A Short Video of some Motifs/Techniques Learned in the Free Courses!
Last night, I was up very late...and was watching the weather predictions for the next two days...ice and snow. While watching television I was also stitching. Then, before heading off to sleep I took photos of Velia's block...and posted to the blog first thing this morning.
Did you notice this photo in that post yet? I didn't...until I started to stitch again this morning. Do you see the half completed last French knot? It's at the lower right...felt finished, but the thread caught on the line of beads below it. Luckily, it was the last stitch...and I could pull it through and finish off again this morning.
Lessons learned:
1. Put beads on last (no choice here because this is a round robin, and the beads were already stitched down before I began my work).
2. Don't stitch late at night in poor light and while you are tired.
3. Watch your stitching to make sure they are completing correctly before cutting the thread.
Geez!
Hugs!
...of last year's round robins. This is Velia's block. Isn't it already so pretty?!! I'm auditioning trims for the two center seams. I'm really liking the rose and black one...but not so sure about the gold trimmed one.
It seems a bit too bright at the edges. And, although it technically 'matches' the colors in the block...that bright shade of gold just screams out at you. It takes away from the delicate stitching already on the block.
This little bit of dyed lace is pretty and would be even prettier once beaded...but, it's a little 'ho mum'...yawning!
This dyed trim was done in the same dye batch as the floral piece...but it has more dimension and therefore more interest to me. So, think I'll be using this one. Right now, they are just pinned in place. Now, what to add next? The block does not have any lace pieces...and I'm thinking that they would add some real texture. The theme is 'encrusted' so the block needs loads of 'stuff' to qualify for that theme!
These four lace motifs are the right size to fill some space and carry the viewer's eye around the block...without overpowering the other elements of the block.
I like the idea of tucking the lower one under the trim...you'll have to use your imagination to add the beads and such to these.
This top area will mirror one of the lace motifs, and add a darker one in the same color family (from the same dye bath actually).
Now, I'm off to actually stitch these all down and start to add some embroidery! See you back soon with more photos.
This is a simple little block...the center "PEACE" was already part of the pieced basic block. Here is the finished block. Sorry the photo is a little bit out of focus...
Here is the beginning...just plain single seam treatments.
Next came the addition of more stitching to make combination seams. Lastly was the addition of beads, ribbon, and buttons (see first photo). It's these "extras" that really make a block special to me. Do you agree? It's hard for me to stop at just stitching...
The beads have been added...and block one of the four-block set have been completed.
Now, to add some beads and stitching to the others to help them "play together" nicely. When, they are joined I'll be back to show you the entire set "re-visited".
Last week was wonderful...this week...not so much. I have a terrible head full of "well let's not say"...and it's slowly moving into broncils and lungs. I'm coughing, sneezing, and drowning. Hopefully, it won't be for many more days...the allergies are really stirred up!
Last week, I managed to do a little embroidery piece. This is the motif on page 142 of Embellishing Crazy Quilts if you have the book. I just combined all of the circles into a long curved blossum of french knots, the leaves are fly stitch, and the stem is well...stem stitch. There is a tutorial on making the leaves on the blog...just check the tutorial page.
I did manage to get a little stitching done this week on Erma's block for the HGTV Round Robin that I'm in...a tree in the center of the block. More to do on this, then I'll post another photo for you. The tree is also from the ECQ book partly...the limbs and trunk are on page 143.
In the previous post, this block has embroidery work and lace only. Today, I finished the silkribbon...
and then the beads as well. So, it's ready to be finished into a small pillow or the class.
I'm always surprised at how the beads make such an impact on crazy quilt blocks. And today, I decided that given the choice...I'd pick beads over chocolate. That's real love!
Of late, I've been working on a crazy quilt class and lecture for the Madison Quilt Guild, near Huntsville, Alabama in mid July. The lecture has a slide presentation, and I'm cutting down my normal about 3-4 hours of things to one hour to accommodate their normal meeting times. It's hard to reduce! And, even though that has taken some time, it's not something easily shared here...so, I've been absent a little.
