Quilted Postcards

These are Quilted Postcards. You basically make in mini quilt that is 4" by 6" just like a postcard. I came up with an idea of butterflies and sketched it out. I looked around my sewing room to find the perfect fabric to use. I took the fabric that I used for the backround and backed it with a piece of flannel and machine quilted it. I wanted it to look like the butterflies were in flight. The next step was to fuse the butterfly applique to some fusable webbing called Steam a Seam. At that point I ironed the applique to the backround and machine stitched the little bodies onto the applique. Then I ironed on another piece of Steam a Seam to the back of the mini quilt. For added firmness I placed an index card in the middle of the mini front and the fabric I used for the back. I ironed all of the layers together. At that point I finished the edges with a very tight zig zag stitch and used variegated thread. For the finishing touch I glued on some Swarovski crystals for the antenna. Here is a close up of one of the finished Quilted Postcards. I took them into the post office to mail them. Even the postal workers were impressed! I had to use a 42 cent stamp to mail them.



I swaped with 14 other people. I made several extras to mail to friends and family. It was a huge hit! Here are some of the others I have received



This one is from Sally and the first one that was mailed to me. Isn't it pretty? I have received almost all of the cards from the swap. I took a shot of what I have so far. A few of these are my test ones. Sally was kind enough to send me one of hers before I started this swap.



I have to share some interested facts on one of the fabrics I used.



This is a vintage Hoffman fabric from the early 1970's. I found it in a fabric store that has been around for over 40 years. I was lucky enough to get a tour of the shop's basement. It was loaded with all kinds of fabrics that were out of date. I saw this funky fabric and had to have it. Can you imagine all the cool hippies making clothes out of this? My friend and I bought the entire bolt.



This is a shot of the top of the bolt. Notice the price. Yup, $2.69! That's what I paid per yard! You can't go wrong for the 1970's price!

Prime Peak Time

My lace project Gust is coming along slowly. I had to frog back several times. You know the saying; Good things come to those who wait, well that is so true. I am enjoying the challenge. I really have to concentrate on the directions so I don't miss a yarn over. Last week Jennygirl suggested I put in a life line. I have followed her advice and I am feeling a bit more confident with my lifeline inserted after each repeat. So far I have finished two repeats. Here is the progress of Gust. It is so beautiful! The yarn reminds me of a few of the flowers that are blooming in my garden.




This pretty Peony is still blooming. This plant is in it's prime peak time for the season. I actually dug part of this plant from the house were I grew up. These peonies grew on the south side of my parents home. I always looked forward to the spring when I knew these pretty flowers would make their debut.




I also noticed that the delphinium's have just started to bloom. They blues are so gorgeous. The colors are reminding me of the yarn I'm using for Gust.



This peony is one of my favorites. I just adore the deep pink color. The blooms are almost finished for the year. I am always amazed at the size of these flowers. The blooms are larger than my entire hand!
This is not the most flattering shot of this...but here it goes.... Susan if you are reading this is for you! I put my Wicked sweater on some scrap yarn so I could try it on. It seems to be fitting real well. I am really getting bored with all of this same stitch. It seems like I've knitted miles upon miles of stockinette stitch! Yes, I will finish. My question is how do you get through those tedious patterns? I think for me I need to work on something more complicated to keep the knitting mojo going!

Do You Think Anyone Will Notice?

I'm really not suppose to be starting another project, but I am. Gust is my very first lace project. The pattern is from Knitspot. Anne Hanson is one of my favorite knitting designers. Last year her blog was one of the very first blogs about knitting I came across. Ever since that first read I was hooked and visit her place everyday. It's my day off and I really should be doing some cleaning. I don't want to! Let's play hooky! Want to join me? I think if we bake something really good know one will notice the bathroom hasn't been cleaned.




One of my handsome hubby's all time favorites are brownies. I think I should make a pan. Want to give me a hand? You can lick the spoon and the bowl. I promise that at my house these brownies are calorie and fat free. Another cool thing about my baking is this pan of brownies is chock full of vitamins and nutrient's. It's the perfect food! Yum!




O.K. here is the spoon. Mmm, tastes good!




While we are waiting for the bribe I mean brownies to bake let's do a bit of knitting. What do you think of the beginning of this pattern. It's pretty. You have to come in closer to see the yarn I am using.






This is a hand dyed fingerling weight yarn from Crazy Monkey Creations. It's the Panda Toes line and the color is Berry Blast. I just love all the variations in the colors. Don't you? Oh, did you hear the buzzer? I think the brownies are done!




Because you are my guest please let me know if you want an in or out piece. I also have whip cream or vanilla ice cream. Whatever you like. Let's sit down and relax and do a little knitting.

I've Been Tagged!

For the first time I have been tagged by Sarena and JennyGirl.


The Rules:
Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1. What I was doing 10 years ago:

I was a stay at home Mom of two wonderful children. My oldest just finished her first year of high school. My youngest was 9 years old. 1998 was my first year in the professional quilting business. I had a great first year in business. I was having a blast tearing up the horseback riding trails with one of my closest friends. We packed up our horses and rode a different trail at least once a week that year.

2. What 5 things are on on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

Go to the gym and work out.

Clean the entire house.

Work on my quilted post cards for my swap.

Do some laundry.

Go see a movie with my daughter.


3. Snacks I enjoy:

Hmm, My all time favorite is popcorn! The kind you make on the stove with olive oil and lots of salt! My other fav is cookies. Since February I haven't had much of either!


4. Things I would do if I was a billionaire:

Tithe to my church first! Seed into other Christian ministries around the world. I would love to buy another home in a warm climate. Pay off all of the debts of ours and our families. Of course my husband and myself would retire and spend time traveling the country. We would have to visit every quilt shop and knitting store!
I could go on and on......

5. Places I have lived:

Not very exciting. I have lived in Northern Illinois almost my entire life. When I was 12 we sold our suburban home near Chicago and moved to a dairy farm in Marshfield Wisconsin. We milked 35 cows twice a day everyday for one year. It was very hard work! My parents sold the farm and moved back to Illinois. Farm life was not for them. I loved living and working on our farm. I am not afraid of hard work!


I will tag Threadbender, MountRobson, learningtobethankful, quiltersal, finnishwahine and woolwindings. I hope you want to play along. If anyone else wants to play too please be advised that you have been tagged too! I would love to meet you via our bloggs!