CQJP 2024, Starting Ellies right side

That's a lot of open realestate!

That place where 4 patches come together 

is going to be hard to sew through because it's lumpy as hell and the patch below it must be reduced 

Also, that yellow patch is too big, it need to be bisected in some way to make it seem less                                     'LookAt MEEEE!' 

 

But first This little cutie

with wings

and a butterfly

Next we tackle the lumpy patch

I knew I needed to put something over it 

so if the next part failed there was something over it to hide the oppsie-doo 

That's where the Applique heart comes in

next I need to make a slit in the backing fabric 

to get to the lump of 4 patch togetherness 

and cut most of it away making it easy-er to sew through

Then to embroider the eye right in the middle 

of all the mess to keep it from fraying and closed

I then surrounded the heart with a lace trim daisy chain

Making the patch less big, I bisected it with a willow tree

I used 2 colors of floss and chain stitch for the trunk and branches then wrapped some of it with another color to make it more knarled

The leaves are detached lazy daisies 

 And gave it a satin stitched brown bunny with Bullion ears and head

 and a crow made of bullions 

but it needs more

So I added a branch and a swing made with an outline 

and detached needle weaving stitch

and a  squirrel

I made it with bullions and satin stitch 

a little underlay for the tail 

on which I will use turkey work to make fuzzy

She really needs her fuzzy tail!

Here's the whole thing so far

Now to start on the yellow patch

I found a piece of  jacquard ribbon 

added some lace trim 

which makes that patch muuuch smaller 

And easier to deal with

Once I figure out what to put there!

CQJP, RSC Progress

 And anything else that I joined willy-nilly to throw on the pile??

Anybody?      Anybody?

SO last month I was asked if I would help making costumes for Woodinville Reperatory Theaters production of "Act a Lady" I said yes aaaannnd Cue the chaos.

It was more a case of chaos in my normal staid  boring routine

Pick up another hobby and wouldn't you know it, 

Quilt guild called and would like their Quilter back, please, we're backlogged.

a daughter called and wants to surprise a girlfriend with a "Mom" made quilt, 

taxes need doing and there is this trip coming up I need to pack for soon

and did I say there was progress? Sheesh.

Now do I mind all this chaos? No, not really.

Am I going to bitch about it? Yes, a little.

I wouldn't be m'mothers daughter if I didn't.

Here are 9 of the 12 blocks I made for the 

Rainbow scrap challenge with this months color Purple

These are so simple to throw together It's like I knew, sOmewhere down the line, this year I was going to be busy

We are now working on the left side of the Ellie

where I have decided I need to break up some of the really big patches with something that makes them look not so big

And blank

Starting at this "corner" where several patches come together and make a lump underneath 

I Appliqued this patch over the lump then went in back, made a slit in the backing, cut away all the extra fabric making the lump blessedly flat

So I could then embroider a big eye right where the lump was. 

 When you start a project, even if, you have drawn it out 

and planned your piece you can't always predict 

what you are going to have to trouble-shoot.

or just shoot.

a border of daisy lace trim makes it stand out and blend in

Don't ask me how that works, it just does 

Next a willow tree right in the middle of the big grey patch 

to break it up into a more easily handled visual 

and less intimidating blank space for me

Now on to the critters, Knew I wanted at least a bunny 

and a crow, we have a Larch willow in our backyard 

and crows like to perch on the crown of the tree 

there is almost always one there on a nice day

And our yard has a rotten rabbit problem that I have a love/hate relationship with.

They're OK when the population is kept to proper levels

but when there is a boom the little rat-finks will eat all my bulbs down to a nub, before they get a chance to store up energy for next year. 

The balance of nature is important.

Critter bom

Miss Birdie was made during my trip to my moms last April

I can't make up my mind weather she looks like 

a redbellied woodpecker or a house finch

and looks pretty much like the pattern 

only with more feathers in the wings

I had 2 weeks at my mom's

I got bored 

 

Filling in the flowers - CQJP 2024

It takes a long time to fill in one whole side to a 

20" x 16" ish elephant.

I added flowers to the cardinal corner

because he looked lonely floating over there all by his lonesome

Flower son the head

This is mostly the halfway point, where I always feel like it's awful and I have made a mess of it.

I have to keep reminding myself it will look different when it's stuffed

More flowers on the body

Lots of  silk ribbon roses made with 

Spiderweb, accordion, folded stitches

Also in there are white lilac in french knots

Fuchsias and a few random fantasy flowers

and lots and lots of leaves

Miss Mousie also got a couple of flowers

Finally this spiderweb 

Still not sure where it's occupant will go
 

Critter bom

Ribbet has no other pictures and neither do the next 3-4

I do like his green hide and blue belly

He also is as drawn out

I will try to do better but it's been a year so......

not everything is finished

I got side-tracked with the seasons applique quilt

I was sewing on these in the evening, during family time 

but that comes and goes, depending on what we are watching at the time

Critter bom

Next up is the Squirrel from last years Block of the month from Sue Spargo

He looks pretty much Like the pattern

I wussed out on this one but then I think I was tired

AAAANd hes done

I should have made his til fluffy at least....

I still may, it depends on what is left over 

from all the other  blocks