Nicki's Face RR blocks

Nicki Block 1
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I am in a rr at CQI (Crazy Quilting International) that is focused on faces. Nicki is enamoured with UTS so I tried to bring in a bit of that flavor for her. I have taken pics of both her block and then one of all her blocks together! She's got a start for a wallhanging! Enjoy!

Debbie's block

Debbie's block
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

Finished up Debbies block! I was enamoured by a vintage postcard that had a car full of dolls and teddy at the wheel, so I adapted it to a front on view! I used an old earring for the steering wheel, sewed down mop buttons for the headlights and glued shisha mirrors on top of that. Hope you like it Deb!

Dimitys 2nd Block

Dimitys 2nd Block
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I finally finished Dimity's (aka Diane) second block in the faces rr at CQI. I used re-purposed necklace for the head piece and a re-purposed earring for the necklace. I then embroidered the hair, secured Dimity's cloisonne' face with a peyote cabachon treatmentand beaded things up! I hope that she enjoys the block!

Landscape Wall Hanging

wallhanging 2
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I finished this up so it could fly to its new home. I'd have loved to embellish more and more and more.... but, gotta stop somewhere! Hopefully the new owner will enjoy it!

Special Wall Hanging!

wall hanging
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

Terrible pic, but this is an update on the little wall hanging I did. I added a beaded border aroundthe frame. Its flying to its new home now!

Christmas Fairies - sort of

Christmas Fairies - sort of
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

Just a bit of whimsy I thought I would share! I have fallen in love with these little fairies that are made by Mark Roberts. They aren't all specifically Christmas but I just had to add them in with their other friends! One is a sugar plum fairy chef, another a gardner and a pumpkin.... they are all sooo fun! Enjoy!

Todd & Melissa

Todd & Melissa
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

Debbie Quirion's son and daughter in law recently lost their home to fire. I decided to create a wall hanging for them based on their wedding picture. I added a cq frame, printed the picture on cotton, beaded the bodice and veil or the bride and embellished the frame! Now to get it off in the mail!

Wall hanging

Wall hanging
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I am stitching my fingers off, completing small gifts for crazy quilting friends. This is for a friend....can't say "who" right now. VBG! This is a silkie printed from a Mucha poster and embellished. I'm rather fond of this one...must be the tree! LOL!!

Christmas Wrap up Continues!

Jills pincushion
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I am sewwww excited! Things are coming together and i'm getting gifties done and mailed. Only have one left! PHEW!!

This is a pincushion I made for a friend from CQI (crazy quilting international). She loves pink, victorian, lace, etc. This is a little brass basket I buffed up and then added the pincushion too. The next pic is of the christmas cracker I made up for her. The pen gives you an idea of what a monster it was! ROFLOL!!! She has received everything and loved it so i'm safe to show it here! I'm very happy she is pleased with her pressies!

Christmas Ornies

Lynch Ornie
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

WOOHOO!!! Things are finishing up and IN THE MAIL!! YEAH!!! Hmmmm.... can you tell i'm happy??? ROFLOL!!! This is a special giftie to Linda of her furkid.... the next one is Puck who is my vets furkid.... love em both! NOW...off to make some for my kids! :_) Enjoy!

Dianes face rr block

Dianes face rr block
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I am in a round robin at CQI (Crazy Quilting International). This particular rr, focus' on faces. Diane likes art noveau so I googled and found the artist Mucha who does some phenomenal work! I choose this particular image and here is how she translated for me!

Quirion Fur baby 1

Quirion Fur baby 1
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

A good friend of mine that lives in Maine as several boys. One of them, Todd is married to Melissa. Just after Debbie returned to Maine from the CQI retreat here in Colorado, Todd and Melissa's home burned down taking their two fur babies as well. At CQI we decided to shower them with special handmade ornaments for Christmas. I made two ornies..... one of each fur baby and am also working on two small wall hangings for them. One is a wedding pic printed on cotton which I will bead. I framed it in CQ and will embellish it. The second one is a few special pics of all the fur kiddos they have had. I am stitching the "silkies" of them down to a batik background I have stamped with paw prints. I will then bead or trim up around each picture and quilt the rest. Got a little ways to go, but wanted to share this project. Tis close to my heart.

