Here Fishy, Fishy

Hello All

You know if I would stop doing little projects that take 15 -20 hours each I might get this quilt done.
There is also a problem that the block I put it on is very pastel-y so now I need to bring in more color to the rest of it

Later,
Lauri

Forging Ahead

Hello All

Well I finally got this block almost done. The bottom left corner may have more added to it after all the blocks are joined






I really like how this block turned out also. After I figured out what I was going to do on it

See Ing!!! I can do bullions. I have just have never showcased them before. Don't you just love this surfboard? I found it at a bead store in Arvada, I also got some really nice lampwork fish and eels that will be making their presence know on this quilt somewhere

This silkie was taken from a photo taken of my 3 youngest and me when we went to Disneyland the first time, If you notice this is the inspiration for the drawing I did that appears on the right hand column of this blog.

After picking the photo I put it into a photo editing program ( I can't remember which) and there is a process that makes it into a cartoon.

Then I added some BE flowers to the corner

A close up of that da**ed castle. I estimate it took at least 20 hours to do all those knots

Well onto the third block know. Hopefully it will go faster!

Later,
Lauri

I'm Stuck!!!!

Hello All

I only have until July 17th to get this quilt done and I have struck a wall.
I don't know what to do next. I have this piece pictured in my mind as one continuous piece. BUT that doesn't necessarily translate into Crazy Quilting, unless you plan VERY carefully beforehand as you piece and embellish your blocks
As we have discussed before I am not much of a planner for my CQ. I like to go with the flow
After a discussion with the hubby, we have decided that I should treat each block on its own and then let it go where it wants
So ok I think I can do that

But first I have to do this. The sandcastle sent straight from you know where!!


First of all it took me a least 3 rough drafts before I got a drawing that I liked that wasn't too complicated. Then I had to dye the thread as I wanted some color to it. Not just plain sand colored, so I dyed white perle cotton with persian gold, blush, seamist and saffron
Next I decided to do it all in small bullion knots so it would look more sand like. BIG MISTAKE!!! I have already put almost 15 hours into this and this is as far as I have gotten. Of course I didn't dye enough thread so I had to try to match it to the first batch ARRRGGGHHH!!!
Can I set this down and work on another block? NO I can't . That's how I am. I like to do my CQ in a logical manner ( oxymoron I know) (See above about going with the flow)

So maybe I will get this done in time but I don't think I will have time to get the border done I want on it. We shall see


Then as if thousands and thousands of knots weren't enough I decided to bead this for Lyn's UTS block. I call it a dolphin but everyone else sees it as a whale. So I guess we will leave it at that


On another topic.
Is it just me or am I a poor writer? When I was in school taking writing classes we were told not to use the same noun or pronoun repeatedly
BUT as a blogger, it is very difficult not to keep saying," I did this, I did that, I made this"
I ( see here it is again) find it very annoying myself especially when I ( again!!) keep doing it.
It is just difficult not to do when describing your own work
Any suggestions would be appreciated and please forgive me for atrocious writing style. Mr Kirch would be hitting me over the head if saw what I have been writing!!!!
Maybe I (!!!) will refer to myself in the third person. Lauri, Mrs Burgesser, Dennis' wife, Sam's Mom, Zac's Mom, Caleb's Mom, Molly's Mom, Katrina's Mom ..........Etc .
Lauri could go on forever with this, as she has lots of kids, pets ,nieces and nephews.

Back to the knot factory

Later
Lauri

Hello All



Remember this block?




Well here it is now. I wanted to do this one first as I have been patiently waiting to get the castle done

I think I might have overdone but I love it, so no looking back. I just need to make sure the other corner block weighs as much or the whol equilt will tilt to the right .LOL

Later
Lauri

Blocks 8&9

Hello All

Here are the last 2 blocks



See this pretty seam ? It took me 2 hours to do. Well don't get attached to it. I forgot I had the perfect piece of lace and the only place it fits is right there.
See? I told you I don't plan this out

And here is the last one.

Now I get to audition all the lace, trims and fibers

That should take a week in and of itself

Check back soon, the fun part is now starting

Later,
Lauri

Marya's Spider block

Here is my addition to Marya's block. I spent 2 weeks looking at this everyday trying to figure out what to add.
This magpie fairy is one of my favorite prints. Once I thought of it the rest was easy . I particularly like the magpie's nest button cluster

Now I am off to do what I consider the fun part of CQing , the embellishing

Later
Lauri

Blocks, 5, 6 &7

Hello All



Of Course the pics loaded backwards. I can never seem to get them in the order I want



Here are a some seam details. I am in a quandary here. I want the seams to be able to stand on their own, But I have a 2 1/2 gallon bag of trims, laces and fibers I want to add. So some of these seams will be covered up. I can always go back and add to the thread embellishments later.



I am not the greatest at planning projects out before hand. Therefore I have some AHA moments and some ugg moments as I go

Obviously here are the blocks

This one is pretty plain but I do have some nice lace pieces that will liven it up

The mermaids are embroidered then colored in with crayons. Obviously some of these girls need a few more layers of wax.

