Creatin' in the Sticks: March 2013

Sunday, March 31, 2013

A Lovely Year of Finishes, March Finish, T - Shirt Quilt

I am participating in A Lovely Year of Finishes over at Fiber of All Sorts and Sew BitterSweet Designs and this is my March goal, complete. It's the last day and of course I just finished.

It's been a weekend of basketball and binding. How about them Shockers? With the KU Jayhawks loss and the Wichita State win, all the basketball fans in Kansas have become Shocker fans. WU WU! Fear the Wheat..

picture borrowed from http://www.wibwnewsnow.com/shocking-the-world-wichita-state-makes-ncaa-final-four/

If you haven't been watching, Wichita State beat Ohio State to make it to the final 4 in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Everyone, except the Wichita State Fans like us, are "Shocked" about the win. lol The finals will be in Atlanta next weekend. :^)

SO, while I watched a little basketball, I finished hand sewing the binding on this March finish.

This t-shirt quilt is for a client whose daughter is graduating in May. I'm so happy to have it finished in plenty of time. It's a full size quilt at 72" x 88".

Free Mothion Stipple Quilting

If you look closely, I stitched her name in the tye dye block

SHORTS! I hope my legs aren't blinding you...

Happy Easter,

Friday, March 29, 2013

Stitch Me Up Blog Hop - MY DAY/ MY HIPSTER

Good Friday and today is my day to participate in the Stitch Me Up Blog Hop. (I thought my day would never get here..lol)

Thank you to Madame Samm from Sew We Quilt for creating this hop and Jane for being the Cheerleader.

Thank you to Colonial Needle for being the Sponsor.
Thank you to our designers, Debbie, Cyndi, and Madame Samm. The designers provided patterns in which the participants could choose to make a project.

I also have to thank Beth over at Plum and June and Tactile Fabrics for providing some of the fabric for my project. I'm so excited to have a new spring bag.

Hipster Bag

Sewing anything other than a quilt had been such a long time. I forgot how much fun it could be. When I joined the crew for this hop and received the embroidery patterns that were to used, it was over whelming. There were such wonderful patterns from the designers - I wanted to make one of each. (and I will eventually) Then I remembered this blue fabric(Bella by Windham Fabrics) I had won in Beth's giveaway and decided to embellish Cyndi's flower pattern with beads to mesh with the fabric. A little sparkle and white on white made me smile.

Little white seed beads

I hadn't picked up an embroidery needle for so many years. What a treat this was. I used stem, split, back, and satin stitches.

Here I am modeling the purse. I totally posed. lol

I have always wanted one of those quilted hipster bags by Vera Bradley, but I felt like I could make my own- sorry Vera. This was the perfect opportunity. I used felt (to make it a little stiffer) as the batting and quited the fabric before I cut out the pattern pieces. The white fabric for the embroidered flowers is Kona. The pattern for the bag is Simplicity #2164 with many modifications. I couldn't pass up the 99 cent deal at Joann . I enjoyed reading some of the hints and tips. This was a good way to brush up on some skills. Covering a button with my own fabric was so much fun, why in all these years haven't I done that? The bag is a roomy 8" x 10" and 1 1/2" deep. The bag is custom with handles extra long to cross over my long body.

Please Hop on over and visit my other hop mates of the day, but before you do, I am having a little giveaway. I will choose one lucky winner by random draw on Monday, April 1st. (No Fooling)

To win, just leave a comment. If you follow me, old and new, add another comment saying you do. That's 2 chances to win and any one can. Just make sure I can contact you by leaving your e-mail in the comment or if you are a registered google user don't be a "no reply" individual....just saying..

You can win 1/2 yard of fabric and a pocket guide for embroidery stitches.

