Third day, third seam, and this one will be the last for a bit.  The reason?  I was going to put a motif in the corner and this third seam ended up being more dimensional that I thought it would be.  Oh, I love the seam, but now my 3 motif plan is out the window.  Does that bother me?  Not really.  It’s more fun working on a block that slowly evolves.  As each section of embroidery is added, the block reads a bit differently. 

That might sound funny, but for me, just about anything that is created, has its own voice.  No, I’m not hearing voices.  It’s an instinctual feeling that this piece of fabric, or that button, that shape, etc… is just right for the piece, and it’s very obvious when something is horribly out of place.   

Sometimes a piece is quiet for awhile.  It’s not ready for the next step.  Sometimes, a piece won’t shut up and it keeps you up at night.  Just ask my husband.  I went to bed at 2 am this morning because this third seam just had to be sewn. 

Isn’t it pretty?  It’s totally different from the other 2 seams - more dimensional, metallic, and bright - just like me!  ;-)  I’m more ample than I used to be, have shiny braces on my teeth, and eternally, cheerfully, optimistic.  Yippee, I found my style. 

This seam started with a length of gold metallic rick-rack, couched in place with variegated DMC cotton using the fly stitch.  Then couched again with a ruby red floss using the herringbone stitch.  The pretty pink flowers are double detached chain stitch, and the other side has a center pistil stitch flanked by 2 straight stitches. 

And here’s a picture of how the entire block now looks:

Hugs…

Another day, another seam treatment on my crazy quilt block. 

This one started with a curved chain stitch and a twisted chain stitch tip out of DMC # 5 variegated cotton thread, overlapped with a stem stitch curve with a chain rosette tip using 6 strands of DMC rayon floss.

It was a bear to get those threads through the fabric.  I had the correct needle, but by the end of sewing that seam my thumb and hand were mighty sore.  I much prefer using thinner threads and building an embroidered seam with multiple stitch combinations.  Plus I think it’s a bit heavy looking for the block and think it will need to be blended in somehow. I love the look of DMC # 5 though and will use it as a thread to be couched in place.  It would make a nice meandering vine or a great tree trunk. 

This picture also has 3 black circles on it.  I was thinking about adding a motif in each area.  One would be a beaded fan (I think the upper right circle), the bottom right circle would look nice with a silk ribbon embroidered curved garland, and a tatted something or other for the third.  The motifs would be larger than the circles, and I’d love some input as to whether I’m placing them in good spots. 

Hugs…

I’ve been a sluggard about working on my Joggles Encrusted Crazy Quilt class block.   Sharon (our fearless leader) had to leave home to help care for her very ill mother, and I did not want to bother her with a lot of questions.  She was really great and maintained computer connection the entire time she was away from home, but I was uncomfortable about placing any demands on her time.  She’s back home and now I’m in full class mode!!!

My first seam is completed and I had a great time making it. 

It’s very close to a seam Jackie (from the crazyquiltinternational yahoo group) shared with everyone last month.  She was smart and used 2 little straight stitches in V formation to tack down the cast on stitch (the light lavender flower).  The looked like little pistils and even had some little French knots at the tips.  I like the added texture of the flowers standing up a bit from the base fabric and stuck with using the center bead alone to anchor the flower in place. 

I know what my next seam treatment will be and am starting to plan motif locations.  This is such a great class.  I’m learning a lot and having fun.

Hugs…

Once I got started working on Peggy’s block, it was hard to stop.  My contribution is completed and here is a close-up of what I’ve done.

If you follow the numbers, you’ll be able to match the description with the stitching: 

1 - Herringbone stitch with 2 strands of rayon floss, couched with a gold Sulky 30 wt cotton, and a deep ruby bead on each tip.  It’s really hard to see the gold thread at the tips, but it does show up in person.

2 - The flower and leaf sewn as mentioned in yesterday’s post.

3 - Silk ribbon embroidery on the fan - feather stitch thanks to all the gorgeous samples I’ve been seeing of that stitch on the crazy quilt international list, and loop flowers sewn in place with very light yellow beads.

4 - A silver metallic trim that is sewn into place with a variegated rayon yarn.  The yarn is light aqua, rose, light blue, and light gray with a black wrap. 

The raw edges of the fan fabric were not totally covered by the lace and beads, and I wanted to make sure it wouldn’t ravel on Peggy, so the extra trim was added and I really like the effect.  It adds more detail to the edge and I find I like the layered trim look.  It’s something I’ll use often now. 

I had a lot of fun working on this block and I learned a lot.  It’s a good thing, because I signed up for not one, but two new crazy quilt block round robins.  Stumpwork and hearts, here I come!!!

Hugs….

Peggy’s block (from the FFT’s Round Robin) has been on my dining room table for almost a full month, as I’ve been stuck with what I should add to the block.  The mailing date is fast approaching, so it is time to get embroidering.

After complaining about being stuck on the crazyquilt international list recently, I got an idea of how to get unstuck.  Venting must do me good, because as I was typing about my frustration, the solution was making itself known. 

Paint Shop Pro to the rescue.  I took a photo of the block and used the dropper tool to get the hex number.  Then I went to the color wizard - http://www.colorsontheweb.com/colorwizard.asp - and typed in the hex number.  I set the color, then selected the complimentary key.  Hmm, good contrasts, but a bit too strong.  Split-complimentary might be better, so I selected that next and voila!!!  There were the colors that I’d use in Peggy’s block.

