I'm still here

Hello All

I am sorry it's been so long since I posted. We loaded the new Vista operating system to my computer. It runs great, however my new printer, scanner,copier which happens to be a HP and is less than 5 months old won't connect to the new operating system.HP decided not to make the neccesary software changes even though Microsoft sent them all they needed so new printers would be compatible. HP managed not to get it done on time like every other manufacturer. I guess that is why Microsoft is sueing them.

I have been working on some blocks I am doing for the CQfN Fairy Tale Round Robin.I have also finished one of my cell phone purses.

My camera is not taking very good pictures of my CQ stuff. It does great at anything else but not what I need it most for.

So I have posted a few pic. I apologize in advance for the poor quality

The first 2 pictures are of Gerry's block, The Ugly Daughter. I decided to do the fountain from the story. I was going to do some snakes and toads but I just don't do creepy crawlies well. I think the fountain turned out well .I used Watercolors thread for the fountain itself and for the water, then I added some silver beads to make the water sparkle. I also did the turquoise and black seam in the left corner. I beaded it with blue beads and pearls. It is meant to look kind of creepy yet compelling at the same time

The last 3 pics are of Rebecca's block. How the Raja's Son won the Princess Laban. I added the parrot, he is done in a heavy rayon thread. Next the black trim was added along with the turquoise and pink beaded seam treatment above it,The shiskas were added because the lavendar trim that Gerry had added was fraying.

I found an easier way to add the shiskas. I will let you know how that turns out.

All the other work on the block including the siggies were done by Gerry. I think she got it off to a great start. Now to send this off to Nancy. Then I have 2 more RR blocks to do before I can get back to the purses I am doing.

Later,
Lauri

Bags in the Works

Hello All

I have been thinking about doing some business on Ebay. These are to be CQ embellished bags or purses. The first 3 will be ones to hold a cell phone, ipod,mp3 or even a smaller digital camera. They will have a strap that will be long enough to go over your head and hang down in front, a sort of neck pouch.
The next 2 are to be bigger purses they are about 10 inches wide and 9 inches high.
I will post more pictures after I get them embellished and finished.
I think it's about time I start making some money after my stash. LOL. I know my husband should would appreciate it!

later,
Lauri

Longtime

Hello All

I know it's been a while since I've posted. I have no real excuse. You know how life goes sometimes.

First up are some laces I have dyed. The first 2 pictures are of laces dyed with Ribbonsmyth dyes. I really like these. The only problem with them is that the only blue they have really stinks. It is called English Blue, it is really more greenish grey than blue. So they blues you see are ones that I used food dyes and vinegar with, These really tend to bleed and fade and are not colorfast at all. I need to find a good blue microwave dye. So if you know of any please let me know.

The next two pictures are laces that I painted using fabric paint. You get great colors with these, however it tends to be stiff when dry. They must be very diluted with water and painted lightly in several coats, As these are intended for purses I don't think it will make as much difference since they won't be in as much contact with the skin as compared to clothing.

You will see in the last 2 pics I ahve some VERY bright greens.Don't fear, there is a plan for them. I am going to use them in some tinkerbell bags.

My friend Janet and I dyed a bunch of lace here at my house the other day. I think I have her hooked.It wouldbe so easy to spend days dyeing lace.

Well off to do some more

Later,
Lauri

Boldly and Pinups

Hello All

I have been busy this week. I got one block done on my "Boldly" quilt. It isn't too bad. I need to bead this yet. I think I like the green flower border the best. Only 15 more to go. LOL

Then I spent the rest of the week on the Pinup quilt. All the embroidery is done by machine using 2 strands of thread. For the liitle accent squares in the sashing I used my husband's favorite color. His first car was "71 Cougar with a 351 Cleveland Engine and PosiTrac. This color that he calls Robin's Egg Blue is the exact color of that car. So I put it in in Rememberance of that former love. Now I have to wait for the fabric I won on Ebay for the border. He sure is a spoiled man. He's so lucky to have me.

That's about it. More CQing to do

LAter,

Lauri

JO's Art MEME

Hello All

I just received this in the mail from Jo in New Zealand. Isn't it beautiful? I think I will start one of those fancy corkboards to include all the things I get from swaps and RR from all over the world. Kinda of like a living art collage that will keep growing.

Jo had an ArtMEME on her blog a while ago. For those of you who don't know what that is. Here are the guidelines. When someone issues an Art MEME, they agree to give a piece of their art to the first five people who respond. In exchange those five people agree to put on their blogs, websites or groups that they are doing this challenge too and that they will in turn give a piece of art who respond to them and agree to pass on their work. (Does that make sense?)

