Another Treasury Feature!

Lucky me!  One of my dyed lace butterflies was featured in an Etsy Treasury!

Treasuries are groups of items specially selected to fit a certain theme. They are curated by whomever wishes to take the time to jump through all the necessary hoops to curate one, and are presented to the entire Etsy population.  It gives one a lot of exposure, and the past two treasuries I have been in have always helped generate sales.  Woo-hoo!

Check out the treasury here.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Hugs,

Bits and Bobs ...

Today I’m just doing a quick post to share some of this week’s happenings with you...

This is the apron I was asked to make for my friend Darci at work.  She picked the fabrics and style. It turned out sooo cute (much better than the picture shows) and looks adorable on her.

And her are the latest pictures of my dear granddaughter London.  She is almost 23 months (where does the time go?) and is a very active and chatty little toddler.

I need to buy her some magnetic letters to play with on the refrigerator, since she has a fascination with refrigerator magnets!

These pictures were taken on Tuesday, and we just let her hair go all curly.  That is a sippy cup (not a bottle) that she is drinking from.  After all, she is a Big Girl!  

Lots of teeth now... Loves her “Dammy” (Grammy - me), and “Papa” (Grandpa Bruce), goes down easily for her afternoon nap, loves cheese, strawberries and peanut butter (there’s a girl after my heart!), loves Boomer our cat (the feeling is NOT mutual, hehe), and loves to “weed boots” (read books).  Wish I could freeze time!

Hugs,

Mid-Year Goal Check-in

Well, we passed the mid-year mark a couple weeks ago and it’s taken me until now to get a moment to sit down and review my progress against the goals I set for myself for 2011 (needlework-related goals).  


This time of year is so busy for me - one of my grown sons had a birthday, Bruce and I celebrated our 8th anniversary yesterday (we didn’t forget this year! LOL).  Plus working part-time at the Farm, building my Etsy, Bruce’s surgery and retirement (and all the paperwork that goes with THOSE), tending DGD London once a week, plus stitching, sewing private commissions, the garden..... whew! But I love it all.  Well, maybe not the paperwork.... So, here we go.

1.  Goal: Participate in 3-4 CQ round robins.
Progress:  Complete. (I have one block left to mail, but it is done except 
for writing in the booklet).  100%


2.  Goal:  Piece my "CQ by 2012” quilt and have half of seamwork done.
Progress:  None, except that I’ve decided on my colors and basic design idea.  This is the same as 3 months ago, but I have been gathering things, and I can feel the desire to work on it finally building.... planning to start in September or October.      10%

2.  Goal:  Piece my "CQ by 2012” quilt and have half of seamwork done.
Progress:  None, except that I’ve decided on my colors and basic design idea.  This is the same as 3 months ago, but I have been gathering things, and I can feel the desire to work on it finally building.... planning to start in September or October.      10%

3.  Goal:  Enter at least 2 CQ or quilting competitions.
Progress: I entered the CQI annual purse contest and won first place this year.  There is another contest I had planned to enter this month, but time is getting away from me and I realize it will not happen.  Must look for something else.    50%

4.  Goal:  Teach a CQ class locally.
Progress:   No progress on this in the last three months.  I keep vacillating, but DH is encouraging me (and you, too, BJ!), so it may happen.    0%

5.  Goal:  Attend 3 CQ retreats or gatherings.
Progress:  Have attended one (CQ Adventure in CT) and am registered for two more: the CQI Retreat in Colorado (September) and the Victorian Stitchery Retreat (Pink Bunny) in Wichita in November.   - no change this quarter -      33%
 
6.  Goal:  Take a class with Carole Samples.
Progress:  I am registered for a 2-day class with Carole Samples in Wichita in November!!!!  This remains the same, so since it is already paid for, I am going to mark it as  33%


7.  Goal:  Finish (or give away) at least 3 UFO`s.
Progress:  Last quarter,  I finished and auctioned off my Teatime Wallhanging and gave away (to CQI, who auctioned it off) a wool crazy quilt top, putting me at 67%.  Well, the block I used to make my purse (see above) was a UFO that I reworked, so this one is complete!   100%

8.  Goal:  Finish Seascape Valance.
Progress:  None yet, but I will begin working on it this month.   0%

9.  Goal:  De-stash.
Progress:  More progress here.  This has been relatively easy for me. After gathering up two tote bins full of stuff for CQI,  took a carload of things to the local church Humanitarian Center.  Wheeler Farm, where I work, closed down their costume department and was going to throw away the fabric, laces, etc.  Literally. Into. The. Dumpster.  Well, I rescued them all.  Yes, I did keep some of the lace (nothing there older than the 1980’s), but 99% of it went to the Humanitarian Center.   To it I added a sack of 50 cut-and-ready-to-sew pillowcases that I had been hanging onto for a charity project.  They will assemble them and use ‘em.  Still up in this category:  We are having a huge yard sale in late August or mid September. I will call this category done AFTER the yard sale, just in case I find more stuff to get rid of.  75%

