Giving it up

Well, there's no need for me to post a pic of my crazy quilting block before anyone has stitched on it because I'm never going to see it again. The first lady to get my block has decided to disappear and not return my block. I'm going to finish my commitment with the swap but I'm done with swaps and may even give up crazy quilting and go back to my painting and tatting. I enjoyed it in the beginning but I knew after the first few weeks into it I was never going to see my block again. I know it's just fabric but I tatted the crinoline lady for my sister that was on the block and I was hoping to give the finished block to my sister.

Here's to happier blogging going forward!

Quick Update

Now that the Holidays are over I have managed to get a couple of things tatted. I just love these teapots. The patterns are from the book "Tea is for Tatting" by Martha Ess. I used size 20 Lizbeth thread. I'm trading them for some CQ supplies because...somehow I was signed up (I won't mention names) to join the HGTV Second Annual CQRR (Crazy Quilting Round Robin). I'm a little nervous about this since I've only done one crazy quilt block and it's not totally done. There are five ladies per group and we will be passing our blocks around to each other until everyone has worked on everyone's block. I will post about it as we go along. Our first mailing is due Feb. 15th. I hope to have my block completely pieced this weekend and I will post a picture of it before anyone has done any stitching to it. When I finally get it back I believe it's June or July I will post a picture of the finished block.

Here's what I got

Here's what I got in exchange for my crazy quilted ornament. As far as an ornament goes it's cute. The rules were to include some of the stitches we learned but this did not have any hand stitching. Everything was glued or machine stitched. Oh well, it was fun anyway.

Done!

I finally finished the last of my Christmas projects. Phew! Now I can work on what I really want to work on. The first pic is my first crazy quilt ornament I've ever made. It's not perfect and I learned a lot making it. It's for an exchange at our crazy quilt class this weekend. I'll post a pic of the one I get in exchange. The second pic is a framed piece of screen that I painted on. I painted three of these. One for each of the girls that work for me. I just need to add some raffia to it. I hope they like them.

Have a great weekend.

Two things done

I just love these teapots. I made this for a friend to put on a crazy quilt block. The pattern is from Martha Ess' Tea is for Tatting. I love this book and her patterns are awesome. This was tatted in Yarnplayer's Peace colorway. I love her thread. I hope to get the other three pieces tatted that go with this teapot before Christmas. I'm starting to feel the pressure of meeting my deadlines on all my projects.

The second picture is a painting on canvas we did. It's painted to look like an old window. We used a couple of different texture mediums for the side of the house and on the peeling paint. We've all seen old windows like this. You know the kind where care isn't taken to keep the paint off the glass. I still have a couple of shadows to make around the bottom sill but it's pretty much done. Since I used an Artist Wrapped Canvas I may not frame it. It doesn't go with my decor so it will probably end up with the rest of my paintings I have stored in my craft room.

I'm doing what I shouldn't be doing

This is what I have been working on. I've been working on needlepoint ornaments. I should be making a Crazy Quilt ornament for my crazy class for our exchange and I should be painting some things for Christmas. Oh, and I should be tatting some teapots. I always paint something for Christmas for the gals at work and I have my projects ready but I can't get my behind in gear. I went to my annual retreat for making cards and I'll show those at another time. Some of them are Christmas cards which I can't show until after Christmas. Well. here's hoping that I get back on track next weekend.

Back to Tatting

I decided to put the crazy quilt block to the side and picked up my shuttles. This is what I tatted. It's a challenge piece from the HGTV board. It's supposed to be a full size doily but we only had to do the first three rounds. I tatted it in size 60 Choco-Raspberry from Tatskool. The pattern is from Georgia Seitz's website. I love the color. I think I'm going to try a teapot in this same color. I'm also working on a needle point piece, painting on screen and I need to start my July crazy quilt block. I better get going.