The Story Behind The Cover ~ Pat Winter's Summer Issue

I was so honored to have my work on the cover of "Crazy Quilt Gatherings" for the Summer 2012 issue!

I'd like to share the story behind the cottage print, one I have not shared until now.

Lilla LeVine had mentioned on her blog in 2010 that she had created a cottage painting and had copied onto muslin if anyone was interested. I immediately contacted her to purchase it.

When it arrived, I sent an email to thank her  ~ her reply left me stunned.

the cottage print as it arrived from Lilla

the cottage in process

She explained that in the summer of 2001, she was decorating an English tea room for two friends Colleen and Georgina in Honolulu.
The theme was "Cottage" so Lilla was painting and embroidering items for the decor.

The girls had been in New Zealand buying cups and china. Lilla and Colleen returned to Honolulu, Georgina went to the states to make some purchases.

On September 11, 2010 as Lilla and Colleen were at the tea shop, a call came in that Georgina was on flight 93 headed back to the Islands.
They tried calling her cell but she was already gone, a victim of the 9-11 attack.

Colleen never recovered and moved back to Canada with the original cottage painting.

One year later......she died of cancer and as Lilla put it, from a broken heart and spirit as well.

Colleen's daughter told Lilla the painting has never been found.

When Lilla shared this story with me I promised myself I would do something special with her beautiful cottage painting to honor her two friends. I wanted the piece to be overflowing with flowers, birds and butterfly's in flight and all the peace and joy a cottage garden brings.

Thanks to Pat Winter's masterful magazine, now this special cottage will live on in print.
It was a joy and privilege to do this work ~ I know you all would agree when there is purpose behind your stitches they become infused with love and meaning that can be felt.

In a way Lilla's cottage has been "found."

                           In Memory of Colleen and Georgina

 To a Butterfly

STAY near me--do not take thy flight!
A little longer stay in sight!
Much converse do I find in thee,
Historian of my infancy!
Float near me; do not yet depart!
Dead times revive in thee:
Thou bring'st, gay creature as thou art!
A solemn image to my heart,
My father's family!

Oh! pleasant, pleasant were the days,
The time, when, in our childish plays,
My sister Emmeline and I
Together chased the butterfly!
A very hunter did I rush
Upon the prey:--with leaps and springs
I followed on from brake to bush;
But she, God love her, feared to brush
The dust from off its wings.


by William Wordsworth ~ 1802

I used lace "bits" from Nicki Lee's etsy shop Raviolee Dreams
Silk Ribbon from  Pat Winter's etsy shop
Silk Ribbon and threads from Carol Daisy
Charms from Dime Store Emporium

Happy Spring Everyone!
Spirits can't help but lift with the incredibly early spring we have been having here in Ct.
I've had to resist spending every waking moment in my garden in order to get ready for several vendor shows this spring.
It's not the best way to sell your art as many of you know unless it's a juried show.

Typically folks are looking for a bargain but all of us that do this kind of art know that for the countless hours that go in to it..... $30.00 to $50.00 for these pouches truly IS a bargain!

It is a good way to get the word out about Crazy Quilting ~ I try to remind myself !

I've been a busy girl making pouches,

stuffing vintage hanky's with lavender.....

hand stitching sweet little pins.....

(picture is sideways)

and Crazy Quilting nightlights.

These are clothes pin aprons similar to the one my Grama once used.

I use mine every time I hang something on the line and think of Grama ~ grabbing hers quickly off the hook by the door after a long day at work and pulling the clothes off the line before the evening dew set in.

(sorry another sideways picture)

I realized at the show I did a few weeks ago ~ those under say 45 don't even know what these are!

Here is Pat's water bottle pattern that I started last month ~ finally completed.

It is such a fun pattern ~ you can find it in the Spring issue of "Crazy Quilt Gatherings" 

Today I used left over Easter egg dye to add bright color to lace for some of my newer projects I have planned.

I started by just using the water and dye pills that dissolve in the water.
This created a muted color.

Then I added a tablespoon of vinegar to the above mixture ~ the items I placed in this mixture came out brighter and more vibrant.

Also today a friend came by to purchase the Bell Pull I made that was featured in the Summer 2011 Issue of  "Crazy Quilt Gatherings"

It makes me so happy to think of it hanging in her home!

This is one of my custom picture pillows made especially for the nurse at my doctors office.

She lost her Mom less than a year ago to breast cancer. This beautiful young mother has undergone the removal of both breast after her Mom's death ~ so that her small children have no chance of losing her to this dreadful disease.

Her positive attitude just blew me away!

Frank and I made a trip to New York City in March for my birthday.
Here we are standing in one of my favorite spots ~ the BIG red stairs at Times Square.

 
Central Park was just beautiful on this early spring morning ~ this was taken at Strawberry Fields ~
the part of the park dedicated to the life of John Lennon.
The other photo's are just a short walk down from John's memorial.

I was back in the City yesterday to do a quick pass through down 39th street for some silk fabric

then to the "The Revolution" TV studio in Chelsea.

It was a fun show but the best part was walking to the dog park at

Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village.

 My daughter and I watched as a woman sat and talked to her friend while a little dog lifted his leg and peed right on top of her shoe!

