Block of the Month Progress

I finished another block from Sun, Sand, and Sea Block of the Month. This was block 10 - "Making Waves" - and it was designed by Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy. You may find her post here and the pattern here.

If you have followed my blog long, you may already know I love hand embroidery, but still consider myself a novice when it comes to machine sewing. I am doing better with getting my seams to line up, but clearly need more practice...

I only have one more block to make from this BOM before I can sew the quilt top together! This BOM has been so fun that I decided to participate in the It's a "Wild" Life BOM being hosted by Sew Incredibly Crazy and Friends this year.

Block 1 "Maple Leaves" was designed by Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy. You may find her blog post here.

The pattern is available here at Craftsy. It is free throughout February.

Thank you for visiting!
-Renee

You may see the other blocks I made for the Sun, Sand, and Sea BOM here.

Sealed with a Kiss Quilt

This adaptation from the pattern "Sealed with a Kiss" in the book Hearts Aplenty by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith just needed a label and a hanging sleeve.

I would love to thank those of you that let me know you have added hanging sleeves to smaller quilts without sewing them into the binding. You spared me a date with my seam ripper.

If you missed the details about the label, that blog post is here.

Today, I finished hand sewing a sleeve to the back of the quilt in case the recipient wants to hang it up.

Thank you so much for visiting!
-Renee

This is Day 26 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by www.muppin.com. You may learn more about it and find other participating blogs here.

November 2017

November has arrived. 

In just 2 months, we will be greeting the year 2018.

Progress with my October goals:

The list of October goals may be found here. 
Click on any photo for a larger view.

A clutch purse was created with my May CQJP 2014 block. This was my August 2017 UFO Challenge project. More details are in this post.

Sun, Sand, and Sea BOM Block 9

"Bathing Beauty" was completed! The blog post is here.

This is my progress on coloring the Pure Prairie Bouquet digital stamp from Power Poppy for the September pencil class through Kit and Klowder.

This is a lovely design, but I may set it aside until after the holidays to finish. The classes take some time.

Other October Accomplishments:

This fabric postcard was created for a swap. It was yet another finish, as the cross-stitched pumpkin has been sitting in a drawer for about a year. The blog post is here.

This small zipper pouch coin purse was added to my Hand Stitched Treasure Etsy Shop. The blog post is here and the Etsy shop is here.

Progress was made on my Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2017 March block. 

NOTE: You may sign up for CQJP 2018 November 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017. Find the rules here and the registration info here.

November Goals:

1. Finish embellishing this Christmas stocking for my son. Some progress was made in September and shared on Instagram. (#10 on the APQ 2017 UFO Challenge, selected in June.)

2. Add a label and a hanging sleeve to this "Sealed with a Kiss" quilt. This is a smaller version of the pattern in the book Hearts Aplenty by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith.

3. Frame my Heaven and Earth Designs Santa and the Mouse Ornament cross-stitch based on artwork by Scott Gustafson. The chart is retired, but a similar chart is available here - it is a quick stitch of this piece of art. (#9 on the APQ 2017 UFO Challenge - selected in November.)

4. Finish "Beach Boy Freddie", the September block of the Sun, Sand, and Sea BOM at Sew Incredibly Crazy and Friends.

5. Finish the October Sun, Sand, and Sea BOM from Sew Incredibly Crazy and Friends. (Due to Internet issues, it has not yet been shared on Amy's blog, but there is a sneak peek at Moosestash Quilting.)

6. Sew the second border on my "Hearts Askew" quilt and stitch around the appliqued hearts. The pattern is from the book Hearts Aplenty by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith.
I found the fabric and finished the first border in October. (#3 on my APQ 2017 UFO Challenge List - selected in October.)


7. Finish my Kit and Clowder October Pencil Class. So far, I have printed the stamp onto paper. The Special Edition Snowman and Penguins digital stamp was designed by Crissy Armstrong specifically for this class and is only available a limited time at Whimsy Stamps, so this link goes to their digital stamp collection - not directly to this stamp. It is incredibly cute!

