CQJP 2013 Block 3 and Glasses Case Progress

While I continue thinking about how I want to proceed with my CQJP Block 4, I thought I would put some time into Block 3 (which will likely be my April block... even if it is May already!)

I find myself wishing I made the sidewalk a little bit smaller.  However, the fabric I used for the sidewalk was gathered at the bottom of my eldest son's very first pair of jeans.  So, I do not mind having a bit of that fabric on its own...

The first addition to the block was a small child's wagon.

Cross-stitch pattern from Leisure Arts 150 Itty-Bitty Motifs

The pattern for the wagon was found in the Leisure Arts pamphlet 150 Itty-Bitty Motifs designed by Jorja Hernandez. 

It is a bit tiny, so I worried about it being way too small for the scale of the block.  Then, I remembered that the red wagon my boys had was a tiny little thing.  It may have been a foot wide and two feet long, so I decided this itty-bitty wagon would be just fine.

Next, I sketched a window and a door that would fit the house well.  Using a rotary cutter, I cut out fabrics to attach to the block.

CQJP 2013 Block 3 and fabrics to create the house.

I am not a huge fan of sewing, in and of itself; however, I love seeing how small pieces like these can become so much more.

Next, I attached the door and window to the fabric with fusible webbing.

Then, I began securing the door into place with two strands of DMC white floss and a satin stitch to prevent the fabric from fraying.

I figure the satin stitch makes a decent door frame.  I began in the lower right corner.  Had I realized the fabric was already beginning to fray above, those first stitches would have been wider to make the size more consistent.  (As you can see, I still have a small section to complete before I get to move on to the next part.)

I confess, these satin stitches bore me.  So, I completed a strand of white on Block 3, and then allowed myself to add a strand of floss to the glasses case I have been working on.

The leaves to the tree are now finished.  I added a fence using a single strand of white DMC Pearl 8 Cotton.  Perhaps it was cheating, but I used small pins to mark where each post would go - measuring so they were an equal distance apart.  (The trick is not allowing your floss to catch on the points of the pins!)  Next, I added the boards along the bottom.  I began on the right side of one post and brought the needle down on the left side of the next post to help secure them and prevent them from snagging in the future.  The top boards were completed in the same manner.

I also used two strands of a green DMC rayon floss to make uneven buttonhole stitches along the waterline.  (Again, I marked the distance with pins.  And I measured the height of each stitch.)  Yellow flowers will be added today.

I have mixed feelings about the wonderfully, soft, fluffy green grassy section to the right of the tree.  It adds texture and is SO soft to touch.  However, the stitches do become lost.  I hope the flowers with their beads work out as intended...

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you have a fantastic day.

-Renee

CQJP 2013 Block 4 and Landscape Glasses Case Progress

Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2013 Block 4

One of my first stops in any fabric store these days would be the area in which they keep their fat quarters.  And, as I have always been fascinated by the idea of making a landscape quilt, I find myself drawn to landscape fabrics.

The problem with purchasing the fabrics as fat quarters, is that I do not always know who made specific fabrics.  However, I have had a few comments about the fabrics in this block, so I thought I would do my best to share a bit more information.

The blue swirl fabric used for the water was purchased at Jo-Ann Fabrics - I think (maybe?)

The brown fabric I used for the muddy ground says it is by Hoffman California International Fabric.  It is a screen print and says it is style #PN008.  (I tried to find it on their website and failed.  I think I picked it up last summer at a quilting store.)

As for the lightning fabric, I was able to do a Google search and find a bit more information.  I purchased mine at a quilt store as a fat quarter.  However, I discovered the fabric is called "Lightning Storm" and it is a product of JOFabric.com.  The ID # is nat00065.

So far, I have only stitched the "water" onto the block.  I used a buttonhole stitch with a variegated blue Edmar floss.

I plan to add a tree to the block, but I have not decided how I plan to stitch it yet.  I may use satin stitches, like I did with the birch tree on my CQJP 2013 January block.

Or, I may use a chain stitch for the trunk and branches, as I did on the landscape glasses case I am working on.  (I have a few more leaves to add on the right.)  In either case, I do not believe the tree on Block 4 will have leaves.  The stormy scene could easily take place in the fall...  (Hmm... should there be leaves falling from the tree in the windy storm?  There are just SO many choices!)