Kerry's Christmas Skirt Wedge

Kerry's Christmas Skirt Wedge
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

This is one of the wedges of a wonderful tree skirt that Kerry was sending around for the Christmas RR we are in together! I tried my hand at waste cloth with the stars....think I need some schooling in that department! LOL!! MUCH easier to free hand embroider! Anyway, I tried to keep my stitching more elegant and subtle in this in keeping with the feel of the block! I hope you like it Kerry!

RoseAnnes Goddess of Light

RoseAnnes Goddess of Light
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I have just finished up my "angel stitching" for RoseAnne on her block! She askedfor celestial beings, soI gave her the goddess of light! Tis alllll beaded and very sparkley! Hope you enjoy her, Rose Anne!

Debbie's Face block

Debbie's Face block
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

This is a block I finished for Debbie Q in our Faces DYB rr. She loves doll, victorian ephemera so I crated a doll house for her, a rocking horse for the doll, a teddy and a special dragonfly pull toy... a special touch for her daughter in law! VBG! Enjoy!

Wool DYB RR blocks

Wool DYB RR blocks
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I am starting another round robin with CQI (Crazy Quilting International). This one is wool! I'm am asking for primarily seam treatments, no beading or buttons, etc. as this will be a utilitarian quilt when done. I'm leaving the jagged edges as I will incorporate those patches into the next block to create a whole cloth effect! This will be a fun rr I think! Can't wait!

Project Complete!

landscape
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

One more UFO bit the dust! This is a landscape piece that was in a round robin and when it came home needed the tree added and a few more extras... I finally got it done, complete with a beaded outline! YEAH!!

Santa complete

Santa complete
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

UFO's slooooowly are getting done!!! YEAHHH!!! This is a santa I made for the Chinese Auction retreat this last month! I had left it just stitched, not in pillow form in case someone wanted to applique it to something instead! Welllll, after a bit of a battle, Kerry won my Crazy St Nick, whose pattern I got at the Gilded Lily. Doesn't look the same...but...he's still sort of cute! I've incorporated some christmas symbolism in the stitching and hope she enjoy's him! Onto to more projects! LOL!!

Princess Pearl Peacock Purveyor of Perfect Pets!

Princess Pearl Peacock Purveyor of Perfect Pets!
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I am pleased to present "Princess Pearl Peacock, Purveyor of Perfect Pets and Purple Pearls in her perfect parlour! She is completely ready to entertain all her pet friends! VBG! This is my addition to Gerry's blocks in the Faces rr at CQI! Hope you enjoy, Gerry!

Why Do We Blog?

I have been doing some wandering round the blogs, trying to see what everyone is thinking about and this question seems to be cropping up. Why do we blog? I know i've wondered if it "means" anything to blog or post to Facebook, etc. What does it gain us? Fame, fortune, attention, friends? giggles It certainly requires a dedicated amount of time and energy which is taken away from stitching! HORRORS! LOL!!! I focus both my blog and my facebook content just on crazy quilting and embroidery...well, beading and brazilian/dimensional embroidery and the occassional "furkid" post sneak in too. That is "who" I am. I stitch, I garden, I play with my furkids and enjoy the mountains with my dh. That IS what makes me whole. My style of piecing and embroidery is evolving and I feel as the years pass by that I am finally coming into my own. A rather peaceful feeling really! VBG!

All that said, I have hesitated to express personal views or controversial thoughts other than cq (prolly won't ramble again after this post) and wonder if I am just being overly cautious or if maybe I just live in an insulated bubble! LOL!! I don't know. I decided to share my thoughts here today as I hear stories about others getting attacked and personally feel its pretty sad if we can't just voice an opinion without fear of reprisal. This is America after all. It seems to get overlooked that we are a varied population with multidinous talents and interests and opinions. Opinions are just that. Opinions. I personally like to listen to others view points as it helps me learn more about them and the world. It broadens my perspective and "who" I am as a person. It may or may not change my thoughts...which is fine. It doesn't affect how I feel about myself, although it may help nudge me further down the path that i'm meant to travel. I wish for the same for others.

