Vacation Mode

For all my Etsy followers I am taking a short vacation.
No, I will not be on some warm sunny beach. Although that sounds wonderful here in chilly Wisconsin.

I am taking a creative vacation.
I need to catch up on orders.
I hope to take some time to create some new works. I have a huge pile of brand new fabrics I just can't wait to get to.

So, I may not be posting this week unless I need a stitching break.

If you need to drop me a line, please do. I'll be attending to all my messages and convos.

You know, there was a time when all I wanted was to be discovered. I had so many things to share and I was discouraged that no one seemed to notice my little blog and shop.
Be careful what you wish for.

Actually, I feel incredibly blessed to be as busy as I am
I hate taking so long to finish orders. I used to ship custom orders the very next day!

I can't wait to share my new works with you. Some of my orders are providing some wonderful creative challenges. I can't wait to get to them!

In the meantime, don't forget to put your feet up, even if your stitching is on your lap.
We only get one chance at life on this beautiful earth.
Make it beautiful!

Some fabrics actually make me drool!

Sorry, that's kind of gross. Actually I don't really drool. Just touching some fabrics make me dream of magical pincushions all shimmering with beads and dripping with lovely stitches.
Here are some beautiful silks in dupioni and velvet.

I am getting ready to start a project for Susan, one of my collectors. She asked for a really special tomato. After some chatting and some tossing around of some ideas, the tomato turned into a pear. Her only request is that it have something sparkly on it. I had recently ordered some Dupioni Silk from Chad Quilt. She sent a luscious fuschia-magenta, lemon yellow-lime and a gorgeous mauve pink shrimp iridescent in a previous order. I also received some lovely silk velvet from Nuno Felting Supplies. I was transformed!
Check out this silk sampler kit-
.
(Note, she is currently out of stock but promises to let me know when she has these lovely silks back in stock).

Well, one thing lead to another and now well, I am addicted to silk. There, I said it. Is there a support group for this? Since I was hooked, I just had to order some greens and golds for this project. Nancy, the shop owner of Chad Quilt is a joy to work with and she rushed my next 2 orders through so quickly!

The picture on the top show silks from 3 shops but most are from Chad Quilt.
I have an idea to set up a new section on my blog called eye candy and other temptations. I promise to share some more of my favorite goodies there soon. Who wants to be alone in their addiction. Shopping together is so much for fun, don't cha think?
I tried to photograph the lovely sheen and subtle color changes in the silk images on the right. I can just imagine them on a dimensional project such as a pear or apple. The shifts in color as you hold and move the pear should be mesmerizing. Oh how I love a beautiful fabric!

Please, do yourself a joyful favor and do a little window shopping today.
The pretty crystals you see are from another Etsy Seller, (because Etsy Sellers are amazing). Coco Zhong Crystal Gallery. She provided the sparkle for my project.

Here are some of the other colors you'll find at Chad Quilt-

She so kindly included a sample of the silk cord in my order. I can't wait to order some. Its so smooth and the sheen is beautiful These pinks remind me of cotton candy. Yum!


While you are at it, here are 2 other silk fabric shops I ordered from. Both shipped so fast and I loved my orders! Their attention to my satisfaction was outstanding.

Nicole's shop, SilkFabric is filled with lovely silk velvets, leathers, brocades, oh my! Here are 2 items on my wish list.

The first is an incredible embossed leather, yes real leather in Aqua. The brocade is so rich. She was also very kind to send me some samples in my order which helped me to choose even more from her shop. I will definitely be back!

The next shop I would love you to visit is The Whimsical Peacock
This shop has something really special. She carries printed images on silk. I am dreaming of my next crazy quilt square as I type. Can you just imagine how you can use these in a quilt, fabric collage, greeting card....?! Here are 2 images I just can't wait to play with-

I would pair the Mucha with the silks and I can just see that adorable vintage nursery print with my 1930's print reproduction stash. I am going to have a ball!

