Featured Artist

My dear friend Donna over at Papyrus Studio has honored me and ask me to be a featured artist on her blog.  I kinda panicked,  I had thought she wanted  a feature on my card making - which is more or less on hold right now!  I was very happy to find out she wanted to highlight  other types of crafting!
There are a few other types of crafting that I enjoy: cooking, quilting, sewing, embroidery  - I do those every day. I think my favorite is Surface Embroidery!  I have been doing embroidery off and on my whole life, there is just something that draws me to it.  Now that I have the time I am working at really improving my skills.

I left off the needlework for about 4 years -I had a hand injury and couldn't hold the needle.  This year the hand is better and I am back at it.

There are many types of embroidery and all take time and patience to learn and perfect - like any skill. The areas I am currently pursuing are, Surface Embroidery, Crewel Embroidery, Stumpwork, Goldwork and Crazy Quilting. I'm going to give you a glimpse of my Crazy Quilting world.

Crazy quilting is essentially a giant stitch sampler, this is one of my first done in 2008 when I joined CrazyQuilt for Newbies yahoo group

Basically you patch together a fabric block and then adorn the seams.

This my Yellow Color study block- before any stitching is done:

I've added a humming bird and a few more stitches

this block is now in it's way to the next person to stitch on in the group - this event is called a round robin.

Crazy quilting is a wonderful craft to use fabrics  that are left over bits from bigger projects.  You can machine piece (I do) or you can hand piece.  "Piecing" is the art attaching one block to another.

Doing beautful CQ work requires more imagination than anything else, Skill comes with practice and as far as costs go, this is not as expensive a hobby as many others.  With any embroidery, a little goes a long way.  I will take you on a little tour :

You need the basics:  threads and needles:

I made my needle case years ago, it hold needles and basic tools, very portable:

Threads can be purchased in craft stores, needlework shops.  It is wise to invest some time in your type of craft before you start purchasing, know what you need and purchase that.  Then as your skills and interest develop branch out and curate your collection:

Pearl Cotton, Tapestry and Crewel wools

Fancy fibers

This 7lb bag of very good quality thread was purchased on shopgoodwill.com for 5.95

It included very nice needlepoint blends of wool/silk!  Do there are places to find bargains for yur stash!

Yummy!

Hoops

Fabrics and Laces:

Beads and Findings

and of course the sub-hobby: Storage!

I don't want to forget to mention, Machine Crazy Quilting!

I hope you enjoyed this little peak into my Crazy Quilt world! I encourage to try a little needlework, in this crazy hectic world , this gentle hobby is very satisfying!  Thanks for stopping by!

Ginny M