CQJP 2014 March Block

Renee Y.'s CQJP 2014 March Block

Crazy quilting and embroidery are two of my very favorite things.  It amazes me how a few fabrics can be completely transformed with the addition of a few threads, ribbons, trims, buttons, beads and charms.

Renee Y.'s CQJP 2014 bare March block

I found a bundle of flannel prints at a quilt shop many years ago.  Isn't the snowman adorable?!

The Beaded Link Chain Stitch made an adorable frame for the snowman.  EdMar Lola #034 blue variegated rayon floss and Darice Beads Jewelry Designer clear glass transparent rainbow seed beads (size 10/0) transformed into a sparkling frame.

Top of Renee Y.'s CQJP 2014 March Block

The white trim (found at JoAnn Fabric), a full skein of EdMar Lola #087 brown variegated rayon floss (yep, the whole skein), DMC #5 silver metallic floss, DMC white rayon floss, DMC #12 white pearl cotton, DMC #666 red floss, and white seed beads turned the rest of the block into a landscape with a blanket of snow.

Bottom of Renee Y.'s CQJP 2014 March Block

White 4 mm silk ribbon; a variety of seed beads, petite seed beads, and pearl beads; a snowflake charm, more DMC white rayon floss; DMC #5 silver metallic floss, Anchor white #8 pearl cotton, and EdMar Glory #071 blue variegated floss finished the bottom up with winter-colored flowers and snowflakes.

Red bird in Renee Y.'s CQJP 2014 March Block

It is not a perfect block.

Blue flowers in Renee Y.'s CQJP 2014 March Block

You may spy my flaws.

White flower in Renee Y.'s CQJP 2014 March Block

But it was created by hand with love and care.

(And I think it's cute - so there!)

Thank you for visiting.  If you have a blog, please leave a comment, I would love to stop by and see what you have been up to!

Hugs,

Renee

Work in Progress Wednesday

For a larger view, click on the image.

I have wanted to participate in Sharon Boggon's Work in Progress (WIP) Wednesday for some time.  I figure this week it is finally time to take that step!

If you have a project you are working on and think you might like some support and motivation to make weekly progress, I encourage you to consider participating in Pin Tangle's Work In Progress Wednesday! For information about WIP, CLICK HERE.  The link will take you to the WIP Faq page on the Pin Tangle website.

Aside from the two TAST (Take a Stitch Tuesday) stitches I shared in February, I have made little progress. I did find a blue trim at JoAnn Fabrics that I attached to one seam with a single strand of DMC cotton in a similar shade of blue.  Now, I am in the process of stem-stitching around the word, "Dream," using a single strand of a pale blue DMC cotton floss.  (Kathy B. outlined the word, "Love," on the block she embellished, and I thought it turned out lovely!  You can see the other blocks if you CLICK HERE.)

Renee's "Dream" block progress as of 3/26/14

I hope to make better progress to share with you by next Wednesday!

Hugs,
Renee

What I have been up to...

Yikes!  It has been nearly a month since my last post.

This week I was very busy finishing up a wedding gift for a high school friend of mine.  I missed her wedding last August.  I have had blocks pieced for the gift for ages.  However, we do not see each other nearly often enough, and I tend to complete work best when I have a specific deadline.  I knew I would see her this morning, so I finally finished it up this week and gave it to her this morning. (I am a horrible person for waiting so long, I know!)

When I pieced the block, I hoped to finish it before Christmas, so the happy couple could use it as an ornament during their first Christmas together.  (Oops.)

For the back side, I used an off-white fabric with gold glitter sprinkled throughout.  (If you click on the image above, it should enlarge.  There is a glimpse of the back fabric in the upper-left corner of this photograph.)  Their names and their wedding date were couched down in gold metallic floss on the back side.  (I opted not to share a photo of the back for their privacy.)

The wedding took place at the beach, and the beautiful invitations had sea stars embossed on them; so, I went with an under the sea theme.

I do hope they like it!

On my Grow Your Blog post, back on the 24th of January, I included a list of items I would be sharing with you soon.  I thought I should take a look and see how much of that list I have accomplished so far.  Hmmm... only two items are finished and I have added more.  I had best get to work!

Here is the old list:

1. A gift I am working on (Pictured above.)
2. The purse I plan to make with my CQJP 2014 January block
3. The 6 blocks I need to piece for the CQI Heart DYB Round Robin
4. My CQJP 2014 February block (which is not yet pieced and will likely be a test run of the block idea I have in mind for the Heart DYB round robin) (Completed and made into a purse as seen here.)
5. My block to embellish from the CQI Winter/Christmas DYB Round Robin
6. The wall hanging I plan to create with all of my CQI Winter/Christmas blocks
7. My CQJP 2013 May block (better late than never?!)
8. A crazy quilted hexagon to participate in my first swap with the World Wide Crazy Quilters Yahoo! Group

As you can see, I still have a ways to go.  Here is the new list:

1. The purse I plan to make with my CQJP 2014 January block
2. The 6 blocks I need to piece for the CQI Heart DYB Round Robin
3. Complete my March CQJP 2014 block. (It has been pieced and a photo of the bare block is below.  I hope to finish embellishing it this evening!)
4. My block to embellish from the CQI Winter/Christmas DYB Round Robin (I will share what little progress I have made on Wednesday.)
5. The wall hanging I plan to create with all of my CQI Winter/Christmas blocks
6. My CQJP 2013 May block (better late than never?!)
7. A crazy quilted hexagon to participate in my first swap with the World Wide Crazy Quilters Yahoo! Group
8. A change purse for myself (to learn how to use a sew-in purse frame.)
9. Four gifts I hope to complete by the end of April.

Renee's March CQJP 2014 bare block.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Hugs,

Renee