Crazy Quilted Post Card

As I posted on November 27, I won a gorgeous crazy quilted postcard from Magpie's Mumblings. It arrived a few days ago and is lovely. The button embellishments are quite tiny and the beaded stocking is very dainty. Thanks again, Mary Anne.

• Crazy Quilted Christmas on Pinterest HERE.   
• Christmas Crazy Quilt  
• Christmas Stocking  
• U Tube how to sew a Crazy Quilted Stocking 
• Crazy Quilt Embroidery Stitches  
• Crazy Quilting at Needle 'N Thread       
• Tutorial from Pin Tangle  

I also added Sharon Boggon's Visual Guild to Crazy Quilting, to my library.  In this book, Learn crazy-quilting techniques with colorful photos that show every detail. Sharon combines fabric, embellishments, and 35 stitches as well as endless variations of these stitches to create stunning crazy quilts. This is a 'must have' if you like making crazy quilted projects.

Enjoy!1

I Won . . .!

Imagine my surprise a few days ago, to find out that I won the lovely crazy quilted postcard embroidered by Mary Anne at Magpie's Mumblings. The winner was asked to send in their favorite Christmas recipe. My Mom's Dark Fruitcake, posted HERE, is my favorite.

This cake was baked a couple of years ago. Mom always said to smooth out the uncooked batter with a knife dipped in hot water! It didn't help my cake as you can see. However, the cracks didn't affect the taste!

Crazy Quilting

Today was a 'crazy' day! Enough said.

Have a look at this cushion cover. It's been in the upstairs office for years on the old wooden rocker my parents bought when I was born.

Judy, do you recognize this one? You made for me many moons ago and it still looks as good as the day I received it. Beautiful! To the crazy quilters, who do exclusively hand embroidery on their blocks, this one is machine stitched.  Have a look at Today's Crazy Quilting with your Embroidery Machine HERE and HERE.

A few links to Crazy Quilting:

• Crazy Quilting - Wikipedia 
• History of Crazy Quilting 
• Crazy Quilt from Quilters Cache
• Pinterest HERE, HERE & HERE 
• Piecing a Crazy Quilt Block 
• Needle 'n Thread 

Enjoy!!     

Ornament Exchange - Part 2

More ornaments from the St. John's Embroidery Guild:

This is Verna's Christmas Temari Ornament.

I haven't posted any new links lately. That will happen soon. However, in the meantime, check out my blogging buddy, Mary Ann, at Magpie's Mumblings. For my Crazy Quilt enthusiasts, check out her Santa. And to all the grandmas whose little ones are quite young, scroll down to view her 'quiet' book. Job well done!!! 

Crazy Quilting

Today is devoted to Crazy Quilting. Why? Well, the Eastern Edge Quilt Guild's program for part of this year is about Crazy Quilting. We were given a block pattern, which we can use or make up one of our own, and asked to make a block. Then for the next few months, one of our members (a good friend of mine) will be demonstrating a different stitch to use for the different seams in the block.

I found this interesting quilt on Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting. Scroll down through a bunch of lovely quilts from the 2013 International Quilt Festival, Chicago, to see it.

Crazy Quilting Canada

I have a list of blogs to check about crazy quilting but first a couple about the history of this quilting technique:

• Crazy Quilting - Wikipedia
• History of Crazy Quilting from The Caron Collection
• Crazy Quilts History

Blogs to check:

• Crazy Quilting Monthly Memories
• Patchwork Block
• Pinterest HERE , HERE & HERE
• Crazy Quilting Stencils from Pintangle
• Free Crazy Patchwork Patterns and Stitch Ideas
• Magpies Mumblings This Canadian blog has lots of Crazy Quilting ideas. By the way, she has become an on-line friend. Isn't technology great in that way?
• Colour Compliments

Enjoy!

The Stockings Were Hung . . .

Ever wonder where the tradition of hanging stockings at Christmas originated? A little story about a nobleman and his three daughters is one such theory. Wikipedia also writes about this same story as well as other tid bits of information. Another theory comes from Holland.

Regardless of its origin, children around the world hang stockings on Christmas Eve. Here are a few stockings (some with patterns) that you might like to make over the winter for next Christmas! There is always someone in need of a new stocking.
Enjoy!

• Sew an Easy Stocking project from McCall's - free!
• Sleigh Bells Stockings  (cute)
• Merry & Bright Christmas Stockings
• Four Christmas Stocking Projects
• Christmas in July - Free Stocking PDF 
• Christmas Stockings

Here's a crazy quilted stocking I made ages ago. It's all small pieces stitched with machine satin stitch.

Tea Time

Tea! I've been trying some different teas this summer. When visiting Chicago in June, I got funny looks from a couple of waiters when I asked for a hot tea. I was asked if I wanted an ice tea instead as it was so hot outside. This posting is about tea related 'stuff' to make.

To start things off, I found a few nice patterns for a tea cosy. We All Sew has a simple one to make. You can also try this Insulated Tea Cozy or this Quilted one. Here's another quilted tea cozy with a placemat.
 
A very nice teapot pattern can be downloaded from Pink Penguin.

