A SMALL FINISH1

I have completed the Mini Friendship Swap piece (front and back) and mailed it out  to my "Secret" Swap partner this morning--you can see that I fell prey to my love for "Toile" fabric yet again on the sides.....

Here is the back I chose--a cute Christmas print --the binding is a soft blue with tiny white dots resembling snowflakes....I can't show the entire label for that would be giving away the recipient  --but you can see the edge of it above.....I printed it on my printer and then inked in the details.

AND NOW, MOVING ON TO A WIP :

Here is my CQ block so far:

It is resting on a lovely crochet piece my Grand'mere did...

and, a little closer....

I will go back to work on my "Woven Wall" this week, too.  Am trying to figure out what kind of backing I want....thinking of "Taza" fabric I sent for and an old yellowey/goldish stripey fabric alternating....

Julierose, La Blageuse

ROSES FOR JULIEROSE

Today is our 47th Wedding Anniversary:  Tommy presented me with these:

And, tonight we are dining out at a special restaurant: Lo Monacos--where we hosted our son's Wedding Rehearsal dinner--we thought that would be a nice memory trip...

Cheers, Julierose, La Blageuse

I AM GOING CRAZEE

Here are my fledgling attempts to embroider and embellish my first Crazee block:
"Sea Flower Girl":

I am trying out some new stitches and also nettings...

It is such fun work; very improvisational....I do keep worrying about "over-do-ing"--but I guess crazy quilters keep on adding and adding (from pix I've seen) --beads and buttons, dangling things....so VERY different from the flat surfaces I've done. I just take a deep breath, gaze (for a VERY long time) and add something else....hopefully it'll all pull together.  I am thinking about --dreaming about, starfish, octopi, blue crabs, seaweed, mermaids...even craving salty snacks...oh my....LOL)...

Your "undersea" Julierose, La Blageuse  

FLOWERING:{ For Pauline}

Pauline, this is for you:

Evidently this kind of Canna (if that is what it is) blooms a few bits at a time--I always thought they had HUGE big blooms--this was a gift from a neighbor and I don't really know exactly what it is.  BUT--I do like that hot coloring!

And:
 my iris decided to re-bloom just underneath the smaller Canna(?) ....the bushy bit to the left is one huge mum all budded-out.  Can't wait to see it all in bloom.

I've finished the embroidery on my "Friendship Mini Swap....and actually I have the borders on, but will wait to show it completed until I send it off to my secret partner.  

I am now ready to pin it and quilt it (also have a surprise backing on it--love doing this !!)

Today is nice and cool, with a nice Canadian breeze blowing around--just love it!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend, all....Julierose, La Blageuse

MY BACK-TO-SCHOOL HANDWORK HOMEWORK

Perhaps you've noticed the new little symbol on my sidebar:  I have been invited to join in the Quilting Gallery's "Friendship Embroidery" Swap.  This will be my first swap ever and I am excited to be a part of the handworkers community all over the world.  Here is the start of my work in progress:

This cute pattern is from Lenna at "The Stitching Cow"; she graciously offered it to us all.
I am using a dark blue--just this side of navy-- for the lettering.  Will keep you posted on its progress.

Also, I have become ab-s0-lutely enchanted with some Crazy Quilts I have viewed online; and here is my first block prepped to embroider and embellish{oh joy-- and 3 trips to JoAnne's later: beads, ribbons, etc added to my new stash ;--))) }

I put this together after printing out some pictures on fabric from Pat Winter in her Summer Issue of "Crazy Quilt Gatherings" visit her here www.gatherings100.blogspot.com to see some gorgeous work by her and many others.  

Don't you just love that little girl holding the shell?  I will be adding many sea-themed items; I am having a hard time knowing just where and how to start...I think embroidering the seams first tho'....

AND, last, but not least, Nicki Lee has in her Etsy shop "Raviolee Dreams" the most sumptuous laces that I had to have:

and more:

They really speak to me of my Grand'mere, who crocheted and did the filmiest laces...I can't wait to incorporate them in the photo "Remembrance" blocks I hope to make of our family.

And so you have it, mes amies, my handwork homework....

P.S.  I have finished 42 "Dollies" blocks now and got some Kona Cotton pale lavender to float them on....I have been a busy Julierose, La Blageuse

Wednesday Flowers

Look what's blooming {finally} :  Canna bulbs from last year's hurricane friend down the street: (we had them for dinner as they had NO FOOD at all--their fridge had just given up the ghost three days before--so tuna an PBJ was it for them.)Long story short:    Anyhoo--the upshot is they gave me these lovely bulbs and 

V O I L A !!!

Almost in full bloom--they are about 5 feet tall.

ALSO folks, there is a H U G E giveaway at "Lily's Quilts" from a new fabric goody store the Running Chicken....go check it out  19 FAT Quarter babies!!  

That's all for today..Mwah Julierose, La Blageuse

Monday, Monday...Definitely Not Blue

Here's what we did yesterday...an unexpected trip up to see:  our darling FIONA:

("How BIG are you Fiona?   Sooooo---Big!" ) 

Who is this, Fiona?  My (dog) "ggie"--she loves her doggie and can so far say "Gie"....and 'Kota is just so tolerant and sweet, too.

She even has a "doggie" tee shirt....

We had a lovely day...Julierose, La Blageuse