Crazy Quilt style Strawberries n' Chocolate embroidery.....

Strawberries n' Chocolate sewing kit is finished. I've added final hand embroidery, glass pearls and beads. The needle keeps are made of felted wool. The pocket is roomy. The ties are wine colored, crushed velvet. It is just the right size to keep supplies for your current project at hand. It has a nice feel being made of silks and formal fabrics.
Scrumptious all around, will soon be up for sale in my etsy shop, crazyvictoriana.etsy.com

Fun Color Inspiration and Art Quilt Progress..

Fountains @ Roseville, CA beautiful family shopping.

One of many fountains among the shops.

Anthropologie @ the Fountians...

Hand embroidered textile from India @ Anthropologie, beautiful..

Home-decor findings, here and below, Anthropologie.

Peet's Coffee, good coffee and snacks..

Binding has been sewn onto the front.....

Yesterday I took a long time deciding on binding color for my new art quilt. Then I got it sewn on the front and pinned to the back. I won't talk about unpicking because I got the wrong side up.
It's Saturday! I needed to get out of the house and have an adventure so off to the Fountains; a shopping center. We had lunch there and visited Sur la Table where they had samples of brownies made in a Wolf convection oven they have for sale. I accidently took 2 samples, they were delicious. We had to visit Anthropologie; clothes and houseware, for color inspiration. Their store decorator does such a fabulous job. I left full of inspiration and brownies.
Where do you find inspiration?

Fun Color Inspiration and art quilt progress.....

Saturday! We went out for an explore and scenery change...

One of the beautiful fountains @ the Fountains at Roseville, CA

Anthropologie @ the Fountains, loads of color inspiration...

Hand-embroidered Indian textile, I love that texture...@ Anthropologie

Fun home-deco findings, Anthropologie...

Home furnishings @ Anthropologie...

Pete's Coffee shop @ the Fountains.

Fountains at Roseville, Roseville, CA, great shopping all around.

Yesterday I sewed the binding to the front of my newest art quilt.

Yesterday I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the 'right' color for the binding for my new art quilt. I finally decided and got it sewn onto the front. I'll hand sew it down to the back next week. Today, Saturday, is my day to get out and see something different. So off to the Fountains@Roseville, CA we went. Once there, we stopped at  Sur la Table.They had delicious brownie samples that had been baked in a Sub-Zero-Wolf convection oven, they were delicious. I accidentally picked up 2 samples. I always visit Anthropologie  for color and design ideas.S

Cultural Fushion...embroidery added on Elderberry Wine Art Quilt...

Today I'm adding embellishment; hand stitching, to my art quilt, Elderberry Wine.  Hand embroidery adds beautiful texture.
I've also found an interesting book; Cultural Fushion, by Sujata Shah. The book is a collection of 15 
modern quilts by Shah using traditional, contemporary and artist ideas to make her unique style.
What really draws me to this book is the fabulous, fearless way she uses color in her quilts.
I'm buying her book today, I will write more on it and I plan to use her book as a spring board for  experiments and projects in the future. Say yes to inspiration, no to 'the same old, same old'. If you need some ideas for color use, I highly suggest you look at this book.
This is Work in Progress Wednesday.

Cannon Beach, Oregon, Center Diamond Quilt shop.....

Batik fat-quarters from Center Diamond quilt shop, Cannon Beach, Oregon

We stayed at the Surfsand Resort

 I'm back after two weeks of vacationing and fun. There was a wedding in the family; a "destination" wedding at Cannon Beach, Ore. The wedding was on the beach, beautiful and a little windy. It was good to see the relatives of course. I visited the quilt shop in town, Center Diamond Quilt Shop, great variety with a big section on beach themed fabric.
After the wedding, my daughter, grand daughters and I went on an adventure visiting old friends and sight seeing in Portland, Ore. We were in the Pearl District, and went to Powells City of Books, they have a coffee shop; everyone goes there. Then there was the fun Trader Vic's; a restaurant with a 'Tiki' vibe. The weather was good and seeing all the volcanoes in the area was awesome; Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens etc.
I've made progress on my newest sewing kit, Strawberries N' Chocolate, with embroidery and embellishment.
Good to be back. Happy Friday!

I'll be Out of Town for a couple of weeks.......Tropical Piece of Cake with batiks.....

I've been busy piecing two quilt tops using some tropical colored batiks;I can't seem to stay away from them. The pattern is A Piece of Cake by Thimble Blossoms designed by Camille Roskelley.

They're for my granddaughters, who love fun and color, so these will fit right into their wonderful world. I'm still trying to decide if the tops need borders. The binding will be a Kona turquoise.

That's the fun part, deciding on the details that make each quilt unique.
Happy Friday, stop to enjoy something beautiful!

Strawberry N' Chocolate crazy quilt style sewing kit ....

Strawberry n' Chocolate sewing kit opened out.

Hand embroidery, fern stitch, french knots, etc.

Strawberry N' Chocolate sewing kit made with silks and taffeta is progressing. I've added hand embroidery and vintage mother of pearl buttons and beads.
The red cross stitches remind me of a strawberry patch. My strawberry plants on my patio are producing strawberries! My husband has planted beet seeds and they are coming up already.
We're getting things done around here, how about you?

Inside; felted wool needle keeps, roomy pocket

Wrapped up and tied with crushed velvet ties.