Going traveling, take your own special teas in this Tea Wallet from Christy Creations or this one from Tipnut.
Quilted Hot Pad  is located at Love To Sew and Amazing Designs has a Tea Pot Mat. Try your hand on some hand embroidery or free motion stitching for the center part of the mat.

Of course, you need to have your own teacup pincushion!
Pat Sloan's Mad Hatter's Tea Party Blocks (scroll down) is just perfect for when you have the ladies in for a cup.
Here's a paper pieced cup.
Debbie Mumm has a simple Tea for Six Wallhanging.
Don't forget the Crazy Quilt Teacup Wall Hanging mentioned a couple of posts ago!

For a bit of fun - if you want to eat your tea cup, have a look at these cupcakes! How to instructions are included.

Pin Tangle

For the last hour or so I have been looking at blogs listed in Pin Tangle. 'Pin Tangle tracks online resources, news and information which relate to contemporary and historical textiles, embroidery and crazy quilting, the fiber and book arts including studio and visual journals.' In this blog, Sharon Boggon has just finished listing quilting and stitching blogs by the letters of the alphabet. She plans to start over again very soon, updating the list and removing blogs no longer active. Her main website is In a Minute Ago. Among the many things you will find on this site is a dictionary of stitches for hand embroidery and needlework. If you are into crazy quilting, this site is one to view.

Try this free pattern, Crazy Quilt Teacup Wall Hanging, from Kreinik.

Sewing Portfolio

A couple of years ago, I designed and created a Sewing Portfolio (scroll down) which was exhibited at the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Member's Exhibit, Devon House. That particular piece was sold at the gallery opening. The piece featured here is one I made for myself.

The flap has two magnetic purse closures to keep it closed. I put a full size pocket with flap on the back for note paper/patterns.

The pockets for the inside are made from vinyl window screen bought from the local hardware store. This product sews up very nicely. In fact, I've embroidered the edges of several pockets. This piece was a bit of a challenge as I wanted to have places for a small cutting mat, ruler, rotary cutter, scissors, thread, glue, pin cushion, needles, note pads etc. I'm pleased with the design however, after using it, I realized that I should have put flaps on all the pockets as things do occasionally fall out of them.

Here are some free sewing project patterns that I found while surfing the web:
Here's a needle book from the Crazy Quilt Studio
Sew, Mama, Sew has a nice pincushion organizer for your sewing room
Sewing Organizer tutorial from Tipnut
Sewing machine cover from About .com
Small sewing caddy from All People Quilt

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Living on the eastern coast of North America, Christmas Day arrives here first. In fact, we have out own time zone which is ahead of the rest of the country by 30 minutes. The tradition here at my house is to open one gift just after midnight. I was delighted to receive the book, Fibreart Montage, by Judith Baker Montana. You can read a bit about the book on her site. I have several of her books which tend to be good references for hand stitching. Crazy stitching/quilting is one of her specialities. Go here for some free crazy quilting patterns.

My quilting friend sent this to me however she did not know who wrote it. If someone out there knows the source, I'd appreciate an email so I can give credit to the author.

A Quilter's Dream come true!

'Twas the night before Christmas,

And the quilts were not made.

The threads were all tangled, the cookies delayed.

The stocking weren't hung, the pantry was bare.

The poor weary Quilter, was tearing her hair.

Stacks of fat quarters, tipped over in streams.

Visions of Log Cabins, had turned into dreams.

When what to her wondering eyes should appear,

But a bus full of quilters with all of their gear.

They went straight to work with just a few mutters,

Sorting and stitching and brandishing cutters.

The patterns emerged from all of the clutter,

Like magic the fabrics arranged in a flutter.

Log Cabins, Lone Stars, Flying Geese & Bear Tracks

Each quilt was a beauty-even the backs.

Her house how it twinkled, her quilts how they glowed.

The cookies were baking, the stockings were sewed.

Their work was all done, so they folded their frames,

And packed up their needles, without giving their names.

They boarded the bus, and checked the next address.

More quilts to be made, another quilter in distress.

She heard one voice echo, as they drove out of sight,

Happy quilting to all and to all a good night!

Christmas Tree

I finally finished decorating my living room Christmas Tree! Here's a picture of it. Three smaller ones to go. My tree skirt is a purchased panel that I put together years ago. My daughter has a crazy quilted one that I made her from scraps of clothes from when she was a young child.

I just did a quick search for more free stuff on the web related to Christmas trees.
Here's a short list:
Miniature Christmas Tree Quilt Pattern
Christmas Tree Quilt Block
More free Christmas quilted stuff
Traditional Tree Skirt
For the stitcher
Sew have some fun!

Pumpkin Tutorial - crazy quilting

Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends! I just found this neat site, The Painted Quilt by Kaaren Johnson. One of the first things that caught my eye was the crazy quilted 3-D pumpkin. Other tutorials include a  sewing box and tomato pincushion. On the first Friday of each month there is a free pattern for you to use. Lots of stuff to check out.

Connecting Threads

I just came across this free pattern for making gift bags from Connecting Threads. It's fat quarter friendly! I can see doing these in a variery of different fabrics to suit the season or special occassion.  For those who enjoy crazy quilting, this pattern could certainly be used for that purpose. In fact, this very simple pattern has lots of potential.