America's Finest block

These photos are of my Block that I call America's Finest block. This was the other choice I had for a season to season summer block. I am planning on using all of these fabrics in a quilt for our master bedroom. I am planning on using yellows and gold color threads on the seams only. I was also thinking about free motion quilting aroud some of the stars and other items.

Season to Season Summer

I finally have the to update the newest photos that I have of my season to Season Summer Starter Block. I call this block my plane, trains, and vacations block. I had a hard time my summer block because I made 2 very different styles. One of the styles was the plane, trains and vacations, and the other block was done a American theme with all different stars & stripes style of fabrics as well as having US Air Force fabric as well. I will post a picture of the block. The kittens and I decided which block to use for the Summer Season to Season. The kittens sat on the block that they most wanted me to make a quilt for our master bedroom with. I know that the block has a lot of pictures on it already so I wondering what my partners thoughts are for adding embellishments to is block are. I did a few seams and wrote a few cities that I have or would visit. I may make more of this kind of block after each vacation and add a few photos to the quilt blocks as well.

Lavender Wedding

The above pictures are from one of the weddings I did at work during the month of June that was Shades of Lavender and Periwinkle. The centerpieces have a Beta Fish in the Bowl with a Lavender Rose on top of the bowl floating. The centerpieces are made with Lavender and White Daisies, Lavender Mini Carnations, Lavender and White Caspia with a Purple Ornamental Thistle that looked similar to the Beta fish in texture. The bowls are just setting in the middle of the centerpiece, tried to anchor it down with some supports but the bowls fell over. What a mess to clean up. Check back later to see some of the other wedding photos from the summer.

Princess & Pea Block

This is my stater block for the Crazy Quilting International. The quilting round robin group is called FFT #2 { Sampler Round Robin }.
The block is made of assorted shades of pink sections in the block. It has different types of Princesses in each of the 4 corners and the center. I made a little book for everyone in the round robin to sign and write a little note as well. I am thinking about making a block like this for each one of my nieces that are under the age of 10 and make a quilt that works around this center block. I may also do one with Dora, Hannah Montana and Hello Kitty to make a quilt of little girl who is into princess and southern belle style. She is my little girlie's girl and is all about making sure everything is going together.

Romance Block

Sorry, that it has been so long since I have written in my log. The pictures below are of a quilt group that I belong to the Crazy for Quilting group. This is Sue's block from England. She wanted her block to be done in all shades of reds and pinks. I have written a different quote from the Romance Block that the group is working on for me. Te Quote on this block is One word frees us of all the weight and pain in life that word is love. I also made red beaded flowers to go on the bottom of the section of the block. I hope that the block looks well made to all.

May Purple Color Study Block

The above block is Pat's block from the Purple Color Study Round Robin in the Crazy Quilting for Newbies Group. All of the stitches and embellishing needs to be done in shades of purple. This is the 4th month of this study. I added the colorful shades of purple leaves and swirls. The seam is done in a twisted fly stitch with an shade of purple seed bead at the bottom of each point on the stitch. The block has now moved on to Connie to have even better things added to it. I will receive a new block and it should be from Tasha. When making Tasha's block, I think that I may add a hand stitched butterfly to the block and other creative things as well.

Wedding design photos

On the 13th and 14th of June, I was asked to help a friend decorate a old corn crib that was turned into a small reception place. The reception hall is called The Grainery and is located in Cherokee IA. It has 5 - 6 bedrooms and can sleep up to 30 people family style. I was asked to decorate the entire outside deck area with white tulle and bows. They wanted to have both sides of the deck done and the small patio on the second floor. The arch was to have the tulle weaved through it but it wouldn't stay in place. I had to sew the tulle to the arch to keep it in place. I decorated the arch in with artificial greens and white flowers. If anyone wonder how much tulle it take to decorate a deck on a corn crib it is approximately about 150 - 200 yards of tulle and only took about 5 hours to complete. The mother of the bride and the bride wanted to have the bride and groom to have covered chairs for them. I personally made these chairs and it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. I made 2 extra covers for the couple as a gift to have a complete set for their family at home. I will add a few more pictures of the wedding as I decorated it with the family 's help. The wedding went off that weekend without any hint of rain or flooding at site. I and some of the had to drive through flood areas of Iowa to get to the Wedding. Some of the roads were opened the day we left and the 14th when some of the family came from the Cedar Rapids to Iowa City area in Iowa.

