Embroidered Envelope Exchange

Back in April I read a post that intrigued me at  Mii Stitch.

It was all about a Mail Art Exchange that involved making an envelope with embroidery on it.

I have done pincushion, mini quilt exchanges, but never any thing involving my cross stitching.

I was game, so I signed up.

The one requirement was it needs to be to our partner by the 1st of July.

I received word that she has received it.

This is the envelope I created for Lilli.

I have been enamored with cross stitching by Veronique Enginger, a french cross stitch publisher.

I chose 2 charts to use and designed my project.

I added a crocheted flower to the front.

Then I decided to make a cover for a small notebook.
This is another small Veronique Enginger design as well.
I was liking the lavender colors for Spring.
I had some lace that I could weave the ribbon through to create ties to keep it closed.

The back of the envelope is simple.
Included some buttons, ribbons and made a card to send along.

I am so glad this turned out so well.
I had a lot of fun making everything, and glad to hear that she likes it.

Looks like there could be another Mail Air Exchange in my future.
Mii Stitch is going to have another one.  The knew ones theme will be Halloween.
Do you think I can get flowers in that one too??

How you have a great rest of your week.
Mary

Garden Update

My little garden is beginning to explode with color.
Larkspur

Clemantis 

Clemantis, We have a huge one on the front of our house.

I guess I like purple flowers!

This is our second nesting Robin.  This time there were 2 babies.
I don't know if it is the same mother or a different one.

My latest quilt.
This is one that was probably started back in 2003.  It was supposed to have a lot more block.
I decided it was time to have it done, so just took all the butterflies that were done, and put it together.
I am very pleased with how it looks.
It is at the quilter right now. I can't wait to see it.

The last of my peonies.

I am afraid they don't look like this any more.
They are all going to seed.
They don't last very long, if a storm or heat get to them.

I love them.
I have some embroidery to show soon.
I have been keeping busy.
It has been a beautiful spring.  I have been trying to get outside as much as possible.
I hope you are enjoyed your spring

Mary

Quilt as You Go.

Back in May of 2010 I joined a list of ladies that were working on Dear Jane quilts.
I am not so sure all were, but that did not matter to me.
What you did was to make what they call a "Siggy", which is a signature block using  D-13 From the Dear Jane book.
As you signed up you were given the directions to make the block with a finished size, and the list of participants.
You could write to any or all of the ladies on the list.
I did start aggressively, by writing a note, sending a block and hoping they were respond.
As time went on, I refined how I proceeded.  Not everyone would respond, unfortunately.
Most all of the ladies on the list are from overseas.
Eventually, I did make a list of who I sent to, and when I received their block.
One of the requirements was to send  a note, telling a bit about yourself.
For me, I have now gained some very special friends.
My "siggy" friend, Isabelle from France and I have made quilts together, we acknowledge each other's birthday, and Christmas, and send postcards when we are on vacation.  We each are on Facebook, so we can keep up with each other there as well.
My friend from Sweden,  Johanna and I keep in touch through each other's blogs. Her friend Angus has inspired me with his beautiful bird pictures.
Helen in Australia, and I keep in touch from Australia, between our blogs and Facebook.
It has been a wonderful way to make friendships.

Any way, this quilt is going to be the result of the exchanging of siggies. A while back Marga (MarPie) of MarPie's Sewing Projects, showed how she was making her quilt, by using the Quilt as you Go method.  Now this was something I have not done, so decided to give it a try.  I always like handwork and there is a lot of that in this quilt.
Marga Pieper is now the keeper of the list.
If you are interested in being part of this list, please contact her.

I started following her directions.
One row is completed.  I think I have over 300 of these to work on.
I am also making my quilt 18 wide.  Marga is making her quilt using only 15 in a row.

I am using charm packs for my backing squares, and have trimmed  my siggies to 5 inch square.  A couple I have had to add strips of fabric around the edges to bring them up to the 5 inches.
I am using a black on black for my front connecting sashes, and have cut 1 inch by 5 inch pieces of fabric to use for the back connecting sashes.
I have hand quilted around each of the center signature part of the block.  (You do need to do this before you start connecting them together.
On one side of the block you machine stitch with a front sash on top of your sandwiched and a piece of fabric you are going to use for the back on the back.  Sew a quarter inch from the edge.
Then you sew the next block to the top piece of sash  only.
On the back you will turn under the piece of sash and hand stitch it to the back of the next block.

The first row is completed.  I don't have the second row hand stitched at all yet, so cannon add the two rows together yet.

It is a fun way to put this quilt together.
Right now it will be 16 + rows long, at 83 inches.  I am pretty sure I have more then 300 to work with, but have not kept good track in the last year or so. I will just keep working on it.
Up until now, I have them in plastic page protectors in big notebooks.
Each block has the note or letter that came with it, as well as the envelope.
They are in the order I have received them through the years.
I will make sure I organize the letters to make sure they match the order they are sewn together.

It has been a great way to meet and make new friends that have the same interest as you.
Happy Sewing
Mary

Rockford Air Show

Saturday we went to Rockford, Illinois for the air show featuring the Blue Angels, and a host of other neat planes.

This "Dream Lifter" is a modified 747. Largest cargo capacity plane in the world.
It is used to fly components for final assembly of the 787. The tail area is what opens for loading and unloading.

F-22 Raptor
It is a multi-role fighter, with a Mach 2 class with supercruise capacity.
I an tell you it is one fast aircraft.
They did a demonstration of some of its abilities.

A P-51 next to the Raptor.  The P-51 was the best air force fighter 70 years ago, lying with the best of today.

The boys hanging out watching the show.

The Harrier.  This plan can fly straight up from a standing still position. Amazing.  We watched it do a 360 turn. 

Fat Albert, the Blue Angels transport plane.  It is pretty amazing what it can do.  It does not need a lot of runway to lift off and then level out.  

Today's pilots

The traditions they follow are precise and wonderful to watch.
It gives me goose bumps.

Here they are, the "Blue Angels"

Their precision is amazing.

Five on a fly over.

All six

The last thing was a burst.  All six go in a different direction.

We had a wonderful day.The sun was out, (we all got sunburned, even though we kept putting lotion on.  My Dad was in the Navy, so the Blue Angels hold a special place in my heart.  I have to say, I did shed a few tears, beside grinning ear to ear.  It is amazing to see the power behind these aircraft. Plus we had an excellent visual place.

Have a great day.
Mary