Friday, March 13, 2009

Don't You Hate When This Happens


Winter Solstice class resumed this week. I finished my blocks at class on Wednesday night...or so I thought. Last night I put all of my blocks on the design wall a had a big hole! I hate when this happens. I remember having 2 extra fabrics when I sorted my fabric for this class. I must decided that three didn't work with this color scheme. Here is a peek at the "Groovy Little Hippy Bags" Crazy Quilt purses I have been working on over the last two weekends. If you follow my blog through reader you have already seen these purses when I posted them for a special order customer to review. The blue and black velvet messenger bag has 12 hours of hand embroidery on the flap. I use new corduroy and new and reclaimed velvets to make these purses. These fabrics make the best shoulder straps. They really stay put.
Does this happen to you? It irks me when my pictures load sideways....


This Dusty Purple Messenger Style Bag has one of my original hand embroidery designs. I really enjoy making these purses. I sometimes wish there were 20 extra hours in each day so I could get more accomplished.
The photos below are ATC's from the ladies of Around the World in 20 Quilts Group. Our theme is "Seasons" We are also doing a postcard exchange. I have my postcards completed but have yet to put them in the mail. I'm saving them for show and tell at quilt guild on Monday night.
"Water - too wet, too dry" from Simone in the Netherlands. I love the hand dyed and painted fabrics in this work. The blue metallic threads really give the ATC a beautiful shimmer.



"Spring" from Marian in Australia. These flowers are so delicate. I'm longing for the days when the spring beauties start to bloom here.




This lovely tree by Lynn in California was machine felted and top-stitched with free motion embroidery. I love the angelina fibers she mixed with the threads and yarns!



"Autumn" by Linda in Australia. I have seen mushrooms like these in fairy tales. I had no idea they grew in the woods of the Netherlands until I received this beautiful card from Linda.





"Ginkgo"
These are my ATC's. This is the first time I have made an Art Trading Card. I cut the ginkgo leaves from freezer paper and ironed them to some of my hand dyed fabrics. I rubbed Shiva paintstiks over the top of the fabric and then hand stitched the veins of the leaves.
It was so much fun to get letters from other places in the world. If this is something that interests you I highly encourage you to join an exchange.


I'm dyeing fabrics tonight and tomorrow I sew. I will be making some more flying geese pendants in a couple new colorways.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Chris

8 comments:

Lynn Cohen said...

Oh my goodness so much to see today.
The velvet bags are so lovely. Twelve hours of hand embroidery, yes I can well imagine that having done my fair share on my lastest BIG art quilt Living Green!
Several hours each night for weeks!

It is fun to see all the ATCs. Yours were wonderful to get BTW.
And I agree it is great fun to receive mail from abroad and down under! ;-) Even from Wisconsin!
And fun to see my own ATC on your blog which I had almost forgotten by now, it too was MY FIRST ever!
;-)
Are we having fun yet?
YES WE ARE!!!!

Lynn Cohen said...

OOps. so much I forgot to comment on the top photo...Your more traditional quilt with an artsy flair in the fabrics chosen for the stars is lovely. I do hope you have enough fabric to fill the gap.
Too funny that! And yes, I have done that too.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

What a great blog - you don't need 20 extra hours - you seem to be getting a lot done already. The quilt is gorgeous - even better when the hole is filled up. Those are not my regular colors but I am really drawn to them. And the embroidery - oh wow - what can I say. Lovely cards you got also. Just a wonderful post today. Thanks for sharing.

JennaLouiseCreates said...

Hi Chris:) Lovely items you have been working on as always:) Things have been a little crazy at work and I haven't been able to blog a lot these days, but I'm back and ready to get creative! Thanks for stopping at my blog:) Jenna Louise

bindu said...

I have a weakness for non-leather purses, and so yours are mind-blowing. I love the Gingko piece too. Beautiful.

Jackie's Stitches said...

Were you able to fill in the holes in your quilt? It certainly is lovely. The purses are fantastic - I love the hand embroidery!

Susan Elliott said...

You have been one busy lady. I think the hole in the quilt happened for a reason. I think you should put something else in there than what you planned...I can see lots of other things in that window...

dawnkristine said...

I am too a crazy quilter, and I know how much work they are. Great job!