Crazy Go Round

My block is done!

2009-04-24T17:21:00.002-06:00

Here are some photos of my block. I finally finished it. You guys did an amazing job!

Rebecca's block on the way home!

2009-04-11T17:08:00.002-06:00

Here is the final round or Rebecca's block. It was put in the mail to day to go back home.

I am sorry it took so long but with my new schedule I am lucky to get much else done. I did all of the work over several weeks during my lunch hour.

Cris's Block in the Mail

2009-03-24T06:16:00.004-06:00

Cris, I am mailing your piece home to you today ~ sorry for the delay, I was just trying to fill it up as much as possible for you! I hope you like what I've done. Here are a few pix! :)

Ami's base done!

2009-03-16T09:21:00.003-06:00

I will be mailing Ami's block to her today. Ami, hope you like what I have added!

Kathi's Fan Block - Full View

2009-03-14T14:50:00.003-06:00

Here it is in all its glory! I changed the orientation so the pink beaded fringe would hang down. It's currently awaiting lint rollering and to be carefully packaged for mailing Monday.

Cris

Kathi's Fan Block - Round 4

2009-03-10T08:19:00.002-06:00

IF I can find hot pink ribbon to match the fabric, I'd like to add a twisted ribbon bow to the "blank" green spot under the bird. If not, I'm going to have to stop before I really do make this weigh 50#! I'm using scans rather than photos but will try to get a picture of the entire block soon.

In the fan quadrant, I added flowers made from flattened gold bead caps attached with hot pink Swarovski crystals. I also added some "peachy" beads to the bases of the blue buttonhole "half" wheels and pale yellow beads to the orangish lazy daisy/yellow pistol stitch seam treatment.

In the quadrant above the fan, I added gold sequins and beads to the buttonhole wheels, bright yellow beads to the herringbone and wheat ear seam treatment, gold bead "apples" to the tree, and the Phoenix bird charm.

In the wreath and web quadrant, I took advantage of Lou's "frame" to add the web (pale yellow rayon floss) and spider (copper beads and metallic copper DMC floss). The pale yellow beads on the lazy daisy/pistol stitch seam treatment are visible again. I also added some blue beads to the bases of the fans in the closed buttonhole/fan seam treatment, some pale yellow buttons to the groups of yellow lazy daisies; and I made the gold and green button cluster (the largest green button is vintage; the other green buttons are made from shell). This picture shows the way I meant the button cluster to look; they got "folded" in the next shot.

In the large ribbon rose quadrant, the gold bead "apples" are visible again. I also added pink beads in various shades and sizes to Lou's feather stitching.

Ami's Landscape Block Round 3 Done

2009-02-15T19:42:00.003-07:00

Shortly after Rebecca posted that she'd placed the last stitch, I finished up my additions to Ami's block. I added snow to a mountain, waves to the river, a bunny (button) munching the flowers in Lou's garden, a pearl spider on silver web, a bird on Rebecca's tree. I don't think any of my additions show up well in the photos, but I'll be putting it in the mail Tuesday for sure.

Cris's Block round 3 done!

2009-02-15T17:07:00.004-07:00

I just put the last stitch in this block. Whew! LOL The doggy was fun and it is my favorite. I did use three different shades of floss on her but you can't really tell unless you look at it a certain angle. OH WELL! LOL It is still cute! I even put a bling bling jewel collar on her.

I added some beads to some of the seams and put a "C" on it and did my first ribbon embroidery with my Gloriana hand dyed ribbon. It was fun and not as hard as I thought. Getting it to lay flat is the key I guess. I am sure I will get the hang of it. I also used some of my Wool/Silk Caron Collection thread, it is nice and fluffy. Will have it in the mail on Tuesday! Have a nice weekend all!

Rebecca's block round 3 done

2009-02-13T17:08:00.002-07:00

Here is Rebecca's block. I left a couple areas for Ami to do hard embellishments on. Hope you like it so far, mailing in the morning.

Progress on Kathi's Block

2009-02-13T13:31:00.004-07:00

Sorry ~I posted the "before" block to begin with: Here is a full shot of what I've done so far!