My stitching must be improving... My husband saw my tree last night and exclaimed it was, "Absolutely gorgeous!"  This morning, he saw it on the table and declared it was, "Amazing!"

This is the full panel at the moment:

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Renee

Glasses Case Panel - Landscape 1

Waaaayyyyyyy back in December, while piecing my first CQJP blocks, I made a couple of extra glasses case panels to embellish as time allowed.  (I have not tired of them yet - lol!)

I have been working on the one above as a gift.  (I do not believe the recipient reads my blog.  Even if they do, I doubt they would know it was for them!  So, I think it is safe to post this...)

My first steps were using a metallic DMC white floss to make stem stitches along the white lines in the water, and adding silk ribbon cattails.

I found the directions for these cattails in The Silk Ribbon Embroidery Bible by Joan Gordon.  I picked up a used spiral bound copy at Powell's Books in Portland for about $20.00.  (I had NO idea the new ones sold for over $90.00! The link above will take you to Amazon.com, where used copies are about $23.00.  There were 8 used copies available when I added the link.)  I love this book, and the fact that it is spiral bound makes it easy to use while I stitch.

My cattails are a little on the short side, but I worried that longer stems and leaves would snag easily.

Next, I added a tree.  (I wanted to experiment with tree ideas before adding one to my CQJP block.)

For the trunk and larger branches, I used two strands of floss and chain stitches.  Those two strands of floss were both different shades of brown: one strand of DMC 838 and one strand of DMC 3021.  Using the same colors, I added a few smaller, stem-stitched branches to the tree.  (I began with the chain stitch on the far left and just continued working to the right, randomly beginning lines of stitches from the bottom to create the roots of the tree.  After I made the taller lines, I added a few shorter sections amidst the roots to fill them in a bit.)

Next, I used a single strand of DMC 433 (a lighter brown) and made a few back-stitched lines through the trunk of the tree to give an illusion of bark texture/highlights.

There are three types of lazy-daisy stitched leaves.  Some use two strands of DMC 702, some use two strands of DMC 704, and others blended the colors - using one strand of each.

So far, I am happy with the way the tree is turning out.  (Unlike the cherry blossom tree I put on my last CQJP block, my husband has not teased me once about the top of the tree not being big enough for the trunk.  I guess I am making progress - lol!)

As always, thank you for stopping by!

CQJP 2013 Blocks 3, 4 and 5 Before Embellishments

I finally carved some time out of my schedule to assemble a few more blocks for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project.

As you can see, I am trying to stick with the landscape theme of the first two blocks.  I am curious to see how these will transform!

CQJP 2013 Block 3 - Bare

CQJP 2013 Block 4 - Bare

CQJP 2013 Block 5 - Bare

I have yet to decide which block I will work on first, but at least I have them mostly assembled for March, April and May.

Although we are entertaining guests this evening (and I have a ton to do), I spent my morning browsing through photos (a.k.a. eye candy) of work other crazy quilters have done.  And, I came to a conclusion.  I may have to attempt an encrusted block sometime soon.  I find myself drawn to encrusted work, but I tend to leave a lot more space and use fewer laces and trims, as fitting them in is a challenge for me.  (Perhaps I am a bit too picky.  I also have a hard time finding laces that I like...)

Stepping outside of my comfort zone always makes me feel a little bit giddy - it must be due to the collision of feeling slightly intimidated by the task I am facing and feeling determined to prove to myself I can do it. 

Thank you for stopping by!
-Renee

Liebster Award

I would like to thank Jill at Crazy for Red for awarding me with the Liebster Award!  The Liebster is a fun award by bloggers to bloggers.  Qualifying blogs are less than 6 months old or have less than 200 followers.  Recipients of the award are to write a post including the following:

1. List 11 random things about yourself.
2. Answer 11 questions posed by the nominator.
3. Choose 11 blogs to pass the award on to and link them to your post.
4. Create 11 questions for those 11 people to answer.

