2016 Crazy Quilt Calendar just released

It is still so hot but it is already September, only four months for the New Year!

Pamela Kellogg's 2016 Calendar just released, I'm looking forward to get my own copy to review it.

By the way, I'm so excited for being "May page" of that lovely project. I did a special block according to project format. My  friends, followers know it well that I keep some items for the special  projects, I used lots of them to create my "May block".Pam sent me a lovely blue bird photo, I printed and decided to create a block  mostly with blue+pink colors. 

I just used a dark blue color lace trim and golden color ric-rac and a beaded lace, I did all other seam treatments myself. 

There were some dark blue+blue+white combo little oya flowers, I put them on to pink patch, my little bird now looking them:)) The fabric of that mentioned patch specially hand dyed from our southern part. I love to use those fabrics for the quilts that I make according to paper piecing method,  their performance is great, no comparison with the standard cotton fabrics.

As I mostly do, I used a Chevron stitch as a base, kept stitching, added lots of beads, with some contrast colors. I especially made some long patches to create long seam treatments.

 I added some other stiff type oya flowers on the dark blue patch, they really popped up. I did spider rose flowers with variegated silk ribbon. It is our locally produced silk ribbon. I really like their natural color scheme. I also used same type of ribbons to create leaves and other SRE works, as well.

As I told before, I used many special items. My vintage Czech  buttons the most important ones. Their story is interesting for me. I was going to Ankara frequently during my daughter's college years. One day, I went to an old store that was selling elegant accessories in my youth, as being a naval family, we located in different places, one of them was Ankara, our capitol city. My mother's choice was always haute couture and she was getting real special things from that shop for her tailor made dresses. After all those years that little shop's goodies were still so exclusive. I selected lovely trims and I noticed a small button but it was on their little showcase. He told me if I've interested in with buttons he could bring me some boxes from storage. I waited a few minutes, he came back with two boxes which were full of Czech buttons. He said, these are only samples, most of them discontinued products, I bought them long time ago, nobody interested in with them, just select as you wish just pay a symbolic money. You can imagine what I felt that moment, I bought lots of wonderful buttons. But, I still blame myself, why I didn't buy those two boxes with all those buttons!!! In those days I was a Newbie, I didn't know the value of  them.

I tried to catch color harmony as much as I can, colors of my block are so soft, I tried to take photos in day light however, I believe that they don't justice real colors but I'm happy with outcome, I  really enjoyed so much to create something for the coming year. 

It is a great honor to take part in that project among all those well talented&experienced Ladies:))

So, I tried my best to create a special block using special items from my stash. I hope you like my "May page" and entire calendar. Wishing you all the best....

Downton Abbey-DYB RR, my work on Ola's block

Some of my followers should remember I've had some struggles to work on a buddy's block last year, she had "Downton Abbey" concept on her RR block. It was totally unknown issue for me, after my trials I learned that it is a famous TV show and I tried to do my best on that mentioned RR block. 

When I recognized a new RR with "Downton Abbey" theme, I decided to join without hesitation. All those lovely blocks with fancy fabrics should turn to a real beauty with "Downton Abbey" theme.

 So, I received first block from my RR partner Ola, her naked block was so pretty with nice fancy fabrics. I decided to work on the main colors, black&beige. I collected all neat items from my stash and started to work. At first, I added a lace at the right side. I made Chevron stitch with variegated black thread at top, added lots of things, sequins, bugles, metallic seed beads.

My partner should like to have some oyas but, unfortunately I don't have any neat color flowers I just added a nice handmade beaded lace. I preferred to create rich seam treatments with contrast colors.

Some SRE with black silk ribbons and help of metallic golden color thread looked pretty at the beige patch, addition of the golden color leaves made that side nice, isn't it???

As I always love to make chain stitches with metallic threads, I did them on the black velvet patch. Added some little charms, too.  On the middle beige patch, I added a big size "Life tree" charm that I've found it recently in a forgotten box.
So, my first work on this interesting theme RR finished and it started its long journey to reach Brenda...Now, I'm waiting another block to play with...I wish I could live in the past eras:))  I love all those elegant, fancy things of the past eras....