It was so darn funny ~ this poor woman had no idea until the damage was done!!!

Then we went to the most beautiful spot I have ever been to have a glass of red wine ~ Ink 48.

It is a rooftop bar ~ completely outside and no cover charge.

Isn't the reflecting pool gorgeous!

 The wicker chairs are so comfy and they even have little blankets scattered though out.
Needless to say ~ it was hard to tear myself away from this little piece of paradise to catch the train home.

Tomorrow I am painting my sons kitchen cabinets with the new product from Rust-oleum ~

Rustoleum Transformations.

It has great reviews but please say a prayer for me ~ if I mess this up I'm in BIG trouble!!

He has granite counter tops being delivered in 2 weeks ~ I just must do this right!!

(I will take before and after pictures.)

Did I mention I have completely lost my mind offering to redo my son's entire house.

Did I mention I am giving his whole place a redo ~ every room painted and redecorated.

Yup! It's a busy time...vendor shows, house redo's and my beautiful daughter Cheri is getting married this summer!

I still plan on taking plenty of time to smell the roses, make my garden pretty and I even have a special day planned to take a drive up to Watch Hill, RI to meet my on line pal Nicki Lee!

You know her by her cheerful on line personality if you visit her blog

 Nicki Lee's Raviolee Dreams.

Or if you frequent Pinterest you will see her hearts plastered Everywhere!

Nicki Lee's Hearts

Find a warm place in the sun to stretch out and breathe in ~

you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Sending you love and thinking of you always.....Sweet Dreams ;)

I Didn't Know My Own Strength

Lost touch with my soul
I had no where to turn
I had no where to go
Lost sight of my dream,
Thought it would be the end of me
I thought I’d never make it through
I had no hope to hold on to,
I thought I would break

I didn’t know my own strength

And I crashed down, and I tumbled
But I did not crumble
I got through all the pain
I didn’t know my own strength
Survived my darkest hour
My faith kept me alive
I picked myself back up
Hold my head up high
I was not built to break

I didn’t know my own strength

Found hope in my heart,
I found the light to life
My way out the dark
Found all that I need
Here inside of me
I thought I’d never find my way
I thought I’d never lift that weight
I thought I would break
There were so many times I
Wondered how I’d get through the night I thought I took all I could take

I didn’t know my own strength

And I crashed down, and I tumbled
But I did not crumble
I got through all the pain

I didn’t know my own strength

Survived my darkest hour
My faith kept me alive
I picked myself back up
Hold my head up high
I was not built to break

I didn’t know my own strength

Thank you Dear God for your strength.

Hand Dyeing With Lumiere Dye and A Bead Organizing Tip

Finally last night I tried my hand at dyeing lace!
I have kept a box full of "things to dye" since the 1980's when I was tea staining everything for the dolls I used to make and sell.
Frank even bought me a wonderful starter dye kit years ago of Lumiere Dye at a Quilt Show.
Still....I had NO idea what I was doing!

Using my glass of water that I had been drinking, I dipped pieces of lace in the water, then put them on paper towels and painted the dye on with Q tips.
I mixed water and dye right in the dye caps because I couldnt get up to get the proper supplies.

You see, Teddi had just fallen asleep at my feet after barking for 10 million hours straight almost an hour so I was only able to use what was within my reach for fear of waking him up.

After I did several pieces, the paper towels I had used to catch the dye were such a beautiful shade that I wrapped them around the crochet pieces and rick rack and pressed firmly until the dye transfered to them.

Now in my humble opinion, the queen of lace and silk ribbon dying would be my pals

 Pam Kellogg (she no longer selling her hand dyed lace as she devotes her time to her amazing crazy quilted pieces) 

Pat Winter (my favorite silk ribbon hands down) and

Nicki Lee (the best lace flowers, butterflys and beautiful bits). 

I proudly use their beautiful laces and ribbon.

However if you find yourself with a lot of laces waiting for some color,please don't be afraid to try it!

I did nothing "right" yet they still turned out good enough to use in my quilting.

Teddi The Yappy Yorkie

Here are some useful links for the correct way to do it ~ if you arent being held hostage by a yappy Yorkie!

Pam Kellogg's tips on Hand Dyeing

Hand Dyeing by Sandie Willmott

Great links to purchase ~

Patwintergatherings on Etsy ~ hand dyed silk ribbon

RavioleeDreams on Etsy ~ huge variety of hand dyed lace items

 Have you recieved your latest issue of Pat's"Crazy Quilted Gatherings"  yet?

In the Spring 2012 issue, she has included her pattern for her beautiful water bottle holders.
I am in the middle of creating mine now and as is the case with all of her idea's, it is an easy and fun Crazy Quilt adventure!

I thought you might like to see how I have decided to organize my beeds so I can be inspired by the colors and have them next to me on my tiny quilting spot.

I thought it was my own idea until I saw similar idea's all over Pinterest!

I used a heavy duty glue to attach strong round magnets (purchased at Michaels)

to the top of my beed containers.

Let it dry for 24 hours and then attach to any metal surface.

At first I used a tray so that I could carry it from place to place but then found this biscuit tin and liked this idea best of all.

A lot of folks are using this idea for make up ~ what a great idea!

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1 -9