I don't know the why's and where fors that everyone else blogs. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. I DO NOT intend this to be a "war of words". If you would like to share, please do! In the meantime....i'm off to stitch! (Smiles)

Hideko's Stocking

Hideko's Stocking
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I have completed my work on one of Hideko's stockings. I stitched the spider web as part of the "Cobweb Christmas" story and added a bit of whimsy with the snowman blowing snow flakes. I put an evergreen branch up at the top.... with a cardinal, bow and tree charm. Enjoy Hideko!

Rose Annes "Faces" block

Rose Annes "Faces" block
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

Things are getting completed and i'm feeling a litle more caught up! VBG! I am in two round robins. This one is a "Faces" rr. Rose Anne wante celestial influences on hers....so I gave her Old Man Wind and a stylized moon/sun faces...and a teensy little face bead at the bottom. The block came out kind kewl and I hope RA enjoys it!

Forest Within

Forest Within
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

At the crazy quilting yahoo group, a challenge was issued to everyone to make a quilt (large) by 2-0-1-2! The idea being that we all get a big project complete AND selected quilts will be shown in an exhibit at an AQS show!! WOOOHOOO!!! Sewwww.... with that nudge, I brought out the "Forest Within" and have pieced the outside and am now appliquing it prior to embroidery. I'm pleased with where its going! Last view you all had, it was just the diamond center. I plan to take the dark border around the outside as well and drop in some orange/burgund colored fans at the points of the diamond to accent it. Its exciting to see this starting to take shape! Then I will start on another that I want to do that will be done with large hexagons. More on that later!

New round robin!

leslie faces dyb
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I just sent off my blocks for a new dyb round robin. This one is a faces rr and will be great fun to see what everyone conjure up as their interpretation of a face. The theme as it were, of mine is Sugar Plum(p) Fairies ... you know....Nutcracker Suite? I sent these little faces along for folks to use (they are unfinished so they can paint em or emboss em, etc.) IF they want to. Please don't laugh at my pitiful attempt at maching piecing the blocks! Sheesh! Perfect example of why I hand piece! LOL!! Sigh...hopefully the ladies can see past that and they come home looking like Christmas! VBG!

Jo's Christmas tree

Jo's tree
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I've made myself stop stitching and filling so others will have room to play! VBG! This has been lots of fun and I enjoyed my time spent! I have some close up pics in my flickr album, if you click on the pic it should take you there! Enjoy!

Hearts 1 RR - Marya's block

hearts1 marya full
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I've finished up my angel duties for the rr with Marya's block. I have added about fifty hearts to what was already in place! Lots of beading and fun! I appliqued a lot of velvet burgundy hearts to the block and completed them with cording, beading, etc. If you click on the picture, it ought to take you to my Flickr account where there are some close ups! Enjoy!

2009 artbra1

2009 artbra1
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I've been meaning to show these completed blocks for the 2009 Artbra block. This is one and if you click on this pic, it will take you to my Flickr account where you can see the other!

Dimity's heart block

Dimity's heart block
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

One of my "jobs" at CQI is to ocassionally do "Angel" stitching! I recently received two blocks to finish up for the hearts round robin. One of them is Dimity's (aka Diane). I've added 41 hearts to this gem and almost all of the work on the left hand side of the block is mine. The velvet hearts are not black, they are deep burgundy; I just couldn't get the colors to pop correctly. :( Twas fun playing here. I finished up the fan blades and seams, and dyed the lace along with beading, etc to try and bring the block together as a whole. Twas a challenge, but overall it pulled together! Enjoy Dimity!

Amy's Block

Amy's Block
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

This Amy's block from the Beautiful Beginnings rr at CQI Novice. I am the last one to visit with the block and had to tie some elements togehter. I created a little butterfly out of some flower petals, added a nice arrangement in the white/beige block, added some sre roses on the blue patch to tone it down and a bullion flower in the mauve patch. I also added bullion roses and some pink organza ribbon along a long seam to help tie it all together. I also added lace on the bottom left and added some seam work in a nice variegated thread to complement the colors in the block! I sure hope you enjoy the block, Amy! OH!! I also added a beaded necklace for your silkie! VBG!

