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.

I'm Just Soooooo Excited!

Look what came in the mail!

This is the beaded tassle I won from SharDon Exclusives in the One World One Heart event...and it is stunning! I wish you could see it up close and real!

Sharon is so special, she created a little chest for the tassel and mailed it in a special box!

Both are a works of art! She even included a little note tag. And I just love the little chest...it will be a permanent storage for the tassel.

 If you love designer level jewelry...and really, who doesn't! Just hop on over to Sharon's blog SharDon Exclusives and enjoy photos of all of her beaded jewelry! Stunning!

Thank you again Sharon! I'm in love with this tassel...

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!)

Bullion Flowers

Well, I have changed my mind...okay, I realize that is no surprise to anyone! But the hydrangea flowers I showed you yesterday, just did not go with the delicate vine and leave! So, I decided to do some bullion flowers instead.

I love the end result! The flowers are done in more rayon thread from JDR-BE. This time it is a variegated NOVA #2. The size of the thread is similiar to a #5 Perle Cotton. 

 The size of the thread makes the bullions "puffy"compared to the delicate vine, and I like the added dimension that gives the entire design.

Creating Cross-Needle Hydrangea

Yesterday I shared with you some leaves and a stem stitch. Today, I'm going to add some flowers to the design. I want to stay true to traditional Brazilian Embroidery and so pulled out my reference book Brazilian Embroidery 101 by Cheryl "Sunshine" Schuler. It is just full of diagrams and instructions so hopefully it will help me! The book is available at various sites, including the primary site for Brazilian Embroidery supplies (IMHO) at JDR-BE.

The main reason I want to try this flower is because it uses Boucle thread...which is really "bumpy" and not suitable for most embroidery work. To start off the instructions required that I put two long needles into the background fabric to form a "cross".

Next, the thread is brought up between two of the needles...and close to the center.

Wraps are made under the needles around and around...pulling only the first round tightly. All subsequent rounds are laid on the surface fabric, but closely together.Once you have enough wraps for the size of flower you want to make...you slide your needle under the wraps and needle down near the center. But, being careful not to pull the thread so tightly that it pulls the wraps out of place. Next, you needle up at the center...

then slide your needle back under the wraps and needle down at the same (or very close) position. This "tacks" the wraps together. Repeat this between the needles in all four open positions of the cross. This will create four petals. 

Remove the needles from the background fabric. Stitch each "tack" one more time and tie off your thread in the back of your work. "Fluff up" the petals and you have a finished hydrangea bud! Pearls, sequins, crystals, or french knots could be added to the center of the flower to change it up!

Finally, a Decent Stem Stitch!

My stem stitch has always looks like it was intoxicated! They just could not walk a straight line! They were also never uniform or pretty...therefore, I mostly used back-stitch to embroidery any lines. Well, perhaps no more!!! Look at this gorgeous stem stitch...I'm so proud!

This is stitched for a round-robin called Brazilian Embroidery (BE) on Crazy Quilter's International (CQI) Yahoo Group. I stitched it with rayon threads from Ed-Mar in FROST #311. These threads are "Z" twist, which is traditionally the type used for BE work. 

I took my time...stitched left to right...and kept my thread ABOVE the line of stitching. This is backwards from "normal" stem stitch...but correct for Brazilian Embroidery because the threads are not "S" twist as English threads are like perle cotton. If I stitch this again in perle cotton I'll have to keep the thread BELOW the line of stitching.

You probably can't imagine how happy this little accomplishment makes me! I thought I was doomed to just stitch a "crappy" stem stitch! But, now I know there is hope! I can do this...I just need go slow and think of every single little stitch along the way!

The leaves are done in fly stitch...still my favorite leaf to create! And you can see that I used a very sharp #2 lead pencil to draw on my leaf shapes.

Help a Great Cause and Possibly Win a Quilt!

What could be better than that! Quilts are being donated to raise funds to support Muscular Dystrophy...so your donation to this cause is also a charitable giving! Here is one of over 30 quilts created for this event!

My friend Jean, over at the HGTV Message Board, is hosting this event...and I can personally vouch for her integrity. Each and every dollar that is donated to this cause...WILL GO TO THIS CAUSE! Jean if phenominal! Here is a link to photos of all of the donated QUILTS. When you donate...please mention SHAWKL and I might win a special quilters prize from Jean too! Keeping my fingers crossed that you will be one of the lucky winners of a special MDA quilt! And, the person with the most tickets could also win a prize from Jean! How great is she!!! Here are Jean's guidelines for making donations!

Simple Crocheted Hat

Thought I'd share a simple hat I crocheted for Aidan last week. It started out to be a basic pull on style, but she decided as we tried it on along the way that it needed a "brim". And a flower!

A hat like this is truly easy to create without a pattern. Start with a ring and load it with enough double crochet stitches to form a circle that lays nice and flat. Keep doing more rows of double crochet...increasing the number of double crochet stitches in each round to keep it laying nice and flat. Once it is large enough to cover the crown of the head nicely...crochet about 5-8 rounds (depending on the size) by using the same number of stitches (no increases)...this will form the "bowl".

Then you can start to decrease a few stitches for a couple of rounds...then end with single crochet stitches to tighten up the edge. The "brim" is single and half/double stitches...and I just winged it to get a shape that looked a bit like a brim. Aidan loves the hat, and prefers to pull it low on her eyes! She thinks that COOL, and that it funny that Nana does nott like her to wear it like that...see how funny she thinks it is!

Raggedy Ann Embroidery Blocks

Kaaren of The Painted Quilt has been offering a block of the month Raggedy Ann quilt for the past few months.

 If you have not been over at her blog to check it out...really, you should! The blocks are wonderful!

 She just posted the last in the series...so you can go and download all twelve embroidery blocks. Her embroidery designs are stupendous...and the patterns are very well done. They are all in pdf format downloads...just click...scroll down...wait a few moments and then download!

TDiTM Stitch #139

This would be a great stitch for any block...but it reminds me of snowflakes. So, I think it would be really effective on a winter block...done in metallics!

TDiTM Stitch #138

This is a very simple feather stitch seam...but very lovely! This would also make great "seaweed" in an Under The Sea style block...of course, it would be vertical then! LOL!

Woot! Woot! It's Better than Christmas...

I won again! And you just won't believe what it is....my love..my passion (well one of them anyway)...

Swarvoski crystal! Isn't this a gorgeous beaded tassle! Oh, I hope I can make something as wonderful as this one day! I'm following Sharon's blog SharDon Exclusives to get inspiration and enjoy all of her eye candy! So, if you like to bead...come on over and you can drool over her wonderful creations along with me!