Project In Process

Actually, I have MANY projects in process! But this is the most recent NEW project....

This is a Crazy Quilt Kit that I purchased some time ago from Shannon at Sweet Inspirations Etsy Shop 
She has beautiful fabrics and hand dyed trims that she sells from her shop. She is a sweetheart and is very helpful and kind. Do you remember my post about the heart I had made for our Anniversary? Shannon was the one who created that gorgeous heart for me. She has many beautiful handmade tags and items in her shop. She is a very talented gal.

I began working on this purse the beginning of this week as I travelled with Hubby to deliver sparkling cider to a business in Seattle which will be carrying it. Since I did not plan my time well, I seldom do.... **rolling eyes at self**, I ended up handstitching these pieces together in the car!

You can see where I tried to stitch a piece of fabric on and I messed up the picture of that sweet girl! The fabric was not pinned and I ended up removing the stitching and repositioning it. I decided to NOT start over and place some embellishments over the stitches, we will see what I come up with! This second picture is after the majority of the fabrics are stitched down, it's a different color..."Don't start THAT again!" because of the afternoon sun shining through the car window, as we sat and waited for a semi truck to be cleared from a rollover accident on Snoqualmie Pass, over the Cascade Mountains.

All of the fabrics that I have chosen to use are sewn in place in the shape of the purse I am making.

Now, to decide what embellishments to place where! I am not good at these kinds of decisions, that perfectionism stuff again, so I am just going to be brave and CHOOSE! 

Here are a few of the things I will be choosing from! The picture at the left has laces and trim that will be stitched with fancy stitches to the area they are shown right now.

These are some velvet hand dyed ribbon leaves I made quite a few years ago and I have not

been able to find the right item to use them on until now! They have the same 

dark pink in them that the flowers the little girl is holding have.

I am so happy to be able to use these. I think a velvet ribbon rose might be

a great addition to this purse as well.

Pat Winter, who made my crazy quilt purse for me,  likes to use beautifully embellished insects or butterflies on her purses. She and Shannon happen to be good friends! 

I came across Pat's Blog, Pat Winter Gatherings,

after having seen and purchased a few pieces from Shannon's 

Etsy Shop. Then later realized they knew each other well!

I decided that I could try to make my own dragon fly... so here is my original attempt. 

I accidentally cut off that left wing... but I am trying to just work

with what I've got, not be a perfectionist about this! 

Not finished with him yet, the dragon fly, but I do plan to place him on the purse.

Look at some of the gorgeous beads and sequins that Shannon included in the kit. 

There are so many things to choose from, and enough fabrics to make three of the same purse! 

I am sure I will use these fabrics in other projects as well. 

I will be working on this awhile, but I will show you when it is finished!

I am using Pat Winter's DVDs teaching me how to do this and make these purses. 

She has amazing directions and suggestions and is a HUGE inspiration to me.

After 22 years, I am finally trying the crazy quilting I've been planning to do!

YAY, HOORAY!

Hugs and Easter Love to you all! 

Betsy

Another Project.....

I am working on a bulletin board for our women's organization at Church,

The Relief Society, and I wanted to post some before and after pictures....

So, here are the items I will be working with and items I have made previously that 

are similar to what I will use for the board.....

I want to produce a crazy quilt look around the edges 

and have a simpler look in the 

center because it will be covered with ... bulletins!!!

I want to add some French Ribbon flowers to the corners and 

give it a feminine vintage feel. This is a
chipboard heart box lid I made years ago when 

I was learning to make these flowers.

The box lid usually sits atop a treadle sewing machine that has a special

family story attached to it. That will be for another post.

Looking at these pictures I took last spring, I see that my
bronze fairy charm has flown! 

I will search for her and get her back home!

This is my Quiet Room (we call it that to encourage quiet behavior in here, 

which also includes musical instrument playing....) 

where this Treadle Sewing Machine lives,

 along with an old rocking chair from my paternal Grandfather's home

and a little red child's rocking chair from the home I grew up in. 

Most of my siblings and I, as well as all my 5 children and their cousins, 

47 cousins, and most of their many children....

 rocked in this chair when they were small. It makes my heart sing

to have it in my home and see little people rocking in it.

These are a few other items I have made with French Ribbon flowers.

It is interesting that the True French Ribbon, the made in France Wired Ribbons, 

are more delicate and prettier to me than the wired ribbon.

I prefer the finished product when I have used those.

I will most likely use a combination 

of them for this project.

I have been "collecting" cream and off white, and white fabrics 

for years.....with an idea in my head to make a memory quilt....

so I am using some of that fabric for this project. 

I am going to try to do a simpler version.

I will show the After results when I get it finished!

Happy Hearts Week to you!