Hi Blogging Friends!
Don't worry, despite all appearances I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth or been kidnapped by aliens. I'm still here, just behind...as usual! A lot has happened, as you can probably guess, and I have been keeping a mental list of things to blog about, but I just haven't got them on paper yet! So...I've said this before, but this time is FOR REAL! Stay tuned and I will try to dazzle you with the beautiful parts of ordinary life. :)
In the mean time, here are some pictures of my most recent crafty projects I've done...recent as in completed since December, that is. The first are Christmas gifts I made. There is a landscape applique wallhanging for Craig and Denise (Nate's parents) that says "Mentzer Farms", that they now have displayed on a wall of their home! This was my first large attempt at applique art. The design was actually drawn up by the ever wonderful Nathan, who is very artistic! Nate also did some creative work on the cows to make them actually look like cows and not black blobs. Other inspiration came from seeing some of fabric artist Margaret Cusack's works while they were on display at the Dane G. Hansen museum in Logan, KS.
The next item is a similar project...it is a fabric applique Nativity scene. This was a little time consuming because the pieces were so small, but is a great way to use up little scraps of fabric. The pattern came from one of mom's quilting books (if you want the title let me know and I find it again!), and I was very pleased with how it turned out. This particular nativity was gifted to Nate's brother and his wife, Miles and Jennifer Mentzer. I plan on making more of these in the future!
Next up are two pillows I made for Nate's sister and her fiance...Lissa Mentzer and Corbin Manbeck. They are doing an AMAZING job remodeling their future home into a quaint cabin style home. I made these throw pillows to accent their woodland cabin decor. They consist of wildlife panels with tiny quilt blocks in the corners, and have an invisible zipper sewn in at the bottom so the pillow covers can easily be removed and washed. That was an idea on my part that amazingly, actually worked well and wasn't that hard. Watch out Lissa and Corbin! I have more projects in the queue for you!
The counted cross-stitch of the woman's face is something Miss Amanda Mentzer brought back from her visit to China last summer! Since she doesn't cross-stitch, she gave it to me, and I surprised her by finished it and framing it, including the Chinese character's for her name with it as a memento of her Chinese friends!
Okay the color-block pillow is actually a quillow (blanket that has a pocket so that it can fold into a pillow) that I made for my oldest brother. It is a set of two I made using colors to match the couches and living room decor of his little house. The blankets are actually huge, and I would never have got these finished in time were it not for the help of my fabulous mother! She is awesome! My brother Brett got a quillow for Christmas too...I'm not sure I got a picture of it, but it is navy and green with a denim pocket.
I think that covers the Christmas gifts I did. Whew! There were some late nights involved. Last project for now (but not least) is the baby quilt I put together for my good friends Ashley and Alan Vogel, and for little Miss Vogel who should be arriving any day now! It is super soft and was fun and easy to make. As I have numerous other family and friends expecting, they'll be more baby projects coming up soon!
Well, that's the news for now. Let me know what you think of my projects, or if you have any new ideas for me to try. There always seems to be plenty to do, but it is fun to put in the little extra effort of making something truly special and giving it to someone.
So until next time...
