Rianbow Roundup

I have not gotten any sewing done in days:(  I have had a nasty Cold.  I am in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, the color for January was BLUE.  I started with 2 bowls of blue.  I ended up with 1 over sized mug rug (can't show yet), 2 Alzheimer's quilts, and started another Coco quilt.  All nice and small.

Guess what color February will be!!!!
Happy Quilting
Caren

CoCo goes Shopping, part2

I haven't had much time to sew this past week.  I've had sick kids, work, and studying for a test!  Last night I did lock myself in the dungeon for a little while.  I added a potted plant to the background.  The pot is hand appliqued, it added depth to the piece I think.  The stems are all fused.

I decided there needed to be more leaves.  The plant was a little thin.

I like it better now.  I'm thinking of adding some more leaves in purple.  We will see.  I told my sweetie pie that it would be cute if Coco was walking a big lizard.  He thinks she should walk a poodle.  A poodle is too predictable!  What do You think?

Laissez les bon temps roulet!!!
Mardi Gras season is almost here.  In honor of Mobile being the home of the American Mardi Gras, I made a small quilt last year.  I haven't shown it to the blog world yet.  Today I hung it up, and decided to share.

I made the mask on Fast2Fuse.  It has silk ribbon, beads and sequins.  The King Cake is covered with purple, yellow, and green beads.  A friend of mine suggested adding a plastic baby, but I think that would just freak my kids out!!  I added Mardi Gras beads around the edge of the quilt.  It was originally made for the QA Calender Contest....didn't win!  See ya later.

Happy Quilting
Caren

CoCo Goes Shopping

This is a new little quilt I started today.  Daughter #1 was home sick... so I had some sewing time.  The idea came from, just wanting to make a fun...silly quilt featuring my alter ego CoCo.  Originally, I had planned a "French" scene with the Eiffel tower in the background.  That didn't look right in the sketch stage.   So I settled on a New York feel.  Big buildings and concrete.  I've never been to NY!


This is the background.  The large squaresare one building, the the large grey on the left is another building.

So far I have Coco walking down the street and in the back are some big buildings.

Now, I have never had an "art" class...really want to take one!  But I am trying.  It's hard to see her arm in the picture, kind of blends in.  The shoes were a problem.  This is the base.  Much more will be added later.

Happy Quilting
Caren

Finishes!!!

I have 4 finishes.  Don't get excited they are all very small!!!
My 2 Alzh. quilts are finished.  I did those with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  The color for January is blue.  Run over to Soscrappy to see what everyone else has been doing.  

I added silk ribbon for the seaweed and glass bead fish.  I like the way it turned out.  This one if for my grandmother who loved to fish in Mobile Bay.  It's called "At the bottom of the Bay".

This next one is based on the old "love" postage stamp.  So the title is "Love".

Several members of my Guild have agreed to make Alzh. quilts for the AAQI.  I won't be mailing these off for a while.  I want to send them all together.

I also made 2 trading cards.  But I am not very happy with them.  They are pretty floppy.  I think I should have used a stiffer inside, instead of batting.

Happy Quilting!
Caren

Shameless Plug

OK  Look over to the side.  There is a button for my articles on Associated Content.  There's a new article on a heart shaped mug rug.  It's real cute.  The cool thing is, Daughter #1 (8 years old), pieced the heart.  She is so proud of it.

Caren

New Alzheimer Art Quilt

I Know, my other Alzheimer quilt isn't finished yet.  The fish are not cooperating.  So...I have started another one.  There is a $1000 pledge, you pledge to make enough quilts to bring in $1000.  I don't know if I will do that many, let's see how these first one's do.  I plan on trying to get my Guild into this, too.

Anyway, I started with this drawing.  I folded a sheet of paper in quarters.  Then I drew these angular lines to spell love.  I have seen some great alphabet's recently, to donate to the AAQI, the design had to be original!  That makes it fun!  I was inspired by the old "Love" stamp as well.  The pattern became the paper piece backing.  I should have made a copy!

