Carribean Kid....

In the last post my sister, Helena, at 2am, was working on making a "mock up" of the fabric and embellishments from one of our latest Special Edition cq block kits.  

Of course you would have your own "kid's" picture in the middle, this one is my grandson Elijah.

This one we named "Carribean Kid".  

The kit contains 12 pieces of coordinating fabric, lace, beads, sequins, buttons and charms.  

The late night bedtimes paid off - we have several Baby Heirloom Crazy Quilted Block kits in my Etsy store.  Check them out.

Creating a Family Heirloom

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A Crazy Quilting Block Tutorial

Baby Birth Announcement 

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Step by step instructions 

and materials

This 40 page pdf instruction book will take you step by step in great detail, through the process of making the 12" x 12" wall hanging celebrating the baby's birth. 

Each step is covered thoroughly with photos: 

• Piecing the block, adding the silk photo and text.
• Embroidering and embellishing.
• Backing and binding.
• Adding your message and the hanging corners on the back of the block. 

The 40 pages of instructions will arrive by e-mail as a "pdf" file. 

The pages are full size 8 1/2" x 11" pages in full colour, and the file can be printed from your computer if you wish.

The fabric and embellishing package will arrive by mail .  It will include:

• Fancy fabric and a piece of muslin to make your block;

• A coordinating selection of lace, trim, sequins, beads, and charms;
• Silk print of your baby and a silk print of the baby's birth details: name, date, weight, height;
• A square of batting cut to size;
• A piece of coordinating satin or moire for backing and binding the finished block.

There will be a choice of colour selections listed on Etsy, such as pink/soft green; blue/cream; lilac/pink. 

Following are a few pages taken from the Tutorial PDF

  

Thanks for reading all this!  It was a big undertaking and took a few months to complete.  Here's the link to Etsy.

Crazy Quilts ARE Quilts Too

On Thearica's blog Pigtales and Quilts you can feast your eyes!  She has put together a crazy quilt show and competititon that will inspire you.  Many of us Crazy Quilters have submitted an item for the competition or for display and it is well worth the visit.


I have entered, but I cannot divulge which piece I chose, but I can tell you it was a joy to make along with many other pieces I have worked on since I discovered crazy quilting by accident in 2008. 


I was Googling silk ribbon embroidery and came across photos of SR embroidery on some incredible crazy quilts.  From that moment I was hooked!  It  led me quickly to CQI (Crazy Quilting International) an online group that organizes round robins, swaps, competitions, and retreats held in Colorado.  I've been three times, each time renewing friendships, learning lots, sharing expertise and having enormous fun.   In four years of CQing, I know I have improved. 


 When I made my very first block my supplies were only one bag of mixed beads from Wallmart and a small selection of DMC floss.  Here is my very first block:    

After four years and now a houseful of fabric, beads, embroidery threads, I'm still CQing and loving it.  I've found great ways to use crazy quilting:  the next three blocks are birth announcements for three of my grandchildren, and after that some other pieces of my crazy quilting.  

Brynn

Elijah

Emily

12" x 22" story of my summer holiday 2011 - five days in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, a weekend in New Orleans, then on to Nokomis, Florida.

An under and over-the-sea block

A pouch for my camera

A teacosy from four square blocks

A traditional tea cosy

 One thing leads to another, and I also had a go at making dotties, little dolls with character that usually get traded.

An angel

another angel

and a witch.