I Love Paris Block for Wilma is Done...

It went into the mail today...hopefully to find it's way to the Netherlands very soon! The poodle was the last addition. She is a bit sassy, smelling the flowers on that seam treatment.   

Darlene did a beautiful fashion frock complete with matching purse. The entire vignette is just perfect for this block! Cathy added the P-A-R-I-S typewriter style beads...and I just adore them! The block got so adorned, that the space below the keys started looking a little empty, so I added a lace heart streamer to represent "love". I didn't add any other embellishment to them...as that would have conflicted with the typewriter keys.  

The right hand corner got a lace heart, roses, more trim, and a pair of lace doves to represent "romance". The corset lady is for plain ole "S-E-you know what!!". And the Eiffel tower is for "history".

I think it was Theresa that put in the cafe'...but I could be wrong. I don't have the booklet with me anymore, and my memory is really bad....so, if I'm wrong...hopefully someone will correct me. I placed the cancan dancer in the upper corner for "fun". She is so flamboyant that it washed out the cafe' some. Therefore, I added some color to the original black line drawing style by adding some green cushions to the chairs. And I removed a thin yellow stitched seam and used that thread to create a bowl of French knot flowers.

The strong white color and wide width of the lace piece that was on the upper left corner overpowered the block with it's scale. It is a gorgeous piece of lace, and made even more so because of the ribbon flowers, trim, and leaves that the ladies prior to me had stitched. The seam was so long, that there was a lot of the lace compared to other items on the block...which threw off the scale. I decided to try to break up this long seam by adding a cabochon and ribbon bow. The ribbon was provided to me with the block...and the cabochon represents "Marie Antoinette".

The perfume bottle was on the block when I received it...but had become a bit "lost" when everything else was stitched. So, I extended this area by adding a lipstitck and necklace. The chain of the necklace falls off of the "table top" and dangles a Fleur-delis.

The center area of the block has a dotted fabric with printed ladies. One image was full size, so I embellished her by over-stitching her hair, around her arms, and down the front of her dress. I used eyelash yarn to create her feather fan and added a beaded large stone style 'mirror' to a short seam. Lastly I added a trail of lace flower pieces with burgendy beads to trail across the block and help to move the viewer's eye around the area. I forget to get a full photo of the block, but hope that Wilma will remember to take one when it arrives.
 

I Love Paris...

My block is back home...and the ladies did a wonderful job! The block is so romantic. Here are some closeups for you to enjoy...aren't the elements just too lovely and delicate.  

 

Muse Wanderings and Paris

Well, I've allowed myself to get "distracted" again...by the laptop and virtual shopping for fabric! Didn't buy anything yet...just looking and comparing. I feel as though I have wasted hours of valuable time...but my muse has a quilt in mind...and just can't decide on what palette is the best selection! I did manage to get her to sit still long enough yesterday afternoon, and part of last night...to work on Wilma's Paris block some more.  I made some decisions...yeah!  

  Marie Antionette could be the inspiration for this cameo lady...and Wilma provided the Dior ribbon. I placed this vingette in the top center...and trailed it to the left to help break up the long linear seam in that area.  

All of the work in other areas of the block were making the beautiful little perfume bottle...already stitched...kind of lost. So, I added some lipstick and a beaded necklace that holds a fleur-de-les focal at the end. This also turns the large lace enhanced seam into more of a table skirt...IMHO.

  Next, I tackled the blank area in the bottom right...and the blank area at the bottom center of the block. I decided on a trailing trim of lace hearts under the punk style "PARIS" keys...trailing to the right into a lace heart with love doves....and roses. This area represents love and romance. Still have a couple of more things to try and bring to the block...but, it's almost ready to go home! I'll show you the entire block later...when it is finished...so you can see how everything "fits" together  

Paris Block Continues

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!  

Corset Lady Continues

Yesterday, I worked to finish the third block in the Jingle quilt...and as soon as I download and resize those photos, I'll share them. Today, I'm working on the overstitching on my Corset Lady for Wilma's Paris CQ Block. I started with the brown outline, now I'm filling in the design areas with black split stitch. This might seem "backwards"...but, if I had started with the black areas first...I would not have know "where" to put my outline stitching...cause the entire shape would have been black.

Paris for Cathy Finished

I've completed my portion of Cathy's block for the CQI Round Robin "Paris". I thought that the center light purple section would make a nice sidewalk...so, I put some edging along both sides, inserted a little flower garden at one sharp curve, and included a little poodle that is out for a stroll. Next to that I put a lovely peaceful spot with a cafe' table and chairs...to enjoy the outdoor scenes. Last, I included a very light seam treatment between the cafe' and the previous embroidery work...that would not overpower. Here are some close up photos...

And, here is what the entire block looks like now that Theresa and I have completed our rounds. Next, it's off to Wilma...and I hope to get it in the mail tomorrow...or the next day.

A Sidewalk in Paris?

 Cathy's block came this week...and the stitching already there is lovely...so, I'm checking it all out. The light purple piece in the center area, reminds me of a sidewalk. Hmmm...okay, why not...a sidewalk in Paris...with some edging. Maybe a flower bed of some-sort? A poodle walking? The green and cream center piece would be an outdoor cafe? A table and chairs? Hmmm...we shall see. (In the photo...I've already begun...before thinking to get y'all a photo...sorry.)

  I began the sidewalk trim...with some "X's" wide and narrow.

  Then some cast on stitches to cover the wide sections. This part of the seam was in the Country Bumpkin's book "A~Z of Embroidery Stitches 2". Form here on...we differ in our executions. Hugs!

   Added some tiny "+" at the small X intersections...hard to see.

Then some stacked seed beads to the outer edge to add a smidge of bling... Oh...almost forgot...can you see that little bit of light purple along the edge? that is stemstitch...and I did it to hide the applique stitching. It added some texture too...without distracting from the other stitching. What next?....only my muse knows! And, she is still so full of turkey, I'm not sure she is even fully awake yet!

Paris is Complete

Today, I'm at a mini-retreat...and they just called for "breakfast"...so this post will be short. Ha! But, "Paris" is ready...and will be in the mail to Wilma on Monday. Thought you might like to see the center section finished. Just click to see closeup. Hugs to all!