Long Time No Blog

I didn't realize how long it's been since I blogged. Several things have kept me away. I haven't done a whole lot of crafty things worth blogging about. I had a case of the winter blahs. My focus has been on taking care of the family and getting more organized since the move last year. The basement craft room got a bit chilly. It was dark and dreary and the light just wasn't good for picture taking. My current obsession is gardening, which I'm thinking about starting a separate blog for.

Spring is well under way. The sun is shining. Things are looking up on the crafty front. My oldest moved into the basement, so his bright and sunny, yellow room with a south facing window is becoming my craft room. Well, mostly a craft room? I'll be sharing it with kirk. It will double as his hobby room and library. He has a design for shelves he wants to build that will look great around the window. I suggested that he add a window seat with storage under. We'll see what happens. I think he liked the idea, but needs to figure out the best way to incorporate it into his design.

The wreath is my newest project done at my weekly craft group. It's not my usual style, which is much more asymmetrical and bold. Kirk helped pick out the flowers. He's planning to paint the door red and I wanted to make something that would look good with the red also. Without keeping that in mind, I probably would have gone with fuschia and vivid orange, not the best colors to put against red. The design is a result of laziness. The flowers I used were from a garland, not the usual bunches or stems. I lay the garland around the wreath, then decided to wire it on as it was instead of removing all the flowers and leaves and gluing them. I'm not sure if a bow will help, or maybe a little welcome plaque across the center. More likely than not, it'll stay the way it is.

Pink Quilt

I made this quilt for my niece a couple of years ago. In my haste, I forgot to get a picture before our visit. I visited for a weekend during the holidays and was finally able to get a picture. I know my stepmother emailed one, but it was lost to the cyber demons. I'm happy to have a picture for my journal. This was the second quilt that I've completed. I have several more in various stages of progress, but it's nice to see evidence of accomplishment.

The basic design is a rail fence pattern. I used five different pink fabrics and strip pieced them. When I had all the blocks of three strips done, I laid them all out in the rail fence configuration. Then I moved the blocks around until I was happy with the randomness of the where the different fabrics came together. The quilting is a simple zigzag through the outer strips in each block. If the closeup, the stitching shows up just a bit in the lighter patches. The binding is just a narrow strip. I used a bright pink, patterned flannel for the back.

Winter Wreath

Making wreaths is a popular craft at the group I attend. This is my most recent one from just before Christmas. I've had the flowers in a box since my move and this was a good way to use them up and display them. I like it just the way it is, without a bow, but I could see a winter sprite hanging from the top.

Stocking Bit 12

I really don't know how I like this button cluster. Many crazy quilters use button clusters, but this is my first attempt. At least, I'm pretty sure it is. I've used a stray button here or there, but not clumped together like this. If nothing else, it adds balance to the heel motif and central area with all the beads and charms.

Stocking Bit 11

A simple thing, these seed beads. I searched through my stash many times and couldn't find a color that was right for this spot. I, finally, just went to the craft store and bought more beads. It's difficult to believe there was nothing suitable in my stash, but there wasn't.

I sewed the little heart charm on with thread that I hope will blend in when you look at it from a distance. If it works, you will only notice the heart.

The fine gold web is also new here. The 'thread' is more like a tinsel type fiber. It's small, but fits the spot just right. I haven't decided if I will add a spider or not. Maybe a tiny one with a dark purple sewing thread?

Stocking Bit 10

Here's the second pink elephant and a sparkly pink butterfly.

Stocking Bit 9

A variety of heart charms hang below the flowers on this seem. The lace heart felt a bit flat and I knew I wanted to add something, but didn't know what. I really don't know how the little angel ended up there. I had considered it, but thought the angel was headed for another patch. It seems, when I finally had her in hand with needle and thread, she had a will of her own.