Wedding design photos

The top photo is of the decorating of the head table.
The center picture is of the tulle decorations on the deck and the chair flowers for the ceremony.
The bottom left picture is of the tulleing that was done to the patio of the bridal couples room.
The bottom right picture is of the stairway on the other end of the deck.
The bottom left picture on the above post of the wedding has the photo of the other end of the stairway with artificial hanging ivy with berry red bows and chair covers with berry red bows.

june 10 storm clouds

These are pictures of one of the thunderstorms from the week of June 3- 7 2008. The storms are seeming to be coming every day or every other day. I am hoping that when I have to decorate The Grainery in Cherokee IA next weekend that the rain and storms will be over or not happening that day or weekend. I am surprised that the kittens aren't afraid of the thunder and lightning when it comes. They just sit at the window or patio door and watch the weather change. I can't believe that the kittens stay at the window to watch even when the Thunder and Lightening are really close by.

Romance Block

This is Ani's Romance Block from the Crazy for Quilting Group. The block that she started was done in shades of pastels. This block is done in tones of greens and yellows. The colors have a little hint of blue tones to them. I added soft blue beads with soft green floss. The edge was done with the beads and a buttonhole bar insertion stitch. The flower I tried to make was a blue iris or small blue hydrangea blooms. The quote is as follows: I love thee, I love but thee with a love that shall not die, Till the sun grows cold and the stars grow old. This is about the third or fourth block that I have ever done any embellishing on. I hope that I am doing a good job. I am always wanting to perfect the skills that I have. That includes my floral design work as well. I should post some of my floral designs someday.

Season to Season Spring

In the Season to Season Spring block exchange was done between Two People. Each Person did half of the Block and it didn't matter weather you did one half or a random half of the block. I exchanged blocked with Dianna and this is her block that I did the second half to. She had the car on the block already. The tree was there as well. The trim of flowers and the fence with birdbath is also hers. I added the colorful butterflies to the tinsel fabric at the top of the block. The Green section has a fern stitch design to it. The tree and the car are part of a gravel road. The road I thought would be a good touch for the car because what would the car be doing besides driving down the road or sitting under a tree. The tulips have a vine with green beads added. The beads represent new plant growth of ivy or other plants that could be in your garden for the spring. This is a block that I had to keep away from my kittens because of the fabric that had the tinsel on it. They seem to be drawn to the shiny of it and wanted to play with it and eat it as well.

Purple Color Study April

For the month of April in the Crazy Quilting for Newbies Purple Color Study Group the Extravagant Eggplants, I had Rosa's Block. I looked at the block for a few days and decided to embellish the block in the bottom left corner. The design is of purple & lavender Dragonflies with allium flowers with different shades of purple beads to bright the stems and flower heads.

MY Romance Block

I finally got the photo downloaded for my personal started block of the Crazy for Quilting Round Robin. I had some leftover fabric from making Valentine and Early Spring Aprons for work that I thought the Romance Quotes with pinks, lavenders and chocolate fabric would make a good starter Block and I also make a little notebook to match to send with so that all the crazy quilters who embellish the block from all over the world can leave a little note with the block. My quilt blocks will do more traveling abroad then myself and don't need to have a passport to do any of it. Some of the quotes are very sweet and others have a meaning behind them. I will be adding some of the quotes to other of the Romance Blocks in the group that I am exchanging with if they would like a quote. Janet's Block has a quote that reads True love is a sacred flame that burns eternally, And someone can emit a special glow or change it's destiny. I'm not sure if anyone can read the quote that is on the block that is in a previous blog.

