Saturday, June 27, 2009

I Have Been Working

Hello All

See? I have been working. Just not blogging it
These next 2 blocks are not complete yet. I have been just adding beading, laces and trims. Later all the other gee gaws will be added












Later,
Lauri


Slips

Hello All

Here are some slips ( motifs) I have been working on to add to the Sea








Lauri

Monday, June 15, 2009

From This.................

Hello All,

Well here is the fishy block. I really had a time with this one. I needed to bring the bright colors of the fish to the rest of the block. It was much harder than I thought. It took all week to do this and it still isn't done. But I think it is close enough that I can move on to the next which is moving along surprisingly well.





Here it is now. The net with the spangles in the corner is from Nu Mom . She found it at the thrift store and thought it would be perfect on this UTS quilt. I had auditioned several different things there first. The doily just didn't cut it by itself. The colors were OK but it annoyed me that it was upside down and it just didn't seem right to hang things on. Then I found the scarf lurking in my box of UTS goodies



I think the whole thing needs more beads. Of course!!
Later,
Lauri


Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Here Fishy, Fishy

Hello All

You know if I would stop doing little projects that take 15 -20 hours each I might get this quilt done.
There is also a problem that the block I put it on is very pastel-y so now I need to bring in more color to the rest of it

Later,
Lauri

Saturday, June 06, 2009

Forging Ahead

Hello All

Well I finally got this block almost done. The bottom left corner may have more added to it after all the blocks are joined






I really like how this block turned out also. After I figured out what I was going to do on it


See Ing!!! I can do bullions. I have just have never showcased them before. Don't you just love this surfboard? I found it at a bead store in Arvada, I also got some really nice lampwork fish and eels that will be making their presence know on this quilt somewhere



This silkie was taken from a photo taken of my 3 youngest and me when we went to Disneyland the first time, If you notice this is the inspiration for the drawing I did that appears on the right hand column of this blog.
After picking the photo I put it into a photo editing program ( I can't remember which) and there is a process that makes it into a cartoon.
Then I added some BE flowers to the corner




A close up of that da**ed castle. I estimate it took at least 20 hours to do all those knots
Well onto the third block know. Hopefully it will go faster!
Later,
Lauri

Thursday, May 28, 2009

I'm Stuck!!!!

Hello All

I only have until July 17th to get this quilt done and I have struck a wall.
I don't know what to do next. I have this piece pictured in my mind as one continuous piece. BUT that doesn't necessarily translate into Crazy Quilting, unless you plan VERY carefully beforehand as you piece and embellish your blocks
As we have discussed before I am not much of a planner for my CQ. I like to go with the flow
After a discussion with the hubby, we have decided that I should treat each block on its own and then let it go where it wants
So ok I think I can do that

But first I have to do this. The sandcastle sent straight from you know where!!


First of all it took me a least 3 rough drafts before I got a drawing that I liked that wasn't too complicated. Then I had to dye the thread as I wanted some color to it. Not just plain sand colored, so I dyed white perle cotton with persian gold, blush, seamist and saffron
Next I decided to do it all in small bullion knots so it would look more sand like. BIG MISTAKE!!! I have already put almost 15 hours into this and this is as far as I have gotten. Of course I didn't dye enough thread so I had to try to match it to the first batch ARRRGGGHHH!!!
Can I set this down and work on another block? NO I can't . That's how I am. I like to do my CQ in a logical manner ( oxymoron I know) (See above about going with the flow)

So maybe I will get this done in time but I don't think I will have time to get the border done I want on it. We shall see


Then as if thousands and thousands of knots weren't enough I decided to bead this for Lyn's UTS block. I call it a dolphin but everyone else sees it as a whale. So I guess we will leave it at that


On another topic.
Is it just me or am I a poor writer? When I was in school taking writing classes we were told not to use the same noun or pronoun repeatedly
BUT as a blogger, it is very difficult not to keep saying," I did this, I did that, I made this"
I ( see here it is again) find it very annoying myself especially when I ( again!!) keep doing it.
It is just difficult not to do when describing your own work
Any suggestions would be appreciated and please forgive me for atrocious writing style. Mr Kirch would be hitting me over the head if saw what I have been writing!!!!
Maybe I (!!!) will refer to myself in the third person. Lauri, Mrs Burgesser, Dennis' wife, Sam's Mom, Zac's Mom, Caleb's Mom, Molly's Mom, Katrina's Mom ..........Etc .
Lauri could go on forever with this, as she has lots of kids, pets ,nieces and nephews.

