Crazy Quilt Fair and New York City Visit Including Ink 48 Rooftop Bar

Happy Spring Everyone!

Spirits can't help but lift with the incredibly early spring we have been having here in Ct.
I've had to resist spending every waking moment in my garden in order to get ready for several vendor shows this spring.
It's not the best way to sell your art as many of you know unless it's a juried show.

Typically folks are looking for a bargain but all of us that do this kind of art know that for the countless hours that go in to it..... $30.00 to $50.00 for these pouches truly IS a bargain!

It is a good way to get the word out about Crazy Quilting ~ I try to remind myself !

I've been a busy girl making pouches,

stuffing vintage hanky's with lavender.....

hand stitching sweet little pins.....

(picture is sideways)

and Crazy Quilting nightlights.

These are clothes pin aprons similar to the one my Grama once used.

I use mine every time I hang something on the line and think of Grama ~ grabbing hers quickly off the hook by the door after a long day at work and pulling the clothes off the line before the evening dew set in.

(sorry another sideways picture)

I realized at the show I did a few weeks ago ~ those under say 45 don't even know what these are!

Here is Pat's water bottle pattern that I started last month ~ finally completed.

It is such a fun pattern ~ you can find it in the Spring issue of "Crazy Quilt Gatherings" 

Today I used left over Easter egg dye to add bright color to lace for some of my newer projects I have planned.

I started by just using the water and dye pills that dissolve in the water.
This created a muted color.

Then I added a tablespoon of vinegar to the above mixture ~ the items I placed in this mixture came out brighter and more vibrant.

Also today a friend came by to purchase the Bell Pull I made that was featured in the Summer 2011 Issue of  "Crazy Quilt Gatherings"

It makes me so happy to think of it hanging in her home!

This is one of my custom picture pillows made especially for the nurse at my doctors office.

She lost her Mom less than a year ago to breast cancer. This beautiful young mother has undergone the removal of both breast after her Mom's death ~ so that her small children have no chance of losing her to this dreadful disease.

Her positive attitude just blew me away!

Frank and I made a trip to New York City in March for my birthday.
Here we are standing in one of my favorite spots ~ the BIG red stairs at Times Square.

 
Central Park was just beautiful on this early spring morning ~ this was taken at Strawberry Fields ~
the part of the park dedicated to the life of John Lennon.
The other photo's are just a short walk down from John's memorial.

I was back in the City yesterday to do a quick pass through down 39th street for some silk fabric

then to the "The Revolution" TV studio in Chelsea.

It was a fun show but the best part was walking to the dog park at

Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village.

 My daughter and I watched as a woman sat and talked to her friend while a little dog lifted his leg and peed right on top of her shoe!

It was so darn funny ~ this poor woman had no idea until the damage was done!!!

Then we went to the most beautiful spot I have ever been to have a glass of red wine ~ Ink 48.

It is a rooftop bar ~ completely outside and no cover charge.

Isn't the reflecting pool gorgeous!

 The wicker chairs are so comfy and they even have little blankets scattered though out.
Needless to say ~ it was hard to tear myself away from this little piece of paradise to catch the train home.

Tomorrow I am painting my sons kitchen cabinets with the new product from Rust-oleum ~

Rustoleum Transformations.

It has great reviews but please say a prayer for me ~ if I mess this up I'm in BIG trouble!!

He has granite counter tops being delivered in 2 weeks ~ I just must do this right!!

(I will take before and after pictures.)

Did I mention I have completely lost my mind offering to redo my son's entire house.

Did I mention I am giving his whole place a redo ~ every room painted and redecorated.

Yup! It's a busy time...vendor shows, house redo's and my beautiful daughter Cheri is getting married this summer!

I still plan on taking plenty of time to smell the roses, make my garden pretty and I even have a special day planned to take a drive up to Watch Hill, RI to meet my on line pal Nicki Lee!

You know her by her cheerful on line personality if you visit her blog

 Nicki Lee's Raviolee Dreams.

Or if you frequent Pinterest you will see her hearts plastered Everywhere!

Nicki Lee's Hearts

Find a warm place in the sun to stretch out and breathe in ~

you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Sending you love and thinking of you always.....Sweet Dreams ;)

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.