"CRAZY QUILTING"

Embroidery has always been a happy past-time  for me since childhood. This year , I was introduced to a  " Crazy Quilting "  class. It was a creative event, called , " Artful Gathering",  sponsored by the online Ning blog , " Roses On My Table " . I'm sure that many of you have either heard of it or have participated in this wonderful yearly event. If not here's the address: http://www.rosesonmytable.ning.com 

Today, I would  like to share a little crazy quilting   with you over a steeping hot cup of Earl Grey tea.. How do you like your tea  .... black or  with cream and sugar?

This was my first project, a crazy quilting  vintage purse. You may have quessed that I spent a lot of time stitching and drinking tea while creating this little treasure... Can you see the little beaded bee in the upper left hand corner? Isn't he cute !!!!( Buzz, Buzz)

Here's your teatime cup of the day .... The crackled look certainly does remind me of crazy quilting with all the  unusual edges and shapes in the pattern. This wide mouthed cup  generously shares the full bodied aroma of  Earl Grey with the olfactory nerve, ( hmmm-good) while sipping. However, it is best to drink a little faster as the tea does cool quickly in this spacious cup. It might even dictate, that two pots of tea are required before our teatime gathering is  over ( Ha Ha)

There seems to be  some confusion about the " Stanley " trademark  and  the"Stanley China Works"  as they  are completely different companies.  One being a fine china and the other an earthenware , Art Nouveau" styled pottery. 

This Stanley mark  is not part of the " Royal Stanley "  so I am assuming that this teaset belongs to the " Stanley China Works( Charles Amison &Co Ltd.) since there is never any  use of the word " Royal"  in any of the Amison pottery marks. 

Identification and valuations for vintage and fine china are specialist niches that require vast amounts of  knowledge and research material. Certainly, someone, more expertise could shed a little more learned  information on this particular subject.

The cup and saucer, both. share a twin  motif of golden leafed flowers, that resemble  roses. Quite simply, it's an elegant set that fits nicely into our millennium with it's crackled finished. I see a lot of artisans using the crackle medium for their projects.

 " Crazy Quilting",  is often referred to in the  textile art as  the art of crazy patchwork.  Some of you , may have inherited  one of these  crazy patchwork quilts from a great grandmother or aunt...
Lucky you !!!

 Have you ever  tried your hand at quilting? If not , " Crazy Quilting",  is a fun way to begin. This years classes were a first for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the lessons and  friendly camaraderie of the participating members. We all made stitching boo boo's together ( Ha Ha) 

Not only is it an Victorian art, but today it's a relaxing art form to thousands of Crazy Quilting Ladies, who share their work online.  This  art form began it's journey in North America,  in the late 1800's when asymmetrical and abstract shapes and stitches were introduced by the Japanese at the World Exhibition.   

The Victorian women relished the creative vision of incorporating this new look into their quilts ... and women's magazines supported the art of making these crazy quilts, catapulting it into the newest rage of the era.

 Embroidering, was something that I had learned in grade school, but the additions of beading, quilting, ribbon embroidery and making bees was new, delightful and habit forming( Ha ha) So,  " BEE " careful !!!

The last project that I created was an eye glass case for my mother-in-laws 95th birthday. She loves  pinks, mauves,hearts and  dragonflies ... So I hope she is going to enjoy this creative effort. I was able to spend some real "quality' television time while working on my embroidery ( Ha Ha) and  drinking  tea. Actually, I rarely watch TV, so embroidery and creating bees was a happy way to spend time with my 89 year old mother and  the" Downton Abbey"  television series.

I think teatime embroidery might be a better name for "crazy quilting", as it is ultimately, the most relaxing teatime art for anyone who wishes to partake and  become a crazy quilting, teatime lady.

So put on the kettle,  steep your tea, grab your cup and check out, http://www.crazyquiltpassion.blogspot.com
You might  ENJOY it !!!