FRIDAY MARCH 29th

Blessings From Our Nest

~~Liberty Threads~~ no show

Caribou Crossing Chronicles of Quilts, the Weather and other Fun Stuff

Creatin' in the Sticks *This is me*

Melinda Quilts Etc

~~Ga's House~~ no show

~~Dachsies with Moxie~~ no show

Hill Valley Quilter

Quilt n Queen

Madame Samm

I hope you had as much fun as I did and
How about those Wichita State Shockers -
Fear the Wheat!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

I need help, could you please vote for me?

I really hate asking, but I'm in second place so far this week in the Project Quilting challenge public vote and since this is the last week of the season... I'm asking.

Preparing the Nest by Carlotta Jean

So if you like my quilt, Preparing the Nest, could you please vote? I would really, really appreciate it. There are so many great little quilts. Voting ends Sunday, March 31st.

You can vote for me (Carlotta Jean) at Persimon Dreams, Hooray For Spring Project QUILTING Challenge Quilts.

Thank you so, so, so, so, much.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Stitch Me Up - Embroidery Blog Hop

I will be participating in this little blog hop on Friday, but I wanted to share the schedule now to give a chance to see some incredible embroidery projects. I have been looking forward to this hop and have had a blast with my project. I can't wait to show it off....but it has to wait until Friday. :( Thank you to Madame Samm from Sew We Quilt for creating this hop and Jane for being the Cheerleader.

Thank you to Colonial Needle for being the Sponsor.

Thank you to our designers, Debbie, Cyndi, andMadame Samm.

The designers provided patterns in which the participants could choose to make a project.

I also have to thank Beth over at Plum and June and Tactile Fabrics for providing some of the fabric for my project.
Below you will find the full schedule. Have fun hopping and come back Friday to see my little project.

WEDNESDAY March 20th

Karen@That Other Blog

Susan @That Other Blog

Sowing Stitches

Life in the Scrapatch

Pig Tales and Quilts (moved to the 22nd)

Cherry Blossom Quilting Studio

New Girl News

Sunshine Quilting

Patchouli Moon Studio

Lovin' Life at the End of the Dirt Road

Selina Quilts

THURSDAY March 21st

Janice@ That Other Blog

Angela@ That Other Blog

piece peace

Stitchin’ By The Lake

The Distracted Domestic

Sheila's Quilt World

UK City Crafter

FRIDAY March 22nd

Keri@That Other Blog

Heather@That Other Blog

Love it Sew it
Pig Tales and Quilts

MONDAY MARCH 25th

Beverly @That Other Blog

Betty@That Other Blog

Stitches to Sprinkles

Stitch Duchess' Crazy and Sane Quilting World

Bejeweled Quilts by Barb

Little Pieces of My Life

Creating My Comforts

TUESDAY MARCH 26th

Isabel @That Other Blog

Jeanette @That Other Blog

Just Let Me Quilt

MacDonald’s Patch

Pots Pans Pins and Prayers

GrandMama's Stories

Stitch, Stitch, Stitch

Needled d

Tomorrow's Treasures Today

Hanging On By A Thread

Fresh Cut Quilts

WEDNESDAY MARCH 27TH

Judy @That Other Blog

lauraluvsloons and Quilting too

Sew Sharyn

Sewingly Along

Anita's quilts en handwerken

Quilt Doodle Doodles

Val's Simple Passions

Luv2Sew

Busy As Can Be

Paws for Stitching

Quilting & Other Craft Therapy

pieceful life

Live Love Labs

Felt pa Asly

Scrapbook-ChickADoodle

THURSDAY MARCH 28th

Kristin @That Other Blog

Robin @That Other Blog

Jane's Fabric and Quilts

Dexterdays The WorldThrough Our Window

Sew Nicely

thistle creek cottage

My Art, My So Called Life

Just Sew Sue

Co mne bavi...

life, quilts and a cat too

TeaTimeCreations

Read, quit, cook, pray

Cate's Linens

Shade Tree Quilting

Ladybug Dreams

FRIDAY MARCH 29th

Lynn @That Other Blog

Patricia @That Other Blog

Blessings From Our Nest

Liberty Threads

Caribou Crossing Chronicles of Quilts, the Weather and other Fun Stuff

Creatin' in the Sticks THIS IS ME :)

For once I am ahead of schedule,

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Preparing the Nest

It has seems like the Project Quilting challenges have triggered snow around my house. Pictures for the challenges have been so hard to come by when it snows and blows every time a project deadline is here. Today was no exception. (Maybe if I could have my project finished in the middle of the week, this wouldn't be a problem.)