Diva's Elegance DYD RR - My work on Fitzy's block

This time I've worked on a special block with a different concept. My RR partner lives in the Sonoran Desert, close to Tucson, Arizona. She likes keys, coins, tiny charms etc. and she would like to have retro style. Her explanations are so clear in her  RR note but I must admit that it is totally a different concept for me to create something with desert, cowboy town theme.

I 've picked one of block with a lovely print with Tucson cactus motif. I  did one of my favorite stitch with variegated color thread at the right side, added green color seed beads.

I did a Chevron stitch at left side using desert color thread, I added neat color beads as well

I used brass like small charms on the Fitzy's nice lace.  I added different keys to catch a different contrast, also did chain with neat metallic treads. 

I tried to remember all those cowboys films that I've watched, John Wayne, Lee Van Cleff were our childhood heros....A cowboy town without bar!!! I stitched a label, afterwords, remembered my small letter beads. I had a cowboy boot and small dollar baggie  charms in my stash, they were all perfect accessories...At last I added another small charms to create a sun according to my fantasy, my metallic Gutterman thread did good job for the sun shines. Due to very hot climate, everyone must wear a hat there, so I added a cap.  At last put a small heart shape charm, too.

I hope Fitzy likes what I did for her big wall hanger. I've never worked on a block with desert, cowboy theme before. I was so hesitant at the beginning, I didn't know what to do...But, after starting first seam treatment everything went so smoothly, I enjoyed to work on that block. I must create something for me too:))

Vintage Victorian DYB RR - My work on Alice's block

I've started to work on Alice's colorful block before our trip. Unfortunately I couldn't finish it as I planned before our departure, I would like to repeat  my thanks to RR group members for their understanding.

 I started my work with making a mimosa spray on the wine color patch which made an excellent color mix with the top yellow patch. I used small golden charms with green seed beads,  their combo  looked pretty. As my CQ buddies and followers know, I like to use chain stitch very much, I like its lovely appearence on the patches and it provides a great background to create new seam treatments easily.

 My RR partners like me to use oyas, I keep use diffferent oya models on each block as much as I can. I prefer small types otherwise in these 6X6" small blocks I can lose control of embellishment harmony.  I used green bugles under the silk print and did bullion sttiches with yellow silk threads, 14-16 wraps with one ply thread.  I embroidered my name on this block with metallic thread. 

The silk print of the block is black&white. I just added Swarovsky crystal beads as Victorian Lady's necklace to catch nice harmony with main patch's  lovely wine color tone. I hope Alice likes what I've done on her block. We're coming to end of another RR, I'll have just two more blocks to play with.  Happy stitching.....

Victorian Vintage DYB RR - My work on Kristie's block

I just completed my work on another RR block. It was Kristie's lovely block with a silk cat print on it. The bottom left side of the block is a vintage hankie, I didn't want to do overdo on the hankie. She had been folded hankie as a triangle, I started with one of my favorite seam treatment on the hypotenuse side of the triangle and added small pearls at the other edges. I found an old narrow trim that I've dyed it several years ago with some ribbons as well, I added it on to Kristie's own lace. Its color matched with the bottom salmon color fabric patch. I kept continued with other seam treatments. I used various bugles, sead beads. I added an old silver cat charm, another RR participant had been embroidered almost same figure.  I added oyas upon Kristie's demand,  my selections are small, stiff models with neat colors to her block. I hope she likes what I did.

At last I added  some charms that they are bees, butterflies and some glass beads. The ribbon of my small SRE is from Ribbonsmyth. I've dyed it with Tang long time ago, its performance is still super. 

AS I always say so, block making is my weak point. When I get lovely blocks I love to embellish them, I hope Kristie should like what I've done on her block.

Happy stitching......

Victorian Vintage DYB RR- My work on Tahlia's block

 2014 year started with different activities for me, one of them is a new RR, Vintage Victorian theme DYB RR. 

I've worked on Tahlia'a block which was designed as real vintage blocks and special fabrics. If fabrics are nice and soft to work on it is easy. I started to make my favorite big lazy daisy, afterwords I kept continue to embroider a fan and spider web. I used swarovski crystal beads to make spider, it is my new creation:))  Tahlia's biggest main parch is a soft silk fabric with olive green color. I tried to use my all vintage cotton threads with same color to make seam treatments . I also used olive green color silk ribbons to make little leaves....Upon her request I added my name and country and of course some oyas. 