The piece of fabric I embroidered was the green one.  I added a stem stitch leaf with variegated greens.  I wanted the leaf to blend with the fabric, but it needed a little pizazz,  socouched some of the straight stitches with a metallic black/grey thread, and also sewed the center vein with the metallic, shading it with a bit of the green thread.

The flower is another variegated thread and straight from the split-complimentary shades.  The flower center has white/yellow rayon boucle stitching with white/gold metallic French knots.  It’s subtle, but the metallic reflects the light beautifully.

I still have a couple of seam treatments to embroider and maybe one more motif, and need to make sure I leave enough room for the next 2 people to add their contributions to Peggy’s block.  Guess once I get unstuck, it’s hard for me to stop. ;-) 

Hugs…

The crazy quilt block I’m making for http://www.makingmemories.org/ is finally pieced. 

The beads on the twisted fan pleats are sewn in place.  The heart motif and central beads are pinned in place and will have additional stitching -  maybe a nice chain stitch in the center with those larger pearl beads nestled inside every 3rd or 4th stitch, and I think the heart would look nice with a silk ribbon floral outline..

The sides need some stitching also - something like scattered delica glass beads or scattered seed stitch.  That would fill in the blank space, and add subtle texture, but not detract from the fan.

Much as a I love the encrusted look, I’m not too sure a lot of heavy, dimensional embroidery would enhance this block.  The center beaded fan is a strong focal point, and I like it that way.

As usual, any and all suggestions or comments are welcome.   Hugs…

Happy July 1st to everyone!!!  Another month, another TIFC topic and color choice.  As usual, I made up a color value chart to share with all of you.  Please feel free to copy and save it on your computer.

This month’s colors are not some of my favorites, but I did come up with a variation that has captured my interest.  Instead of blending the colors with black and white, I will be experimenting with blending them with colors I adore.  Eureka!!!  I can now play happily with this month’s colors.

That is a simple variation, but a very important one for me.  It is very comfortable to reach for and use my favorite colors for all my fiber projects.  It wouldn’t hurt to branch out and incorporate some new colors in my work, and it will be a wonderful learning experience on how to get from the warm based colors I favor, to the cool based colors I avoid.  

Hugs….

This month, I started Sharon’s Encrusted Crazy Quilt class on Joggles and decided to use June’s TIFC colors for my block. 

I thoroughly enjoyed going through color variations at Color Wizard http://www.colorsontheweb.com/colorwizard.asp#wizard  and selected complimentary versions of some of the colors for my block:

The rich, dark, saturated shades are my favorites, and I thoroughly enjoyed selecting them for this block with a few lights added for some contrast. The upper left corner is a black cotton fabric with gold metallic speckles on it, and the long piece under it has some black netting with gold stitching attached to a variegated cream fabric. 

My collection of fancy fabrics is gradually increasing and I was able to use some shiny navy acetate, and a dressy lining fabric - the aqua center triangle - with a silk tie remnant next to it, and a diagonal multi colored silk piece towards the bottom.  It was hand dyed, discharged and overdyed by Jeanne Beck.  http://www.jeannebeck.com/

The gold piece is a tone on tone tapestry with a piece of dark brown lace angled over the edge. Unfortunately , the tapestry threadwork doesn’t  show up well in this photo.  All the rest of the fabric is quilting type cottons.

I’m really looking forward to starting Lesson 2 this weekend, and finding out what the TIFC will be for July.

Instead of preparing for a 3 day workshop that starts tomorrow, I continued working on a crazy quilt block for http://www.makingmemories.org/   Don’t ask me why, but I thought I could piece this block in a day.  Um, it’s a tucked fan design from one of Jennie Rayment’s books, and first I made a muslin prototype, then the one out of fancy bridal fabric.

Working with fancy bridal fabric is a lot different from sewing with muslin.  A case of the slip, slide and away sewing syndrome attacked quickly.  Sewing kudos to all you bridal dress makers. 

This block isn’t totally pieced, but I like how it’s shaping up.

The shadow underneath the lace motifs at the top of the fan is the netting that holds them all together.  That will be carefully trimmed and sewn in place. 

The pearl beads are sewn on one half of the fan - with 2 strands of silk thread.  I read in some of my beading books that it’s best to string and sew pearl beads with silk thread, so that’s why I used it instead of Nymo.

The heart at the base isn’t sewn on yet either, but I like the placement and will add lots of silk ribbon embroidery and beads to that motif and along the arch.

The top arc fabric section hasn’t been added yet as I wanted to complete all the tucks.  This way the folds at the top will be laying in the correct direction.  It will be a lot easier to add that top section if all the folds are tacked in place.  Then it will be time to zig-zag the edges and do a running stitch around the actual block size, so I know what my embroidery borders are.

I thought it would be fun to post about this block as a work in progress.  Instead of posting a photo of the completed project, it’ll be fun to share how it develops with everyone. 

My Bella Lace cardigan is finished.  It fits like a dream and I happily wore it for our family’s Father Day celebration. 

As you can see, I’m ample and have been for awhile now.  I’ve been wearing oversized clothes because frankly, it’s hard to find comfortable, well fitted clothing for the curvy, ample sized figure.   Boxy, oversize clothes are a style I’ve never liked, and I really don’t think they are all that flattering to the female form - no matter what size it is.

So, this sweater that was originally designed when I was thinner, and for a knitting machine publication, has been resized and rewritten for the hand knitter in mind.  If you are interested about knitting one for yourself, there is more information about the Bella Lace pattern on my business website - www.dimitysdrygoods.com

Life is a celebration.  The joy I felt wearing that sweater yesterday was obvious.  My younger sister commented on my “playful” upbeat mood.  I felt good and it showed.