Kathi, I hope you like my progress thus far. Sorry to keep you in suspense!

:-) I hope it was worth waiting for ~ :-/ I have a few other things planned to do before I mail so its not quite done!

Progress on Cris's block

2009-02-06T17:24:00.002-07:00

Here is a butterfly I just finished on Cris's block. Next I a going to add a doggy, since she is into canine rescue, and them some other things. I used a motif from a new book I just got called Motifs for Crazy Quilting. It has some great stuff in it.

More Progress On Lou's

2009-02-06T08:19:00.002-07:00

I love how this one came out. It was totally experimental........................can you tell I am getting into this? This is one of the ribbons I purchased at Hobby Lobby for Lou's block. I try to buy a few goodies for each block that comes my way. The ribbon is really stiff and kind of shine and also see thru. It is the same kind of ribbon as the light pink roses I posed that are on the blue patch a couple of days ago except this is only 1/8 thick so not really suitable for making flowers. Since I love bows I decided to try that. I tied a bow the size I wanted and attached it with the first of the french knots in the center of the knot. Then I worked my way around the bow twisting and securing with knots as I went. I like to make them twist and turn allot. Then I found I just did not have the right ribbon for this one and decided to experiment. I found this beautiful color in my DMC stash and used 3 strands to create very loosely stitched chain stitch roses. These really need to be loose to make them stand out and look like a rose. I really love the effect and will be making more of these in the future. The leaves are just lazy daises in a green that I also found in my stash.

This fabric is in the center of the block and kind of the focal point. I just could not cover this up with something so decided to instead accentuate the flower with a blanket stitch and french knots. I like how it really makes that rose pop out.

This last one is a very long narrow block. On this one I just did a long feather stitch vine and am not sure if I will have time to add anything to it. More can be added in the last round for sure.

Hopefully we will be seeing some of the other blocks here soon...............I am dyeing of curiosity what the rest of you are doing!!!!

More progress on Rebecca's block

2009-02-05T15:58:00.003-07:00

Here are more photos of Rebecca's block. I am really liking it so far. I have a few more things in mind to add before sending it off at the end of next week.

More Work On Lou's Block

2009-02-04T10:32:00.003-07:00

I am making more progress on Lou's block. I love this blue patch, in fact it is my favorite part so far. I used a stiff ribbon I got the other day and made ribbon roses. I have never made ribbon roses before so this is a first for me. I first did a stem stitch for the line along which the motif would flow. Then added the roses, then the lazy daisy leaves and last the french knots which really add so much to bring it all together. You can also see the red patch where I have done a heart outline in a chain stitch. I will be adding stuff (still thinking about it) to that heart.

I tried to make spider web roses in the brown. Again this is something I have not done in a very long time. I used a 7 mm silk ribbon for these. The background is a feather stitch. With all of my stitching I always draw the lines I will be following first onto the block so that it flows nicely. I might add some leaves to this patch if I have time but if not then those can be added in the next round.

Here are more of the ribbon roses this time in a beautiful satin thread I got the other day at Hobby Lobby. I got 4 different ribbons in all for Lou's project so you will be seeing more things with these ribbons. They are not silk ribbon as I wanted to see what I could design with stain (the one in the photo is about 3/8 inch wide so fairly wide. The stitches in this patch are the same ones I used in the blue patch but they are put together very differently and the look is very different. That is really the fun part of this seeing how each idea comes together.

I am purposely leaving all the motifs simple so that they can be further embellished in the next round. They could be left as is too................at least some of them can. I have been getting much of my ideas off of other crazy quilt blogs. What I do is have paper and pencil and when I see something I like I do a little drawing. None of my motifs are exact copies but rather a starting place for ideas.

I would love to see more photos of what everyone is working on.

Go Check This Out!!

2009-02-02T07:36:00.001-07:00

There is some amazing new eye candy over on Crazy Quilting International blog. Talk about inspiration! Go check it out here: http://crazyquiltinginternational.blogspot.com/

Progress on Rebecca's block

2009-01-29T11:58:00.002-07:00

Here is what I have added so far to Rebecca's block. I hope it looks autumny enough. Still lots to add.

