Details of the crown

I purchased the crown pattern here. The pattern designer has a very specific written statement regarding use of her pattern that prohibits me from sharing how to make the crown here.

However, the pattern contained a couple of supplies and some instructions that I found did NOT work well, so I substituted my own supplies which I detailed in this post.

As to the embellishments, I used hot fix crystals, pearls, specialty sequins that I gave the link for in this post; and beads from my stash to bead the edges of the crown.

Sorry, that's the best I can do given the constraints by the designer, but I'm sure you'll figure it out!

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More fabric and a crown!

I got another of Vicki's palettes today. This one she calls Caribbean Blue. My favorite colors! Just look at the incredible texture of this piece..fabulous! And the rest have just as much.Here's the whole set, the darkest piece is an extra piece.

Just beautiful. Thanks Vicki!

And the first crown is done...beading and all! Pretty swanky! I love the beaded edge; time consuming but so worth it.

I've got the blanks for the others done and ready for the girls to get here and pick out their fabrics. They'll be here in just a week! Yippee.

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More of Vicki's fabric....

decided it needed to come live with me.... this one is called "pebbles" Hey Adam, think I should QUILT pebbles on it? ROFLMAO! Seriously though, it's perfect and will find it's way into some of my landscape and pictorial quilts....eventually, after I've had ample time to drool over it and pet it.Well crap, I forgot what this set is called...oh well, it is beautiful sun-type colors. And the yellow/orange/ red piece is absolutely luminous!


And then as a gift, she sent this piece. Just Fabulous! and it is sooo metallic..it glows!
I still have one more palette coming...the Caribbean blue one. Should be here in the next day or two. I really need to quit looking at her store for a couple days to give my credit card a break!

And just because it's been a while, and he posed so pretty, here's a shot of my beautiful Harry.

Chloe is currently asleep in a very un-lady like pose. We'll post a picture of her when she's in a pretty pose!

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new hand dyed fabric

I got another set of hand dyed fabrics from Vicki's etsy shop today. And they are GORGEOUS! This palette is called " mineral pool" and was taken from this photograph.Here are the pieces individually...notice the incredible texture in each piece.

This piece shows a little darker than it really is...the truer color is at the bottom of the first photo.















A few people have e-mailed me and commented that they think these fabrics are too expensive. Well, let me tell you...if you don't dye, you have no idea of the cost of both raw materials in fabric, chemicals and labor that goes into making these fabrics. Add to that; Vicki has spent the countless hours and attention to detail that is required to create formulas that allow her to reproduce these exact colors time and time again...accurately. In addition to that, she researches the color palettes and puts these colors together so that you have a beautifully coordinated set that will be successful in whatever quilt pattern you choose to use them in.

I am not affiliated...yada yada...but I think these "palettes" while not appealing to everyone, yield a fabulous, time saving find to anyone who values a work of art. These fabrics, in and of themselves are a work of art. Imagine what incorporating them into your art pieces will do for your work!

Thank you Vicki! I love them and can't wait to see the new palettes you come up with. I'm sure they'll find a way into my art!

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A day with Mary

Mary and I had a wonderful day together. I know you're all dying for pictures, but it's not nice to post bathing suit pictures...unless you're 20 years old and 98 pounds...which neither of us are LOL! So here is a highly cropped photoshop version from one of the pictures I took of Mary yesterday.

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A visit with Mary

Mary arrived here in Southwest Florida this afternoon. Tomorrow we get to spend the day together!

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Look what the mailman brought!

First up is a cute postcard from my cousin Mary Ann's youngest daughter. It's wonderful Ashley! Thank you very much!And the other treat I got today was my " red sunset" palette of fat quarters from Vicki's Etsy shop.

They are beautiful in the photo, but it doesn't come close to how beautiful they are in person! Thanks Vicki for another gorgeous set of fabrics! I've got my eye on the "mineral pool palette now, yum. Do you think I can resist the urge?

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You already know....

I have way too many beads. So, since it won't be much of a surprise, I thought I'd show you my latest find. Sequins! A couple years ago at MQS Mary and I found this vendor that had unique sequins. That particular vendor hasn't been back to MQS since. Well, I've been looking for more shapes and sizes of sequins and last week I found this place. Oh boy, oh boy... what a feast for the eyes! Well my order came today. And they are fantastic! They are holographic so they don't photograph real well, but you'll get the idea. First up large leaves.

Then small leaves

And stars

Snowflakes

Small shells

Larger shells

very large flowers(for sequins) they are larger than a quarter!



And Sunflowers (or you could use them for suns)

also larger than a quarter.

Some of these have already found their way onto the"crown" .
And lest you think I'm too bad...Look all packaged up to share!



