Frank is a Master Craftsman!

Or, at least in my book he is! And, don't tell my friend Eileen...but, I might be in love with her husband! He has to be a special prince to be so talented! Check out my keepsake chest he made for me!!!

I have done a couple of CQ things for Eileen, and you have seen me post them here on the blog...and she said Frank was gonna make me a box as a thank you. I thought...how cool...maybe a cigar box kind of thingee...and I could keep little trinkets in it. But no...this is a real TREASURE!

My best embroidery scissors will be going in the top tray...

and I'll be stitching a pin cushion just the right size to fit into the bottom, along with some special needle cases too! THANKS FRANK!!

Aileen's blog is Free Range Stitchin...hop on over and tell Frank what you think of his keepsake chest!

Blue Box Progress--Finished

There are two previous posts about the blue box...so check those out to get the progress as I've moved along.
For today, let me walk you through the stitching on the mermaid herself. First a reminder of how she looked when I started....

Since she is already a redhead...and I like that...here are the colors of silk thread I shall use for her.

These particular threads came from Thailand, off of Ebay. Gorgeous colors, but I have to tell you to beware because when they arrived (about 50 spools) I thought I'd have to throw them away...they smelled so badly. I could not determine if it was from being stored too long...mildewy...or from something else. I loaded them into a plastic container...sprayed (soaked!) them in Febreze...and closed the lid. After about 3 months...they smelled better. So, I sprayed them again...and 3 months later...all is well. The colors did not bleed either..and I was glad and fortunate for that!

Okay, here is the beginning of the hair. I stitched usually in a simple split stitch...and back stitch sometimes to fill in space. I use a divide and conquer method...by stitching along the direction the hair would be flowing...and use the image to guide me in that.

Then I continue this process until all the areas are divided up, and I can clearly see the direction the hair would be flowing...that is the direction of my stitching.

Truly...this is not a difficult thing to do. Just use really thin thread...and do lots of "rows". If you don't have any silk thread...use any type of rayon embroidery thread. It will give you a good sheen and is fairly thin. Combine three colors (as I did here)...or even 3 threads of the same color. The stitching actually goes pretty fast. Here is the final hair...it took about 2 hours to stitch it all.

Next, I debated several ideas for the "fins". They are very fluid with all the dips and valleys and creases in the artwork...and I didn't want to loose that. In the end...I decided to let the art speak and only accent it by stitching along the outside edges of the fins.

And, here is a closeup of the jewelry she is wearing...now she is ready to swim back home to Eileen! She'll be arriving soon gal!

Blue Box Progress--Embroidery and Beads

About a month ago, I started a crazy quilt project...for a friend. She sent me a beautiful cobalt blue box and wanted a crazy quilt scene on the top. We discussed the project, and since the box was so gorgeous...and so blue...we decided an underwater scene would be best. Plus, it's the fastest theme for me to stitch! LOL! The basic beginning was blogged the end of last month, check it out here.

My progress over these past four weeks has been sufficient to finish the stitching and the beads and "do dads" along the sea floor. My stitching is done in little bits of time here and there...along with other stitching projects too! I never have just one thing going at a time...that would be too sane!

Here is the overall project as of today....

 

If you have ever wanted to "step outside the box" and go beyond the traditional crazy quilt patch work...past the seams and motifs...I hope you will consider doing an under-water theme project. I think they are easy to conceive and the stitching can be as simple with trims and just some feather stitches. Then go nuts with beads, charms, and a few unexpected things to create your fantasy under-water world! 

I think that it does not have to be as realistic as say flowers or insects...so, it is easier to create. And there is so much color, texture, and just LIFE under water all sorts of beads can be used to dress the project up.

Think in layers...stitching, lace, more stitching, beads, charms, until you have built everything up. Then, when you think it is done...add more beads!! 

Here are some closeups of the status so far.

Lastly, here is the middle so far. I will now move on to stitching the mermaids hair....and see where that leads me next! Almost done Eileene, she'll be swimming home to you soon!!!

A New Beginning

A friend from Arkansas asked if I'd cover the top of a beautiful cobalt blue box for her. Of course, I was honored that she would ask. And after discussing a little of the style that might be fitting a blue box; we settled on an underwater scene.

We searched the internet for an image of a mermaid. We selected a fairy mermaid with lovely shades of green and purple. She will be surrounded (eventually) by various plant life and underwater sea creatures. Here is what I have completed today. The brown and beige "lumps" will be rocks or boulders. The green and blue "things" will be plant life. The netting style trim will also be plant life.

And, I thought you might enjoy seeing the very beginning of the fabric placements. Here is the silkie placed on top of some green cotton broadcloth for stability. The broadcloth is about 3 inches larger on each side of the finished project size, to allow me to put it in a hoop to work on. I usually always work from my Q-snap hoops when the finished project will completely fit in the center. No hoop marks! No removing until I am done!

This entire project also has a thin piece of batting on the back of the 8 x 11 size rectangle (size of the top of the box). This extra stability is critical (IMHO) because the finished project will have so much beading it will become very heavy as all of it is stitched layer on top of layer.

 The "sand" floor center was added first, then I started layering the middle blues of the water. Next I added more blues upwards and browns towards the bottom.

 All of the pieces are hand stitched down. Then I machine stitched around the entire rectangle to keep all those edges down.

Most fabric pieces are triangle shaped scraps. I use the long side which is on the bias, as the edge I usually stitch down. The other sides are covered with the next pieces to be placed down most of the time.

The progress of this piece will be blogged as I work through the various plants, animals, and other objects.

If you have not tried an underwater project, I encourage you to do so. They are very liberating! No real seams or motifs are needed. Just embroidery work to create the underwater world you can imagine. Let yourself go and just create!