Ann's CYOT

Hello All

Here is the finished product. Ann said she wanted glitz, so here it is. It took 4 days to bead this little dude. I just couldn't help myself, I just kept seeing more places to add.
I hope you enjoy it Ann!
Later,
Lauri

CYOT Ann's Block

Hello All

The top photo is Ann's sample block for the Choose Your Own Theme RR . Her theme fabric is the light gold one with the lavendar, blue and green fans. The theme itself is Japan. Ann didn't have a chance to completely finish her sample, she will finish it when it is returned. Ann says she hasn't much experience with seam treatments but wanted them on her block. She also said she was just learning SRE. But I think hers and the sample block proves that she is off to a great start

The second pic is of my pieced block and the third is my block with butterfly embellishments. I don't know if butterflies are actually a japanese theme but I liked how it went with this block


I have started the embroidery, using only varigated Wildflower thread. This is working out pretty well. There is so much lace and pattern from the fabric that traditional colors and seams might have been too much.

I will finish the seams and add the beads later today and get it to Janet soon.

As always don't forget you can double click on he photos for a closer look

Later,
LAuri

Last of The Egyptian Blocks

Hello All

Well here they are the last of the Egypt blocks. Again I must make the he disclaimer that they are not quite done. I still need to add beads.

The Cleopatra block on top just doesn't look right to me. Cleo and the asp (?) I did all in satin stitch and I like how they turned out. The block just doesn't hit me yet. Maybe it is because I used no print fabrics, only solids and blenders. I'll keep working on it for a few more days until I send them to JK.

The 3rd one, of tomb paintings is my version of a collage.I am thinking that I will not bead this one. It looks more authentic without them.

The King Tut on the last is very heavily embroidered and also colored in with pencil.It probably took me all in all about 9-10 hours on that little patch all by itself

Now I have never done a block swap before, so whoever receives my blocks be prepared. These are not always square. Then I thought I was doing something good and ironed on knit interfacing to them before I beaded. The end result is that some of my blocks are a little puckered, but not as much as they look in the pics. I am sorry in advance for that.

Otherwise I am happy with my results and think they turned out well.

I will try to post one last photo of all of them completely done before I mail them off in a week or so

Later,
Lauri

More than a Peeve, less than a Rant.

Hello All

I have been busy working on my Egyptian blocks, I am now up to 8.

Here is what is bothering me. I read my list of blogs everyday, and the thing that irks me is this.

PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME IN YOUR BLOG!!

Your home country would be nice too

I don't mean your whole name, I understand the reasons for that, safety and all. But it really annoys me to go to a blog and not know who it belongs too. There are times I would like to comment and I don't want to leave a message that says" Hey you, enjoy your work"

Let's face it most people who go to our blogs get there because of their interest in Crazy Quilting, and how dangerous are we?

I'm not saying give out your name, address and phone number. I know some people post pics of their kids and grandkids, I do sometimes. You don't want to give out any personal info JUST in case there is a weirdo out there.

But it really helps to connect us to your blogs if there is a name to go with eye candy.

Just a thought

I'll post more pics later of my blocks,

Later,
Lauri

Egyptian Swap Blocks 2,3,and 4

Hello All

Here are my next three blocks for the Egyptian Theme Swap. The King Tut one is one of my favorites. All the stitching is done in shades of blue and gold only. The next two have as a center motif, patches that I embroidered. They each took about 2 days to do.

These are only about 1/3 done, at least to my way of thinking.

I still have small motifs, hieroglyphs and beads to do.

I also have 1 more pieced and ideas for 3 more.

My plan was to do one for each person in the swap. However seeing as there are 15 and I have a whole block to do for the Create Your Own Theme RR due July 1st and I haven't started , I don't think that will be happening!

Later,
Lauri

Egyptian Swap Block 1

Hello All

I am really excited about this swap. I have always loved Egypt and archeology. In fact I was convinced I was going to be an Archaeologist, then I realized when I was about 13 that that meant I had to spend a lot of time outdoors and in REALLY hot weather. First I am not an outdoor person. I like to be out if I am under an awning sitting on a chair. Second I do NOT like heat, I have had my swamp cooler on for almost 8 weeks now. SO.............. that line of work was out of the question. Now I have to settle for reading books and watching the Discovery and History Channels
The first photo is of the naked block. That what CQers call their unembellished blocks. I know the mice don't exactly scream serious Egyptian study , but I have had this fabric for about 5 years now and I love it so I had to use it. The second is what I have done so far. I am going to add a bunch of beads and maybe a very small motif. I'd also like to add a black cat button if I can find one. I have 3 more blocks pieced and ideas for about 4 more. Maybe I will make enough so I get a block back from everyone in the swap.
When my oldest son was a baby, about 18 months old, he was in love with the song" Walk Like an Egyptian", by the Bangles. I can still see him jumping in his car seat every time he heard the song. I wonder if I can do a block based on the song?

