand corner is the heart that I used Gerry's technique using felt to  make the motif then attatching it to the block. I think the heart turned out well and I will be using this technique in the future. I used beads, sequins, lace and charms on this block. I hope that Cathy enjoys what I have placed on her block. First pic is of the heart in progress on felt.

Next is the block before my work:

Last but not least is the block after my work is finished.

I also recieved my Winter Theme mini quilt on yesterday. It came all the way from Austia from my partner Sabine. I just love it as it is a snowflake done in blues/whites with a touch of pink in beading around the snowflake petals. It is just wonderful Sabine. Thank you. I will post a pic of the one I did for my partner as soon as she recieves it. Here is mine:

She also sent some wonderful chocolate and it is all gone!lol And it was soooooo wonderfully good. Anyone who knows me knows I love, love, love chocolate. Anyhow I hope to be able to post pics of finished projects soon.

Happy Stitching,

Wendy

Wonderful Giveaway Celebration

See all those yummy laces, beads and thread along with the book? You can enter to win all these goodies if you go on over to Nicki's blog. Nicki is having a great giveaway on her blog here: http://www.cqnickilee.blogspot.com/ in celebration of opening her new etsy shop you can find here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ravioleedreams You should go check out both her blog and her shop as she has some wonderful hand dyed laces at very reasonable prices. If you crazy quilt you will love them.

Happy Stitching,
Wendy

Flower Fairy 1 RR Blocks Finally Home

My blocks from the first Flower Fairy RR have finally made it home. They had a long and hard journey but the wait was worth it. They are absolutely gorgeous and everyone did such beautiful work. Now I only have to finish my block in the set and this set will be finished. I will be adding another six blocks for a total of twelve to be put into a wall hanging. I will work on them as I have the time so this will be a swip for me. Below are some pics of the blocks and who worked on them. This is the whole set together including the block I will work on:

Next is Marci's work:

Next is Ritva's work:

Next is Cathy's work:

Next is Karrin's work:

Next is Cobi and Ann's work :

Next is the block I will finish in this group. He was the only boy in the group and I will enjoy embellishing his block.

I have enjoyed working on the other blocks in this group and I give a big thank you to each lady who worked and put such wonderful effort into my blocks. They are absolutely lovely and I will enjoy them for many years to come.

Happy Stitching,

Wendy

What I Have Been Up To

Well I have been working on a few projects as well as being down with the grunge. All better now. My son took very good care of me and made me stay in bed until the fever and other symptoms were gone. I now feel much better. I have been working on some projects and a couple of rr's that I am in. The projects I cannot show you as of yet but, I can show you the rr's. First up is a pic of a block that I worked on for Karen, you can find her here: http://sadiessilkenthreads.blogspot.com/   She wanted her block to be a place for magical fairies and such. I added the silky of the fairy, sre iris's, blooming bush of wysteria and a fairy circle. This is the blank canvas block before any work has been added to it.

I think it turned out well and hope she likes what I have done. I also sent her a little stash enhancement home with her block. Next up is another flower fairy block that I have just worked on for the Flower Fairy 3 rr. I really enjoyed working on this block which belongs to Sandra.

This was a lot of fun to work on and I enjoyed working on a baby fairy block. Not many of those out there. Next is the Heart 3 rr that I am in and this first block is Vicki's block. I love the colors that she chose. Black/Cream/Berry and Silver are the colors and she wanted us to stay within those colors. She also included lots of goodies that we could use to add to her block. I used the berry colored leaves from her stash as well as the charms in the upper left hand corner and the cream colored heart beads on the silky. I have a large stash of heart charms so I used those in silver and black at the top of the heart. I hope she likes what I have added to her block. I have already added the leaves before I remembered to take a before photo of the block. Here is the before:

Here is the block after my work is finished.

I do have more to show, but I need to let them arrive to where they are going first then I can post pics of the gifts and exchanges that I have been in.

Happy Stitching,
Wendy