OK, so, as mentioned in my last post, I had my Crazy quilting Groups class today and learned how to do these spectacular flowers! There are more to come, but this was the first one...fairly easy and pretty spiffy results, eh? It's done with peyote stitch.
Then, my round robin block finally came home. This was worked on by my crazy quilting group and I must say it took them out of their comfort zone into something wonderful. Didn't it turn out fantastic?
And last, but definitely not least, my mother in law whipped up this cute outfit for Matey Moo's teddy bear:
Doesn't Teddy look Dapper? Well, we're going to be laying flagstone tomorrow, so Happy Mother's Day to all the other Mommy's out there! I guess it's appropriate to be laboring on a day I received because I went through labor! (ha, ha!)

Labels: beading, Crazy quilt, family life, quilting

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I am SO close to finished with the pillow:

I think it looks great! (and I don't often say that about my stuff) but the lace I'm using for the edge is TOO SHORT! ARRRRGH!
So, I guess I'll run up and get a length and piece it in. It's WAY too expensive of lace to replace it all with a new strand....and I think I can seam it together so it's not TOO obvious. Wish me luck.
However, it will be a day or so before I get up to Joanne's to buy new. Sigh.
Always something, eh?

Labels: beading, Crazy quilt, embroidery, lace, silk ribbon embroidery

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This is the latest in my real flower scans - the most notable being the one in my header that I use all the time. I'm a big gerbera daisy fan and so I did a scan of this one. I'm playing with a lot of macro cropping. Very fun and very orange!

Other than that, I've been really busy playing the last two days. I have a new Widget Inc. podcasting project I'm working. It really only relates to Denver folks, but I'll let you know when that happens! I do love my professional life these days - it really is like playing more than hard work. Most of the time.

Then I'm still trying to finish the baptism pillow - that's today's project!

Yesterday I went to the Rocky Mountain Bead Society's bead show and it was fabulous!

Look at all my spiffy loot! The smallest, yet most notable is the purchase of delica beads! I've been wanting to get into them for a LONG time! So, we'll see, maybe I'll do something wonderful with them soon!

Last night we went over to a friend's house for a yummy dinner and the kids had a blast! What do you think of my pink power ranger? Fierce, isn't she? (and yes, that was a Project Runway reference!)

Labels: beading, Denver, digital scanner art, family life

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There's good "white" and there's bad white! :) I've made more progress on the baptism block

I'm really quite thrilled with how it's turning out and I plan on going through and anchoring it all a bit more for an 8 year old girl! :) I can't wait to finish it off in a pillow tho...I think it's going to look great.

However, speaking of not looking great, the day after our 80 degree weather, we had this. It's all gone now (was gone by noon) but I'm officially on strike. It HAS to quit snowing!
Happy Spring everyone!

Labels: beading, Crazy quilt, family life, silk ribbon embroidery

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With the kids home this week, we've been busily trying to work and keep them happy (entertained?) so I haven't had a lot of time for blogging.
However, we had a fantastic trip out to a suburban mall:

My daughter cracked me up by asking "Mommy, why do all the houses out here look the same and how do you tell where you live?" - I explained that houses had numbers so they could tell which one is which and she said "Yes, but how do you tell which one is YOURS!". Chalk one up for individuality!

I got a couple of Round Robin Blocks finished - the theme of this one is "flower garden" - the beads are kind of a mosaic wall and then there's flowers! Obviously! heee hee!
Not as thrilled with this one, but there's some pretty fiber under some neat stars. The stars came out of a package with the original "The Denver" sticker (department store - LONG gone in Denver) on it.
Then there were the Easter crafts, we made these last Saturday. My daughter made the very furry bunny and we christened it "psycho bunny"!
Well, quick post, but we're off to the Butterfly Pavilion to pet Rosie! Woo hoo!

Labels: beading, crafts, embroidery, family life, kid art

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The end of this month marks the launch of our first few classes at Helping Handmade. If you haven't read about it here on my blog, it's my pet project (totally labor of love right now) to get people crafting so they will reuse and recycle rather than buying new! :)

The first of the three classes is a wonderful class (with a great kit) from SlyMagpie where you will learn basic jewelry making techniques. Now you might ask....how will this help me recycle? Well, don't you have a necklace that you love the beads on, but don't like the style and length? So restring it? Pick up cheap jewelry at garage sales and make them into something wonderful!

Second, we have a wonderful basic Brazilian embroidery class. Learn some basic (but wow worthy) stitches that would really spruce up a little girl's basic white top! Or take some of your old baby gifts (maybe unused blankets) and add a little embellishment to it and re gift it! (Re gifting is NOT a bad word anymore!)


