Fit for a Queen...or a couple princesses

I'm always on the lookout for fun things to make with my granddaughters when they come for their summer visit. Well, that time is almost here! Not too long ago, I came across a cute pattern here that I thought the girls would have fun making. I always test our projects before they get here to work out the bugs, so I got this one out today to try.yes, it's a crown! And very quick and easy to make. It comes with the foundation...I did not like that at all. Very difficult to get the fusible to stick..and it distorts terribly with heat. So I threw it away and used peltex..the same stuff I use in my fiber postcards. It worked great! And without any fussing.

They also give you a tiny piece of velcro..again, I didn't use that either. I cut a strip the whole length of the back piece...that way the crown can "grow" with the girls. The other thing is the directions don't tell you to cut the binding on the bias...you should, it'll go around the curve much nicer..next time I will.

Such fun! Now to add some bling! Plenty of room for lots of beads and crystals.

Hmmm, I even know a Queen (of quite a lot)...wonder if she'd like this spiffy red crown?

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A new place to shop !

Vicki has opened a new Etsy shop with beautiful hand dyes! You've got to see her gorgeous fabrics and of course tie dyed shirts.

I just couldn't resist those sunprints LOL.

She's having a giveaway to celebrate her grand opening, so be sure to drop by her blog and sign up.

And of course you just have to shop at her new etsy!

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A Sneak Peek!

Well, I've been working feverishly since returning from MQS and finally, as of this afternoon have a finished product!

Those of you who are members of MQR know that I have been doing twice monthly videos since the beginning of the year. Well, they have been fairly popular and I had requests for them to be made available on DVD. So Suzanne and I discussed it, and we decided to give it try.

So, I bought the replicator; all the necessary stuff to go with it, and started compiling and re-formatting my videos . Designing and printing jacket covers, etc.... finally, after lots of work, the first run of DVDs is all done!! They've all been checked to make sure they're complete and run properly. They can be played in your computer dvd drive or even in your tv dvd drive...and that is really great because you don't have to squint at that tiny computer screen to see!

So here's your peek...the front cover
the back cover

the dvd label..this one has a typo but I fixed the others (this is Suzanne's copy, ROFLOL)


all packaged up in the plastic wrap and ready to ship!
This disc contains all of the video's I did for MQR from January to March 2009. If there is an interest, we will produce a new DVD each quarter with the newest videos I do for MQR.

The cost is $14.95 plus shipping

MQR Premier members will get a discount.

As soon as Suzanne has the shopping cart ready to go, she'll post an announcement on the MQR home page, so check it often!

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Remember the inchies??

A long, long time ago in a galaxy far away....  Well a long time ago anyway, I participated in an inchie swap at MQR.  Carla organised the swap and we all made inches and traded them.  Carla made everyone who participated a cute little birdie that the inchies came stuffed in.                                                                                                                                                                                                  Well, I have been trying to think of a unique way to finish up the project and display them.  Then one day it finally came to me....mixed media on canvas.

So I took an 11x14 gallery wrapped, primed canvas and painted the background with Golden fluid acrylics (anthraquinone blue & hansa yellow light).  Then I added several layers of texture using molding paste... pushing some thru a word stencil to get raised words,  and fiber paste in other areas.  Once that was dry I painted over the entire piece with interference blue, interference green, and interference gold. Then a layer of clear leveling gel over everything.  Once all that was dried I finished up with a varnish coat.

The next step was to add the inches. I punched a 1/8" diameter hole in each one and pulled a piece of 1/4" wide organza ribbon thru the holes. Then hung them staggered over the top and secured them in the back with glue and staples into the stretcher bars.  They hang free on the front.

Lastly, I added Carla's birdie at the top.  Attached with wire. All finished now, it is hanging in my great room.                                                                                                                                                                       

So, can you find your inchie??

I think it turned out to be a pretty cool piece of art.

Anyone else finish theirs??  I'd love to see them!

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A prezzie!

I have really gotten behind on my posts!  Well, I have been busy....  Anyway I'm working on catching up.  And to start Suzanne sent me this nifty little prezzie a week or so ago.  I love this light! We saw it at MQS in the A-1 booth, but they were out of them at the time.  I came home and promptly forgot all about it until Suzanne posted about hers.  I was so surprized and thrilled when this arrived in the mail!  (ignore the lint, please!)It is a magnetic LED light that fits perfectly between my needle bar and the hopping foot. And it puts the light right at the needle.

I just ran the wire along the side of the machine with the supplied magnetic wire clips that came with it


and down the back
And Don mounted the on/off switch here on my carriage..doesn't get in the way or caught on anything here and then it plugs in under my table.

Perfect!  Thanks Suzanne, I love it!

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I'm Home!

And totally exhausted!  MQS was fun, my classes went well, my auction quilt sold, and I met lots of online friends in person.   Suzanne came for a day, so we were able to brainstorm some and visit.  All in all a good trip.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Got hung up in Atlanta on the return....could have driven home in less time; oh the joys of air travel!                                                                                                                                                              

Did get some shopping in;   I'm too tired to narrate, so here is a small sampling of my buys... if you're a longarm quilter it should be pretty self explanatory. 

Talk to you when I recover!

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I got this beauty from Mother today.  Thank you Mother, I love it. I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day too.I head out first thing tomorrow morning for Kansas and MQS.  I'll be gone till Friday evening, but will have laptop with me and try to post while I'm away.  I'll be busy with teaching my classes and checking out the quilts, and of course shopping the vendors.   I hope my auction quilt will bring in good money.

This is the give away quilt I made for my class....one of the students will go home with this.

So, I'll check in when I can, but I'll see you after I get home.

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