One Flower Wednesday......Plus

Well today is Wednesday and I do have a flower to share today. I almost had two but did not finish the second one so it will have to wait. Here is my flower for today. (Edited to add: they do not allow diamonds in the one flower Wednesday showing so I will be posting mine as  "One Diamond Wednesdays" from this point on. Is there anyone out there who is doing diamonds and wants to join me just let me know.)

Next up is "Heartly" my new mouse pin cushion pattern that I have designed based off a mouse my paternal grandmother used to make as a refrigerator magnet. I am still tweaking it but this is the proto type. I will be putting these in my Artfire shop soon. Isn't she cute!

 Everyone in blog land seems to be in a early bird Christmas mode. I am in a Christmas exchange over on A Swap For All Seasons. We are doing matchbox ornaments. Anyhow......I decided to go ahead and put my Tulle Christmas Tree tutorial on my blog now instead of waiting until December. You may want to make one for yourself before the holidays get here or like myself make them for gifts. They make wonderful little gifts for those on your list. Here goes... Supplies Needed:
Tulle about 2yds color of your choosing
Tacky Glue
Cone shaped styrofoam tree
Felt the color of your tulle
Wooden skewer or tooth pic
Scissors
Beads are optional

(1)First take your felt and cut a circle to fit the bottom of the form. Then take your tacky glue and run a bead around the outer edge. You can put some in the center if needed. I usually just put it around the edges. Let dry completely before you move to the next step or it will shift. Believe me I have had it to happen to me over the years that I have been making them. It takes about 20 minutes to dry on the styrofoam.

(2) While the felt and glue are drying cut your tulle into strips. I usually use 2 1/2 inches to 3 inch strips. Any wider and they tend to droop. You can starch the tulle to keep larger cuts stiffer but I prefer to use the smaller ones. Just my preference.

(3) Now take your strips and cut them into squares. I don't usually measure I just roughly cut what I think a square should be.

 (4) Now when you have your squares ready the bottom should be dry enough for you to handle without movement. Take your wood pick and three to four of your squares, put the skewer in the middle and hold next to the form. Push in enough to hold the tulle in place without falling back out. You can put a dot of glue on the tulle if you like. Just remember to let it dry for 24hrs. before you add any beads or such. Also, I have used hot glue and if it is too hot it will melt both the form and the tulle.

 Continue with this step until you have completely covered your form making sure there are no empty or thin spaces. You want the tree to be full and thick. When finished your tree should look like this. These are fun and quick to make and are wonderful in all different colors. You can customize them for any decor.

 The tree above I did not put beading on as I just wanted the tree to be as it was. These look really good in groupings of three or more. They also make great little trees for small places and nooks that we normally do not have decorations because of the size. I hope you enjoy the tutorial and if you make a tree please let me know so I can come by your blog and have a look see.

Happy Stitching,
Wendy

A Little of This and That

Had a busy weekend as my dd and her dh was down. Monday was spent at the Dr. office while she had a three hour glucose tolerance test done. We will know the results of that next week. All is well with baby Jasmine and we are assembling items for her. I will be making her some burp cloths out of the fat quarters below, I also purchased yardage to make her a quilt. I love this fabric.

And the yardage for her quilt. Is this fabric not just so luscious! I love it. Hope I have some left for bibs as well.

I will be mailing out my three PIF for the first one that I was in on tomorrow, so be on the lookout girls. Jane, Nancy and Sharon. Which brings me to my next show and tell. A While back I entered Tudy's PIF and this is her gift to me. I love it and will be using this bag while working on my hexie's. I will be posting more about this on Monday of next week, so check back then for details. Here is the pic of my bag. She also included some extras for me to use. Thank you very much Tudy, I love my bag and all the extra goodies that you sent.

Happy Stitching,
Wendy

GFG Update

Well it has been a long time since I worked at putting any flowers together for my hexi quilt that I am working on. So to help keep me on track I have joined "One Flower Wednesday" in the hopes of keeping on track with this project. Surely I can make one flower a week and hopefully more. You can go here: http://journeyofaquilter.blogspot.com/p/garden-party.html to check it out and sign up if you like to be a part. Karen has a beautiful blog and her work is wonderful. She also has a list of others who are a part of  One Flower Wednesday. I just signed up on yesterday so I didn't get to post a flower for my garden. So today I decided to go ahead and post the flowers that I have made this past week and next week I will be posting my flower update on Wednesday with everyone else. Below is my box of ready to make hexi's.