And last (but not least) the crazy and creative Susan Sorrell will teach basic embroidery! Wish you could make cool and funky stuff? Embroider cute new throw pillows to spruce up that old ugly couch! (you've seen my post on cats...we don't get rid of anything) - or put up a cool hanging to spruce up your house.

The greatest thing about the classes at Helping Handmade is that all the classes are taken and completed on your own time, but you have access to the teacher (and other students) for questions and input. Some of the teachers will also be posting videos to supplement their down-loadable lessons!

All of the classes are basic and beginner level because we can all learn new skills and there are other advanced online class sites out there. However, very few help out those of us who drool over things we find on the Internet, but can't quite work out how to do them!

So, please, go try us out and be the first group to play with us at Helping Handmade!

(Yikes! that sounded like a commercial, but I really really can't help it!)

Labels: beading, embroidery, helping handmade

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Yesterday was our monthly Rocky Mountain Crazy Quilters meeting (http://www.rmcq.org/) and we had some fun!

We swapped our Round Robin blocks. Here are mine! I only added a few embellishments to this, but I had to put the whole block up...aren't the colors gorgeous? The embellishments and fabrics all go so beautifully!
This one is called "circle of friends" and was a big circular block. I added this little piece (the picture Pat Winter might recognize!) and the little flowers. I sort of left the edge haphazard...I felt it was "fun" and sort of left some "imagination space" for the next embellisher.

THEN! We got to learn how to do a peyote stitch in beading. I'm still working on this, and will get back to you when it's closer to done. Not sure if it's headed for a pin or a necklace, but Martha put some fabulous kits together with some gorgeous stones! LOVE mine!
Anyway, I just ADORE beading. It's so so so relaxing and fun!


Meanwhile, there's an update over at Helping Handmade! After some delays and some issues with the forum (where the classes will be taught) we're all set up for classes to start the end of this month!

Starting with a basic wire wrapping class! Then we have a basic Brazilian embroidery course (and it's really NOT hard!). Then Susan Sorrell is going to teach basic embroidery! They're all fabulous, reasonably priced and good for mother earth! Again, we donate a portion of all the proceeds to an environmental cause and also help you to develop the skills to reuse and recycle stuff you're tired of and might otherwise throw out!

Labels: beading, Crazy quilt, embroidery, helping handmade

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Woo hoo! (extra hoo). I was totally productive this weekend. In anticipation of the Rocky Mountain Crazy Quilters meeting I did two round robins. This one is for a gal who's making a quilt for her daughter out of her Dad's flannel shirts. This one is a butterfly:
I tried to soften the bottom by adding the flowers and little feather stitch. We're actually running out of room on a lot of these blocks! The one below is gorgeous. I did the fleurette (sp?) at the bottom. It's hand dyed on one of our crazy quilt retreats. However, note the beaded flowers above my addition....aren't they great?
We're going to learn how to make those over the next two RMCQ meetings...I can't wait! :-)


Then! I got something off my UFO list (see my sidebar). Woo Hoo! It's nothing major. it's pre-quilting reversible fabric I bought a LONG time ago. Anyway, because it was reversible I had to do french seams down the middle and a rolled seam around the edge. It needs to soften with washing and I'm not thrilled with the shape, but keep in mind I HATE my sewing machine and have no real sewing sense at all, so I'm excited about the french seam!

I also started and finished another one of Sandra Dallas's books. It was fabulous: New Mercies . Has a crazy quilt on the cover so I had to read it first (I borrowed another one too) . Great story, talks about crazy quilting and Denver history. All in all a good read.


So, more stitching tonight and probably going to watch "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe". I love a fun and productive weekend! :-)

My poor inlaws (and various other rellies - have to be an Aussie to get that one) haven't seen any good family pics in a while so here's a particularly good one of "the boys":

Labels: beading, Crazy quilt, embroidery, family life, sewing

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Robin from Beadlust posted this a while ago, and I can't take my eyes off of it. I love the colors, the items, the beading. SIGH....I love it:

Wow, I have only dreams that I could come up with something this creative. Sigh.....off to wishing I had more time! :-)

Labels: art, beading, Blogging, inspiration

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You may remember by charity heart from last year. This is the first of two for this year. I am planning on fairly well encrusting the heart (I may use some embroidery too!) and I have to have it done by the end of the week. The heart isn't attached, I may put it off center too...so many ideas.

I came up with a ton of cheesy titles "Be still my beading heart". "Wild thing, you make my heart sing". I'm sure there are more!

The second heart will be computer part related. Wish me luck. I had issues with my doll falling apart. I'm hoping hot glue will be enough.

Labels: art show, beading

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