My Favorite Things

As a crazy quilter, I love to crazy quilt everything in sight! One of my favorite things to do is make 3-D objects such as stuffed animals. I did this pastel bear many years ago but I just love it and it sits by my front door throughout the year. Several years later, I made a Christmas bear.


During the year he sits on the top shelf in my shop, but at Christmas he gets the place of honor by the door! I have made other animals crazy quilted in years past, but it seems the bears always win out. Who doesn't love a bear?

Talk to you later,

MCC Crazy Quilt Update

It has been awhile since I have done a MCC Crazy Quilt update. For those of you new to my blog, you may be asking,"What is MCC?" Every year myself and 6 other talented women make a crazy quilt that we donate to the MCC sale. MCC stands for the Mennonite Central Committee and they function much like the Red Cross. They respond to natural disasters and help people to get back on their feet again. I can't even remember how many years I have been donating crazy quilt items to the sale. We do the block in a round robin style, where usually I piece the block and mail it to the next person on our list and they work on 4 seams or open spaces and then they mail it on. We do this throughout the year and usually I pass out blocks for the next year when we are together at the auction. This year we decided to not make a whole crazy quilt but to do 12 individual wall hanging's with each representing something special about each month. The picture above is March where we did a St. Patrick's day theme. It is pretty close to done!


Here is the block representing April with an Easter theme and it is pretty close to done also!


I just pieced this block today for November and you probably guessed it is a Thanksgiving theme.


This block is for October, featuring a pumpkin theme.

Here is our September block with an apple theme. I am a little bit worried about our finishing up in time with a March deadline looming ahead of us, but we usually pull it off just fine!

I have scheduled the date for the 2012 Victorian Stitchery Retreat so if you would like to come next year, the dates are November 7-10. I'll keep you posted as I have more info!

Talk to you later,

One of the Reasons for the Season

I just finished embroidering this on my Valentine Crazy Quilt, but it is a reason for the season! Have a Happy Pink Saturday and be sure to visit our sponsor by clicking on the Pink Saturday button on the right side bar.

Happy Holidays,

Crazy Quilt for 2012

In 2010 a challenge was issued to all crazy quilters to finish a crazy quilt by 2012. I don't remember who started it but I do remember I decided to do it! I started on the right bottom square and I remember working on it in Maine when I taught for Carole Samples. I am pleased with how it turned out and very proud of the 6 students who took the class from me at my shop and will also be proud owners of one of these crazy quilts!

I had a comment left by Betty that she would like more info on the Victorian Stitchery Retreat. Betty I am not sure how to contact you, so could you email me at pinkbunny@valeriebothell.com.

Talk to you later,

New Beaded Block Class!

A little over a year ago, I offered a online beaded block class. It is a class that I had offered here at my shop, and it was so popular that I ended up doing a 4 block series! I am offering the 2nd block of the series as another online class. For more info on the class you may click on the link to my website on the right hand side bar. It is listed in the catalog under Online Beaded Block class.

If you didn't take the 1st beaded block class and are interested in that it is still available also!

Talk to you later,

Val

The Month of August

Sorry you haven't heard from me during the whole month of August. On August 1st my sweet dog unexpectedly died. She was 5 years old and I took it harder than you would think. It kind of surprised me. I do love dogs, but I just didn't realize how much I cared for my dog. I was advised by several people to get a new dog right away. This is her pictured above. Her name is Daisy and in the Secret Language of Flowers, her name means innocence. Let me tell you, she is sweet but really innocence is not always the case. My daughter in law was laughing at how much this dog is like me. We turned our backs for a moment and yes, she was chewing on a piece of silk ribbon!


We had some lace sitting were she could reach it and yes she did indeed find it! What are the odds of finding a dog that loves silk ribbon and lace as much as I do? Ha!


Here she is outside, and she is ready to go and play!


Okay, now back to crazy quilting which is probably the real reason that you visited my blog! This is a cute pansy mini hussif that I have recently listed on my website. It may be small, but inside it has three pockets, a place for scissors and beading thread.


About a year ago I started an online beaded block class. This was originally a class that I taught here at my shop and it ended up being a four block series. Starting September 6, I will be teaching block #2 in the series. If you are interested in this class, you can click on my website link on the right hand side. It is listed in the catalog under Online Beaded Block Class.

Talk to you later,

Happy Pink Saturday!

Here is block #3 in my Pink Crazy Quilt. Have a Happy Pink Saturday and be sure to check in with our sponsor, Beverly!