8. Finish Christmas gifts to share on the 1 X-Mas Item a Month Blog. In October, I made progress on two mug rugs featuring the "Snowman" digital stamp from The Paper Shelter.

Top 5 Posts Viewed in October:

1. Red, White, and Blue Handbag - link found above or here

2. October - link found above or here
3. 2017 CQI Halloween/Autumn Fabric Postcard Swap - link found above or here

4. CQJP 2017 March Block Motif 5 - here

5. Sun, Sand, and Sea BOM - Block 9 - link found above or here

Thank you for stopping by!
-Renee

Sun, Sand, and Sea BOM Blocks 5 & 6

Today, I finally finished adding buttonhole stitches to tack down the applique on Block 5 of the Sun, Sand, and Sea Block of the Month hosted by Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy.

This darling block was created by Carol at Just Let Me Quilt. I used Therm-o-Web's HeatnBond Lite to adhere the applique to the block and then used buttonhole stitches to secure the pieces in place for future laundering. Stem stitches were used for the window panes and details on the lobsters. And, chain stitches encircled the middle window.

I really enjoyed paper piecing Block 6 for this BOM. The cute fish border was designed by Carla at Creatin' in the Sticks and the directions included options to paper piece or applique the fish. 

In the quilt assembly stage, I plan to add buttons for the door knobs on Block 5 and for the fish eyes on Block 6.

Now, I just need to make Block 7 - a super cute block featuring an appliqued crab that was designed by Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy. Here is a link to a post on her blog featuring photos of each block and links to their patterns.

This is how blocks 1 - 6 look together. It will be such a fun quilt when it is finished! The ladies designing these blocks amaze me each month, making my first Block-of-the-Month experience amazing.

Related Posts:
Blocks 1 & 3 - here
Block 2 - here
Block 3 Progress - here
Block 4 - here

I am joining with Monday Stitchery Link Party #124 at Super Mom - No Cape! The free patterns available this week include some fun summer fruits. 

Thank you so much for stopping by!
-Renee

Sun, Sand, and Sea BOM Blocks 1 & 3

It is happy dance time! 

I am now caught up on the blocks for the Sun, Sand, and Sea 2017 Block of the Month hosted by Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy.

There is a Sew Incredibly Crazy and Friends Facebook Group for those participating in this BOM. You may find it here.

Block 1 was designed by Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy.

I have always wanted to try making dresden plates. 

I am not sure why the idea intimidated me. 

The block was a lot of fun to put together!

You may find Amy's blog post here.

The pattern is here.

Block 3 was also great fun to see come together!

This darling block was designed by Carla at Creatin' in the Sticks.

You may see here blog post here.

The pattern may be found here.

I was sure I measured everything accurately, but somehow my white strips were about 1/8" too big, so my corners did not line up.

I told my family they could officially call me 

The Queen of Wonky Blocks.

My 20-year-old son grinned and said it did not matter if the corners lined up or not, because the birds were so cute. 

Thank you, Carla! You saved the day with your cute applique.

The photo at the top of this post shows the first 4 blocks together. The 5th block (which will sit in the center area) will be released in June. 

I can barely wait!

Thanks for stopping by,

Renee

Related Posts:

Block 2 - My blog post is here.

The block was designed by Carol at Just Let Me Quilt. You may find her post here and the pattern is here.

Block 3 Progress - post is here.

Block 4 - My blog post is here. 

The block was designed by Joan at Moosestash Quilting. Her post and the pattern are available here.

Sun, Sand, and Sea BOM Block 4

Once again, I fell in love with the block released for the Sun, Sand, and Sea 2017 Block of the Month organized by Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy and her friends. 

Block 4 was designed by Joan of Moosestash Quilting. This was my first attempt at a Flying Geese block and it is far from perfect.

My husband thinks I am nuts because I am thinking about making a second one to get it right. This one could be a throw pillow. We'll see - time is short these days. For my first try, I think it will do. 

Once again, I worked some of the Oregon State University fabric from my stash into the block.

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Related Posts:
Block 2 (includes a photo of my fabrics for block 1) - here
Progress on Block 3 - here

Sun, Sand & Sea BOM Block 2

Last night, I shared this sneak peek on Instagram.

