HEARTS AND HANDS FOR SENDAI: MY CRAZY QUILT BLOCK

Hearts and Hands For Sendai

As many know, 
LESLIE FROM PINYON CREEK STITCHING, has started a project, named Hearts and Hands For Sendai! The purpose is to open this project up to the quilting community at large and have blocks made in any quilting medium. These blocks will then be assembled into wall hangings and sent to Japan to be displayed in the International Quilt Show in coordination with Patchwork Tsushin as a fund raiser when viewed. I have created a logo, such as my first attempt with photo shop goes, and anyone is welcome to use the logo to advertise this project on their own blog or in their own quilt organization. I greatly appreciate every ones participation in this event!For more information please contact Leslie.

I have finished my Crazy Quilt Block for the Hearts and Hands for Sendai. I hope it will blend in well with the many other blocks. I have truly enjoyed creating this block for this most needy cause and hopefully the finished quilt will bring smile to the people of Japan and let them know that we all care.  I hope it will also raised lots of money.

A bit about my Crazy Quilt block.  My Dear Son while stationed at the Navy Base in Sasebo Japan sent me home these Japanese fabrics you see in my block for a Christmas present.  They have been in my stash for about 15 years just waiting for the right project to be used on. I think my son would be please with how I used them. I stitched in a Cherry Blossom Tree, the symbol of the Japanese Flag and used metallic and satin flosses throughout the block  

The above photo is a up close of my stitching.

During this past long Winter's months one of My Sweetie projects were creating Nesting Boxes for the birds. He also made 2 Blue Birds Houses and a Butterfly House.  My Sweetie hand painted all the boxes and also painted the wonderful designs on the side of them. The two hanging wire mesh objects are full of my left over yarns and threads from my Winter of stitching.  Hopefully the birds will enjoy using them to build there Spring nests in their new boxes.  VBG  We hung them all over our yard and we are looking forward to watching them being used.

Above is a photo of My Indoor Garden I have in my Sewing Room.  The blooming plant was given to me by my DIL Robin.  I have no idea the plant's name but it is most lovely and it seems like it is always in bloom.  Does anyone know its name?? 

I have not shared any photos of My Sweet Grand Children with you all in awhile.  This photo is of my Very Handsome Grandson Ethan in his soccer outfit. He is 5 years old.

The above photo is of My Sweet Grand Daughter Chloe in her Dance outfit.  Chloe is 4 years old.  What a wonderful time of my life being a "Grand Mother"!!

I would also like to thank My Lovely Aussie Friend Shirley, at "Shirley's Twisted Threads"  for passing onto me the "Stylist Blog Award"! Thanks Shirley. Shirley does incredibly beautiful stitching so please have a look at her blog.

Happy Spring to Everyone.

Hugs

                
                                                                         

PESSIES FOR FLOOD VICTIM HELEN IN QUEENSLAND

Hello Everyone,

Back a couple of months ago a friend in Texas sent us a video of the devastating Inland Tsunami in Toowoomba. I could hardly believe the horrible photos this video relayed. I email my friend Di in Toowoomba and asked her if this really happen in Toowoomba and she told me yes. 

Di then related to me a story of a quilter whose home was washed away by this Inland Tsunami and they had lost everything. So I decided I would make some things for Helen that would hopefully bring a wee smile to her face again.  I worked on creating these pressies as quickly as I could.  Di kindly said she would give these gift to Helen for me.  

Helen came back to attend a luncheon given by the, "Toowoomba Quilter's Club"!

Please click on (Toowoomba Quilter's Club) to see more photos of the wonderful gifts they gave her.   Di sent me some photos of her presenting Helen the pressie I made.  Thanks Di for these photos.  They made me happy to see Helen happy.   

Di with the two packages I sent to Helen.

This is the Embroidery Envelope I made for Helen. The pattern is by Crab-apple Hill.

I also made Helen a crochet Cupcake Pincushion.

Helen looking at the Inside of the Embroidery Envelope.

This is an up close photo of the Cupcake Pincushion.

This is a up close photo of the inside for the Envelope.  The blue wood piece is called a "Laying Tool" made by My Sweetie for Helen.  Another name for it is called a Stiletto.

This photo is an up close of the embroidery on the pockets. The flower is a Pink Lavender with some Hearts. I made the "Stick Pin" that is closing the flap.

In the middle of the Envelope I added a "Hand Dyed Hummer with beads and a wee Heart.  I hand dyed the Hummer some time ago.

This is a photo of the front of the "Embroidery Envelope".  I embroidery Helen's name on it to make it special for her.   The wee charmed say, Handmade with Love.

Here is a photo of some of the goodies I added inside the Envelope.  I bought two Uptown Japanese Ladies scissors from "Anita Little Stitches" in Texas and gave the Yellow one to Helen. I wanted to have one too to remind me of Helen. I thought they were soooooooo cute. I added some floss even thought I was not sure if she did stitching or not. 

 I also added some pretty fabrics and lots of needles.  Di told me that Helen really loved the"Tea Cup" fabric.  It was a pretty recent purchase and because I know "Aussie Ladies" love their Tea I thought she may like it. 

