My CQ for ME Progress

Happy Halloween!~~~~ Pumpkin courtesy of Melissa, carved by Michael & Karyssa~~~~ *************************************************************************

I haven't taken a stitch yet this weekend! I know, it's only Saturday. I will make a few tonight on Aida's CQ block. It is a beatiful block and I am inspired by the colors. I have a plan...it has something to do with this STITCH magazine and the cover article! Hope it works out.

I LOVE LOVE this magazine and it is the hardest mag to find...ever. No store in my town carries it so when ever I am near a B&N I run in to see if it is there. I have missed many of them this way. Since it is published in England, subscribing is cost prohibitive due to mailing costs. Do check it out if you have the chance. It is an excellent source of inspriation.

My work so far on my CQ for ME block. (a challenge I am participating in to make a block for ourselves since we are always making them for others in various swaps)I am loving it! I knew these Kaffe Fasset fabrics would look great with embellishments and I am not disappointed. This block is exciting!

One of my favorite seam embellishments! I have used brown silk ribbon here, randomly folding and twisting it as I tack it down with french knots. It looks good in chiffon and satin ribbon too. The ribbon just needs to be more pliable than stiff. It adds alot of dimension to a piece.

Free form flower using perle cotton. French knot center and pistol stitch & straight stitch petals.

Close-up of the blue silk fabric & chiffon ribbon flower on my project. The blue silk dupioni is 1 of the 2 fabrics I must use in my block. I made a yo-yo and tacked it down. Added the chiffon ribbon petals 1 loop at a time all around. I will add beads to the center yet.

I have learned:

1. 77 MPH winds will knock the average person over.



2. Karyssa just carved her 1st pumpkin! She's 21.



3. Cory never made pumpkin seeds before. He has now! He's 25.



4. 81 lb dog + oral surgery = approximately $400.00.



5. 12 lbs down now!

Crazy-ish Lampshade

Yes it is a lampshade! It is an old Pottery Barn silk shade that no longer had a home atop a lamp base. So one day I picked it up and started hand stitching home dec fabric swatches to it (some fabric stores will pin samples to the roll). I really like how it is coming along. Fun to recycle, rethink and repurpose (much like the BRA project). I have quite a bit more to do but thought I'd share.

I just received the next CQ block in my novice fulfillment for CQI's RR. Aida's block is gorgeous satins in very complimentary solid colors....cream, lavender, seafoam green, pink & peach. I am already running many options through my mind! Love it.

I have a few things that MUST get time this weekend.

• CONFIGURE 2 size blocks for courthouse steps. Need to nail down strip sizes for specific block size. Wish I was mathematical. Not. I will be doing this the "slow & steady" way.


• APPLIQUE the block for raffle quilt. I have never appliqued before and am a little stumped at the layering/stitching process. But will give it my best shot!


• DYE fabric with Dijon mustard. I need "D"ijon. I know mustard stains. Worth a try. I don't need alot. Or I could dye yellow and overdye with brown? Experiment.


• My CQ for ME block (the Kaffe Fassett blocks I posted a couple weeks ago) is looking great! I am loving how the busy fabrics are taking all the embellishment.


• MAKE a gift to exchange at Christmas party for quilt guild.

Fall. Luminous foliage right outside my door. Soon this tree will be naked and periodically covered in snow!