Last year some of my blogging friends participated in the Sew Incredibly Crazy & Friends In Our Garden Block of the Month. The blocks were so cute, I frequently wished I had made the time to participate. (You may see one of the completed quilts here.) 

In late February, I learned there was a Sun, Sand and Sea Block of the Month and decided I would try to make the time this year.

If I understand correctly, each block pattern is free the month it is introduced and there is a linky party at the end of the month with a drawing for those that participate. 

Block 1 is Hello Sunshine designed by Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy. I have picked out my fabrics, but have yet to attempt my first dresden plate pattern.

You may find the information here and find the pattern here.

Block 2 is Time to Surf designed by Carol of Just Let Me Quilt.

You may find the information about the block here and find the pattern here. It is free in March.

I was able to use fabrics from my stash to create this block. There was even a roll of Therm O Web Heat N Bond Lite Iron-on Adhesive in my stash that came in handy. 

I did not have any silver or gray fabrics for the fender or the dolphins, so I colored fabric with Crayola crayons and ironed the wax out, as shared in this post for Valentines I made. (Speaking of Crayola... I did not even know there were Crayola Fabrics by Riley Blake until I read about this block at Just Let Me Quilt, here. How fun!)

This quilt will be a Christmas gift (possibly in 2018?) for an Oregon State University fan in my life. I made them a quilt years ago that is now threadbare and I have been told several times they need a new one. 

I have not filled in the license plate yet, as I might personalize it. 

This was my first time using a buttonhole stitch to secure applique. I tried my sewing machine for the first cloud I completed and then opted to just hand stitch around the remaining pieces. (Embroidery is in my comfort zone. When it comes to my sewing machine, I still feel like a novice!)

Block 3 will be designed by Carla of Creatin' in the Sticks. I saw a sneak peek of it on the Sew Incredibly Crazy and Friends Block of the Month Facebook Group. It looks like another fun block! You may find the group here.

As this will be a Christmas gift, I will also be sharing my blocks on the 1 X-mas Item a Month Blog.

Thank you for stopping by!
Renee

Note: I am not affiliated with any of the products shared within this post.

Fractal White Tiger January 2017

Well, I tried. Really. I did. I just did not have the patience to work page 6 row by row on the chart until I reached the eye. 

So, the whole piece looks a little odd, but the first eye is almost done!

(If you are wondering, the answer is yes. I did have "The Eye of the Tiger" playing through my mind as I worked on this.)

This is how my Charting Creations Fractal White Tiger project featuring artwork by Ricky Barnard looked in my last update.

1,962 stitches were added this month.

This morning marked my 50th day working on this one. I cannot tell you how much I love seeing the tiger emerge!

I hope to surpass the 10% complete mark soon. It is getting close! 

I took this piece with me as my travel project this weekend (instead my Storykeep Effects of Caffeine) because I could not wait to get to the eye of the tiger. We have some very dear family friends we get together with once a month to play Pinochle. We have one extra person, so I like to take the opportunity to visit with everyone and stitch while they play. It is always fun to see what the others have been up to. This time, I get to share a bit of that with you.

This month our friend, Peggy Hall, gifted this stunning quilt to our friend, Judy Smith. (When two of the gentlemen in our group held it up for a third to take a photo, I grabbed my phone and asked the ladies if I could share it on my blog.) I love birds and postcards (it features postcard fabric prints) and quilts. This is gorgeous. It is a perfect gift for Judy, so it makes me smile all the more. I am so blessed to have this wonderful group of people in my life.

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Renee

I began Fractal White Tiger on January 1, 2016 as part of A New Stitchy Start 2015 & 2016. The name has changed to the 2017 Stitcher's Group. Two members finished their projects last year and we have a few new members with new starts this year. 

It is Monday, so I am linking with the Stitchery Link Party #95 at Super Mom - No Cape. There is a fun His & Hers vintage pattern available this week. If you do hand embroidery and have a blog, I hope you will join the party!

