Nicki Lee's 6" Square

This square from Nicki Lee arrived while I was away for a few days. It's always so fun to come home and have something beautiful waiting in the mail. I have admired Nicki's work for quite a while now and am so happy to add a small example of her creativity to my growing 6" square collection. I met her for the first time at An Adventure in Crazy Quilting in April and she is a joy to get to know. Nicki Lee has a wonderful blog, does beautiful lace dying which you can purchase through her etsy store, and is active with the HGTV Message Boards where she hosts CQ challenges and other activities.

My 6" square for Nicki shows my love for working with black. It has become one of my favorite colors in the past couple of years (non-color, some may say) and I'm anxious to start another project with black as the background. This one has mostly bead techniques on it and may look simple to you. It took me a hours to do as I'm not very prolific with beads.

Squeezing in More 6" Squares

It's been several weeks (months) since I've sat down to work on my little squares to swap with my favorite stitchers. Betty Pillsbury gave me this beautiful square in April at An Adventure in Crazy Quilting. Thank you Betty. I love it!! Betty also has a blog.

Mine arrived in her mailbox yesterday. It was a real time disparity but I do try!

Candace Kling - A Master in Ribbon Art

Just a reminder to you all that Candace Kling will be coming again this fall and will have more of her beautiful techniques to teach us. The kids will be back in school and the weather will still be pleasant here in CT. There are five full days of workshops scheduled, but you will have the choice of taking 2, 3 or 5 of those days. Please visit the website I have set up for everything you need to know about these workshops and visit her website to get an in-depth view of her talents. Everything Candace teaches can be applied to Crazy Quilting. She teaches the techniques in larger sizes than you may need but this is to give you the ease and knowledge of manipulating the ribbon, fabric, etc. Most things can then be reduced in size by you to incorporate into your projects. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to learn from the best.

So Proud of Lauren

 

It's a natural thing for Grandmas to brag about their Grandchildren. I don't do it often, however, as I'm afraid it will become tedious. I couldn't believe how well written and imaginative a twelve year old can be until I read this paper Lauren wrote for school homework. Please read it and you will see why I'm so proud of her.

 

Tweet! The Game is in action and Emma passes the ball to me right away.

Take a deep breath.

I hear the “poof” of the ball, yellow as a highlighter, as it lands smack in the pocket of my lacrosse stick like an angry ram running into a wall. I run as fast as lightning into the fan only to find that I have lost my defender and that two new defenders had their sticks blocking my path to the goal like their life depended on it. I feel like SCREAMING. My heart is racing like a horse in the Kentucky Derby.

Take a deep breath.

I run my hand up my stick and feel the soft metal it’s shaft is made of. For an instant all I hear is the spring breeze rustling in the trees but then I hear coach yelling to me- the same thing repeatedly. “Give and go!” Then it struck me- I reeled around in my tracks and saw Mary, our best middy wide open! I practically catapult the ball her way and cut back to Mary to get the ball right back. The ball soars through the air like a bullet and into my stick in a flash. It’s all up to me now- will I score the point?

Take a deep breath.

I bite down hard on my rubbery mouth guard and taste its plastic flavoring, bitter as a lemon on my poor tongue. I step forward in front of the goal and bring my stick down hard like I was punching air in the face. The ball bounces once, hits the goalie in the shoulder, and…

GOES IN!!!

I open my eyes wide like a bug and look into the evening sky, pink as cotton candy. Instantaneously, my team gathers around me- all smiles and full of high fives. Another point for Junior Division Green Machine.

A Portrait of Gracie

As a crazy quilter, I have collected quite a few buttons . None have ever meant so much to me as the one Gerry Krueger painted of my sweet little Gracie. She gave it to me as a surprise at the Adventure in Crazy Quilting. Isn't it wonderful? Thank you so much Gerry! Please visit Gerry's blog and her Etsy shop site to see her lovely crazy quilting and more of her fabulous buttons.

Shown enlarged – is actually about 1 1/4” in diameter.

New Additions to My Vintage Stash

Shirlee and I had a great day yesterday at the Vintage Fashion and Textile Show at the Host Hotel in Sturbridge MA. This show is held three times during the summer and always kicks off the week for the world famous Brimfield Flea Market. The textile show is a treasure trove of vintage and antique embellishments for the crazy quilter. Of course, most people don't go with crazy quilting in mind but there's so much there to see that I just zero in on that. Here is a photo of the things I found. Lace is usually my goal but it's getting to be more unlikely to find at a reasonable price and I had such a good time just ignoring it and trying to focus on other doodads for a change. Other than privately advertising that I'm looking for antique lace, buttons, trims, etc., this is the best source I've found. Jim and I are planning a day at the flea market this week.....it's always a fun time and I know I'll probably run into Shirlee there. I usually do.

The ribbon chatelaine shown here was another find at the show. I bought it for the bone rings but now I find I like it way too much to take it apart. It still has a needle book attached with the needles still waiting for someone to come back.

Such A Gift!!

When Sharon Boggon arrived for An Adventure in Crazy Quilting, little did I know what she would present me with when we got home from the airport. I had asked her to make a 6" square for me for my little collection I'm gathering and I love what she did for me. I'll show you that first.

Then she handed me this beautiful purse she made for me as well. I have been in awe of her crazy quilting and now I have two examples to call my own.

It was such a surprise and so appreciated. Thank you Sharon!

It was so much fun having her stay with me. To get on her good side, all I had to do was give her fudge brownie ice cream!