Next up is a flower for my sister. She loves all things Irish and I am making her a table runner for Christmas that she can use for St. Patrick's day. These will be appliqued to the center of the runner and I may add some smaller ones in a scattered pattern later on.

Next up is a couple of pink ones for my on personal use. I am thinking maybe a pin keep or cushion. Undecided on which I will use the pink ones for.

All my hexi's are 2" as I don't have the patience at this time for the smaller ones. These I will be making as I take my mom and dad to Dr.'s appts. and such. This way I can utilize the office time for something I enjoy. Next is a couple of thrift store finds that I wanted to post about. The first one is a little pixie deer, isn't she cute!  

The next one caught my eye and I just had to buy it. It is a poodle pulling a cart. I always see the little donkey's with carts, but this is the first time that I have seen a dog. I love the way his fur is done. It is super cute.

I may put candy in his cart for him to pull. I think that would be a cute way to display him.

I have more projects to show at a later date as they cannot be revealed until the owners receive them. I have three PIF going out on Friday along with some other projects.

Happy Stitching,
Wendy

And The Winner Is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone, well we are back and very tired I must say but in the very happy mode! We had a wonderful time in Atlanta with dd and her family.  Anyhow, I know everyone is wanting to know who won the prize package so...........Hey you want to know what we did while there......just kidding, although we did have a lot of fun. Now a big drum roll please...........There was a total of 44 comments...and before someone says no there were 45, someone commented twice and I removed the second post from my counting list so that it would be fair to everyone who entered the drawing. Therefore the total was only 44 comments. I listed each name by a number and then went to Random.org to get my number. The number was 7 and on my list number 7 is Ann Flowers!! Congrats Ann, if you will email me you mailing addy I will get your prize in the mail to you.

Happy Stitching,
Wendy

Last Update for My Blogversary Giveaway!

This will be the last update for my Blogversary giveaway so be sure you have left a comment on this post only: http://stitchduchessscrazysanequiltingworld.blogspot.com/2010/06/blogversary.html
to be entered into the drawing. I will be drawing the name for the prize package on July 31st and will post the winner on Sunday Aug. 1st. You can only leave a comment on the specific post or it will not be counted. Here is the final pic of the package you will receive. Unless of course I decide to add some surprises to the package as well.

Lots of goodies in the stash, so hope you are ready for some fun!

Happy Stitching,
Wendy

A Few Updates

A few updates here as I am behind on updating some of my rr's and such. First off is Gerry K's Encrusted RR block that I have finished and it is now on its way home to Gerry. Her theme was Queen of Hearts and she wanted us to stay within the color scheme that she had selected which was white/pink. She expressed that she would like to see lots of jewels so I tried to do just that. After all a Queen can never have too many pearls laying about!lo.

All of her blocks are just gorgeous and this was one I would have loved to keep for myself. The crown was a vintage pin that I had and decided to use it on her block. Of course not only does a queen need a crown, but she also needs a tiara and a royal scepter. The heart on the scepter was from a pair of earrings I bought for this project. Then the ss heart necklace is done with beading that looks like opals to add to the glam. I filled in all free space will pearl beads to give this block a look of wealth. Hope Gerry likes how I have interpreted her block. Next I wanted to post about my book pages that I have made so far.
This one is for Maureen who's theme is Oriental: the first one did not make it to her so this is my second page for her. I did not do the same just in case the other page eventually shows up.

The next one was made for Claudia and she wanted a Landscape:

The next one is for Wilma and she wanted a Dragonfly:

Last but not least is Barbara's and her theme was Window Looking Out.

We will be going out of town again this week for my dd's 4d sonogram that she is having. We do know that we are having a girl this time and the Dr. is keeping a close check on the fluid level and where the cord placement is. All is going well at this time so we are very thankful. Frostie's blood pressure is good also so that is a big relief as well. Mom and baby at this point are doing great. God is good.

Happy Stitching,

Wendy

Peacock Splendar Update

Thought I would give an update on my "Peacock Splendar" block that I have been working on. I only have three seams left to do and some beading that needs to be added. I finished my bigger peacock motif last night and added his jeweled wing. I am getting excited about being finished with this project. When finished I will have him mounted and framed. The brooch is lime green and blue and is so pretty in person. This photo does not give a true look at the beauty of this block. Maybe I need to do some outside photos.hmm.