We Support You Blog Hop Day 2

Last October or November, I decided I wanted to make a crazy quilted purse for a wonderful woman in our lives battling breast cancer, using fabrics from the Riley Blake Designs Think Pink Cottons.

A few days later, Madame Sam at Sew We Quilt announced the "We Support You Blog Hop" to support our sisters battling breast cancer.  This Blog Hop simply required the use of the Apple Heart Designs "We Support You" Friendship Quilt Pattern
to create whatever we desired.
I simply had to participate!

PLEASE NOTE: If you would like to purchase a copy of the pattern for $12.00, 

please email Madame Samm directly at madamesamm@me.com.

(Be forewarned, this will be a photo heavy post... 

Click on any photo for a larger image.)

The recipient of this gift is one of the most positive people I know. 

The more challenges life throws her way 

(and trust me, there have been some BIG ones over the past year),

the more determined she is to find the bright side.  

This quilt was created with that positive attitude in mind.
I am so glad she liked it, and I hope it brings comfort as her journey continues.

Those of you that follow my blog know I love embroidery. (Crazy Quilting is my passion.)
I had to add some embroidery to this quilt. (Yep. HAD to. It was a compulsion.)

Top Row

A trim was couched down on the cups of the first bra.

The letters to the word "LOVE" were sneak peeks shared earlier this month.

As were the letters to "HOPE".

For the second bra, I embroidered the "lace" trim along the top of the cups.

Middle Row

The center bra was hand appliqued and embroidered onto a 18-inch square. 

Who would have guessed that I spent about 8 hours carefully couching this lace on 

so it would not easily snag when laundered? (Each side took about 4 hours.)

My hubby kept checking in on me to tell me both how insane I was
and how cool the block was looking.

The column of words to the left of the bra says:

I am

Strong

Beautiful

Brave

Determined

Cherished

The column of words to the right of the bra says:

I will

Fight

Never

Give

Up

Survive

These words were all stem-stitched using a variegated blue DMC size 5 perle cotton, as seen in the close-up below:

Bottom Row

The "lace" trim on the bra to the left was also embroidered, as seen in the close-up below.

The words, flowers and butterflies in the "FAITH" block were also sneak peeks. Here is one of the butterflies:

A velvet ribbon was couched onto the bra to the left using small ecru cross-stitches.
(It is SEW soft!)

And the words, "WE SUPPORT YOU" (which came with the pattern) were embroidered onto blocks along the bottom border. Here is a close-up:

No quilt is complete without a label.

This quilt is full of imperfections.  

Rather than pointing out the flaws, I choose to celebrate all that I learned.

I gained experience with machine quilting and began to learn hand quilting.

This was the best job I have done to date with binding.

And, I think I mastered the stem stitch. (Practice makes perfect?!)

Well over 150 hours of love went into this project.

My husband thinks it is the coolest thing I ever made.

Every time I shared my progress with my family, my 15-year-old son got a kick out of asking (with much exaggeration) why I kept making him look at bras.

I hoped to complete the small purse and coin purse I originally set out to make, before committing to the We Support You Blog Hop. 

The purse is almost complete.
(My seam ripper and I need to schedule a date first. We might become BFF's.)

However, the coin purse is complete!

This is the back.

(I purchased the heart frames and silk ribbons from Thearica at crazyquilting supplies.com.
The shop is transitioning to a new server, but should be up soon.)

Here is a peek inside.

Once again, I would like to thank you, Madame Samm, for suggesting such a wonderful Blog Hop idea and for providing all of the participants with your pattern.

Pat at Life in the Scrapatch has been such a wonderful, wonderful cheerleader.
Not only did she answer my questions, but she provided encouragement and support along the way.

I am sending hugs and well wishes to all of you out there battling cancer and to the wonderful people in your life SUPPORTing you along the way.

Ladies, if you have not scheduled your mammogram and are due for one,
I hope you will join me in scheduling yours soon!

I do so hope you will hop on over to visit the other ladies presenting today.
I cannot wait to see what wonderful crafts they created!

We Support You Blog Hop Day 2 Schedule:

Jan 30^th 

Just Let Me Quilt

Stitch and Quilt

how arT you

Living My Dream (You are here)