10.  Goal:  Sew a quilt for London (DGD).
Progress:  Some progress here.  I have decided to make London a quilt from my vintage sheet collection - such lovely floral cottons.  It will be a simple patch quilt with a flannel or minky back. Everything is gathered.    25%

11.  Goal: Ramp up Etsy presence.
Progress:  Woo-hoo!  More progress!  I have been focusing on this in June and July, and the shop appearance and sales show it!  Rather than having an average of 12-15 items, I now have an average of 40-45, some of that in a second category of vintage patterns. 
That is due to a huge box of patterns I ran across at an estate sale.  But I digress.  Next up is adding the fabric packs (this month), the vintage lace and trims (hopefully also this month) and then the vintage linens and vintage fabrics and other (slated for August).     50%



12.   11.   Goal: Begin reselling my vintage fabrics, linens and collectibles.   Progress:    I am going to roll this one into #11 above, because it makes sense. 

13.   12.  Goal:  Conduct a local sew-for-charity event.
Progress:   I could not get permission to hold another Operation Pillowcase at Wheeler Farm, so instead donated them to the Humanitarian Center (See Destash #9, above).  Since they were donated to a charitable cause who will use them, I am considering this complete.  100%

14.  13.  Goal:  Blog milestones: 400 posts, 250 followers,  3 giveaways and 2 tutorials in 2011. 
Progress:    Posts: at 350, 50 to go in approximately 5 months (10/month or one every 3 days. Do-able and on track).  50%.   Followers:  I believe I started at about 178-180 followers and now am at 212.  So we have had approximately 35 (out of 70 hopeful) join us, or 50%.   Giveaways:  Two out of three are done. 67%.  Hmmm... it’s about time for another, wouldn’t you say??  LOL   Tutorials:  One done (needlebooks) and one planned (zipper flowers).  50%. Overall in this category:  55% 

So all this averages out to about 50%, which is right where I should be.  So why do I feel guilty because some items are still at 0%??   And another thought - what if my goals change mid-year?  I am not sure that I want to teach this year.   Right now I prefer to focus on Etsy (and a couple other irons I have in the fire) and not spread myself too thin.  Or is that just an excuse?

Did you set goals for yourself this year?  How are you progressing, and what, if any hurdles are you experiencing?  Were your goals realistic?  Have they changed or remained the same?  I would love to hear your goals, progress and thoughts...

Hugs,

Crazy Quilting Steampunk Style

Last weekend I finished another block in our Steampunk Round Robin at Crazy Quilting International. As I worked,  I wondered how I could further combine traditional crazy quilting (motifs, stitching) with the Steampunk style.  Steampunk is often described as “Victorian Industrial”.  Think of Jules Verne, fantastic flying machines, or a computer that looks like an 1890’s cash register.



Earlier in this round robin, I had combined stitching with metallic parts, to come up with some varied Steampunk motifs.    This included both seam treatments and individual motifs fashioned of buttons, beads, washers,  and lace.

Because the block belonging to Kathi S was constructed in blocks (you’ll see it momentarily), each square or rectangle lent itself to a motif.  Also, all the seams were stitched down with raw edges showing, giving it a very basic, building-block feel. Perfect for a steampunk backdrop.

The first motif I added was a zipper “rose” surrounded by a gaudy old earring topped with a filigree charm.  The other earring from this pair (which I found in a North Carolina flea market for 25 cents) appears on my Images of Africa quilt, LOL.

I had bought large lot of these black separating zippers to sell in my Etsy shop and wanted to try it out first for flowers, as zipper flower embellishments are quite popular now. It worked great - I just ran a gathering stitch along the tape side, then pulled to gather it a bit. After that, I just coiled it and tacked it down. And I used about half of one side of the zipper, so the entire zipper would make 4 roses!  I think I will need to add them to the shop!

Victorian Friendship Rings, Steampunk Style

But by far my favorite motif was this Steampunk take on the traditional friendship circles in Victorian embroidery.  These are three rings from an old necklace I had.  Cool, huh?

Here is the block as it now looks. It will be on its way to the next stitcher in a day or two.

Hugs,

Who is Lina Cavalieri?

So, who IS Lina Cavalieri?

Well, to start with, she is the lovely lady pictured in my blog header and background artwork within the picture frame.  Lina was an Italian opera singer who lived from 1874 - 1944 and in her time was known as the most beautiful woman in the world.

But she was much more than just (just?!?) a lovely opera singer.  She was a world figure who dated tycoons and famous men.  She was orphaned at age 15 and went to live in a Catholic orphanage run by strict nuns.      

But she was too much of a free spirit, so she ran away to Paris,where she began using her lovely voice (and good looks, no doubt) to sing in cafes and open other doors of opportunity.

Oh. And she loved pearls.  Pearls with everything, even with diamonds. She preferred her signature pearl choker with longer strands.

Yes, she looked innocent, but she could also be very naughty!  Read about her on Wikipedia here.

During World War II (when she was well into her sixties) she did volunteer nursing.  In 1944 she was killed in her Florence home when the city was bombed.