Before I wrapped up the gifts I thought to myself what else could I include in the Envelope.  Then I looked up and saw my "Thimble Collection". I knew I had a couple duplicates so I took one of these and wrapped it and tucked it in one of the pockets hoping it would not break during its long journey.  

Di told me that Helen was really touched when she unwrapped the "Thimble".  Helen said, she had a collection of thimbles and had lost all of them in the flooding. She did retrieve her Thimble Case but No Thimbles were found.  So this thimble is the first to start her new collection.  

Di told me Helen was very overwhelmed and touched by all the wonderful presents that everyone gave her. 

I think the "Greatest" Healing Therapy for anyone is "Friendship" and "Love".  I truly believe that on this day Helen felt the healing powers of Friendship and Love.  

During the last couple of months you have heard me crumbling about our very long and blustery Winter.  Yesterday was a sunny day and so we went for a drive to our favorite Ludington State Park.  Here we found the Ice and Snow receding. You could finally see the wonderful sand dunes emerging again. The river was flowing and the Iced Lighthouse a month ago was now ice free.

But the most glorious sign of Spring was found in my wee garden along side the house where the sun hits all day when it is shining.  VBG  Yup I found three wee crocuses trying to bloom.  It was so wonderful to see and it certainly made me smile. 

My thoughts and Prayers go out to all the victims of the Japanese Earthquake. Also to all those effected by it in Hawaii, other islands and along the West Coastline of the USA.

My thoughts and prayers also go out to the Earthquake victims in New Zealand!

 I am hoping my blogging friends can advise me.  I am interested in learning how to do Japanese Kumihimo Braiding.  Could anyone recommend a good book to learn this technique?  Thanks for your help.

Hugs

                                                                    

GIFTS FOR A KINDRED SPIRITS

HELLO EVERYONE,

While Wendy was tatting me some Easter Motifs my fingers were also busy stitching. I wanted to make something special for Wendy because she is always so very kind and thoughtful. Wendy's lovely blog is called, "Umi and Tsuru" so please have a look.   In the middle of the night it came to me that this was the "Chinese Year of the Rabbit"!! So I went online to "Fabric Hound" to find some "Rabbit" fabrics and when I came upon "Moda's Hushabye" I instantly fell in love with it. I decided on the Brown background to create my gift for Wendy. Isn't this fabric just beautiful?

A bit of history about the "Chinese Year of the Rabbit"! The Rabbit Year are the fourth in the cycle, following Tiger Years, and recur every twelfth year. The  characteristics of the Rabbit are tempered by one of the five Chinese elements of Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth overlaying a 5 years cycle of characteristics on the original 12 year cycle. This is year is the year for the "Metal" hence the brown background of the fabric. A person born in this sign would rather work behind-the-scenes instead of being the center of attention in any situation. This person is friendly individual who enjoys the company of a group of good friends. Rabbits also like "Artistic" ventures, such as painting or music. Please see below a photo of my "Fancy Rabbit" I created for Wendy. I gave the Rabbit a pearl eye, and included with the batting a small pouch of "Lavender" from my gardens. When the Rabbit is squeezed the scent will be more noticeable. I also place a 'Heart" patch on the back with the Initial "W" to personalize the Rabbit for Wendy. I had fun creating the bushy cottontail.  I used the Clover, Yo Yo Makers to make it. I made several before I came up with the right size that was perfect. Isn't the bushy cottontail to cute??  vbg 

The below photo show 2 wee mice that I crocheted for Wendy's precious kitties.   I also included a wee bell inside each to make them more interesting for Tsuru and Umi. Wendy told me that Tsuru picked the Blue one and played with it very enthusiastically.  Umi the Princess of the house received the Pink one. I hope they will have many years of enjoyment playing with them.

A couple of weeks ago we went over to visit my family. While at my son's home I was given some very beautiful Spring Flowers.  They certainly made me smile especially when I look outside and see feet of snow.  VBG Also you will see in this photo a bit of the wood lamp bottom "My Sweetie" made this past Winter. He is so creative when it comes to working with wood. 

I say "Bring on the Sunshine"! I look everyday to see if I can find signs in my backyard awakening from its long Winters' nap!  Nothing feels better than a little sunshine on your face. The sunlight glistening through the trees is just a sample of what's to come in my "Spring Gardens".

Even though the snow still blankets the ground, I know the "Crocuses" will be the first to bloom in my garden this Spring! Another wonderful sign of Spring are the arrival of the lovely Robins. I have been planning all Winter for their arrival. 

 My Sweetie has been working most of the Winter down in the basement creating "Nesting Boxes" and "Bird Houses" and even special ones for the "Blue Birds"!! They all look fantastic.  Picture of these wonderful creations by "My Sweetie" will be in my next posting. 

I will also have some more creations to show you all that I have made for a special person name Helen who lives in Queensland Australia.  So I hope everyone will stop by again to see them all.  Until then I wish everyone a "Very Happy and Great week!

Hugs