Started work on Lou's

2009-01-27T08:36:00.002-07:00

I have been having some fun adding some things to Lou's block. I love the group of greens with the ribbon tied around it. I am thinking of adding a few more flowers but I also want to work on other areas. The blue background with the leaves is still in process. The drawing is a sketch I did while crusing blogs and it is a tree with some really neat stuff at the base. I am trying to decide on the details of that. I also did a few other sketches from the same blog and will be doing a few other things in other areas based on my sketches.

Ami's Landscape Block ...

2009-01-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

... arrived in Montana today from Lou. Can hardly wait to get started!

Kathi's Block Arrived

2009-01-25T14:31:00.003-07:00

Rebecca & all, Kathi's block arrived yesterday. It looks so pretty! :) I can't wait to get started on it.

Kathi, could you please post instructions for this round? I can't put my hands on the email stating what we are to do. And this way we'll all be on the same page so to speak too, in case anyone else has also forgotten! Thanks!

Ami's Block/Landscape

2009-01-24T11:43:00.003-07:00

I mailed Ami's CQ piece to Cris yesterday - it should arrive Monday. Ami, I hope you like what I did. Of course you can pull off anything you don't like! ;-) There were so many possibilities, I kept thinking of things to add. Here are some pix!

2009-01-22T08:02:00.003-07:00

Boy things have been busy for me. Right now I have two trouble makers fighting on my lap! I have two new kittens and they are about 9 weeks old and pretty tiny but they make up for it in being cute and mischievous. So in any case the photos are of Chris's piece. I added a treatment to each of Kathi's seams with the exception of the grapes which were awesome already. I sent this off on Tuesday so Rebecca should be receiving it in the mail any day now.

I got Lou's piece and have already begun working on it. I pulled out a bunch of new fibers for her piece as the colorway is more earth tones and deep hues. I will be fun to find some new things to do with it.

Here is a link to an awesome blog I found with tons of amazing ideas: http://www.nzjo.blogspot.com/ Her stuff is truly awesome and her seam treatments are a great source of inspiration!!!!!

Kathi's Block, 2nd round done

2009-01-21T21:07:00.004-07:00

I just finished Kathi's block tonight. WHOOSH! I really enjoyed this one as I did a few new stitiches that I have been wanting to try. Kathi, I hope you like the roses, they are woven wheels with lazy daisy leaves. I thought they were the perfect touch for the treatment that Ami did. Will be in the mail tomorrow! Take Care all.

Rebecca's block

2009-01-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

I got Rebecca's block in the mail yesterday. I can't wait to get started on it. It is sure looking good!

Lou's Block 2nd round done!

2009-01-14T08:48:00.004-07:00

Here is Lou's block that I am mailing to Ami today. Lou, I hope you like it. My photos are not the best, my camera kept blurring the photos.

Rebecca's Block (Round 2 DONE!)

2009-01-10T15:54:00.003-07:00

As promised. I'm afraid my creative brain may still be on Christmas vacation, as most of my "layering" consisted of lazy daisy (detached chain) stitches and different combinations of straight stitches.

Progress report (sort of) on Rebecca's block

2009-01-05T15:02:00.002-07:00

Hoping we're all as well as can be expected and have survived the holidays.

I began work on Rebecca's block yesterday by "layering" two seams (buttonhole wheels added as well as "turkey track" straight stitches) and couching down the spider web. "Should" be able to finish and mail by January 15.

Cris

Rebecca's Block - First Round

2008-12-09T07:41:00.002-07:00

Hey everyone! Here is Rebecca's block. I mailed it yesterday to Cris - it should arrive Wednesday I hope! Thanks for waiting for me to catch up.

Now public

2008-11-22T08:22:00.001-07:00

Well no one said that they didn't want this to be public, so I have just made it a public blog. Maybe we can get some good feedback and/or inspire others.