On the Saturday after their meeting, we're having a "normal" crazy quilt class. I thought a new block was in order...so, I'm working on a neutral cotton block that measures about 8 x 11.
Above, the embroidery portion is complete. Below, the lace and charms have been added.
Next, I'm working on the silk ribbon...then comes the beads/sequins. So, I'll be back when more is accomplished to share photos.
My challenge to myself this year for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project is to create a large panel with many circles with crazy quilt seams only. The seams will document the designs in Embellishing Crazy Quilts,
and provide me a way to showcase those seams...other than the long
linear sampler I first stitched as the seams were designed. Some seams
have additional beads, or changes to fit the space of the circle.
Eventually, the project will be a shower curtain cover in my bath I'm
thinking....in front of the plastic liner so it won't get wet of course.
Here are the seams by number used in this block:
Seam #41
Seam #63
Seam #64
Seam #73
Seam #74
Seam #77
Seam #79
Seam #80
Seam #98
Yesterday and today, I've been working some more on Wilma's crazy quilt block..."I Love Paris".
It is not finished yet...but, I have to hang it back up on the design wall for a couple of days... until my inspiration returns. I want to add a poodle and embellish some more on the few seams that are started...but have not made my mind up as to what stitches or beads to add...so, my muse is thinking.
So far, here is what I've changed, added, completed, etc...:
Upholstered the chairs and added a bowl of flowers to the existing outdoor cafe'
Added a hand charm to appear to hold the existing Dior' trailing ribbon
Over-stitched the lady printed on the center fabric, and embellished her fan...and added a beaded lace piece that reminded me of a gilded mirror...which she could have been looking in at the Boutique.
Added another trim under the previous crown ribbon...and added a floral motif. This is a beginning, and is one area that needs more work. So, it could also change....
Added the completed Corsetted Lady, with her golden orange hair. The fabric behind her looks like she is hiding a shelf or something behind her back. I did not notice this before...Hmmm, I might could turn that into a book?
Added the legs of a CanCan dancer
Added an Eiffel Tower with city skyline...thinking trees are needed here too.
So.....I've added a lot to the block, but it still feels un-done to me.
The bottom right corner has issues...as the trims are fighting for space and there needs to be "something" between them to help that distraction. There is also too much light space in the bottom right corner...perhaps a poodle there?
Also, the upper left corner looks blank with that lonely perfume bottle now that the rest of the block is filling up...but, what to add there? A purse perhaps? A shoe?
Any ideas from my CQ pals are welcome...I might not be able to create what you can think up...but, it might get my muse a thinking again! Wilma, want any changes? Say so now, cause it will be winding it's way across the ocean in a few days...hugs!
Really, this book should be called "400+ Crazy Quilt Seam Ideas". And, without a doubt...it is the very best book on seams that I have seen yet. And, I include my own book, Embellishing Crazy Quilts, in that list too. And my second book will be done closer to this one...as I'm in love with this easy breezy layout!
This book is published by the Love to Quilt Creations, and is promoted by the American Quilt Society. The author, Joan Waldman, created a lovely book. Actually, it is more the size of a pamplet...only 31 pages.
But almost every page is stuffed full of gorgeous charted designs that are clearly printed on graph paper. (A perfect companion to the grid template I posted for you last week...how cool is that!).
I love that it is thin enough to go in a project totebag, and easy enough to understand that any stitcher...even the very beginning stitcher...can follow it.
I got my copy as a "used like new" book from Amazon...at only $7.70 plus shipping. You might not find one that cheap, but...any price is seriously worth the money!
Here is one of the blocks completed for February. I contains three seams from my book, Embellishing Crazy Quilts. I'm still working to get all 150 of these seams into this quilt! And, I have decided what to do with it when completed...but sharing that idea will have to wait until I'm almost done...which is months down the road!
Here are some closeup of the seams adapted to this circle:
Seam #1
Seam #58
Seam #148
