A Short Video of some Motifs/Techniques Learned in the Free Courses!
You probably think this is the longest working round robin block ever...but, I've just not had much time this work to dedicate to it. And, yes...there is a lot of work going into it; but I would have been done had the week offered more stitching time. Of course, I also keep deciding the parts planned need 'more' like the spider web. My first thought was the web and spider...but, this is the lightest patch of the block, and really draws your eye there. So, it does need more 'interest' I'm thinking...and will add some vines/branches with leaves before putting the spider in.
This area of the block is finished...and I'm quite happy with it. Alice already stitched two very pretty seams, but when I put my 5-prong seam in...it overpowered her previous work. She was so gracious and agreed to let me add some more stitching to her seams. So, I put in some straight stitches, couching, and beads to her Chain Stitch seam. Then added some detached chains and bullion roses to her adjacent seam. Some beads were added to the wine trim with the gold sequins...and this area become done to my liking.
The gold fabric at the side of the block was too large to stand alone and too small to put a motif in because that would conflict with the gorgeous ribbon seam work Colleen had put in. So, I decided to stitch a simple background lattice and add a dragonfly and some small seed beads. It's enough to fill in the space so it doesn't appear empty but still does not conflict with the seam work...as a matter of fact, I think it enhances it.
The bright gold trim on the opposite side of the block needed some stitching to help anchor it down a bit...and keep it from being so glaringly present. There was a little space to work in, so I added a simple seam with some seed beads.
The lace motifs now all have some beading added. There could be more even, but the 'feel' of this block is opulant, lucious, and grand...so too much will not be good...even for an 'encrusted style' block. At least, that's my thinking.
Next, I have silk ribbon work to add...and finish those leaves in the spider-web...and add that spider. So, the next time you see this block...it should be finished. Hope you are enjoying the show...I'm sure enjoying the stitching!
The trims and laces are now stitched down. And I forgot to slip one of them under the black rose trim as first planned (see prior post)...did not even cross my mind...until AFTER I had stitched the trim securely in place. Duh! Yes, I could have taken out some stitches...
but instead I layered the two together a bit, and still like the effect just fine. These will get beads too...when I get to that step in the process.
If you follow me much, you might already know that two of my pet peeves are the abrupt ending of trims and leaving the raw edges of trim showing. And I've managed to do both of them here!
Ending trim with a raw edge is just not okay with me. But, for every 'rule' there is an exception...or so I've heard. And this exception is because I'm not the only person working on this block...and Colleen already finished the adjacent seam so beautifully that I don't want to ruin that by putting this trim over it (of course not!!). So it has to stop short of the intersecting seam. That leaves the question...how to cover this abrupt ending?
Well, I have chosen to use a purple dragonfly Czech button cabochon in this area. It is large enough to cover all the trim ends and adds some bling to that area as well. And, it will fit in nicely with the beaded spider to come later on...and Colleen's beautiful silk ribbon and beading work. You might also note that there is a spider's web already stitched down with filament...it needed to go down now before the lace clusters went into place, IMHO. It is waiting on a beaded spider with long legs to move in.
You might have also have noted that the other two lace motifs at the top area of the block are stitched down; but one looks a little 'unsecured'. That's on purpose.
If you were to peek underneath, you'd get a surprise...and so would the little frog you would wake up! I like hiding things on a block...and adding little critters is also a favorite thing of mine to do. Wonder what other little critters will find a home on the block? Already there is one dragonfly, one spider, and one frog planned...perhaps there will be more?
Next...a bit of stitching is needed before the silk ribbon and beading begins! The spider web is already stitched into place; because it needed to go under the lace motifs but some embroidery seams and motifs are also a must.
This seam is placed against the side of the black rose trim. It will also get silk ribbon roses and beads added to it later.
This gold fabric area will have a branch of silk ribbon leaves with a vine of wisteria hanging on to that. So far, the the French Knot blooms and the Stem Stitch limb are stitched.
The next area that needs something is this floral patch of small flowers. It already has some golden glass seed beads scattered about in some of the floral centers...but I'm thinking this would be a good place to put a button cluster to balance that beaded cabochon.
Off to stitch some more...and I should be finished soon (and on time) with this block. Of course the silk ribbon and beads take the most time (for me)...so we shall see. Ha!
...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.
The latest crazy quilt block I've been working on belongs to Colleen, and she titled it "Gypsy". It gave me a great canvas to add some crochet roses that I'd been saving for just the right project. I was gifted with about six of these...but only needed two for this block.
To begin, I added three trims to the lower seam areas...then added some tatting pieces, and some stitching and beads.
This was a lot of fun to work on because it was so bright and very open to using different types of supplies.
Here is the block as it is now, ready for the next stitcher.
This block just went in the mail this week, and it was fun to work on. I was the second person to stitch on the block, and this area is only my work. The print fabric was a challenge because the fabric pieces were so large and it does not lend itself very well to 'over-stitching' the design. So, I covered a lot of it with a lace motive and sequin snowflakes. This mades the print more of a wall-paper type effect...in the background, and not as prominent. The lace was beaded heavily since this is an encrusted round robin.
This seam also got loads of beads.
The silk ribbon flowers filled their patch quite well.
And this little pink and silver Christmas tree is situated outside in the pink snow drifts surrounded by more snowflakes falling from the sky.
Working on this block made me wish I had a pink Christmas tree up in the house this holiday.
Now that the binding for my brothers quilt is finished...I'm back on stitching my part of the three crazy quilt round robins I'm currently signed up for. This block is "Fans" and is for my pal Colleen. It's a bit non-traditional...but, so is Colleen. I think she will like it.
The roses in the fan blade section are from a piece of vintage lace that I dissected just to get these blooms. The vines are a mix of three light green and two teal. The teal is an accent color I picked up from the hand-dyed lace that I chose to use in the "handle" area of the fan.
There is silk ribbon only in the handle area. Pearls, crystals...and some metallic accents are scattered everywhere.
This weekend, I managed to even get a little crazy quilt stitching done on Ritva's block. Next comes the ribbon work and the beading...which will totally transform this basic stitching into a floral wonderland. I hope so at least!
And, if you are wondering what that piece of spagetti is doing right in the middle...(and I know that some of you are!)...it's not spagetti...it's a piece of jute that is couched into place for the vine part of my wisteria. Or, it could be for grapes...hugs!
The center of this little six inch block is so large, it didn't take much time to complete the embellishments for this block. It is obvious that the block's owner liked the poinsettia fabric well enough to want the entire flower bloom showing on the block...therefore, I decided not to cover it up with any thing else. Instead, I (hopefully) enhanced it by over-stitching the petals and adding beads to the center.
After that, the three seams were stitched and beaded. Echoing the theme of the block meant using silk ribbon poinsettias as one of the seam treatments.
Finished up a block for the CQI Winter/Christmas DYB Round Robin. This block is Melody's and I loved working on her blue/white/silver winter block. I filled it up with stitching of metallic and shiny fibers then added tons of crystals and beads. Some snowflake sequins finished off the winter theme.
My work on Darlene's block "Je T'aime Paris" is complete. After writing in the little journal, it will be in the mail tomorrow toWilma in the Netherlands to finish up.
The lamp post is my most favorite part of this block...and I did not stitch that (wish I had!). Cathy K did...and it is so wonderful!
My contribution were some seams (sorry one is so blurry)...
a charm motif...
and a poodle embroidery motif.
I also did some general stuff like attaching a ribbon that Darlene has sent along, and a piece of accent trim below that piece.
There isn't a lot of space left for Wilma to work...but, I'm sure she'll come up with a beautiful finish for the block that will just be gorgeous! Her work always is!