Debbie Q's Christmas block

Debbie Q's Christmas block
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I am in Christmas rr, which is a lot of fun! I've just finished up my friend, Debbie's block. I LOVE this santa silkie! Sooo kewl! I have music pulling the sleigh, kicking off musical snow, a musical snowflace, ornies, bells, etc. Great, great fun! I hope that debbie enjoys it!

Shari's Stocking

Shari's Stocking
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I'm madly stitching away, trying to catch myself up! This is a picture of the work I did on a friends stocking. It is about 3 feet long so it had losts of opportunity to spread out! I enjoyed working on this and hope that Shari is happy with my work!

CQI Purse Contest

purse full front
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I'm wayyyyyy late blogging about this purse. Im still trying to get myself caught up I guess after the Making Memories quilts. Anywhoo, I made a purse for the CQI (Crazy Quilting International). I'm happy to at least have finished it as its been over two years in the making! LOL! This was also a lesson in UFO's and the "brilliant" ideas that we may have had at conception. If ya don't write it down..... wellllllllllllllllllllllll, ya probably et the idea! LOL! So, as I didn't remember the "where" I was going, I added a Josephine Wall silky and then embroidered and beaded a couple of trees, etc. If you click on this pic, it ought to take you to my Flickr album which will let you see the other side, etc. As I said.....i'm a winner cuz I finished the project! (Wink) I didn't win or place in the contest...which is just fine! I STILL finished a project! VBG! Enjoy!

Tin Swap project complete

ts3
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

Hi everyone!

I have finally finished my tin for the swap that we are holding at CQI. This is an altoid size tin. I first spray painted the edges, cq'd the sides, added the lining, beaded handle and "catch" and then made a little pin cushion for the inside along with a mini tin for needles. As a special gifty I made a bracelet I hope she will enjoy!

Making Memories Quilts

mmbouquet 2
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

I received the MOST wonderful news and am finally sitting down to share here!! All three of the quilts that I put together from blocks received by fabulous CQI and RMCQ members, are going to be judged and exhibited in the Houston Quilt Festival! I am sooooo pleased that we're making a BIG splash in showing what can be done with crazy quilting! VBG!

Then, I received a GORGEOUS bouquet of flowers from a dear friend, Cathy Kizerian to celebrate our success! I HAVE to share them with all of you! They are JUST ...GOAJUS!!! They are sent to commemorate the color of the quilts and breast cancer! AND... they smelll wonderful! Thank you thank you, Cat! I finally have cleared some of the tears of happiness from my eyes enough to post!! To EVERYONE who participated in this project.... YOU ROCK!!! Great job!!! Now....off to sniff the flowers again! (wink) VBG!

Beautiful Beginnings rr- Sheilas block

Beautiful Beginnings rr- Sheilas block
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

This is Sheila's block that i'm working on for the beautiful beginnings rr. The previous stitcher, Vicky Alktahib, had don the silky and the butterfly and the seam on the orange. My challenge was to try and pull some of the colors in the blocks together and help keep the eye moving. I envisioned a sort of window within a window. I created the mountains and some clouds and the added quite a bit of dimesional flowers above the cottage and around the mountain patch. I also created a dragonfly .....and made a switch on the wings....which I think look great now! Enjoy!

Making Memories Project Complete!

Healing Hearts
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'

PHEW!! At long last i've finished the Making Memories breast cancer quilts!!! MUCH more of a job than I anticipated but worth it I hope! This is Healing Hearts...named thru a drawing at my CQI group by Shari Jensen.
This is Blue Grace and...



the infamous "Problem Child".

I will be writing a wrap up story for CQMagOnline so be sure to pop over and read more about these quilts there! If you click on the pics, it oughtta take you to my Flickr account where you can see close ups of each block! Enjoy!