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New fabric in the mail today!

Vicki opened an Etsy shop the other day. I just had to have the beautiful sunprints she had. Well they came today, and they are even more gorgeous in person! These are perfect sunprints!And this one too!

And because I was her first customer she sent me this prezzie! One of her handpainted metallic fabrics. Metallics are notoriously had to photograph, and this one is soooooo much more beautiful in person..it actually glows! Thank you Vicki, I love them all! If you haven't visited her shop you need to get over there!


I also spent some time today making bead mixes. I was really surprised at how many beads I had in the "brown" family. Mary will get a kick out of that since I'm always ragging on her about how much brown she uses! And yes, these are quart size zip lock bags...and yes, I know I have a sickness..lol! But I do share with Mother and my sisters when they need beads.
And, I also added some crystals and did some beading on the "crown" today. Beading the edge really takes a lot of beads...that's why I need so many.....(:>)

And I did get some client quilting done too. What did you do today?

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DVD's are shipping!

Today was the day! Suzanne got the "shop" open for business at MQR, and I got the inventory ready. We started taking orders this afternoon, and the first batch has shipped. It all went fairly smoothly..a little "fussing" with the international shipping, but that's all worked out now. All the copies I had ready, sold and were shipped today...so I'm "burning" more as we speak! If you want a copy be sure to visit MQR and click on the "shop" banner at the top to order. Anyone can buy them, don't even have to be a member, though Premier members get a 20% discount. Just in case anyone needs to know, this DVD contains the first quarter premier videos I have done on MQR and include;

Applique SID

What to do with Wide Borders Parts 1 & 2

Grid based background fills

Crosshatching (both straight, and curved)

Faux Trapunto

We will be releasing a new one each quarter with new videos.

If you live here in my area, you can e-mail me directly if you want a copy. That will save you the shipping costs...of course you'll still have to pay Florida tax, but you'll pay that either way.

And onto other things...my fur babies have been extra cute this week, and since it's been a while I thought I share yesterday's photos with you. Here's Chloe and Harry!




Aren't they just the cutest?!

Have a great night!

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Fit for a Queen...or a couple princesses

I'm always on the lookout for fun things to make with my granddaughters when they come for their summer visit. Well, that time is almost here! Not too long ago, I came across a cute pattern here that I thought the girls would have fun making. I always test our projects before they get here to work out the bugs, so I got this one out today to try.yes, it's a crown! And very quick and easy to make. It comes with the foundation...I did not like that at all. Very difficult to get the fusible to stick..and it distorts terribly with heat. So I threw it away and used peltex..the same stuff I use in my fiber postcards. It worked great! And without any fussing.

They also give you a tiny piece of velcro..again, I didn't use that either. I cut a strip the whole length of the back piece...that way the crown can "grow" with the girls. The other thing is the directions don't tell you to cut the binding on the bias...you should, it'll go around the curve much nicer..next time I will.

Such fun! Now to add some bling! Plenty of room for lots of beads and crystals.

Hmmm, I even know a Queen (of quite a lot)...wonder if she'd like this spiffy red crown?

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A new place to shop !

Vicki has opened a new Etsy shop with beautiful hand dyes! You've got to see her gorgeous fabrics and of course tie dyed shirts.

I just couldn't resist those sunprints LOL.

She's having a giveaway to celebrate her grand opening, so be sure to drop by her blog and sign up.

And of course you just have to shop at her new etsy!

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A Sneak Peek!

Well, I've been working feverishly since returning from MQS and finally, as of this afternoon have a finished product!

Those of you who are members of MQR know that I have been doing twice monthly videos since the beginning of the year. Well, they have been fairly popular and I had requests for them to be made available on DVD. So Suzanne and I discussed it, and we decided to give it try.

So, I bought the replicator; all the necessary stuff to go with it, and started compiling and re-formatting my videos . Designing and printing jacket covers, etc.... finally, after lots of work, the first run of DVDs is all done!! They've all been checked to make sure they're complete and run properly. They can be played in your computer dvd drive or even in your tv dvd drive...and that is really great because you don't have to squint at that tiny computer screen to see!

So here's your peek...the front cover
the back cover

the dvd label..this one has a typo but I fixed the others (this is Suzanne's copy, ROFLOL)


all packaged up in the plastic wrap and ready to ship!
This disc contains all of the video's I did for MQR from January to March 2009. If there is an interest, we will produce a new DVD each quarter with the newest videos I do for MQR.

The cost is $14.95 plus shipping

MQR Premier members will get a discount.

As soon as Suzanne has the shopping cart ready to go, she'll post an announcement on the MQR home page, so check it often!

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