Finished CQJP 2012

Well I know I have been missing in action here at my blog for a while and I do apologise for that but I have been busy trying to finish my crazy quilt from the CQJP 2012. We all know that there is still more work to do after the blocks are finished. And I have been trying to complete this quilt for a few months now. And a few days ago I finished it. Here is the finished piece.

 

 

Once all the blocks were sewn together I put feather stitches between each block. On this quilt I changed the color and type of the thread between each block. Then at the end of each feather stitch I sewed on 3 seed beads. Here are a few close ups of those stitches.

 

 

 

I really wanted to do something different on the border for this quilt so I decided to fill in the border with many different buttons, beads, charms, pearls, crystals, and multiple other items. Here are a few photos of the border.

 

 

I am a little sad to see it all to come to an end but glad to have another completed crazy quilt. I didn't even try to join this years CQJP cuz I just could not keep up with last years plus I was trying to finish 2012. In addition this year I am still trying to start a new business, I am working my regular full time job, plus the dog had puppies and I kept one of them. So as you can see my plate is and was full. I think this year I am going to try to finish some of my UFOs. I actually have a few smaller crazy quilts that are close to be done and need to be completed. SO I think I am going to tackle them next instead of starting any thing new.

 

I am also busy spending time with the newest member of our happy little family here. Meet 'Bella'.

 

 

She is a little over 4 months old now. She is full of energy and keeps me on my toes. So far everyone is getting along well. Nala finally has a play buddy and they love each other lots.

 

 

Well I'm going to see which UFO I going to pick up. Everyone have a great New Year!

New Block

Well I finally finished a new quilt block. Summer has been extremely busy for me this year so I have fallen way behind in my online activities. I am trying to start a new business and I have been working at my regular full time job. So anyways...... this week I finally set some time aside for my crazy quilting. Oh how I miss it when I am away. Here is a picture of the whole block

Here are a few close ups of the center flowers. These are twisted ribbon roses using 3 different colors of 4mm YLI silk ribbon. The leaves are a variegated 4 mm silk ribbon. The center of the flowers are burgundy seed beads.

Here are a few other close ups. 

 I think I will be only doing a small crazy quilt with this color scheme. Probably only 4 blocks. Keep posted for 3 more blocks. Have a wonderfully creative week......

New Crazy Quilt

Well I've been away for awhile because I was commissioned to make a crazy quilt someone and I have been working VERY hard on it for a little over a month. The color scheme is the same as my  CQJP for 2012 because the lady had seen those blocks and just loved the color scheme. I know you would probably like to see something with a little different colors but for today it's going to be the same old color scheme but they are different blocks. I really do have a different color scheme for 2013...trust me on that one.  I am only posting a few pictures today of  two blocks and will be posting close ups of the other two block very soon....probably this week sometime so stay tuned.

 

 

 Here is a few close ups of the boarders...

 

 

Here are a few close ups of the spider web block.....

 

 

 

 

 Here are a few close ups of the floral block....

I will post close ups of the other two blocks within the next two days so check back. And finally I should be able at last be to tackle my CQJP for 2013. I have started some blocks but really just haven't completed any yet.

Everyone have a wonderfully creative week!!

CQJP blocks 15 and 16

Here are the last two blocks for my crazy quilt for the CQJP 2012. I have had a wonderful year with this group of fellow crazy quilt addicts and it has been a wonderful year getting to know all of you!!!. I sometime feel a little alone in my corner of the world because there are not alot of people who do CQ in northern WI. A few but none like me. So anyways...its been a great year for me. Here are the final two blocks.

Block 15:

 

Block 16:

 

I went to my local quilt store this morning looking for a border for this quilt and really didn't find any fabric I liked so I might have to put finishing this quilt off for a bit. There is another quilt store about an hours drive (Antigo, WI) but I don't get that way very often. I want my border to be a teal or brown Batik fabric so it might take some searching. I never just settle for any fabric. I will know when the right fabric hits me. One puts so much time and work into a quilt like this that the finishing is just as important as the blocks are. I also need to come up with a name for this quilt. I put that challenge out to my daughter this week...she's usually pretty good at helping me come up with names for my quilts.

Here is a photo of all the completed blocks....

 

Anyways...I wish all of you a very heart felt....Happy News Years. I wish you all the best for the up coming new year. May we all be blessed with beautiful ribbons and fabulous threads and an unlimited end of creativity. Oh and yes I have decided on a theme for next year CQJP...but you will have to just wait and see.

December CQJP

Well here is the last crazy quilt block for the year. Where did the year go? I want to say how much I have enjoyed this group of wonderfully talented people. I have had so much fun and this group has kept me on task! I have also enjoyed seeing everyone's work. I am actually going to do a 16 block crazy quilt for this project but here is the last of the 12 submitted blocks from the CQJP 2012. I only have 2 more blocks to finish for my full project and they are very close to being done but not quite there yet. Stay tuned for those but for now here is December's block:

Here are some close ups of the blocks.

The tatted snowflake I found at a senior thrift store and hand dyed and just embelleshed with beads and small pearls. The ferns are done using 3 different color teals (YLI 4 mm). All beads are sewn through twice and I usually take a small stitch in the back of the quilt to secure the bead. I will also  do a couple of knots to secure the beads so IF, by chance, they were to come lose someday the whole bunch will not fall off. But on a side note. I have never (yet) had any beads come off the surface of any of my crazy quilts. I use Nymo thread to sew the beads on. I use mostly black and white Nymo thread. But sometime use different color beading thread. Be careful thou because some of these colored threads will bleed if you get them wet.

Not sure if I will be able to finish this quilt like I was hoping for by the end of the year but that's OK....sometimes you just have to let things go and just except it. I will finish it soon just not before the end of the year. 

 

I also have a Christmas crazy quilt and stocking that as soon as I dig them out for the holidays I will post some pictures of. In the mean time have a wonderful week :)

Nov CQJP block

Here is the block that I have submitted for the Novenber CQJP. I had posted pictures of this earlier (May, I think). I tried to put a tree branch in this block so the spider web would have a place to set. I also made the large flower towards the bottom of the block by cutting out silk ribbon and burning the edges. It turned out ok but next time I will make it a little smaller. I really like how the brown leaves turned out by the flower. There is also a tutorial on how to do the spider web if anyone is interested. Again, I think it is listed under one of the May headings.

As I said earlier, I have been working on other things lately and have set the crazy quilting aside. Well it's time to pick it up again with only a month left. Yikes, where did the year go? We had our first snow yesterday. Only about an inch or so but I know more will be coming soon. Hope you enjoy this months block