Next is some additions to the blogversary stash. I have added lace this time. Don't forget to go to the specific post below to be included in the draw on July 30th. Here is what I added this week black lace and a black lace collar that could be cut apart and used in crazy quilting or an altered art project.

But wait, I decided to add more lace. This lace is gathered lace with some flat lace and can be used for all types of projects as well. I use it for all types of projects myself from making girly girl hair bows to altered art.

This is a pic of  what I added last week:

The fabric is from Donna Dewberry's line and the photo really does not do it justice. Be sure to go here and leave a comment to be in this giveaway: http://stitchduchessscrazysanequiltingworld.blogspot.com/2010/06/blogversary.html

Happy Stitching,
Wendy

Long Post/Photo Heavy

Hi everyone, we are back from taking Coy to Nashville for "Camp Electric" 2010. We had a great time going up and seeing some sights while there. We will be going back at the end of the week to pick him up. It's only a four hour drive from where we live in Alabama so we decided to drive him up. He called last night to say he was having a great time. This is a camp for music, his being the electric guitar. All the instructors are Christian groups such as Toby Mack, Disciple, Family Force Five. Each day is filled with instruction on the students particular instrument by top musicians in the field from these groups. Each day has a worship service and bible study. At night is a concert with a different group. Sunday night was Disciple, last night was Family Force Five. My son is having a great time. If you have a teenager into music you should really check them out. They do this on a yearly basis and it is a great camp for them. You can go here to check it out: http://campelectric.com/home  While there we did check out some of the sites since none of us had ever played tourist in Nashville. I don't like country music never have so I have never went as a tourist. I 'm a rock n roll, headbanging girl myself with a little classical tossed in there.That said, we did have a good time as a family walking down Broadway and visiting the shops. There were musicians playing inside clubs and on the street as well trying to break into the big time. We had a nice visit, but was glad to leave it behind.  There were about eight "Elvis" statues and my dd had to have her pic made with each one. She is so funny, who would have thought that a young 20yr old would like him! ( I guess I find it funny because there again I do not like him either) We laughed a lot and just enjoyed our time as a family together. Below is pics of our day playing tourists. Bliss and I did find a shop that had some really great masks that we just had to try on. We had a lot of fun doing that. Take a look:

Trying on these masks with Bliss was so much fun. We were laughing and giggling so much. Finally the guys said it was time to move on.......Next pics were taken in front of the motel we stayed the night in. I love this tree.....

Next is the some of the pics on Broadway in downtown Nashville....

This is the only pic of Coy as we dropped him off at Camp Electric

The next few pics are of memorials at a rest area in Alabama for the following wars: War of 1810, Revolutionary War, Civil War, Korean War, World War 1 & World War 2 and the Vietnam War. Taking time to read the names and contemplate not only the courage these men had but that they gave up their lives for our freedom is really moving as you stand and read the names.

I told you this would be a pic heavy post. I am almost finished though. Last but certainly not least for this post is my swap for the Very Vintage Swap that I was in. I am just now getting around to posting pics of the items I sent as well as the items I received. My partner was Robin and this is what she sent to me:

I loved everything she sent out to me.  A vintage necklace, coasters, a small purse, gloves, vintage lace, salt cellar and the box was vintage as well. Thanks Robin. Below is what I sent her minus five pair of vintage earrings that I forgot to take a pic of.

 I sent Robin two vintage hankies, vintage necklace, vintage bracelet, vintage earrings, two plant bugs (which were not vintage) note pad, and some hearts for her crafting. I hope she takes pics of the earrings since I forgot to do so.

I am finished on this post finally. I do have to post the additions to my giveaway but I will do so in another post one day this week. Don't forget to comment on my "Blogversary" Post to be entered into the drawing for all the goodies listed.

Happy Stitching,

Wendy

Happy 4th of July!

I am so glad to be an American and live in a free country! A big thank you to all our military who are not at home to celebrate with family on today. May God keep his hand upon you! I would not live anywhere else in the world as I love my country so much. Daily I thank God that I live in a free country with so many liberties.

Happy 4th of July America!

Don't forget to see what I added to the blogversary giveaway. This week I added red glass beads and a fat quarter from Donna Dewberry fabric line. Will post a pic later.

Happy Stitching,

Wendy