New and Improved Charity Quilt!

I played with lots of different fabrics to add a border and still keep the fun look, but nothing was working. I found the perfect black with red flowers, but of course it was old stash and not enough. So, I went with the tried and true black and red homespun. This is a heavier weight, so perfect for this quilt. I like how the black frames it but it was too plain and I remembered the black spool of ric rac that I bought. It was perfect, it gave it a fun touch and bought it all together. The photo makes the middle pop and the border got too dark, but in person it looks nice together, at least I think so.

I noticed I didn't get many comments, don't be afraid to voice your opinions.  Do you think the new version is better or am I just off my rocker? LOL

If you would like to know more about the quilt drive, visit Rosemary's blog. It is a nice way for beginner quilters to get into charity quilts, especially for those of us who are quilting challenged.

Lady Bug Quilt!

I wanted to make something fun for my dauther's new place and found this design. It is a free design by Sandra of BabyCakes.
I wanted a saying and found this one, it fits the piece and a good message for my daughter who is of the, I want it now generation;)

I started out with watercolor pencils and then went over it with as little water as I could, so it wouldn't run out of the area.
I used a bit of art pens to enhance some of the designs and shadow, then went around the designs with different flosses. The yellow around the flowers is a beautiful hand dyed floss that I won from Laura at Artfabrik! The green lettering and ground, is presencia thread that I won from Jane's Fabrics and Quilts! The rest of the floss is basic dmc and the green stems and leaves are one of my hand dyes. For the border I used a fabric I won from Pat Sloan!

It was fun to do and I like how the watercolor pencils worked on the kona white. I got mine from Jo anns with a coupon, so great fabric to play with and I want to try some dying with it. I had a hard time getting the blue out on this fabric, so it is still wet, as you can see. Tomorrow I will look at it again when it dries and hopefully I can get the rest out. With watercolor, I can't get those areas wet or they will run. I am not sure if I should leave it as is, or dry pounce some blue for the sky and green below; what do you think?

This and That Tuesday!

I have been working on a new piece, I seem to be in a small, art quilt mode, lately.
This is from my gothic angels patterns and I wanted to try it in applique and I added a saying to this one.
I still have work to do, I will add some more embellishments and maybe stars and swirls with prim quilting for the background.
I was trying to do wavy strips, but I messed up, and had to resew to get the pouches out. I think this one would make a good cross stitch too, so will have to put in it my cross stitch maker and try it.



This is the wonderful prize I won in the Sew Mama Giveaway.
I was the lucky winner of Jane's Fabric and Quilts blog.
I got my choice of a yard of a Kona solid and five balls of Finca thread by Presencia.
I chose paprika, and it is so beautiful in person, perfect prim shade for an orange fall quilt or pumpkin appliques.
I am going to enjoy using my new goodies and the threads will be perfect for my art pieces.



And my yard is full of life. The butterflies were enjoying my Azaleas today.
This in the only flowering bush I have left, the rest died or got run into by the crazy lawn mowing husband;)