Later,
Lauri

Siw's RR Block

Hello All

This is the work I did on Siw's block for the Fairy Tale RR. Her story was "The Lion King" . This is my version of The Circle of Life.
First I painted some muslin with some gesso.After that dried, I used Prismacolor colored pencils to do the plains of Africa. I do wish that it came out with a better texture than it did. All in all it's ok I guess, just not how I had pictured it. Then I added the tree and the grass and the animal charms. I also did the black closed buttonhole and orange spike seam at the bottom. Then next was the wavy chain seam to the right. Everything I tried to add to it either didn't show up against the leopard spots or ended up like all the other seams that are already done. So I just decided to leave it as it was. Sometimes it's a matter of knowing when to leave well enough alone.

Later,
Lauri

We're So Proud

Hello All

This past weekend we had a party for this guy in the picture. This is my second son Zac.The party was for two reasons. He graduated from High School and he is going into the Navy.
Now the fact that he graduated is huge. This boy blew off high school and I mean BIG time. He ditched more than attended sometimes, he failed a lot of classes. He went to 4 schools in 4 years. Then he decided to join the Navy.He got qualified for the job he wanted, the only problem was that he had graduate on time or he would lose the job they promised. So he did the normal 7 credits needed as a senior, plus 7 more he needed to fulfill requirements. He took online classes, got work credit and worked almost full time most of the year. And he DID it!
We are so proud of him.
Zac leaves for boot camp June 28th. This will be hard. He has always been a child with a mind of his own and no problem telling you. He is the only one of the 5 that we planned.He is also a hard worker when he wants and he is the one who helps his mama with everything. My oldest has left the nest but he lives in Denver , 4 hours away, so I get to see him about once a month and he calls us all the time. However the Navy is a little different isn't it?
We are hoping to go to Disneyland this Thanksgiving depending on Zac's schooling in the Navy. Cuz we can't go without one of the kids can we?
So I need to keep myself busy until he goes so I won't think about it

Later,
Lauri

Rose Colored Glasses

Hello All



Well here it is. I finally got it done. For obvious reasons I have named this block "Rose Colored Glasses" I have to say I am REALLY happy how this turned out. This block fought me for days until I wrestled it to the floor. Then I had so many ideas I couldn't put it down. I almost resented having to put it away for the drive to Denver this past weekend. (Which is a completely off topic subject. Let's just say " Isn't family fun?) This of course is the Knight in Shining Armor and the required long stem red rose.
This is my the focal point with my theme fabric. You can also see the castle wall to scale to find your true love
This is my favorite part. Obviously as you can see by the amount of hardware around her neck, that the woman in this 'bodice ripper' is well off on her own. I even made her 3 dimensional.
The swan is here because Swans mate for life, I guess the wife is on the other side of the moat taking care of the baby swans (swanlings? what do you call swan babies?)


This is one of the first button trails I have done. I have everything in there from a fairy button to a dragon charm to a knight charm to a cameo

And last but not least the dragon to slay and the sunset to ride off onto. Even though I did cut off the top off the sunset.

I hope whoever is in my group has fun working on my blocks. But I bet by the end of the 5th block Ann will be cursing me for the postage. I think this block alone weighs a pound by itself!

Well now I have to go work on Siw's Lion King block for the Fairy Tale RR and to get ready for our party this weekend

Later,
Lauri

CYOT Progress

Hello All

Here's what the block looks like after most of the embroidery is done.All that is left now is the beading and so far I have been doing that for 2 days,
The pink seam in the bottom right corner, next to the bodice, is one that came to me one night as I was trying to go to sleep. I often put myself to sleep thinking of new combinations. I really like how it turned out.
Tomorrow I will try again to get some clear pictures of the beaded finished product
Don't forget you can double click on the picture to enlarge it

Later,
Lauri

Create Your Own Theme RR

Hello All

This is what I have been working on lately. This is the obviously when I was piecing it. I like to take photos of the work as I go because you get a better idea of what the block actually looks like. Does that make sense? It gives a different perspective.

The theme of my block is hard to describe. The fabric itself is called " Romance Novel Covers'
I am planning more of a satire. This block will have all the love cliches. The Knight in Shining Armor . If you look closely you can see the bodice that is required in a bodice ripper. There is also the sunset to ride off into, a dragon to slay and castle walls to scale
I have been working quite a bit on this one and it is almost ready to send on to Janet. Good thing she lives in town as I am already late on this.

I will post progress pics later today

So if you are in the silver group, take a good look and get those ideas flowing!

Later,
Lauri

See Jo, I did it!

Hello All

I have been tagged by Jo to do the MEME thing. I am supposed to tell you 7 things you didn't know about me. She didn't think we would do it. I think I am pretty boring so I had a hard time coming up with things. So here goes.............