Back to the knot factory

Later
Lauri

Monday, May 11, 2009

Hello All



Remember this block?




Well here it is now. I wanted to do this one first as I have been patiently waiting to get the castle done













I think I might have overdone but I love it, so no looking back. I just need to make sure the other corner block weighs as much or the whol equilt will tilt to the right .LOL



Later
Lauri

Friday, May 08, 2009

Blocks 8&9

Hello All

Here are the last 2 blocks



See this pretty seam ? It took me 2 hours to do. Well don't get attached to it. I forgot I had the perfect piece of lace and the only place it fits is right there.
See? I told you I don't plan this out


And here is the last one.

Now I get to audition all the lace, trims and fibers
That should take a week in and of itself
Check back soon, the fun part is now starting

Later,
Lauri


Thursday, May 07, 2009

Marya's Spider block

Here is my addition to Marya's block. I spent 2 weeks looking at this everyday trying to figure out what to add.
This magpie fairy is one of my favorite prints. Once I thought of it the rest was easy . I particularly like the magpie's nest button cluster


Now I am off to do what I consider the fun part of CQing , the embellishing
Later
Lauri


Thursday, April 30, 2009

Blocks, 5, 6 &7

Hello All



Of Course the pics loaded backwards. I can never seem to get them in the order I want



Here are a some seam details. I am in a quandary here. I want the seams to be able to stand on their own, But I have a 2 1/2 gallon bag of trims, laces and fibers I want to add. So some of these seams will be covered up. I can always go back and add to the thread embellishments later.



I am not the greatest at planning projects out before hand. Therefore I have some AHA moments and some ugg moments as I go





Obviously here are the blocks



This one is pretty plain but I do have some nice lace pieces that will liven it up








The mermaids are embroidered then colored in with crayons. Obviously some of these girls need a few more layers of wax.

I think I will add that last


Only 2 more to go

Check back soon


BTW I am so informative lately aren't I? Hopefully the pics speak for them selves


Later
Lauri




Thursday, April 23, 2009

Pam's Under The Sea Block


Hello All
Here is a pic of the block I did for Pam. She lives in Cornwall, in England so I decided to incorporate a selkie ( seal) from Celtic legend.
Her email nick name Moroven which is either Welsh or Celtic ( can't remember which at the moment) for mermaid.So I included one here too. You may have to look for her she's a bit shy
Enjoy
Later,
Lauri

Monday, April 20, 2009

Blocks 3 &4












Hello All
Here are the next 2 blocks . I know it is at the boring stage right now. But you have to lay down the foundation before you can get to the really fun stuff
Be sure to double click on the pics for a larger view. Sorry about the picture quality
Later
Lauri



Saturday, April 11, 2009

Block 2 Under the Sea

Hello All

Here is the 2 nd block all nekkid, in other words before any embellishments



Here it is with all the seams embellished


And some closeups











By the time I am done with all the laces, beads , shells, silkies appliques and thread paintings you probably won't be able to see much of these. But In my mind all the seams need to be embroidered or it isn't a Crazy Quilt. Even if you can't see them later
Go Figure!!

Later
Lauri

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Here we Go Again!!

Hello All,


Well it's that time of year again. County Fair time. So I am getting another quilt ready for it.


This time I decided to do an Under The Sea theme. I orginally had 12 blocks , but I got a brain storm idea so I only need 9 squares for now. I will show you that brainstorm if I get far enough along



This is how it was when I began



Then I took out a few patches here and there and replace them so it flowed better



This is the first block I did the seams on it

Here is is after


And a close up of some of the work

I have hundreds of ideas of things to include. We will jus have to see how many I can include on here. The way I like to embellish this will be a VERY crowded piece

Stay tuned, I hope to post once week on my progress. Hopefully you won't get bored

If you have questions on anything I do, be sure to ask. I am so used to doing some of this that I never know what too tell you about

Later
Lauri