I in turn offered my work in exchange. But I have had no takers, so here is your 3rd and Last chance to have an original piece of me . So leave a comment below and I will make up something for you. You need not be in the USA , I will ship anywhere

So this is what Jo sent. Her stitching is so dainty and I think the paisley is great. I have a fascination wit them myself. She did a great job. I have already written to thank her but I wanted all of you to see her beautiful work also. Please go check out her work on her blog. I have her in my links on the sidebar

Thank you JO

Later,
LAuri

Pinup Quilt

Hello All

This is what I have been working on for the past couple of days. My hubby always has cold feet and he loves to watch movies on his big screen tv with surround sound. The only problem is that it is in the basement, so I decided to make him a quilt to cover up with.

I just love these pinups. Personally I think they are cute. The lady at Joann's about had a heart attack when I showed her what I was doing. She said " How could you do that? I would never put something like THAT on a quilt for my husband!". I thought to myself that she should take a BIG chill pill. I mean if I can't trust my husband after 23 years, then will a slighty risque quilt send him over the top? But I must say he did have fun going over all the pictures to include in the quilt!

There are 30 blocks in this quilt and as much as I love the Hubby, I have 3 more quilts lined up before this one, so I am going to cheat. I am going to do all the seam embellishments by machine.

I am also thinking of making one for my son who is going into the Navy and maybe for the oldest son's 21 birthday. I think I will use 3x4 or 4x6 prints for those though. These seem to get a little lost in the block

Well I gotta go, more blocks to piece, 16 down 14 to go

Later,

Lauri

Back to My Roots

Hello All,


I've finished my Ugly Duckling block ( I think ) LOL . Janet says that it looks very Kansas. This block just screamed Country, so I went for it.
You see my family is so country it's scary, to a citified girl like me. My paternal Grandpa ,Harry ,was a moonshiner. He used to run moonshine in Kentucky, hiding his wares in watermelons. He later settled down, had 9 kids and became a barber in Cincinnati . His clients included members of the Big Red Machine in the 70's, yes he was responsible for Johnny Bench's haircut, but I hope to God not for Pete Rose's!

My Dad was in the Seminary to become a priest but he dropped out to join the Air Force. Then he met my Mother. She was brought up a Mennonite share farmer in Missouri and Nebraska.

When they married they compromised and became Lutheran and moved to the big city . (Columbus , Ohio and Denver, Colorado)

So you see doing a country theme on this simple for this Moonshine running, hillbilly, dirt busting, Mennonite, Catholic converted Lutheran city girl.

No wonder my husband says I have at least 2 personalities!!

I decided to embrace my inner orange and go for it. So there is ALOT of orange.Who says you can't have glass beads and crows on the same block.
I did cheat, the Rooster is an iron applique and the bumble bee and lady bug are store bought.

I am quite happy with how it turned out. Sometimes you just stop fighting the block and go with the flow.

I finally got " Janet's Fault" basted. This one should end up pretty good if I can translate what I have in my mind onto the quilt. I really like all the black in it.I am going for a very antique look on this one.I have very wide lace like edges done in ecru in mind for the fan edges. Carole Sample's Treasury of Crazy Quilt stitches has a lot of very nice borders in it that should look great here.
I have also heard that her publisher will no longer be printing her book, so if you want it you may have to work fast

I only have one more quilt lined up to piece. It is a 50's inspired pin up girl quilt for the hubby, to keep his tootsies warm in the basement watching movies on his big screen TV

Gotta go do some work

Later,
Lauri

Ugly Block Update

Hello All

I just wanted to update you on the progress of the Ugly Block.This is the result of about 8 hours of work. Maybe another 20 and it might be presentable!

The gold and orange lace that you see are ones that I dyed with this project in mind. They are pretty intense in color. I am happy with the way the crow turned out, I just did him freehand as I went. I have some bright orange flowers with yellow centers to cover the white polka dots.

The SRE in the corner needs a little more filling out I think.

Next up some button flowers around the rooster and lots of beads and seam embellishments.

Back to the grind

Later,
Lauri

Something New

Hello All

I have had a busy week . I finished up Katie's mp3 case. I also made a little purse. It was to be for a friend I made while working at Joann's, everytime I go in to purchase even more fabric I don't need she always says "When are you going to make me something pretty?'" So the little purse is the result. I have never made one up before. I really like how it turned out and I don't want to give it up.The hardest part was to get the zipper to lay right. So we will see if I give it up!

I finally got "Janet's Fault" to talk to me. I am still basting it and I think this one will turn out well too. I will post as soon as I get it basted.

No progress on "Boldly" it's not talking yet, but I am confident that it will come along when the time is right

I have gotten my rhythm going on my CQing lately. Who would have thought that being able to breathe and swallow without pain would make such a difference?

Well back to work

Later,

Lauri

Progress

Hello All

I have been working on "Boldly". I am just having a hard time getting into it. It isn't speaking to me yet. I have been having a very hard time getting my stitching even lately. I start out fine on a seam then my stitches get bigger and bigger as I go.

