I cannot count my day complete
'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.
~Author Unknown

Sharing a common thread with those who love the art of hand embroidery

Sunday, November 13, 2011

My Life A Little Less Crazy...........is finished!

I am so delighted with how it turned out....................and I have to say..............I will probably do another quilt.....................someday.This measures about 20 x 16 inches and is ready to hang. I backed it and binded it with a floral green fabric, that was soft enough in color to let the embroidery stand out.

This is the first "crazy quilt" I have ever stitched.
As you remember, a few short weeks ago,  I started this quilt with this one center block..........with the idea in mind to build around it............the things I hold dear in my life.

Soon  a butterfly and beaded flowers found their way to flutter and to bloom...........


as well as a beaded dragonfly.............

the spider web along with the crawling spider..........even though it might freak some of you out..........represents the love I hold for  nature's insects............... and then there are pumpkins that I grow every year. As you look through each photo..........notice the different embroidered borders I used to stitch the blocks together? Some I used in traditional "crazy quilt" method and some I used my "creative license" to stitch..

Another sweet insect.............the lady bug, crawls on the leaf

of a cluster of roses.  I embroidered on all of the printed roses, leaves and flowers as I went along.


I added some embroidered sample pieces I had of my embroidery...............

and I had to add a set of china...........another thing I love. I stitched over the roses on the china to make the design pop.

I love flowers that grow wild and on the vine so I went a little "more crazy" with these.........

another snippet of embroidery work.............

my favorite fabric that I used years ago for my children's nursery............I stitched over the flowers and added the bumble bee............. when I see this piece.........I think of my family and the sweet times we shared.

I love trees and leaves..................

especially in the fall............

and of course............I had to add my rooster walking among a cluster of blackberries.........to represent my country life of raising chickens. I embroidered over the printed rooster and added some color to his tail.

The blackberries were made by sewing clusters of seed beads together..........I totally love this effect.

I finished the quilt and was ready to put the backing on.............when my sweetie husband said
"wait.............where is the needle and thimble??" He was so right...........that is exactly what sums up my life............so I quickly added that to the corner.
It's been quite a journey doing this quilt. I loved the stitch techniques along the way and the way I was able to let my imagination take complete control in how this whole design worked out.
And now I am off in search of another project to stitch.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kathleen it is simply beautiful. I love how you stitched over some of the fabrics. You have me thinking...

blessings,
jilly

lil red hen said...

My -- there are no words to express how beautiful this is!! And I knew it would be from the first time I saw it. Thank you for taking us through each patch and the different stitches.

Bev said...

Wow that is truly amazing!! I love your work... I have never seen anything like it!!

MeganH said...

So rich and lovely! The green backing is perfect.

Gina E. said...

Oh Kathleen, I am just speechless. That has to be one of the most beautiful CQ's I've seen, made so special with the meaning sewn into all the blocks. You really are a very gifted and wonderful lady, and I am proud to have you as one of my cyberspace friends.
{{{hugs}}} Gina.

staci said...

Stunning quilt...your stitching is just amazing and this little quilt is full of lots of sweet memories :)

Cindy said...

This is amazing, Kathleen! So beautiful. I love the blackberries, the spiderweb, stitching over printed flowers...everything!

Deborah M. said...

So pretty - beautiful details.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Absolutely, positively gorgeous! So beautiful, every tiny little detail. You are so imaginative and creative and just down right talented. Love it! Blessings, Tammy

A Colorful World said...

It is absolutely wonderful! All the intricate work, and each part representing things in your life. I just love it!

Latane Barton said...

What a work of art. I loved learning a little more about you as we traveled with you through each picture.

Hill Top Post said...

Kathleen, it seems I can't comment on this beautiful piece, for I can't think of any way to tell you how magnificent it is. I love the way you let your imagination go...oh, so beautiful. You are such an inspiration!

Anonymous said...

Kathleen, your quilt is sooo lovely. You know, most quilts I've seen don't include embroidery, so I think that's what makes yours even more beautiful.

Yes, I notice all the 'fancy' border stitching. They are a big part of the fascinating eye-pleasers within the network of the piece. So, lovely. I can't wait to see what you do next. Thank you for stopping by and visiting.

Enjoy your precious moments,
Marianne

Cathy said...

Oh my, what a gorgeous piece you have stitched! I hope you will consider joining us in the 2012 CQ Journal Project ! Hugs, Cathy

Kathleen said...

I'm very inspired! This is really beautiful.

Paula said...

Oh~ it is so wonderful, Kathleen!

Debra Dixon said...

Excellent job of tying all the motifs together! So very pretty!

Zova couture said...

wow..what a beutiful piece of art!!!

Deborah M. said...

Are you signing up for the CQ Journal Project? I was inspired to do so - I will probably live to regret it. ;-)

Flora said...

A gorgeous crazy quilt! I love all the embroidery in it.

Flora

seanymph said...

This is so beautiful....and inspiring. I wanted to make a mermaid quilt on the order of this. I may need to get going on it after seeing this. Wow.

apple said...

Absolutely beautiful. You're inspired me.

Anita M said...

I just stumbled upon your blog, whilst browsing Pinterest for inspiration. I certainly found it here. Your work is clearly heartfelt as well as beautiful.