Then I went through my bowl of blue scraps, found  yellow strips and started sewing.  I squared it up and sewed them together.  It went together really quickly.

Tonight I free motioned quilted it, with a heart motif.  I think it turned out pretty good.  I have to look up the hanging technique and the proper labeling, before I bind it.  I hope both quilts will be finished this weekend.

Happy Quilting
Caren

I've been tagged!!! Yippee!

I've been tagged by Kirsten at Logo's Quilts.   Check out her blog.  She is an awsome knitter as well as a quilter.  Check out the jacket she made last fall. If you have been tagged and want to participate, there are a few rules:
1.  Tell your readers who tagged you
2.  Add a link to their blog
3.  Think of 3-5 people who you think deserve this award.  Inform them and post directions on your blogpost.
Please don't tag people who already have 3000 followers.   The goal of this award is to get more publicity to blogs that are good, but not well known.  Thank you.


Well, thank you Logo for awarding me.  Now it's my turn to spread the fun.


These are my picks:
Cheryl
Cheryll
Celine
Jamie
Michele


Check out these great blogs.


Happy Quilting
Caren

Alzheimer's Quilt Update

This is an update on my Alzheimer's donation quilt.  I am using blue fabric, to keep up with my Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

I used scraps to make 2 1/2 inch squares.  Then used those squares to make 1/2 square triangles.  Then I sewed them all together and added a border.  The border was hand painted last year for another project.  I think the fabric is linen, from the ring bearer's suit from my wedding.  That was 10 years ago!  Talk about holding on the fabric!

Anyway, Then I added sand and a rock.  I free motion quilted it to look like waves.  It's a little larger than needed.  I will have to cut it down an inch or two before I put the binding on.

Before that I have to add fish and seaweed.

It's looking pretty good.  I've looked around at the other blogs that are taking part in the color scrap challenge, there quilts are much bigger!

Happy Quilting!

Caren

2011 scrap challnege and other news

There is a cool Challenge at SoScrappy.  Each month has a theme color.  You use the scraps you have to make a quilt in that color.  January is Blue.  I thought I would knock out 2 birds with one stone.  I am using the scraps to make my 1st Alzheimer's Quilt. 

This is the first bowl of scraps.  I only went through one bucket of fabrics.  I used these for a secret project going on, over at Sew I Quilt.  So technically, I am using blue scraps for 2 projects!

This is my second bowl of scraps for the Alz. quilt.

This is the plan for the quilt, I drew it out in my sketchbook.  Just so I have a guide.

The background is pieced.  The wavy lines are quilting lines.  There's a little sand at the bottom, a nice rock, some seaweed, and some funny little fish.  I think it will look cute.  My grandmother has Alz.  She loved to fish.

Go on over to the Alz. website.  The January auction is going on until Jan.10.

Happy Quilting
Caren

Wecolme 2011

It is 2011.  We had a wonderful Christmas.  I hope you did too.  I hope 2011 is a little easier that 2010!
I don't usually make New Year's Resolutions.... this year I am.  I am still trying to lose weight and be healthier.  Now that the sugar season has passed maybe I can!  But more importantly I have a list of sewing projects I want to accomplish for 2011.   I actually had to sit at my sewing machine and think.  My mind went totally blank.  I could not think of a think I want to make this year ( which is why I made a little list...inspiration).

2011 Project List
1.  Make ATC's to trade
2.  Make an Alzheimer's Quilt to donate
3.  Make me a rag doll
4.  Figure out how to make a dragonfly that looks good
5.  Make a quilted Christmas book with LED lights
6.  Finish my mothers garden quilt...by the quilt show
7.  Make a Superman notebook cover

I'm always a few years behind on the "cool stuff", I don't know if too many people are still making ATC's but I am going to give it a try.  I've already got it started.  I've been wanting to make a Alz. quilt for several years, why not this year. 

Anyway, This is my list.  Hopefully I will become inspired. 

What's on your 2011 list?

Happy Quilting
Caren