 (My previous attempts to accept this award have encountered serious technical difficulties.  So, I am hoping my laptop does not overheat and shut itself down.  I also hope to avoid another 6 hour power outage - there is not a windstorm today, so my odds are good!)

11 Random facts about me:

 1.       I love pumpkin.  (Pumpkin pie, pumpkin waffles, healthy pumpkin muffins, buckwheat pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin cream cheese dip, pumpkin soup, pumpkin candles, etc.)

2.       I completed NaNoWriMo last November.  (My novel is rougher than a rough draft, but I finally made it past chapter two.)

3.       Once, during a power outage, my husband and I spent over 3 hours reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to our boys by candlelight.

4.       I love scented candles. 

5.       Writing this blog and answering Jill’s questions, I realized I am incredibly indecisive!

6.       This Christmas my goal is to give handmade or personalized gifts.

7.       Zurich, Switzerland is my favorite city.

8.       I plan to run a half marathon (once my stress fracture finally heals…)

9.       GMO foods scare me.  (Sadly, this fear is not due to research or statistical facts.  The millions of dollars food corporations spent to avoid telling consumers what they were feeding them scared the crud out of me.)

10.   My favorite color changes at least once a year.  (At the moment, I think it is yellow.)

11.   A wonderful family friend, Diane, introduced me to embroidery (via cross-stitch) and sewing when I was a teenager. I doubt I can ever thank her enough!

Answers to Jill’s Questions:

 1. Cat or Dog?  Dog, I guess.  We do not have pets due to my allergies.

2. What is your favorite TV show?  Do I have one?  I suppose at the moment it would be “Breakout Kings.”

3. What color are the walls in your living room? White.

4. What is the largest quilt you have made?  My largest quilt was a 6’3” x 5’6” rag quilt made for my youngest son.  It sported a variety of colorful fabrics he selected with a Batman theme on one side and a Spider-Man theme on the other.  To tone it down a bit, I alternated between two colors for the outer edges on both sides.

5. What are you listening to right now? I am listening to my 13-year-old is tell me about his favorite snacks.

6. Do you use a mac or a pc? PC

7. How many states/countries have you lived in? I have lived in two states (Oklahoma and Oregon) and three countries (the United States, Germany, and Switzerland.)

8. What is your favorite book?  The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure, by William Goldman

9. Who is the teacher who most influenced you and what did he/she teach?  There were SO many teachers that positively influenced my childhood that I smile when I hear the proverb about it taking a village to raise a child.  If I had to choose just one, it would be Mr. Leighton.  He taught science at my middle school.  He and his family also drove well out of their way to take my sister and me to church and youth group every week.  They allowed us to stay with them when my mom went in for eye surgery.   He helped me learn to drive after I received my permit.  And, as an elder of our church, Mr. Leighton baptized my sister and me.  I often hope he and Mrs. Leighton know how many lives they positively influenced. 

10. What is one thing you would stay up late to do?  I stay up late to Crazy quilt.  It is a relaxing way to unwind.

11. Did you play any sports in high school or college? If so, what? No, although a college roommate and I did take aerobics classes together and we went running together.

I have chosen 11 blogs that inspire me.  It is my hope you will enjoy visiting their blogs! 

Blog Nominees for the Liebster Award (In no particular order):

1. Little Orphan Skein

2. Crystal's Crafty Adventures

3. Iris Patchwork

4.  Karrin's Crazy World

5. The Beaded Needle

6. Threads and Patches

7.  Stitching Like Crazy

8. Sane, Crazy, Crumby Quilting

9. Margreet's Draadjespaleis

10. Fibermaidens Artwork

11. Suztats

11 Questions for the Award Recipients:

1. What is your favorite city?

2. How old were you when you learned to sew?

3. What is your favorite craft book?

4. If you had to guess, how many UFO projects do you think you have?

5. What is your favorite meal to prepare?

6. What is your favorite cookbook?

7. How many siblings do you have?

8. Who is your favorite author?

9. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

10. What is your favorite charity?

11. Of the items you have sewn/created, which one is your favorite and why?

 Have fun!  I would love to thank you all for sharing your creativity.  I cease to be amazed watching fabrics and threads transform into wonderful works of art.