Additions to Chris's

2008-11-21T09:24:00.003-07:00

Here is what I have done on Chris's block so far. I think these flowers look great on the other side for the block form Kathi's grapes. Now I need to figure out something to add today............decisions, decisions, decisions!

Progress on Lou's block round 2

2008-11-20T09:09:00.003-07:00

Here are some photos of what I have been doing on Lou's block, this has been really fun, and I am not even halfway done.

Plans for round 3 on Chris's block

2008-11-19T15:39:00.002-07:00

On the right is Chris's block with Kathi's additions. It is really pretty and I just love the SRE grapes she did. On the left are some of the fibers I have pulled that I am gonna use on it. I may add a few more things but you can get an idea of the colors I am choosing. I have already done a little work using the variegated Pearl cotton Embroidery floss I get yesterday at Hobby Lobby just for this project. I also got the dark blue one. I will post a photo in a few days so you can see how it is starting to look with some of these beautiful array of fibers and colors.

Kathi's round 1 done

2008-11-18T11:50:00.004-07:00

Ok big deal I only added one element! Can you find it? Ok it is the second row of semi circles around the fan. I was going to add flowers but the more I got to thinking about it the more I realized that this could get pretty complex and time consuming so I decided to just add the extra green I had origionaly planned. Figure someone else can add to that backdrop................I really like it. I saw it on a blog a few weeks back and immediatly thought of Kathi's fan on her block. Yep call me the problem child and LATE to boot. I am getting this in the mail today. I hope that the extra detail was worth the delay. If you click on the photo you can see it better. There are two colors of green in there and I love that effect!

Lou's block

2008-11-18T09:13:00.002-07:00

I got Lou's block in the mail yesterday from Cris. I have already started working on it. This will be fun! And Lou, the photo you sent is gorgeous! I wish I was that photogenic.

Lou's block

2008-11-11T07:24:00.003-07:00

Ta da! Despite Lou's instructions to the contrary, I found that once I started embroidering seams I just couldn't stop. I used kind of "chunkier" threads and larger, more widely spaced stitches than I might have in hopes of making Kathi's layering step easier.

Even though it wasn't my "turn" to add beads, since everyone liked the idea of a spider, that's in there, too.

Plan to mail Friday at the latest.

Ami's Block-Take 2

2008-11-10T11:49:00.002-07:00

OK So I added some seam treatments to the sky. Please disregard my last post. I tried to delete it but I can figure out how. Anywho, I think I am done with Ami's block and will be sending it out friday.

Ami's Block

2008-11-09T20:48:00.002-07:00

I have added a Weeping WIllow tree and I have beaded the sun on Ami's block. Any one have some ideas what I should do next? I am thinking it is enough but I am not sure. I will see if I can add a picture.

Cris's block done

2008-11-03T10:21:00.002-07:00

Here is Cris's block. I have finished it. I will wait til closer to the 15th to mail to Ami, since I am hoping to finish a quilt top I want Ami to quilt for me and I will send them together. Cris, hope you like what I added. I had to do a little SRE, it was begging for grapes. I also used a little bit of lace that Lou sent me as a hostess gift.

2008-10-30T10:01:00.002-06:00

Hi All,

I am not very talkative normally, but I am trying to be! LOL I haven't gotten started on Ami's yet, as I had a baby quilt and diaper bag to finish! Now that they are done and in the mail I am going to get started this weekend on Ami's landscape. How are you all doing? LouAnn I hope your father is doing better. I am sitting here making a list of all the things I need to make for Christmas gifts. It is a bit long. LOL I am making some things for the nephews, all 10 of them, out of my DHs old uniforms. he has been in the USAF for almost 20 years now so we have A LOT of old uniforms. Speaking of which we are retiring next August, so we will be moving to PA next summer! WOOHOO! I am so excited! Anywho I am making beanbag frogs for the nephews and tote bags for my many sister-in-laws out of his old uniforms. I figure that fabric is very durable should make good sturdy totes. Well, I guess I did get pretty talkative, sorry for the rambling! I hope you all have a safe Halloween!