If you haven't ordered from an Etsy shop, I would love to encourage you to give it a try. Its an experience that will spoil you from shopping at the local craft store. The wide variety of fabrics, trims, and other lovely items in the supply, vintage and handmade sections are to die for. You'll feel like a kid in a candy shop! I love that I can contact the seller prior to my purchase and I almost always get an immediate reply. You can requests swatches, half yards and even a personal collection from many shops. Your items will come fast and affordably. I am one of those loyal customers. Once I order from a shop, if I like the service, I will be back even if the prices are higher. There is nothing like feeling important to a shop. Etsy is a unique marketplace and their shops are top notch. You can also be proud that you are shopping handmade. Your item will always be touched by the maker. I'll order from an artist over a big box any day of the week. It just feels good.

I'll be posting the completed pear I'm making for Susan soon. I have another involved order to get done before hers but I'll try to do a little multi-tasking so I can get both orders out soon. Check back in a week and I hope to have it finished!

Flowers on Linen

I recently received a request from Marianna for a special pincushion. Its for a daughter's birthday. I love birthdays.

I am one of those people who think handmade presents are the best. So I had to give this pincushion some extra attention.
She ordered my Design Your Own Pincushion in Linen with a different flower in each section. I loved this idea!!!
Here it is. I hope she loves it.


I normally stitch lavender flowers around an embroidered button. (See my tutorial on how to create a button without a kit.)
Just in case you don't recognize the flowers I stitched here they are. (clockwise from the top).
Daisy, hydrangea, delphinium, roses, gerbara daisy, lavender, geranium and the lovely hollyhock.

I have been thinking about creating a pattern. Let me know if you would be interested in that.
When I create patterns I tend to leave a lot to the stitcher. I would hate to see someone try to imitate me. We all stitch differently. That is the beauty of the human hand.
Even when we try to recreate someone else's pattern we find it just never quite looks like the original. That is your creative spirit fighting to break free. Something deep inside of us longs to express a song only we can sing.

So, you may need to wait for a pattern. I'm hoping you'll wing it and come up with your own masterpiece. In fact, I encourage it!

Here are a few more images for Marianna.


Marianna- Thank you for allowing me to create something special for you. It was truly my absolute pleasure! I hope your daughter loves it.

Note: As of September 2016 this pincushion has appeared on over 9 thousand Pinterest boards. Wow! I am grateful for all who share my work. Without your generous spirit and support, my shop on Etsy would just not be as successful and my blog as popular. I love to share my work with the world. What a gift for me!

My February CQJP Challenge Block

I must have spring fever because lately I am drawn to bold, bright, brilliant color. Fun fuchsia, citrus lime, sunny yellow, oh my! I can't get enough!
I created this block late last month. This was a hard one to let go, but it went to Robin's pincushion collection. Its in a great home!

I had so much fun with this block. I was actually working on two blocks simultaneously. I often have a few things going at once. I think helps me to keep an open mind to change and possibility.
Because these blocks are so small, its no problem to cut a variety of fabrics out just to see how they work. I bring out my box of trims and vintage textiles. I drag out my button bags, my bead stash and my embroidery flosses and even a bit of jewelery.

The hardest thing about crazy quilting is that the design potential is endless. Add color, print, textiles, embroidery stitches and it gets to feel overwhelming.
A good place to start is with a simple beginning and an open mind.

Here is a crazy quilt pear I created for Susan. Another collector of mine who, like Robin and others, make this business of creating a joyful one.
As you can see, more is best and usually the only thing that stops me from adding more things is that I run out of room!


I hope you give crazy quilting a try. If you love to embroidery, this is a great project. All the little spaces and seams give you a chance to try out some new stitches. You don't need a lot of goodies. I've seen some beautiful blocks with only a few buttons or trims. The idea is to let your imagination play.
I think the prettiest blocks stay in one color family whether the fabrics are solid or printed. If you can set one limit, the task is a bit less daunting.

Above all else, remember that its supposed to be fun. Your only real job is to nurture your creative spirit and let it soar.

Sweet Strawberries

Here is my newest strawberry. I love it!

I received an order from Connie and she wondered if I ever did dogs. Well, as a painter, I created many pet portraits. These days I think of thread as paint strokes, so why not? I really loved how it turned out. Its plump and sweet and I hope it does her 4 little terriers justice. I love my customers. Without them, I would never find out what I can do.

Here are some of my other favorites strawberries-


Its no secret that I love making these little beauties.