Preparing the Nest

If you haven't heard about Project Quilting at Persimon Dreams, you can check it out here. This is the last challenge for Season 4 except for the bonus challenge which is due in May. Maybe I'll get my house clean now....

English Paper Pieced Hexagons.

Preparing the Nest
Project QUILTING, Season 4, Challenge 6–Hurray For Spring!
Made by Carla in Dodge City, Kansas
http://www.createinthesticks.blogspot.com/
Size 37"x 51"
Baby Quilt

Time was not on my side this week and I had to design something I could sew on the go. English Paper Piecing was perfect. The hexagons are scrappy spring fabrics. Applique and machine embroidery were other techniques used. Quilting is a large zig zag both horizontal and vertical which was inspired by Norma Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts.

The back shows all the wonderful bumpy goodness.

Fused Applique and Blanket Stitched Bird. Machine Embroidered Vine.

This is now my favorite. I just love the crisp white fabric with the bright colors. The binding is so bright and fun and the ziggy quilting just makes me happy. This will be the perfect gift for a baby. If I can bear to part with it.

You can Vote for your favorite Hurray For Spring quilt in this challenge HERE.

You can vote for 3, but you can only vote once. I would appreciate one of your votes if it's not too much trouble. Voting closes on Sunday, March 31st.

I have 2 more projects to finish before the end of the month, so off I go...

Linking up with:

Crazy Mom Quilts finish it up Friday

Friday, March 15, 2013

St. Patrick's Day Mug Rug

Who says mug rugs are just for coffee and tea? Can't a mug rug be a green beer coaster too? Not that I am much of a beer drinker, but in observance of the upcoming holiday I may be known to enjoy a cold beverage.

Shamrock Mug Rug

I found this little foundation pieced shamrock pattern on Craftsy. It is a free pattern by Jennifer over at http://sewhooked.com/.

My little four leaf clover and tulips on their way

I wanted to show the the progress of the bulbs we planted last fall around the flag pole. Here is the post about planting. They are coming up!!!

Of course Molly wanted to be in the picture.... She is an Irish Setter after all.

Here's to a Happy St. Patrick's Day,

Linking up with:

Crazy Mom Quilts

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Let Your Passion Shine

More snow? Really? Wind? Really? Have you ever finished a quilt and you just can't get any pictures because of the weather? Could someone turn off the wind machine in western Kansas, please?

The challenge for Project Quilting is a finish, but I have struggled to photograph this one. Maybe it's an armature photographer block or THE WEATHER....

Project QUILTING, Season 4, Challenge 5–Print Publications

The challenge: Pick a print publication, open your publication to page 28, and use this for your inspiration.

You can see all of the quilts for this challenge and voting has begun. Voting closes at the end of the day Friday, March 15th. PLEASE VOTE HERE.

Shine Quilt and page 28 from "Launchpad January 2013"

SHINE

Project QUILTING, Season 4, Challenge 5–Print Publications
Made by Carla in Dodge City, Kansas
http://www.createinthesticks.blogspot.com/
Size: 24" x 29"

Choosing a publication was easy for me. I have a stack of trade magazines for work that I have neglected lately. As a hair stylist, inspiration is a constant need. I never want to become stagnant in my work or in quilting. I loved combining two of my passions into one project.

Some of the techniques I tried on Shine were thread painting, thread painting words, applique, free motion quilting, pieced binding, and beading.