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've talked about the International Quilt Study Center's quilt of the month, but this month I gasped when I opened this one by M. Joan Lintault - gorgeous! (there's a close up on the site by the way)

This is what really got me:

"In her pieces Lintault employs an innovative construction technique. Beginning with white cotton, Lintault dyes the bases for the individual forms. These she later embellishes extensively using applique, quilting, and embroidery. Finally the forms are affixed to a lace under layer, which creates the illusion that the objects are floating in space. "

So feel free to oooh, ahh and enjoy!

Labels: embroidery, fiber art, inspiration, quilting

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Then as a complete juxtaposition ("big fancy word of the day"...can you tell I have elementary school age kids!) is this LOVELY historical piece from Raciare's Embroidery and Needlework:

I have to say, I've seen things like this in museums, but the concept of CREATING it is amazing. Wow, can't really say much more. Humbling. Check out her website...even the most amazing embroiderer will be humbled.

So, I'm back to dig out my ever so humble stitching.

Labels: Blogging, embroidery, inspiration, knitting, quilting

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Normally the Quilt of the month site does more conservative quilts, but if you love to look at quilts (because you make them or admire them) there's lots of room to "ooo and ahhh" over these fabulous Quilts.

I really like this one but the close ups don't really do it justice. I'd love to know techniques used to create quilts like these.

The international Quilt study center is worth some surfing time anyway, neat stuff and wow! I wish I could go take classes and attend their lectures!

Labels: inspiration, quilting

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Soul searching is a funny thing...amazing how your life changes and turns in ways you have no idea. For example, having my husband working with me on my business at home is turning out to be the most wonderful thing that could happen to our family. He's totally connected to the kids, he and I relate on a much higher level (we don't just pass each other and say "Hi' once a day!) and things are going well. Very well! We've hired a bookeeper - actually a good friend who wanted to get started in her own business doing books and we're "taxing" (I couldn't resist) her knowledge. When she gets her website up, I'll be sure to give her a plug!

However, much much more is going on in our crazy household...most completely unrelated to crafting or otherwise. You'll remember my post a while ago about the Denver Post board/blog and I have dropped my participation in that - but if you're a Mom in Denver pop over and say Hi!

It was just too much! One thing too many! And frankly, after thinking about it, I'm not a mommy blogger, I'm a "me" blogger. I love my kids, and adore writing about them (by the way grandparents, school pictures are out and they're adorable!) but they aren't everything in my world. I'm having a blast with our new business, I'm still really enjoying the crazy quilting group and if I can get through the mending in my studio.....I have some art I want to work on! Whew!

I'm also really enjoying my "other blog" - and hope to post today with a follow up on the Trading Spaces that aired last night! It was totally fun/weird to have such good friends featured on TV, but it was a great episode. More about that later I'm sure.

In the spirit of "cleaning up". I found a few links I never passed along:

Quilts, Hawaiian quilts, Hawaiian quilting, Quilting lessons, quilting classes - I have an amazing admiration of these quilts. Maybe at some point I'll do one or use the technique somehow. I just think they are stunning tho and the site provides a lot of info and eye candy!

Sewing Buttons and Craft Buttons - this one is almost totally for my Mother in Law who I took to Denver Fabric and she really fell in love with the button section. Well, if others of you have a hard time finding buttons, they're online! :-) Woo hoo!

Florilegium Antiques and Needleart - This is Rhonda's recommendation (shes one of the talented Rocky Mountain Crazy Quilters)....fabulous ribbons, wonderful eye candy, but HOW do you order? (I shouldn't say that, but it was a bit frustrating!). I think the store looks amazing tho...if you're in Kansas City go find them! Maybe it would be easier to just send you my money to go shopping there! (ha ha!)

Labels: Crazy quilt, motherhood, quilting

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Having two children and more going on than I probably should, I find that "recovery" often takes WAY longer than it should. Sorry for my absence. The picture above was taken on a whirlwind trip to and from Missouri - back to my college reunion to Cottey College in Nevada Missouri. We then took a side trip to Branson. For those who want to be bored with family travel pictures...they're posted here (note to grandparents..there are several pages!).

I haven't been getting much done in the craft/art department and I'm planning a big project of doing a retrospective of all the art I've done (college till now) and putting it in a gallery. Mostly for my own use. Be kind of cool to see where I have been and where I am now!

However, while you're all waiting (I'm sure with baited breath) for me to gather myself, here are a few links I've been saving:

Fabric Postcards - How to Make a Fabric Postcard - neat info on fabric postcards.

International Quilt Study Center : Education & Research : Lecture/Public Programs - yikes, I could spend days and days on this site. I highly recomment the "Quilt of the Month" under exhibitions. They email you a link with a picture and history of a different quilt a month. Neat neat stuff!

Directory to Quilt History Information Online - furthermore, if that last site doesn't give you something to do for a while...visit this site! Wow, the quantity of information is staggering!

I promise to have more soon! Just in "reworking" mode.

Labels: art, fiber art, quilting

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I'm totally happy with how this turned out. Not only do I think it's a cute and thoughtful baby gift, but I completed it in 4 hours! Started at 9 this morning and finished it at about 1pm. Good thing because the shower is at 4pm today (nothing like being right on top of something!)

However, that was all planned out. I'd figured out what I wanted to use (the fleece I had here...all basically stuff folks had given to me) and I bought the terry to go on the back. the embroidery thread that I tied the quilt with is also stuff I had around....are you getting the idea I have a lot of stuff?

You have no idea! :-)

Oh, I did a block too...you can click through on the photo to see it on Flickr (ok, I lied, you can't) but it's here!. I'm not as thrilled with it.

Update (Sunday): The gift was well recieved and we had a fantastic time! Missy C really enjoyed it!

Labels: quilting

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This is what it looked like this weekend. I know, I look like I'm posting the same pictures over and over, but I promised, they're all different!

I cannot believe that my horoscope said today: "If you've been thinking about starting a garden, this is a great day to do it, as anything relating to the land begun today is likely to thrive. " Ok, is the person who wrote this a complete moron (it is January after all)? Or are they just taunting me?

Anyway, I've been busy...nursing sick kids (lovely cold going around) and also launching a new site: Denver Parents. It includes...what else....a BLOG! Plus a bulletin board for parents to post all sorts of things! I think it's going to be a fun enterprise and hopefully less work than moderating a Yahoo group for parents (which is what this is born from).

Anyway, I finally have the craft room cleaned up, I went ahead and put fusing behind Tina's Wedding Quilt, so I'm hoping that cures my "issues" with that project. Maybe not today (I actually have "work" to do today) but tomorrrow I can get back to work on that and Alec's quilt. Wish me luck!

Labels: Blogging, Gardening, quilting

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