January's CQJP2014 block

I love it when I have a project that I don't want to put down.   January's block was like that, and is pretty well finished I think. 

 

There is an empty piece of pink satin at the bottom, but I may use that space to embroider the name of the person (me) there, maybe using waste canvas.  I haven't decided whether to put the names on the block, on the sashing pieces, or on the back.

SRE roses and leaves on the left, and some beading on a really nice piece of lace

Velvet ribbon flowers and lots of cast on stitches using one of the Colour Variation Perle 5 threads.

I found this lacy looking embroidery in "Bead Embroidery Stitch Samples" by Yasuko Endo.  I used a #10 crochet cotton.

CQJP 2012 Finished!

It's such a good feeling to finish a project!!!

This is my Fan Quilt, my CQJP2012 challenge.  I love how it looks finished.  What you cannot really see in the photo are 13 extra embroidered triangles that fill in the top, bottom and sides.  These triangles hold a small embroidered fan in neutral threads with either pearls or golden beads.   Here are some of them in close up:

Here is the link to all the other fan blocks on Flickr:

dianesm's photos

CQJP2013

I signed up for CQJP2013 but I didn't have any clue of what I was going to do for 12 blocks.  In my head I went from one crazy thing to another and finally decided on a project that would have lots of beading and some stumpwork. 

The blocks are 6" square and this is January and February's blocks joined together.  I also decided that I would not leave the joining and finishing to the end.  (I'm still working on getting my CQJP2012 Fan Quilt completed.) 

This is January's block before being attached to February.  The trees are not sewn on yet, I'll do that after March and April's blocks are added.

And this is February's block.

The idea is, as I work from left to right, that it will be a landscape of changing seasons.  

August Block CQJP2012

Finished the August block, but only just before the September one is due!  This one is really the Technicolour Dreamcoat.  I used mostly Sassa Lynne variegated thread, and variegated silk ribbon with a good helping of orange and red.  

I used a selection of blue silk tie fabric for the block, but I don't remember why I chose to do so much orange and red embellishment.  But it worked OK. 

I know now because I'm in the middle of taking Stitchmap's Colour Theory Class and understanding the colour wheel a little more, I see that blue and orange are complementary colours. 

Here are a couple of close ups: 

  

Flower quilt - Crazy Quilts are Quilts too!

I want to thank all who voted for my quilt in Thearica's Competition and Show on her blog Pigtalesandquilts.  I was so pleased, it came in fourth!  

Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012

My first block finished!  

And the second one ready to begin.

Boy! these deadlines really make you work!


Check out CQJP2012's website here to see all of January's finished blocks.

Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012 Challenge

This is my first block of the CQJP2012 challenge.  I had planned another project, changed my mind and decided to make a CQ fan quilt and use silk ties and plain silk fabric for most of the blocks.  To save the silk from distorting I used the knitted interfacing which I found in our own Fabricland for $5 a metre.  I had a few goes at piecing the fan part, and finally used paper piecing to keep it even.

On the outer curve of the fan I decided to use a large design, and found Carole Samples book a great resource.  I am well on my way with the stitching, but it won't be finished by the end of January.  February's block should be on time as I have no other stitching commitments.  

My CQI All about angels RR block is home

My block is finished and home, thanks to Debbie S., Joyce R., Laurie N. and Wendy R. for their pretty stitches.  I enjoyed working on all their blocks too.   This was a really nice RR, it went very smoothly and the blocks looked great.

This lovely swirly design and the cute button flowers above was and the seam above, embroidered by Joyce. 

Joyce added the crochet hat, Debbie, the crown, the purple seam and the tatted seam 

Wendy's daisies and green feather stitch seam.

Laurie's lace applique and lace trim on the seam

Debbie's littlest angel, Joyce's seam above and below.

Laurie added the monogram and the sequin seam. Debbie's feather stitch is on the left and daisies on the right.

Wendy's silk ribbon work and seam above

Bits & Pieces

I can hardly believe that it's been over three weeks since I've blogged!  It's not that I haven't been doing things, but mostly just finishing up "bits and pieces" and getting stuff ready for the Crazy Adventure in Connecticut coming up at the beginning of April.  

Oh, the innocence of it.  This is my first storage for "lace & trim" from 2008.  It's 10" x 4" and has long been discarded for lace and trim!



My find of the week is this little evening handbag covered with  mother of pearl beads.  There are a few missing, but I picked it up at my favourite store for $1.24, which works out at 2 beads for 1c.

I signed up for my first DYB (do your block) CQI RR.  Six 6" square blocks are sent around to the participants.  The first chooses one and finishes it.  Then they are all sent to the second person, etc. etc.  This is a "tone on tone"  I chose the rainbow:  a block in each of yellow, green, orange, red, purple and blue.

And this is one of those "quilt as you go" strip quilts.  I seem to be quite taken with this pattern since learning how they work on the Ozzie flood relief quilt blocks that I made.  For this one I used strips from men's shirts with the centre strip a piece of silk tie.  I have just begun joining the blocks up with navy blue strips.

Kathy's Basically Beaded RR Block

By the time this block arrived at my place it was a heavy piece of work.  Peggy, Meg and Arlene had added plenty of sparkle and unusual pieces.  The empty spot left for me was the middle (!!) and a section of embroidered lace.  While I was working on the other two RR's I had this one on view to get some ideas of what I could do on the lace section.

I followed the inside pattern of the embroidery and added tiny beads, charlottes and delicas.  And in the centre of each of the three a crystal.  The flower, top right is a piece from a chandelier and to bring it to life I sewed sequins underneath.

This is a rose.  I pretended I was doing bullion stitches with beads, shading them to look like petals.  Did it work?   The two small beaded seams are beaded daisy chains.

This was the last block in this round robin.  I have really enjoyed trying to come up with something different.  The book with the instructions for the daisy chain, "The Beader's Floral" is a wonderful book and I'm determined to progress further than the daisy chain!

Basically Beaded - Meg's block



This is Meg's block ready to move on to Kathy now that Arlene, Peggy and I have added our beaded embelishments.







I added these beaded flowers and leaves and the seam to the right.

And this jewel in the bottom right corner.

And this dangly seam treatment.

Nicki Lee's CQI Tea Time II RR heading home

This is Nicki Lee's Tea Time block as I received it with Carolyn, Cathy and Thearica's work. 

Carolyn, Cathy and Thearica really worked hard and filled Nicki Lee's block with loads of neat stuff.  Just look at the detail, there's lots to see and admire. 

My challenge was the top right hand corner, a triangle of white satin.  My first thought was:  This block is missing some goodies, sweet stuff to go with a cup of tea!

And this is what I added.  They are cut-out cakes from a piece of fabric that I embroidered and beaded.  

After that I added some silk ribbon embroidery to the cup and saucer in the middle of the block.  And worked on the pink, green and gold beaded seam to the right of the cup and saucer.

And finished off with a little embellishing on the items on the second shelf.  And below the block is finished and ready to head home.