RR #1 - Judy

Woot! Woot! I made it...all of my round robin blocks are finished! Here is Judy's...it was a very interesting block to work on. From the beginning I wanted to turn that dramatic center into some sort of visual...and not cover it up. Working in orange and pink was VERY new to me...and I saved that challenge until last on purpose. Not because I was dreading it...oh no..but because I was intrigued by it! 

Here is Judy's finished block...

The center of the flower is done in Petite Velvet Threads...and French knots look like little miniature snowballs. Of course, don't eat any green or yellow ones! Ha!

And, here are a few fireants checking out the flower...I'd love to take credit for these...they they are the brainchild of Allie Aller, and on her blog header. I use them with her permission...and although I have changed them somewhat to fit the beads I have on hand...I still think of them as "her's".

RR #1 - PJ

The block for PJ is done and in the mail. Here is how the block looked before I stitched anything...

 The green, purple, and blue reminded me so much of spring. 

And here it is all done...I loved stitching on it. Especially while the cold winds of winter have been howling against my windows! Hand dyed a couple pieces of lace to match, and stitched a few seams. This block was a joy...and it was quick!

RR #1 - Susan

Southwestern is the theme of Susan's block, and I tried to stay true to that with only linear seams. Loved the colors in this block...I'd like to have a bed size quilt in these colors!

 There are so many seams in this block, it looks like horses running during a lightning storm!

RR #1, Renee

  A lovely floral fabric is the focus of this block. I did not want to cover them up, so stitched the stems and added seed beads to the flower heads. A few pretty seams, and I'm all done!

RR #1, Colleen

My dear friend Colleen, used some very interesting fabric in her block. They did not speak to my muse at all...and I really struggled with them. For some reason, just kept thinking of cotton dishtowels...and that is not very inspiring. So, finally...decided to concentrate on stitching some pretty seams and added a bit of lace. Generally, I'm pretty happy with the final look and think that it would make a really pretty photo book cover. So, the muse will just have to get over it! Hugs!

RR #1, Andrea

Andrea's block was fun, and a challenge...because I decided to try out a little stumpwork dragonfly. He is my first attempt at wired wings...and I'm still not sure if I like him...so, am sending along a silk ribbon bow to replace him if Andrea's just wants to yank him off the block.

#1RR Deborah

Here's the next block to be finished..for Deborah H. The fabrics were black, tan, pink, and light green. I was drawn to the image of people and decided to frame that. 

 Added some seams and silk ribbon rose buds with bullion stitch leaves.

#1RR -- Jeanne Z.

All of this rain has my head stopped up...and I'm wanting a nap! But, instead I decided to try to stitch a little, and so glad that I did! I loved working on Jeanne's block...and am going to have a hard time sending it home! 

 The center rose fabric is dress quality and I'd love to have owned yards of it because it is so pretty!Of course...you know that I love roses!

#1 RR-Cathy L.

 Got a few hours to work on some more crazy quilt rectangles and finished up Cathy L's heart block. It was fun sorting through all of my beads searching for tiny hearts!

 It's rainy this week, so might not mail back until after Christmas with all of the stuff still left to get done...and the post office is so busy...waiting might be a good thing!

#1 RR, Arlene

Finished up Arlene's Christmas Block...thought a SRE Christmas Tree was in order. 

 It's already in the mail on it's way back to you Arlene! Ho, Ho, Ho!

#1 RR - Jeanne G

Here's the next block completed...if you are following along. This block really spoke to my heart. The piecing is superb and the fabrics included cotton, silk, and upholstery weight cotton. The colors and textures of the fabrics were very pleasing to me. They also made me think of blocks constructed in the late 1800's by ladies whom really brought crazy quilting into the mainstream of stitching. Blocks would have been made of the materials on hand, and would have certainly included some cotton and some "household" fabrics...such as the upholstery...AND would have included any special fabrics that might have been available to the lady of the house. One such fabric was definitely silk. While it was not a common everyday cloth...there are articles of that time that speak to removal of hat linings, coat linings, and such...just to get the silks for the ladies crazy quilts. The plaid and the floral reminded me of everyday dresses. So, this block really spoke to me of that time in crazy quilting...as it was very reminiscent of traditional piecing. So, I decided to keep the stitching very traditional as well. No ribbon work and no beading...as those were not really done traditionally during the late 1800's. Instead, embroidery was the main focus...and some minimal pieces of lace might have been included. So, compared to other blocks...this one might seem a little "sparse". But, if you could really see it up close..and feel the textures...you might agree that the block is quite content with it's personality. 

Hopefully Jeanne G. will also think that it is quite acceptable as a traditional block. But if not, it is after all HER block...she is welcome to add more stuff or adjust as she see's fit. I can only answer for my own muse...and I'd like to have an entire quilt done like this I'm thinking...

RR#1 - Maureen

Here's the next block done...for Maureen. The fabrics were gorgeous blues and the lace was delicate. A monotone blue block was my first idea...but I don't like doing monotones, as I find them to be boring. So, that idea was quickly discarded. So, what else was blue...sky? water? I had already done a seascape so water was not a first choice...and the lace was just not right for that anyway. So sky was my background...and flowers were my direction (you know I love flowers). Maureen loves embroidery baskets...and has several on her blog if you have not yet been there to visit. So, I hoped than a woven basket filled with flowers might make her smile. Added some rose inspired seams and a button cluster with a small floral cabochon I had beaded the fringe on. Finished off with a little baby dragonfly, a lady bug, and butterfly...

Heading home in a few days Maureen...

Shawkl RR#1 - Molly

If you are following along on this swap...here is my #3 block of 16 to stitch. This is Molly's block...and she sent me a curve ball! The block has pink, yellow, greens...and the center fabric has black, burgundy, and dark coral. My first idea was totally different that what I finally created...more on that in a minute. Initially, I began with a piece of pale yellow lace trim...to cover some of the yellow fabric, and give it some texture.  Once the lace trim was in place and I flipped over the block to tie off my thread....I noticed that Molly had written the word "Spring" next to her name information. Spring? Uh, why had I not seen that before...(probably because I had not looked...LOL!...lesson learned!)Okay, the green, yellow, and pink...that could be worked as spring in my mind. But, the center? Not so much..so what to do, what to do?Cover up and conquer! I just ignored the center...and considered it only as a background. Here is the springtime block I created...sure hope my ideas of Spring will mesh with Molly's idea of Spring!

Shawkl Blog RR#1 Blocks

 Thought I'd work on Sharon's block next...here is what she sent to me.The silkie of the little girl is printed on cotton I think, so is a little grainy...but that adds to the image as a Victorian style photo. The image is small...but is of a young girl holding a fir tree. The colors in the patchwork and the image was very winter and holiday'ish.

 So, I decided to echo the tree image in the stitching to the right of the photo, added a wide piece of gorgeous hand-dyed lace to mask some of the bright gold fabric and frame the photo. Cream stitching with pearls and sequin snowflakes add that Winter touch..while ribbon roses and a monogram bring more Victorian charm.(sorry about that little speck of white on the fir-tree stitching...didn't notice it...it is a bit of paper left over from the monogram tissue transfer) It will be in the mail back to Sharon soon...but not today, because it's cold, wet, and we are expecting snow flurries this afternoon!

Shawkl Blog #1 RR -- Ruby's Done

Ruby's block is one of seventeen that I'm working on for a round robin on my Yahoo group.  I just loved the colors when I saw it...and the center batik reminded me of seaweed. Obviously the dark corner could be plants and the teal blue corner could be water...so, naturally...it's a little seascape!

Hope you like my ideas Ruby...it will be in the mail back to you soon...