ICQC Dragon

My next task in ICQC was to create an embroidery motif that takes a simple design and turns it into more of a story by adding to the design.  I started with a simple line drawing of a dragon that I found by googling 'line drawings of dragons'.  My first idea was to embroider a dragon fighting a knight. I can't draw very well, though, and all the knights I found online were too detailed to embroider and get the task finished in a reasonable amount of time.  My next idea was to have the dragon flying over a castle since castles are made of simple shapes I can draw.  After my embroidery of the dragon was almost done, I changed my mind and  turned him into a dragon guarding his hoard.

It was fun going through my beads and deciding which to use on this piece, but the actual embroidery of the dragon took almost a week.  If I hadn't decided to use two strands of silk and a lazy daisy chain on the wings, it would have taken two and a half weeks.  I need to find some better way to fill big spaces with color.  Maybe paint pens or applique next time.  But since this is a surface embroidery class, this dragon needed to be stitched.

Pillowcases and More

First finishes of the year:  three pillowcases.

The two Valentine ones are for my boys, and the Peanuts pillowcase is a birthday gift for my friend's mom.

I also completed two house blocks for the Neighborhood Block Party.

Participants make  12 1/2 inch square house blocks, send them to Irene, and then a random number generator chooses who will receive all of the house blocks.  She is also collecting house blocks for a charity quilt.  There is still time to join in if you want to make a block.
http://muchashilachas.blogspot.com/2016/01/neighborhood-party-2016.html

To see some of the blocks:
http://www.mysismademe.blogspot.com/2016/01/neighborhood-block-party-linkup.html

ICQC, Beach Ball or Pumpkin?

The next task in my crazy quilting class was to create a basic surface embroidery motif.  I wanted to find something Halloween-themed, but I found that most of the vintage patterns online were either too detailed for a small space or too cutesy for me.  I ended up embroidering a pumpkin, but by using 6 colors, it ended up looking more like a beach ball than a pumpkin.  The addition of tendrils helped, but it needed something more.  That's when I decided to turn my beach ball into a jack-o-lantern.  The addition of a face takes some of the attention away from my unfortunate color choices.

Linking up:  http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/02/08/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-44/

Stash Report, Trent's Quilt

 Yes, I really am sewing.  I'm just not finishing much.  This week I bought fabric to make a pillowcase for my friend's mom's birthday.

Used this week:  0
Used Year to Date: 0 yards
Added this week: 0.875 
Added Year to Date:  16.375 yards
Net ADDED:  16.375 yards

Here's what I worked on this week:

This is Trent's graduation quilt.  

Linking up:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2016/02/07/stash-report-february-7-2016/

Spider Web and Vine

 The next task in the crazy quilting class is a spider web with a vine or branch and foliage.  

I am pretty happy with my web and vine.  A few of my leaves are wonky, but not bad enough to rip out.  I am less pleased with my spider.  I went to AC Moore yesterday looking for interesting oval beads, but there were very few to choose from.  The legs of my spider are a little too close to the beads, but again, not bad enough to rip out.  

I love this class!  It is so much fun not having a pattern to follow.

First Daffodil and Progress Report

Here, amid the weeds, is my first daffodil of the season:

A week and a half ago, these flowers were covered in 14 inches of snow!  We might get a few flurries tonight, but in my mind, spring is almost here!  I keep track of when the first daffodil blooms each year, and I'm so glad they are early this year.

Year                  Date of First Bloom

2012                  before 2/1/12
2013                  2/21/13
2014                  3/10/14
2015                 3/13/15

I have been working on Gyleen's mystery quilt.  I think we are up to clue 5.  Some of the quilts I've seen have been beautiful.  Mine not so much!  The nicest thing I can say about this quilt so far is that it is helping me use up my scraps.  I believe someone will be glad to receive it anyway because even an ugly quilt will keep you warm.  

Linking up for Scraptastic Tuesday:  http://www.shecanquilt.ca/2016/02/scraptastic-tuesday-february-link-is.html

I've also been working on my ICQC 3 class.  I completed the embroidered tree with leaves.

New Projects! ICQC3 and Trent's Quilt

This week I started two new projects.  One of them is a  quilt for my nephew who graduates from high school in June.  Here is the basic plan:

I was originally going to make a one block wonder quilt for him, but I had difficulty finding prints that would work in colors what weren't too feminine.  I decided on a bargello pattern after seeing how many beautiful grays and tans the quilt store had.  I threw in the dark red for contrast, and I really like how it is coming along!

The second project is one of Kathy Shaw's intermediate crazy quilting class.  I've only done 1/2 of step one so far, but already I'm in love!  This is my version of the twisted tree:

What I like best about this technique is that there is no marking on the fabric, you just choose your threads, twist and couch.  It was a lot of fun and not a lot of planning.  Kathy stresses planning your crazy quilt blocks, so that they stay balanced.  That's not how I work.  Pre-planning anything causes me a lot of anxiety and over-thinking.  I'm much happier just jumping in and starting to stitch.  I'll worry about balancing the block later.  

Linking up:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2016/02/01/design-wall-february-1-2016/   http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/02/01/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-43/