Have a great weekend! Rebecca

Cris's block update

2008-10-28T16:37:00.003-06:00

Sorry, but I am going to have to unpick all my stitches and start over. I am hating the way they are looking, especially after seeing what Ami has been doing to my block. My stitches so far look so amateurish and I know I can do better!

Wow!

2008-10-27T20:10:00.002-06:00

Ami, that looks fabulous! (Yes, Ami is our over-achiever and I taught her everything she knows! ;-) heehee)

I'm afraid I have barely begun Rebecca's blocks. I have been finishing up my Dear Jane Christmas blocks which have to be mailed next week, and then all my attention will be on this RR.

Also, I'm sad to say my Dad is in the hospital and having surgery tomorrow. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. It is very hard for me not being able to be there and I am constantly on the phone. Thanks y'all!

2008-10-27T16:27:00.001-06:00

I am off to Houston in the morning. Here is what I have done with Kathi's so far. I will do a few finishing touches for my round when I return next week. I hope you like what I have done so far Kathi.

Little Activity

2008-10-27T12:43:00.001-06:00

Man, can't believe how quiet you all are! Are you liking the blog or disliking it? How is your embroidery going? I haven't worked on Cris's in a few days but will pick it up again tonight. Would love to hear from you all.

Cris

2008-10-23T12:27:00.002-06:00

Somehow in trying to get comments to show on the main page I accidentally turned them off, I just turned them back on. Are you sure on the buttonhole stitch? I originally thought beads etc would hide the puckering but the photo makes it look worse. I am really trying to learn on my hand embroidery the silk ribbon embroidery feels easier to me.

Comment

2008-10-23T05:34:00.002-06:00

Kathi,

For whatever reason, it's not showing me the "add a comment" link on your previous post; so I'll do that here. Absolutely no need to unpick the buttonhole stitch, IMO. I get puckers, too, and have just found that adding other "stuff" (more stitching, buttons, sequins, beads) disguises a lot of it. I think it's the nature of fancy fabrics to be uncooperative!

What you've done is absolutely beautiful; don't make more work for yourself!

Cris

Progress on Cris's block

2008-10-22T17:21:00.002-06:00

I have 4 seam treatments done on Cris's block, though in looking at my photos, I think I might have to unstitch the buttonhole stitch and start over with it due to puckering. here is how it looks so far.

Progress report (sort of) on Lou's block

2008-10-22T08:31:00.002-06:00

I've drawn a rough pencil sketch of Lou's block and have tentatively decided on colors; stitches come next. If I were just embellishing my own block, I probably wouldn't take this step and would end up with the same colors and stitches right next to each other.

Lou requests no purple (no problem for me, the purple hater!), but I'm wondering if there's room for beige, deep rose, and maybe mauve in her design. Input and help, please!

Cris

Internet down most of the day!

2008-10-21T18:51:00.002-06:00

Ladies,

I've been without home phone, TV, and Internet most of the day! Whine, whimper. But I caught up on all I missed and finally made my way over here. Whew!

Kathi, millions of thanks for setting this up for us! I agree with those who have said that yahoo can be hard to get into sometimes, so this is a great idea. AND you can keep up with us during your "slow times" at work.

Good to be back with you!

Cris

Block photos

2008-10-21T14:06:00.002-06:00

I thought it would be good if our block photos were all posted here too.

2008-10-21T13:27:00.001-06:00

Ok I started my profile and added a picture. Who else is brave enough to post a pic! heehee

This is going to be great fun! Thanks Kathi!

Beginning our new blog for this round robin

2008-10-21T11:50:00.003-06:00

As requested, we are now moving all our comments and progress to this private blog. We are the only ones who can view it. Hopefully by today everyone will have their first block to work on and we can get started with all the fun. I have added 2 seam treatments to Cris's block so far. Both of them were silver. I went and got some different colors of floss yesterday including purple which Cris hates but wants us to convert her to. I will keep posting progress and hope you will all do the same. If you are commenting on someone elses post, just add a comment, if you have something new to bring up or post progress on, create a new post. Don't hesitate to email others for help if you need help with the how to's.