The seams I have done are not nearly done yet. I thought I would just lay down a basic pattern first, then go back and build on those so I can make sure the colors are well balanced.

So since "Boldly" and I are not on speaking terms yet, I decided to do another NEW project. (Like I don't have enough already!)

My daughter Molly picked out the smiley face fabric , then I turned it into a MP3 player case. It has a little pocket for her extra memory sticks. I decided to use velcro instead of trying to finagle a zipper aroung 2 corners. A bonus with the velcro is that she can run the wire for the headphones right over the top of it and it will seal around it. I think that on the one I do for Katie I will make the velcro a little more secure. It did turn out pretty cute, at least I think so. Next up will be a tiger inspired case

I have also posted a pic of the Ugly block that I am trying to transform into a swan. A group of us on the CQ for Newbies group are attempting to do the impossible. I plan to embellish it in oranges, yellows, greens and some black. I think I will put a huge spray of SRE white daisies on the left side. I also need to do something with the polka dot piece. All of the dots are badly stained, or now that I look more at it I think that the white dye is starting to disintegrate. One estimate I heard is that these blocks could be almost 50 years old. I think I will just try to ignore some of the fabrics and just carry on with a gardening theme.

Any suggestions for help on this would be greatly appreciated

Also I have joined a webring. Around the Block. Please look for the icon in my sidebar and go visit their sites and see all the pretty things they are doing

Off to work on straighter stitches or maybe make a bauble bag like Ati did on her blog http://malinaplass.blogspot.com/. I think they are really cute or maybe I'll ..............

Later,

Lauri

Tinkerbell

Hello All

Siw in Norway is doing Tinkerbell for her FairyTale RR block. I told her I was a HUGE Tinkerbell fan. I even have her tattooed on my leg! Here is my ode to Tinkerbell. These are from my Fantasy based Cq, the one I have been working on for 2 years now. I hope to get it done this year, along with my other projects.

I have been working on " Boldly" and I will post on the progress a little later

Later,

Lauri

Makes Sense to me

You're Ulysses!

by James Joyce

Most peopleTake the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

are convinced that you don't make any sense, but compared
to what else you could say, what you're saying now makes tons of sense. What people do
understand about you is your vulgarity, which has convinced people that you are at once
brilliant and repugnant. Meanwhile you are content to wander around aimlessly, taking in
the sights and sounds of the city. What you see is vast, almost limitless, and brings you
additional fame. When no one is looking, you dream of being a Greek folk hero.

Boldly

Hello All

"Boldly"

That is the name of my newest crazy quilt project. My plan is to blog all year long on the progress on this quilt.

You can go to my flikr site( there's a link in my sidebar) to see all the blocks

These blocks are much more angular than I normally do but I thought it lent itself well to the theme.

There are 16 blocks that will be 9" finished, this is much smaller than my previous blocks which were 20" square. I am getting faster at piecing which is the bane of my cq-ing efforts

I will not be using a lot of my normal flowery seam treatments. So if you have any ideas for futuristic or science looking patterns let me know. This will be quite a challenge for me

My son says these all look like black holes.LOL

I am not sure at this point whether there will be alot of embellishments other than the seams, we will see as we go along.

I am planning to do some really strange looking plant life on the 2 landscape blocks so watch for those

Any ideas at all will be greatly appreciated, so bring them on!

Next up to piece is one I am calling "Janet's Fault".This was inspired by a piece of fabric Janet used in several of her patches. When I found that print, I just kept buying fabrics that coordinated, before I knew it I had about 30 prints that went together. I plan to do this one with the landscape piecing method. I want it to be very antique-y looking. This is another stretch for me.

I also plan a pinup quilt for my hubby, I'll post on that too

Why, may you ask do I have so many projects at once. The answer is that I get BORED, very easily so I like to switch off.

I also still have my original cq that I have posted about before , so I will keep motoring on that one too.

Well I've got a LOT to do so I better get busy

Later,

Lauri

Proof

Hello All

Here's proof I have been doing my CQ. Not much but a start!

Later,

Lauri

Fairy Tale RR Blocks

Hello All,

I finally got into the mood and have finally been doing some CQ. Here are the blocks I did for the fairy tale RR. One is "The Last Unicorn" and the other is "The Little Mermaid" the Hans Christian Andersen version. I have nothing against the Disney version ,but I didn't want a cartoon-y looking finished block.

I am happy with the way they turned out. Piecing for me is harder than the embellishing

Next up I have a vision of a Star Trek block, I know I am a MAJOR GEEK.

I also have lots of fabrics left from the RR blocks, so I see 3 more of each to make a nice size wallhanging.

I'm finally in the swing of it so I better keep going

Later,

Lauri