CQJP2015 January completed - & some Crochet textures

  Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2015  .  

I had a great week of stitching and this block for January is now finished.

    Red January   

Entirely hand stitched, with a couple of pieces of crochet for embellishment.

To recap my theme:

Embroidery threads will be the predominant form of embellishing.

Crochet lace or embellishing will be made specifically for each block.

I will be experimenting a lot with patterns and the build up of combination seam treatments.

   Texture in Crochet   

Just thought I would share a crochet project with you.

I love texture, and I love crochet..... so put the two together and I am in a happy place.

CQJP 2015 - January's Red Block

Currently, my January block for CQJP 2015 has the composite seam stitching mostly done.

I have been doing some fiberart crochet as well, but I can't share that with you yet until it has been published in it's intended book form later in the year.

Sampler Blanket SAL

I'm going to join in on the 2015 Sampler Blanket SAL 

The guidelines state that you can participate with Knit, Crochet,Quilt, and/or Embroidery, so I'm sure I can plan a blanket to participate with.

I think it's about time I made another sampler block crochet blanket.

To see what others are making, use the hashtag  #2015SamplerBlanket on Instagram, Facebook, Ravelry, Flickr, Twitter, Pinterest.

New Year - New Beginnings - New CQJP

  Welcome to the year of change.  

This will be the year that hubby and I finally move into 'real' retirement. I may already be unofficially retired, but it's about time that Tony gets to enjoy more of life without having to work on the farm etc. He's worked hard all his life to provide everything that our family needs, and I know that, for myself and our four kidsies, we really appreciate all he has done for us.

His unselfish sacrifices have been made for the love and well-being of the family group, and now it's time for the family group to make some sacrifices for him. It may include spending a little bit of their inheritance (haha), but hey, he earned it in the first place, so I think he's entitled to enjoy a bit of it to help him retire and do what he wants, for a change.

I think he might have trouble relaxing though because he's not the sort of person who can sit around and do nothing. 

Always 'tinkering' with something.

  CQJP 2015  

My goal for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project for 2015 is to stitch one block a month as per the guideline/requirements.

The fabrics that I shall be using this year for my Crazy Quilt blocks will all be neutrals and whites, with some of the neutrals being my hand-dyed fabrics.

And, because I am expecting to be 'on-the-road' (or at least in the caravan) for most of the year, I am putting some limitations on what I can do, such as:

Embroidery threads will be the predominant form of embellishing.

Each block will have a different colour scheme (I'm hoping this will add interest in the finished quilt).

I will not be following the colour wheel, but will jump to whatever colour appeals at the time.

Beads, sequins & charms will not be used, as I wont be able to travel very well with them.

(I may add beads etc. in one go, at the very end, after ALL the 12 blocks have been made).

Crochet lace or embellishing will be made specifically for each block.

There will be no main overall theme for the blocks.

I will be experimenting more with patterns and the build up of combination seam treatments.

The blocks will be entirely hand-stitched, which includes the piecing of the naked blocks.

My first naked block - January

And the first bit of seam embellishing has begun.

This block is (obviously) going to be a RED colour scheme.

The dark fabrics here are not as dark in real life as they show in the photo.

The Last Post of 2014

Some Highlights from 2014

Well, that just about wraps it up for 2014.

All that is left, is for me to say

    HAPPY   NEW    YEAR     

Joy To The World

    Merry Christmas to all    

  For my online and offline family and friends  

  May your celebrations be joyful and loving  

This is my Christmas Tree for this year.

A minimalist decor to match our home as most of our belongings are already packed away for the sale of our farmstead and home.

The Christmas sheet-music collage on the wooden tree base was fun to create. Here are a few close-up photos.

  Love and peace to everyone  

A Crazy Quilt Block completed

Dragonflies, Butterflies, Flowers and more make up this crazy quilt block.

The block is from a Kathy Shaw class, with a few extra embellishments of my own imagination.

All in preparation for my 2015 CQJP which is still in the planning stage.

More CQ Silk Ribbon Embroidery

Silk Ribbon Embroidery Flowers

Just a couple of little additions to the crazy quilt block.

Irises

and roses

CQ Sewing again.

Phew! Finally I have some stitching to show you. 

We've been so busy here on the farm lately that I've not had much time left over for sewing.

The grass is almost ready for cutting and bailing again and that will be another busy time here at 'Lewis Acres'.

But for now, here is what I've been up to.

Crazy Quilting with Kathy Shaw's seams plus a few 'personal flourishes' of my own.

Plenty of room left on these seams for the addition of beads and SRE.

I'm just waiting for the postman to bring my new supply of Silk Ribbons.

I had to order more because my original stash is packed away in sealed boxes in the shipping container, and no way am I going in there to start opening up already packed boxes, lol, assuming, of course, that I can find the 'correct' box.

And just in case you are wondering about the background fabric.... it is all my own hand dyed neutrals.

Happy Stitching

Cyra