Purple block March

I finally got to working on my purple color study block from Cynthia. I had to look at it for a few days to decide what I was going to put on the Block and where I was going to place. I decided to add lilacs with beads and dragonflies. Since I'm a florist, I'm having fun trying to find ways to add flowers to my crazy quilting. I'm trying to add the different flowers besides the standard roses and the buds. I hope that these flowers look like the real thing. I had fun learning how to make them. I have been a little under the weather for the last week, I had that wonderful chest cold with the flu I think. I will be adding pictures to my blog in the next few days to a week. I have thought about making and selling a line of clothes for the American Girl Dolls and the Bitty Babies. I can design the clothes that I would want to buy for myself but couldn't fit in or just didn't think that it was a good idea for me to wear. I just need to come up with a name for a Clothing Line that I'm going to build. I also have to think about all the accessories that will be needed for every outfit. You need to have a purse, bag. jewelry, shoes, or belts and headbands.

Purple Color Study Starter block & journal

I finally felt well enough to go and add the pictures to my blog from the CQ for Newbies Group quilt block and the journal that I made to go with the block. I made my block entirely out of cotton fabrics because I thought these fabrics will work the best when I build the blocks together to build a quilt later. The kittens make me worry if I use other more fancier fabrics that they might play with the blocks and start to play with a quilt when I build it. I try not to put beads on my blocks because of the little guys and the trouble they cause. I built a journal out of the same fabrics. I machine embroidered the seams of the block with coordinating threads in purple and yellow. I personalized the journal with my name. This was the first time I had ever attempted to add paper to fabric to make a book or journal. These were my Second and third attempt at making a Nakid Quilt Block.
I am also planning on starting to make a line of homemade Clothes for the American Girl Dolls. I want the line of clothing to be a modern line of clothes that is similar to what the young girls are wearing at this time. I believe that all girls should be allowed to express how they dress through their doll and her clothes. It is the imagination that keeps us all young in heart and mind.

Cq Romamce Block

This is Janet's Romance Block from the Crazy for Quilting Group. I added this poem or saying to the block that was on the block that I started. This is the first time I have done quilting stitches and different embellishing techniques. I hope that I did an okay job on the block. I am still in the very early learning stages of doing this type of work. I believe that I did a good job. The quote is True love is a sacred flame that burns eternally, And someone can emit a special glow or change it's destiny.

It started out as such a beautiful day here in the Midwest. I got up to a high of 65 degrees and by 6:00pm it was 35 degrees and rainy snow was falling on the ground. I guess that we can say that March has finally arrived. I have finished my section of Janet's Romance Block in the Crazy for Quilting Group and should be able to post a picture in the next couple of days. I am also in a color study group for the Color Purple Called the Extravagant Eggplants. I will also have a pictures of that block and the little book that I made to go with it.
I will also be adding a few pictures of my 2 kids who happen to be cats.

Winter blues

The snow is starting to melt from the rain and snow weather advisory that we had on Monday the 25th. The ice is starting to go away and not make things as difficult to walk around. I am working on Janet's Quilt block from the Romance RR in the Crazy for Quilting Group. I will be posting pictures of this and all the rest of the blocks that are part of this Study. I am also starting on my block for the Purple Color Study for the CQ for Newbies Group. The block is starting to come to shape. I will be taking photos of all the quilt blocks that will be going through each of the quilt groups.
I need to add a little spring and sunshine to my blog because it is so cold and snowy here that I need a bright spot to add some color. This photo is from the dock my in law's home in Washington, North Carolina on The Palimco Sound. His Mom lives about an hour west of the Outer Banks and Lookout Lighthouse. It is a beautiful area to visit and the people are great. His mom's friends say that we are from the extreme North, because we use all the vowels and letters in words when we speak.

I received Janet's Romance Block from the Crazy for Quilting today. I need to look at it for a couple of days and decide what I want to add to the block. I have never really embellished quilt blocks before and if I have I have only done it with my decorative stitches on my sewing machine. I hope that I do a good job. I need to now learn how to add pictures to my blog and get them off the camera without getting a Photo Cd to do so. I just may do it that way so that I can always have a hard copy of all my photos that I want to keep. I will just have to take a lot of pictures every week to go through and get a Cd made from the print shop at work.

I finally made the page that I want and am pleased to say that it looks very good for a person like me who can't figure out how to find her way around the computer.
My two little boys look so innocent sleeping in the picture, you couldn't tell that they get into mom's yarn and fabric when ever they can. I let them be in my sewing room with me because if I don't they will cry like all little children do, even though they are only Kittens.