I think I will add that last

Only 2 more to go

Check back soon

BTW I am so informative lately aren't I? Hopefully the pics speak for them selves

Later
Lauri

Pam's Under The Sea Block

Hello All

Here is a pic of the block I did for Pam. She lives in Cornwall, in England so I decided to incorporate a selkie ( seal) from Celtic legend.

Her email nick name Moroven which is either Welsh or Celtic ( can't remember which at the moment) for mermaid.So I included one here too. You may have to look for her she's a bit shy

Enjoy
Later,
Lauri

Blocks 3 &4

Hello All

Here are the next 2 blocks . I know it is at the boring stage right now. But you have to lay down the foundation before you can get to the really fun stuff

Be sure to double click on the pics for a larger view. Sorry about the picture quality

Later
Lauri

Block 2 Under the Sea

Hello All

Here is the 2 nd block all nekkid, in other words before any embellishments



Here it is with all the seams embellished

And some closeups

By the time I am done with all the laces, beads , shells, silkies appliques and thread paintings you probably won't be able to see much of these. But In my mind all the seams need to be embroidered or it isn't a Crazy Quilt. Even if you can't see them later

Go Figure!!

Later
Lauri

Here we Go Again!!

Hello All,

Well it's that time of year again. County Fair time. So I am getting another quilt ready for it.

This time I decided to do an Under The Sea theme. I orginally had 12 blocks , but I got a brain storm idea so I only need 9 squares for now. I will show you that brainstorm if I get far enough along

This is how it was when I began

Then I took out a few patches here and there and replace them so it flowed better

This is the first block I did the seams on it

Here is is after

And a close up of some of the work

I have hundreds of ideas of things to include. We will jus have to see how many I can include on here. The way I like to embellish this will be a VERY crowded piece

Stay tuned, I hope to post once week on my progress. Hopefully you won't get bored

If you have questions on anything I do, be sure to ask. I am so used to doing some of this that I never know what too tell you about

Later
Lauri

Gerry's Spider Block

Hello All

Here are some pics of the part I did on Gerry's block. The bird is my first attempt at beading a design. I think it looks a little more Picasso than I intended

The web was done with hologram thread so it changes colors when it is moved

I hope Gerry likes it!

Later
Lauri

Well I Did It

Hello All

Well I did it. I picked up a needle for the first time in months and actually got something done.
I have some sort of muscle and nerve damage done to my left shoulder from where a bolt of fabric dropped on my about 8 years ago when I worked in a fabric store. And from time to time my shoulder and whole arm will hurt like (*&(^^$$# and go numb at the same time. Have I told you this before? I think I might have. It's just been so long since I posted and I am too lazy to save this post and go look. So there you go

Many months ago I signed up for an Underwater Fantasy RR, I completely forgot about it then one day out of the blue Igot a notice that it was full and ready to go. I didn't really feel like doing it but I went ahead.

And this is the result

This is Karrin's block. Poor Karrin, she used such pretty batik fabrics and I completely obliterated them. In my usual style, I encrusted it. Over encrusted probably. But I LOVE it so I feel not much remorse.

I found a pic on the net years ago where another CQer had done a castle this way. I knew someday I had to do it myself.

Believe it or not every seam on this was embroidered in some sort of seam treatment. You just can't see for all the beads

I hope Karrin likes it.

BTW you can click ( or is it double click on the photos and you can get a much larger view of them)

Back to work,
Later
Lauri

Tagged

Hello All

I've been tagged. I am to post the 6th picture in the 6th folder of my photos.

This is my youngest daughter with her Birthday twin cousin. They are 16 years apart. I believe this was his college Graduation. Bug was trying to hook her 2nd grade teacher up with him. But she could never get the 2 to meet

Now I am to tag 6 people but I am no good at this so feel free to play along on your own blog!!

Later
Lauri

Hello All

Well what can I say? Things have been both hectic and eventful, yet also more of the same old same old

Since we last were together we have had 3 car accidents, 2 visits to the doctor, 1 ER visit, 1 trip to after hours care, about 6 xrays, 1 broken toe, 2 jammed fingers, 2 screwed up necks and..............

The only injuries from car accidents were a sore neck and some stiff muscles. 1 truck was totalled, this is the same one that almost rolled over in ravine the week before. The only thing that stopped the roll was the step put on so I could climb in and 1 lone rock

Other than that we have a smashed radiator and a fence that will be fixed by insurance.

Broken toe from a dropped lap top computer and jammed fingers from Basketball during PE

The other screwed up neck and shoulder and elbow and wrist and hand and fingers. Yes everything on the left side of the body is mine. When I worked at a fabric store years ago I dropped a 40lb roll of fabric right on my shoulder where the arm joint is.

I woke one day last month with a sore neck ( again) and by the middle of the week I was basically immobile

Nothing really major, no body extremely hurt ( other than the cursed truck) just a whole lot turmoil in the midst of utter sameness

On another matter. Hubby reconnected with an old family friend we haven't heard from in 20 years. Then his cousin he doesn't ever remember meeting found us through Hideko's blog.

Isn't it a small world?

Sorry to be so boring but that's all I have at the moment

Later
Lauri