Each berry seems to be a blank canvas. The fabric and customer lead me to new ideas. When ordering, the customer chooses from an assortment of red and pink fabrics. They let me know if they would like them embroidered or beaded and the rest is history. All are filled with emery. A layer of batting gives them a soft look.

Here is a lovely comment I received from Tracey. She's ordered 6 from me this year! "These are just so lovely I have no words. Each one is unique and obviously made with love. Having trouble deciding which to keep and which to give!"
If you want to know why I love making my pincushions- the answer is definitely my customers! They are amazingly wonderful and they give me so many ideas and so much encouragement.

I find these strawberries to be so useful. I have a bunch of them around my working areas. They are so handy. The emery makes sharpening my needles easy. Often, when I buy pin backs they have little burrs on the end. When using the pins on delicate fabrics, a burr would be a disaster. I simply slide the end into a strawberry and move it back and forth. The burr is slowly and gently worn off so the pin glides safely into clothing no matter how delicate the fabric.

I love to play with the whole idea of the strawberry. My grandma had a tomato pincushion stuffed with sawdust. There was this little red strawberry on a cord attached the stem of the tomato. I found this image on Wikipedia. They have a little story about how a tomato on your mantle will bring good luck and how this particular pincushion dates back to the Victorian ages. Wow. I love how all this stuff is as wonderful now as it was a hundred years ago!


I've seen so many versions since then. Martha Stewart even revisited the strawberry and offers an easy pattern and tutorial here. My pattern is a bit different. However, these beauties had been created with Martha's pattern.

I added pretty crystals along the body of the strawberry to make a very elegant strawberry. I then added a rhinestone top with a loop for hanging. I added some pretty matching beads to the jump ring of the loop attachment as well. I can't seem to get the rhinestone top anymore and that makes me sad. This was really a pretty design.

Another of my prettier designs is my deluxe strawberry. It comes beaded or embroidered. Its created from a beautiful rose printed fabric. I have to fussy cut each berry so there is a lot of fabric used for each strawberry. That is why they cost a tad more.



I also created some stawberries with wool roving on top of felted wool. I then stitched and beaded them. I love how rich and bright the colors are. Wool is one of my very favorite materials to play with. I'm always inspired by its versatility.


Here are some wool strawberries with a bit of stumpwork.


Speaking of stumpwork. This needle case with stumpwork strawberries was a fun departure from the others.


Why stop at one size? Here is my super sized strawberry! This was too much fun to create! This image shows 3 sizes. The tiny strawberry was a mere 1/2 inches high. The big guy is over 4 1/2 inches tall.


These strawberries can all be purchased in my Etsy Shop. If you don't see one of these versions available, just drop me a convo. Let me know which one you liked and I'll relist it if the materials are available. If you want the standard cotton version you can buy them one at a time here, or save and purchase 3 strawberries. I show a number of fabric choices.

Give one of these sweeties a try. You can find some emery here, at The Cheswick Company. A few other Etsy shops have it as well. Just be sure not to buy very fine emery. It migrates right through the fabric and you'll have a mess on your hands. Cathy's emery is just right.



I'll be back soon, I just picked up some wonderful new fabrics and I can't wait to play with them. New fabric always inspires me!
See you soon and happy sewing!

Sunflower Needle Case

Here is my newest needle case fresh off the sewing machine..




I feel in love with the fabric months ago and have been pondering just the right project. In my stash of buttons, I found the perfect carved wooden sunflower button. I did some patchwork, some sketches and nothing seemed to have that certain feeling I feel when I find the perfect place for a special fabric. It just seems to be at home, like it was meant to be.

I bring my embroidery work with me whenever I think I might find some time to work. I am not a good waiter. Having something fun to do makes the wait go so fast. Having a needle case helps me keep track of all my little sharps. There is nothing worse than leaving behind a prickly pin where it end up in someone's toe. Best keep all little pins safely tucked away and accounted for.

Although ribbons are pretty, I find a simple snap makes access easy.


I also like a lot of little spots to hold my pins and needles when I work. A pocket for a few floss bobbins and I'm off. I have a clear make-up case to carry my scissors, my glasses and a big collection of colors in both perle cotton and embroidery floss. You just never know!


If you would like to purchase this needle case, you can find it in my Etsy Shop, Fiberluscious.