I hope you enjoy (and will use) these images of beautiful Lina Cavalieri.

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Check out the current issue of Sew Beautiful Magazine!  Our friend Marsha Greenberg of Hankie Couture is featured!  And you can get a free pattern for the square-necked sundress free from Marsha and Sew Beautiful at:
http://www.sewbeautifulmag.com.  Just go to Web Extras, then Articles & Projects, then click on Hankie Couture.

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And just in case you have not had your quota of beauty today, I must throw in some of nature’s finest handiwork, courtesy of my garden.  LOL.

My daughter says this frog statuette (below), which I bought at Tuesday Morning, looks like it is giving an obscene gesture.  Personally, I think he’s doing his imitation of Rodin’s The Thinker.

Diane M, these delphinium close-ups are for you.  :-)

Wouldn’t it be nice to be as beautiful as these roses when WE are old and withered and faded?

And Stacie, this one is for you!  :-)  My “repurposed” birdbath...

Must try this in silk ribbon:

Red Yarrow

 Have a wonderful weekend!

Sendai Block Finished

The deadline to finish the Hearts and Hands for Sendai block was June 30.  Here it is, July 5th, and I am finally done.  As usual, I am juggling too many balls.  But at my age (over the half-century mark), things aren’t likely to be changing, LOL.   This block will, however, be in the mail to Leslie (who is coordinating this effort and assembling the quilts) tomorrow.

I have had the lace Geisha for years, and knew this was the perfect piece for it.  The blue brocade on the right side had swirl patterns in it that reminded me of waves (as in tsunami), so I added the blue scroll lace in that area to represent the water.  The other blue section is stitched with a traditional Japanese pattern which also signifies water.

The two pink fabrics were patterned with cherry blossoms, so to the bottom I added a spray of white lace flowers that I painted pink. A little center, some stitches representing stamens, some leaves... viola!

The trim that goes across the top had the perfect colors for the block, except the edges were red. So, I just stitched over them with pink metallic Kreinik braid.  The fan in the top corner was made from lace that Hideko donated to the auction at our Crazy Quilting International Retreat in September last year.  I bid on it and won. It is a cherry blossom pattern, and I love that I was able to use it to make a lace fan for this block that will benefit Japan!

The kite was the last motif I added, and it seemed appropriate since the shape of the fabric it rests on is roughly a kite shape.  There are two layers of fabric for the kite; the background pink with red is a piece of silk from a vintage kimono, and the top blue butterfly fabric was a recent (maybe 10 years old) cotton print here in the US.   The green and blue fabric the kite rests on (also in left bottom) was the first fabric - from a vintage dress -  I selected for this jewel-toned block.  Everything grew from that.  I wanted it to be a colorful, cheerful piece.

And speaking of colorful and cheerful, my sweet friend Wilma from the Netherlands send me this wonderful gift of fabrics she had left over from her Austria wall hanging.  You can see her lovely quilt here.   Wilma had recently visited Austria, and we talked about that beautiful country when we met at the CQ Adventure in Connecticut last April. I had spent a summer there going to school while I was in high school.  I only had one scrap of fabric left from my trip , and lots of ribbons in red, white, black and green. They will be lovely trims on the crazy quilt block I make with these.  Thank you, Wilma!!

The Austria Block will move up on my priority list for this year!

And now I will leave you with some pictures from the front yard today. We had our new living room window installed today, which made tending London rather interesting.  She thought it was so cool after they removed the old window, and we could stand there waving through the hole at everyone!  I did take before and after pictures of the living room window, but I am not posting them (they are, after all, just windows).  You’re welcome.

Flower pots are growing nicely. Delphiniums blooming!

Delphiniums and yarrow. Soon the daylilies and friends will join them.

An old birdbath that no longer holds water is still useful as a decoration.

I’m off to bed with high hopes that the neighborhood delinquents that were shooting off fireworks last night until after midnight will not be giving us an encore.  I don’t want to turn into the cranky old lady who has the police on speed dial...

Hugs,

Happy July 4 ... and Debunking the Myths

Wherever you are in the world, Happy July 4th.  Everyone has a July 4th, right?  So, may it be a great day for you!

And to my friends in the United States, Happy Independence Day!  May your Fourth of July be filled with lots of love, laughter, family and/or friends, good weather and good health.

Don’t get sunburned at that parade!

Don’t eat too much of Granny’s homemade apple pie!

But DO enjoy these vintage images!  Hopefully I’ve dug up some that are new to you from my collection.

These are some of my favorites, because there are no guns depicted in them.  To me,  guns and celebrations do not go together.  Just my opinion.

Hubby and I ran across an interesting read about myths of the American Flag.  Read it here.  For example, did you know that Betsy Ross did NOT design or stitch the first American Flag?  As needle workers, I thought that might pique your interest!

I will be back in a couple days to show you my finished Sendai block (Hearts and Hands for Sendai - a quilters fundraiser for our Japanese friends).  

Hugs,