I Didn't Know My Own Strength

Lost touch with my soul
I had no where to turn
I had no where to go
Lost sight of my dream,
Thought it would be the end of me
I thought I’d never make it through
I had no hope to hold on to,
I thought I would break

I didn’t know my own strength

And I crashed down, and I tumbled
But I did not crumble
I got through all the pain
I didn’t know my own strength
Survived my darkest hour
My faith kept me alive
I picked myself back up
Hold my head up high
I was not built to break

I didn’t know my own strength

Found hope in my heart,
I found the light to life
My way out the dark
Found all that I need
Here inside of me
I thought I’d never find my way
I thought I’d never lift that weight
I thought I would break
There were so many times I
Wondered how I’d get through the night I thought I took all I could take

I didn’t know my own strength

And I crashed down, and I tumbled
But I did not crumble
I got through all the pain

I didn’t know my own strength

Survived my darkest hour
My faith kept me alive
I picked myself back up
Hold my head up high
I was not built to break

I didn’t know my own strength

Thank you Dear God for your strength.

Hand Dyeing With Lumiere Dye and A Bead Organizing Tip

Finally last night I tried my hand at dyeing lace!
I have kept a box full of "things to dye" since the 1980's when I was tea staining everything for the dolls I used to make and sell.
Frank even bought me a wonderful starter dye kit years ago of Lumiere Dye at a Quilt Show.
Still....I had NO idea what I was doing!

Using my glass of water that I had been drinking, I dipped pieces of lace in the water, then put them on paper towels and painted the dye on with Q tips.
I mixed water and dye right in the dye caps because I couldnt get up to get the proper supplies.

You see, Teddi had just fallen asleep at my feet after barking for 10 million hours straight almost an hour so I was only able to use what was within my reach for fear of waking him up.

After I did several pieces, the paper towels I had used to catch the dye were such a beautiful shade that I wrapped them around the crochet pieces and rick rack and pressed firmly until the dye transfered to them.

Now in my humble opinion, the queen of lace and silk ribbon dying would be my pals

 Pam Kellogg (she no longer selling her hand dyed lace as she devotes her time to her amazing crazy quilted pieces) 

Pat Winter (my favorite silk ribbon hands down) and

Nicki Lee (the best lace flowers, butterflys and beautiful bits). 

I proudly use their beautiful laces and ribbon.

However if you find yourself with a lot of laces waiting for some color,please don't be afraid to try it!

I did nothing "right" yet they still turned out good enough to use in my quilting.

Teddi The Yappy Yorkie

Here are some useful links for the correct way to do it ~ if you arent being held hostage by a yappy Yorkie!

Pam Kellogg's tips on Hand Dyeing

Hand Dyeing by Sandie Willmott

Great links to purchase ~

Patwintergatherings on Etsy ~ hand dyed silk ribbon

RavioleeDreams on Etsy ~ huge variety of hand dyed lace items

 Have you recieved your latest issue of Pat's"Crazy Quilted Gatherings"  yet?

In the Spring 2012 issue, she has included her pattern for her beautiful water bottle holders.
I am in the middle of creating mine now and as is the case with all of her idea's, it is an easy and fun Crazy Quilt adventure!

I thought you might like to see how I have decided to organize my beeds so I can be inspired by the colors and have them next to me on my tiny quilting spot.

I thought it was my own idea until I saw similar idea's all over Pinterest!

I used a heavy duty glue to attach strong round magnets (purchased at Michaels)

to the top of my beed containers.

Let it dry for 24 hours and then attach to any metal surface.

At first I used a tray so that I could carry it from place to place but then found this biscuit tin and liked this idea best of all.

A lot of folks are using this idea for make up ~ what a great idea!

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1 -9

A Gift of Lace, Buttons and Rick Rack

Recently a local reporter did an article on my crazy quilting and shortly after, I received a call from a local woman that offered to give me all of her lace, buttons and rick rack.

When I went to her home, I discovered that much of it had belonged to her grandmother and Mom.

She said her Grandmother purchased much of it from a door to door salesman, beautiful Irish lace decades old.

For this perfect stranger to share such precious things with me, buttons her Grandmother and Mom had touched and saved all these years ~ meant so much to me.

I made this pillow for her with some of the buttons and lace and rick rack.

I also made this simple lace heart for my dear friend Lisa to celebrate her birthday.

The bias tape below was pure white, I used avocado skins boiled to dye it, giving it this time worn look.

I am celebrating what I am sure will be an early spring!

The birds in my garden are singing extra loud and splashing in my little pond all the day long.