If you would like a custom case, let me know. I'd be happy to work with you. I have lots of fabric and wool choices. Head on over to my Etsy shop and leave me a "convo".

This isn't a hard project. I don't have a pattern available, but its very straight forward and very customizable. Add a bigger pocket, cotton pages in the needle book,or a bigger pincushion. I think even a new sewer can whip up something simple to call their own. For a quilter, the possibilities are endless.

Hope you give this one a try.

And the Winner Is....Creatology!

The winner of the
Grow Your Blog Giveaway is...

Creatology!

Stick with Me Pin Assortment will be sent as soon as I receive her contact information.


Visit her blog by clicking here
She has an Etsy shop to visit. Just follow the link on her blog.

Here are some creations from Creatology..
From her Etsy Shop, a pretty fabric cuff.




Here is a pretty needlebook from her blog-




To all you entered and did not win, well, I'm so happy to have met you!
I look forward to visiting your blogs often.

My next giveaway will be mid February. I am thinking of hitting my stash and sharing some of my goodies with you all. I seem to have an over abundance of vintage buttons and miles of yarn and fibers in so many fun colors and crazy textures. How about a pile of great fibers, trims and trinkets to create a crazy quilt block?! I know my hubby would love to see some of my stuff go. Men, they just never understand that too much is never enough!

See you soon!
Jill

My CQJP2113 January Block

I am so thrilled to finally have my block for the 2013 Crazy Quilt Journal Page.


I would like to thank Susan who ordered a crazy quilted pincushion from me. Actually, this is her second from my Etsy Shop. She gives me complete freedom to play. In fact, I had too many ideas for this block so I ended up giving her 5 ideas and then 2 nearly completed blocks to choose from. We finally ended up with these pretty jewel tone rose fabrics. I included some rich hand-dyed silk velvets. I used mainly DMC cotton floss for the embroidery. I added some pretty vintage crochet pieces, a variety of woven trims and then added vintage buttons and some pretty beads to give it a little sparkle.

Here is how the actual pincushion came out. I can't wait for her to see it!

If you would like to order your own Crazy Quilt Pincushion. I have a gift certificate for a "Design Your Own Crazy Quilt" pincushion in my Etsy Shop Fiberluscious.



You can buy one for a friend. I'll send you a pretty card with instructions on the collaborative process, or if its for you, we can just dive into making something uniquely your own. I'll send you images of fabric choices in the style and colors you like most. I also have a Design Your Own Tomato Pincushion and a Design Your Own Flowers on Linen pincushion. I really enjoy working with others. It always inspires something I would never think of and I am driven to reach a bit beyond my comfort zone so you end up with a bit of two creative hearts.

I've been working so hard on my Crazy Quilting skills. My desire to create Crazy Quilts inspired me to learn embroidery. It's so much more than learning stitches. Its knowing which thread to use to achieve the effect you want. Its knowing what stitch works where. It's knowing what colors to use on which fabrics. Its being brave enough to take chances so that your work is unique. I still have so very much to learn.

But I think that learning involves discipline. Its practice, practice and more practice. And once you think you have a stitch in your head, its making your hands work on it long after your fingers are calloused and your wrists ache. The best thing about learning a craft like embroidery, or quilting or any other technique, its the joy you feel in creating and the pride you feel when you finally reach each goal you set out to achieve. Nothing can replace feeling that you and only you are responsible for bringing something beautiful to completion.

When we share our works with others, it becomes something bigger. It is the continuation of hundreds of years of tradition. Even though we create alone, we are always a part of a family of beauty. We learn from each other. Our work awakens the desire to create in someone else. They in turn take that craft into their heart and mind and bring forth their unique vision. They then inspire someone else and as we pass on beauty, our world becomes more beautiful.


I really am really happy to see a site such as the Crazy Quilt Journal Page. I have studied and admired the work created by the artists who feature their crazy quilts with all of us. You all are my inspiration. I thank them for their generous and creative spirits. I hope that some day, my work will rise to that level of expertise. In the meantime, I will simply enjoy striving towards my own creative possibilities.

If are participating in the CQJP project, please feel free to leave a link to your blog or website. I would love to connect!

See you in February!