1. I had a twin that died in utero at about 3 months. They broke Mom's water and 21 hours later still no baby. That is when they discovered the twin . My husband says this is why I sometimes have dual personalities LOL

2. I met my husband at a Confirmation retreat. It was that awful 18 days between our birthdays, so I was 14 and he was 13. We dated in high school and have now been married almost 23 years

3. I'm only 5 ft tall, but I am taller than my mom, grandmother and aunt all were. My hubby is 6ft 5 BTW

4. I have 3 tattoos. A butterfly up by my collar bone, a Tinkerbell on my right calf, and 2 intertwined dragons for my husband and I with 5 little dragons around it for our kids, on my left calf

5. All 7 of us are Disneyland freaks. We all have recurring dreams of going there and sigh wistfully every time we see it on tv or think about it. We are hoping to make our 3rd trip there this year between Thanksgiving and Christmas ( the ONLY time to go)

6. I cry about things on TV or in books, all the time. ( I married my husband because he was the only one in my life who didn't and doesn't make fun of me for it)
I cry whenever I see an adult cry in real life, but when I SHOULD cry like at my mom's funeral I can't

7. I was so quiet that in High School, that the one time , I said something to the boy in school who was just as quiet, that entire cafeteria went dead quiet, you literally could hear a pin drop, it was just like something that happens in movies or commercials. ( Remember the E.F. Hutton ones?)
Now we had never, ever talked to each other before or since. We were so embarrassed that I don't think I talked for another month and I still don't think he has.

So how was that?

Now I have to try and tag 5 who haven't been tagged. I can only think of Janet. I am having cold remedy medicine induced amnesia, so go ahead and consider yourself tagged. Your IT!

Later,
Lauri

Unicorn Purse and Anabelle Lee

Catching Up

Hello All

I am finally getting around to replying to some comments left on this blog.

First of all I want to thank everyone who read my blog. It amazes me that someone would take time out of their day to have a look at what I have been doing. I have had over 350 visitors in the last two weeks. WOW!. Thank you.

I really do appreciate the comments. I do reply to them when I can. However some have left comments and no return email so I can't respond to you. I will attempt to rectify that now

First off Jo has nominated me for the Thinking Blogger Award. This is sort of a MEME where you post five blogs that make you think about things. Not just ones you enjoy, which believe me I have dozens , so here goes:

First off naturally be Jo's. I just love her blog but I can't nominate her back.

1. Caity's Princess and the Pea

2. Mindy's Bits and Pieces of Mindy's Kingdom . Gotta love the cows

3. Ati's Ati on the Crazy Road

4. Ree's Confession's of A Pioneer Woman She's a riot, be sure to read about vomit gross out stories

and last but not least my friend Janet she has really great memories of growing up.

Now I realize that only 2 of these are CQ related but the others are just hilarious.

Now for the comments.

Flora- You wanted to know about the Gueniver block. The knights were first done in a backstitch to outline them. Then they were filled in with, either satin stitch, chain or stem stitch.

I believe that I got the flowers beads at Wal Mart but most likely Hobby Lobby. They did still carry them a few months ago.

I also drive my husband crazy sometimes and I have finally realized that I do have a quirky sense of humor. I just thought that the Romance Cover fabric was too fun to pass up.

I have gotten a few new dyes but have had no time to play with them, I will let you know how it turns out.Since I am obsessive and always have to try " that thing over there I don't have yet" I am sure I will give the site you recommended a try.

I want to thank everyone who gave me input on my fabric dilemma. I have decided to go with the "Bodice Rippers" as Susan called them. I agree with Jo, that the colors will lend themselves well to a block and will be easy to coordinate. Now if you are in my group, then be prepared to do something very "Out There". I think Janet's will have the LOVE STINKS thing going on.

Lastly, thanks for all the support on the Great Dachshund Debacle as Janet calls it. I fully realize that it is not appropriate to take a puppy everywhere. But some people in retail are just too rude for words. I know what I am talking about, I have worked retail for almost 15 years and I know how hard it can be. Believe me the customer is NOT always right. Some people should not be allowed to mingle with the general public. On the hand I detest being treated like crud in a store and I do not hesitate to tell them and complain to the management.

Enough of that.

I still have my doggies and sometimes they are much better company than a lot of people.

If I have forgetten anyone let me know . LOL

Later,
LAuri

Beware

Hello All


I wanted to share a picture of my vicious dog, Gunther. A 3.7 lb , 11 week old dachshund. Believe it or not, this little guy got us kicked out of a fabric store. Then, he was 7 weeks old. I have a bag that looks just like a purse and he was in it. I am NOT the kind of woman who carries her precious little poopsie woopsie around all the time. However, a puppy is like newborn baby and I can't leave him in his crate for hours at a time.
Long story short, we got kicked out because she said if they let him in , in a bag, then they had to let Great Danes too.
Moral: Don't shop at Hi Fashion Fabrics in Grand Junction, Colorado. They are witches in there, even before the Great Dachshund Debacle

How could you resist this face huh?

Later,
Lauri