A Short Video of some Motifs/Techniques Learned in the Free Courses!
Got the back and lining put on my stocking for Lyn's exchange, and it is in the mail! Woot! Woot! Another task crossed off my list!
Now, I wonder who's stocking I shall receive in return???
My friend Lyn is having a Christmas Stocking exchange. And, these are just the right size for giving as special little giftees...for that special gal-pal...filled with lovely stitching supplies. "I'm just saying!" Hint, hint!
I just got started last night. The theme is silver...and I was surprised at how little silver fabric I had on hand. I could have waited until a trip to the fabric store (which is Wednesday with my niece)...but my muse has NO patience...so we pulled some lovely neutrals to go the light gray I had on hand. These are all silks, and were in a selection of fabrics that I got from Victoria over at Ribbonsmyth. Love the look and feel of silk!
Have just gotten the stitching started...and already, my muse wants to do a second one!
There is just no stopping her!
Doesn't she realize that I have my CQJP block still unfinished for July!
And one round-robin block that just needs a dragonfly and some more beads?
Or, the other round robin block that is calling my name?
Geez, what am I going to do with her!
Better get off here and get to stitching!
I know...I said that I was not going to sign up for any more swaps...but my MUSE is insane! Seriously, she needs medication....and my doctor refuses to give her any...just looks at me and makes little notes on my chart when I talk about her.Here are six 6-inch blocks ready to embellish...in an HGTV CQ Swap that Nickilee has organized...hush, stop laughing...seriously...I'm concerned about my muse!
I managed to get a little more stitched on the Wine Round Robin this week. A little "D" for Darlene, complete with a Swarvoski crystal bicone grape cluster.
And added some sequins and bead grapes to the fabric motif already on the block. Next....a few seams!
The Lace & Pearls round robin at CQI has begun, and Arlene's block arrived last week. I have until the 15th of February to stitch about 1/4th of the block...before passing it along to the next lady in the rotation. BUT, I have not been able to let it rest...immediately upon seeing the fabrics, my muse was thinking! So, I've been stitching a little on it each day....and am almost done. So, thought I'd give Arlene a little tease today...this photo doesn't give too much away....perhaps, she'll get the full picture tomorrow! Ha!
The Roses, Roses, Roses round robin is coming to a close. This is the finished block for Meg...isn't it just gorgeous! She wanted a Yellow Rose for Texas theme...so we tried to stay true to that request, while working with the fabrics she constructed her block of. The ribbon work by the ladies before me is phenominal! Love every little smidge of this block!Here is my meager contribution...the bottom right corner...
...and a yellow rose beaded cabochon.
My largest ribbon rose is a simple free-form type...roll the center...
...here's a better photo.
Stitch it down to an interfacing base. Gather the remainder of the long end of the ribbon...and wrap around the base.
Add some extra little petals to the base...gathering the bottom of each before stitching down...
And her is the final little rose. After cutting away the excess interfacing and stitching to the block...I added some green leaves around it. Easy, breezy!
No, not the "drinking"...the stitching! Starting another round robin soon...titled "Wine". I see tons of grapes, vines, wine bottles, etc being stitched very soon! And since I didn't want to limit my stitching sisters...I included colors for dark wines, light wines, and even champagne! Let the fun begin!
Woot! Woot! I made it...all of my round robin blocks are finished! Here is Judy's...it was a very interesting block to work on. From the beginning I wanted to turn that dramatic center into some sort of visual...and not cover it up. Working in orange and pink was VERY new to me...and I saved that challenge until last on purpose. Not because I was dreading it...oh no..but because I was intrigued by it!
Here is Judy's finished block...
The center of the flower is done in Petite Velvet Threads...and French knots look like little miniature snowballs. Of course, don't eat any green or yellow ones! Ha!
And, here are a few fireants checking out the flower...I'd love to take credit for these...they they are the brainchild of Allie Aller, and on her blog header. I use them with her permission...and although I have changed them somewhat to fit the beads I have on hand...I still think of them as "her's".
The block for PJ is done and in the mail. Here is how the block looked before I stitched anything...
The green, purple, and blue reminded me so much of spring.
And here it is all done...I loved stitching on it. Especially while the cold winds of winter have been howling against my windows! Hand dyed a couple pieces of lace to match, and stitched a few seams. This block was a joy...and it was quick!
A lovely floral fabric is the focus of this block. I did not want to cover them up, so stitched the stems and added seed beads to the flower heads. A few pretty seams, and I'm all done!
My dear friend Colleen, used some very interesting fabric in her block. They did not speak to my muse at all...and I really struggled with them. For some reason, just kept thinking of cotton dishtowels...and that is not very inspiring. So, finally...decided to concentrate on stitching some pretty seams and added a bit of lace. Generally, I'm pretty happy with the final look and think that it would make a really pretty photo book cover. So, the muse will just have to get over it! Hugs!
Andrea's block was fun, and a challenge...because I decided to try out a little stumpwork dragonfly. He is my first attempt at wired wings...and I'm still not sure if I like him...so, am sending along a silk ribbon bow to replace him if Andrea's just wants to yank him off the block.
Here's the next block to be finished..for Deborah H. The fabrics were black, tan, pink, and light green. I was drawn to the image of people and decided to frame that.
Added some seams and silk ribbon rose buds with bullion stitch leaves.
All of this rain has my head stopped up...and I'm wanting a nap! But, instead I decided to try to stitch a little, and so glad that I did! I loved working on Jeanne's block...and am going to have a hard time sending it home!
The center rose fabric is dress quality and I'd love to have owned yards of it because it is so pretty!Of course...you know that I love roses!
Got a few hours to work on some more crazy quilt rectangles and finished up Cathy L's heart block. It was fun sorting through all of my beads searching for tiny hearts!
It's rainy this week, so might not mail back until after Christmas with all of the stuff still left to get done...and the post office is so busy...waiting might be a good thing!
These are 8-inch blocks...and will be a batik (mostly) wall hanging. The batiks are the same that I used in the 12-inch blocks. The larger blocks will be for the bed-quilt and not have lace or beads. These 8-inch blocks are definitely for lace, ribbon, beads....anything goes. The beautiful little silkies were sent to me by Pat Winter with a note to "play with abandon"...and so I shall!The lace is just pinned on at the moment...but here are photos just the same.
Eleven of the twelve silkies are images best viewed when the blocks are set on point...so, I'm thinking on that. Setting them on point might make the finished quilt too large with the setting triangles in place. I'll have to draw that out and determine my plan for completion before I start stitching.