Get in your gardens if you haven't already and look for signs of spring ~ I know you'll find them!

Avocado Dye

I simply boiled 3 empty avocado shells until the water turned a dark greenish tea color.
I ran the dye through a strainer and put the trim in the water overnight.
The next day I air dried.

The original directions I found said that silk fabric will dye a much darker shade, cotton turning a more time worn look.

February Crazy Quilted Block for CQJP

My crazy quilted block for February is of my Beautiful Funny Valentines ~
My twin babies Jaclyn and Cheri. Well okay, they are 29 now but my babies they will always be!

My due date was Valentines Day but they arrived 2 weeks early on January 31st.
Jaci was 5.4 pounds and Cheri was 3.9 pounds.
The doctors said Cheri would be in ICU for a month but God answered our prayers and just a days before Valentine's Day, we brought our baby home.
Jaci and Cher were best buds and when they were about one, had their own language only they understood.
They have grown up to be even more wonderful than I could have ever imagined

If nothing else good ever happened in my life, their birth would have been enough.

"My Funny Valentine.....
You make me Smile with my Heart
Don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay Little Valentine stay
Each day Is Valentine's Day."

Block # 1 For The Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012 and Some Krenik Thread Info

Hi Friends,

A little late but I am posting my first block for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012.

When I first joined  the challenge in November, I had plans of doing something completely new and different.

Perhaps round blocks, something I have always wanted to try and then further challenge myself with lots of new stitches.

However on Christmas, my precious Grandmother's health began to decline rapidly.
This quilt challenge was quickly put on the back burner until her 93rd birthday January 8th.

A dear friend digitally repaired this picture of Grama from the early 1920's and I decided this would be my January block.
I used pastel colors that she loves and included a doily ~ she has crochet hundreds of these in her lifetime.
In light of her illness, I feel like doing the familiar and making each months block related to my family and the holidays we love to celebrate.

I used Krenik Thread's in most of the block after recently stocking up at Thistle Needlework's in Glastonbury, Ct
The new colors are just magical and the woman there explained something to me I never knew!

Do you see on the second line of the price tag where it says 4203?

That means thread number 42 and 03 are blended together for this color!

Here you just see # 029 ~ this is not a blended color.
If it said # 4229 ~ it would mean # 42 and # 29 were used to make the color.
I found this a really cool tool to use when choosing colors!

These are not great pictures but look at how the Krenik threads stand out ~ sometimes the french knots look like beads.

 Did you ever try making one of these tags you have probably seen all over the Shabby Chic blogs?

All you need is a plain tag, scrap fabrics, lace, glitter, glue

and love in your heart to fill in the blanks!

I made this one today for a pal recovering from surgery.

I have so many more things to share with you but am pressed for time so check back soon!

Crazy Quilted Christmas Gifts and A Special Request From Santa

Santa's elves have been as busy as a little elf can be creating gifts for Christmas!
Remember I told you in my last post about my pal Pat's idea of turning those ugly nightlights into a truly beautiful piece of art?

It starts with this $1.99 nightlight ~

Crazy quilt a block to fit the front of your light ~

I finished off the edges with a slip stitch by hand, then used Tacky Glue and clamps until dry.

Here's the finished light ~

and a couple more.....

The Kreinik Christmas Cracker, also Pat's design, was a super fun project and went quickly.

I cut the cardboard tube inside of Christmas wrapping paper to size, then stitched a block that would fit around the tube with a little extra wiggle room.
Simply sew lace edging to both sides and sew in place around the tube.

Go HERE for instructions you can download.

You can add silk ribbon poinsettias, Christmas Trees and wreaths.

I filled it with Christmas candy and it is on it's way to someone special.

I did two picture pillows on dupioni silk, one of a beloved pet that passed away ...

and one of a new born baby ~ I think Olivia's grandparents will like it.

Now that the last of the out of town gifts were shipped today, it's time to tackle the ones close to home. I have some of my happiest moments in this tiny room wrapping gifts and twirling ribbon with scissors just like Mom and Grama always did.

The house is all decked out ~

and my great grandmother's rocking chair is waiting for Santa.... just in case he gets a little beat up trying to go down our fireplace with no chimney ~ lol!

(decorating tip ~ use vintage Christmas Aprons as tree skirts)

 By the way Santa ~ remember those jammies you gave me on my First Christmas?

Well how come I was still wearing them on my 3rd Christmas??

If you could find it in your heart to hook me up with a new pair of slippers I think we can just forget that whole "same jammies for 3 year" incident.

Love ya Santa!!!!