I was hesitant what to do at the begining because I usually work on only solid fabrics, when I have blocks with different designs, different motifs, I scare to lose control of color harmony. I guess, I didn't exaggerate my work and catched a harmony, I hope she likes what I've done. Now, I'm waiting another block to play.

A surprise baggie arrived!

What is a real surprise for a Crazy Quilting lover???  I'm sure that most of you understands my feelings when I received a lovely baggie with full of lovely items from dear friend Gerry. She is my DYB RR partner, it was so lovely to be able to stitch with her as the other group members. I liked some charms on a RR block that she worked....she sent me lots of them, appreciated indeed. I don't have enough word to explain my happiness now. I opened this lovely box with a big grin on my face and got impressed when I saw all those wonderful charms and other stuff she sent me. Thanks so much for her thoughtfulness and generosity. 

Also, the arrival time of  this lovely box with full of embellishments is perfect, Mar.8, 2013. It is women day, I wish peaceful world to all humanhood!

Victorian Ladies - DYB RR, Cathy's block

 DYB RR - Victorian Ladies keeps going, I worked on Cathy's lovely block this month.But, unfortunately, I've completed it a little bit late due to some serious family health issues.
 I enjoyed so much to work on it. I tried to use all soft color threads and silk ribbons.

 This photo shows the final of the block. Its original looks so pretty, the photo doesn't justice its pale colors. A small violin charm is the last addition to piano playing ladies theme. I wish I could have a small piano charm!  The silk print was so nice, I just covered its surrounding, didn't touch the main figure.

This photo is another close-up to show you little beading materials I've used on the block. I added small sead beads on to little charms, they looked so pretty for me, I hope Cathy likes them too. Most of my quilter friends know that I love to use sequins, I shouldn't complete this block without sequins;-)) I'm glad that there were neat color sequins in my stash,  I think, I catched a lovely color harmony.

Now, I'm waiting another block to play.

First CQ project of 2010!

After a hectic period finally I'm back to my routine life and gave a start to stitch with a lovely project. One of my online buddy from the USA will have a presentation to show different CQ applications from different cultures. She just kindly asked to borrow one of my CQ project for the mentioned presentation but I wanted to create something different for her as a present . As most of my CQ'er buddies knows, I don't use much trims on to my blocks, I love to create my own seam treatments. But this time, I used different handmade beaded oya laces to reflect Turkish application on a Turkish style CQ block. Everything,, I've used, on this block is from our local market.
I started to get pieces together with my favorite Victorian colors,
after piecing the block I added neat color trims, of course I selected them among my beaded oya laces, and stitched seam treatments using mostly silk threads. I crocheted two little hats, but I decided to use pinky one, it looked more apparent with its lovely colors and its contrast border ribbon.

This is a highlight of the bottom side. All those embellishments that I used are from our local market. The silk ribbons that I used to make web & fargo roses are also local products, that variegated silk ribbon looked so pretty on the web rose . The bronze butterfly charms looks like antiques. Recently, I found that little tulip charm at a local bead shop. I especially wanted to use it because tulip is another nice symbol of Istanbul. The origin of tulip is Istanbul, it goes to 15th-16th centuries, Ottoman Empire.

This photo shows the right side of the block.I used my favorite style oyas on the pink fabric and added a calla charm. It is also a new charm that I found it from a bead shop at Ankara. These oyas in this photo are a new creation with my favorite colors with lilac and purple tones of floss thread.

A CQ block without an evil eye bead won't look too much Turkish. Of course, I added a nice evil eye bead to complete it:))
This photo shows some other details of the left side.

Here is the final of the 7x7" little block that I made for dear friend, Lynn. The block on its long way to go to Ca right now. I crossed my fingers it will be reached to there in time to be used at her presentation.
Unfortunately photos doesn't judge the colors so well, however I wanted to share all details of my first CQ project of 2010. I hope 2010 will be a creative year for all of us....Happy stitching.....