Full Autumn Craziness...Plus!

As promised...Here is a photo of the full autumn block finished for Thearica!

You have seen closeups of most of this block, but now you can see how it all went together. And looking at it, I thought I'd talk a little today about my thoughts regarding "layering" items on a project. I think that the more layers you have, the more texture and dimension (and "life") you will achieve in your block. Layers might be an odd way to think of a block...but, you really are "building up" from the fabric block...in layers of thread, ribbon, fibers, buttons, lace, etc. For example...If you examine the seams on this block closely...you might notice that:

Some seams are only partial because a motif is covering the remainder of the seam.

Some, seams are complete and motifs were stitched right on top after-wards. [This is easy to do with minimal seams and silk ribbon embroidery. It is harder to accomplish with thread embroidery or another flat style application. Lace could also be used effectively for this.]

And, certainly, there are some seams without any motifs crossing them. Motifs are stitched between the seams, across the seams, and over the completed seams. The seams that have beads or ribbon added are also "layered" just by themselves. The motifs and seams were stitched in unison, like a dance....the first thing I did was determine where the dog/pumpkin patch would be. That was a major focal point! Then the tree was planned so it would be similiar in scale...and I decided to move it above the dog so it would appear to be in the distance...and to the right of the dog...so it might seem that he was looking at it in the distance. I actually stitched the tree first. Then put the embroidered patch of the dog down...then the pumpkins. Then some seams...and some motifs...other seams...other motifs. See, a dance!

I love button clusters! And they are a great example of layering. I love to start with a doily, a piece of lace the size of the space to be filled, or even both! The shape of lace also helps me to determine a general shape of the button cluster. If you have lace pieces that you have dyed, and they didn't turn out "exactly" like you wanted...they are perfect candidates for button clusters...because most of the lace will most likely be covered by the buttons!

In Thearica's Autumn block, after the lace was stitched in place, the next layer was large sequin leaves which helped to bring even more of the Autumn colors into the block. Then, large buttons...3 of them all laying next to each other to form a triangle. Can you see them? One of them is a large dragonfly...which I treated like a cabochon by cutting the shank off...and beading around the edges in peyote stitch. The second is the lemon yellow, and the third was the large green with four holes. I labeled the layers in this photo for you.

 [A Note: After I stitch a "hole" button down, I thread some seed beads on the needle and do the last couple of passes with them. They just dress up a plain button!] Once, I had this triangular base of large buttons stitched in place...I add shiny buttons, beads, and charms. I have been know to tuck a silk ribbon or two (pre-made because it's near impossible to do SRE around all these buttons!) into a cluster. All of these things adds to the texture and dimension of the cluster. Here is another example of a button cluster...with the layers labeled. Can you see the layers? You have my permission to print or save these labeled photos as they will come up with the label shown and website name is in the photo.

I love to add unexpected things to my button clusters; and they are a good way to insert little personal touches...as in Thearica's little piggy charm. AND...Clusters do not have to be limited to buttons!...here is a flower cluster made from Velvet Leaves, Wired Roses, Charms, and Beads.

So, do you enjoy doing clusters? What are your favorite kinds? Do you mix other things in your button clusters?

More Autumn Craziness!

Thought I'd share some more of Thearica's block with you today...and I'll post the entire block tomorrow!

The block was a job to work on because Autumn blocks have a lot of oranges and golds to really bring out the colors of that time of year...and can be difficult if your stash is mostly pastels!!

But, I went through all my little drawers and containers looking for any thread, fiber, bead, and ribbon that would work! Do you see the little inch worm above? He is so small...I hope Thearica doesn't think he is just a mess of beads! I've shown you the tree before...but here is the photo of it completed! And the piggy is filled in too! BTW, Thearica collects pigs...which is why I included a couple in the block.

Thearica also asked if I could stitch a St Bernard on the block...in memory of a dear lost pet of her husbands. I said I'd try...and I did...and it was awful. But, luckily, after some cyber searching...I found a machine embroidery patch that worked beautifully! (And if you look at the embroidery work on the pig under the tree...you will agree that a purchased patch was a GREAT idea!).

 I love button clusters, and here is my version of an Autumn one!

 I hope you like the photos...and tomorrow I'll post one of the entire block so you can see how everything came together! Thearica will have received the block...and had time to post on the message board that she got it.

Autumn Craziness!

I'm working on an Autumn CQ Block.

It is for Thearica, a friend in North Carolina. She and I both are members of the HGTV Message Board "Quilting and Needlework". I have her as my swap partner in a crazy quilt round robin; and Thearica asked for a fall or autumn block. She has seen these sneek peeks...but not her total block.

And, NO Thearica...I'm not going to show you the whole block here either! But, I might show you an additional sneek peek!

So, here is some more eye candy...a bunch of wheat tied up with a lovely bow.

 And, a dragonfly with dimensional wings.

After Thearica receives her block...I'll come back and post the entire block. (Thearica...patience is a virtue!)

Thearica's block

Over on HGTV Message Boards Nickilee of Ravioli Dreams is hosting a crazy quilt swap called "One Block Swap".

 This will be my third year to participate and my block will be created for Thearica (Quiltaholic) of Pigtales and Quilts. Thearica lives in North Carolina, on a beautiful tobacco farm and she collects pigs...in honor of her grandfather who raised them during her childhood. We are allowed to give little sneak peeks along in the challenge...but not so much that you ruin the surprise when the blocks are sent. My first peek was posted yesterday...and I thought you might like to see it too.

The tree and pig are not finished. And I"m not showing the completed version because I want them to be a surprise to Thearica...and she follows the blog. However, they are close enough that if I explain how to do the tree, you can finish it off without problem. I also like this "unfinished" version as well...and will use it in the future too.

If you have purchased my book, the tree trunk motif is on page 143...the one with the stars! As you can see, the tree is very adaptable. If you don't have the book (and you're really truly missing out!) then just sketch out a simple tree trunk with limbs to begin. You can see from the photo that the trunk is embroidered in a simple back-stitch. This could be wrapped...or the area could even be filled in with straight stitches or chain stitches if you wanted a solid trunk.

Obviously, the "foliage" is done in French Knots...but where to place them? That's the part of the process I want to share. It involves something sticky...and in my case I used labels. You could use duct tape, shelf paper, masking tape...anything that would allow you to draw on it and then "stick-it" to your CQ block. For me, office file labels about 1" x 4" were handy. I began by drawing floppy little cloud shapes on them...and cutting them out. I placed these...and then moved them around...and moved them again...LOL!...until I had them where I thought they would make a realistic looking tree. I also made sure to cover the ends of all of the branches, so each one would have foliage.

These are the positions for the groups of French knots. Now, don't stitch on top of the labels! You'd never get them removed from your CQ block if you did! Instead, stitch enough of the French knots around the outside of each "cloud" so that you will be able to determine your "stitching border" when the sticky tape/labels are removed. If you are stitching all of one color, you might want to stitch more than I have shown here...so you don't loose your place. Since, I'm using different colors for my Autumn tree, this medium orange color will be easy to distinguish from the other shades of orange, yellow, red, and green I'll be using. You might also notice that I also "repositioned" yet again...even when I had begun to stitch...the "clouds" are different in the two photos!

Then, just continue to fill in each "cloud" with the amount of French knots you desire...and the tree will start to form! The pig is a simple embroidery in wrapped back-stitch...just find a photo of a pig, trace the shape and then stitch it in back stitch (just like the tree). Go back and wrap each back stitch...and you have the outline of the pig. If desired, you could fill in the pig with long-short stitches as well.