CQ Crazy

Well here it is. Elly I have not taken a picture of the motif - keeping that a secret! Also the picture is bleached out by the flash so the colours are not accurate - much better in real life :)



I chose to sew a double feather stitch vine (in green) with lazy daisy chain stitch flowers (yellow). Hope you like it.

If you've visited SharonB's "inaminuteago" blog today,you'd have seen more eye candy featuring SRE and Ribbon embroidery.One of the sites she mentions has the instructions for starting Silk Ribbon embroidery.
Go have a look
for some extra ideas.

BTW: Jacqui if you email me privately I can give you an email addie or two to follow-up for CQers in England.

Hi all :) just posted a link to the crazyquiltinginternational yahoo group for anyone (like me) who has been bitten by the CQ bug. Seem to have just expressed an interest in a forth coming CQ RR. Thinks - better start the one I am already doing then hadn't I? Anyone looking for more information on stitches etc. should look under 'links'.

Another CQ group I'm associated with is having a Retreat in November,and one of the activities listed is a "Swap of ATCs"(Artist's Trading Cards ).These are to be constructed to a maximum of 2.5 by 3.5 inches,and I've added to this blog, some cards by another friend for you to see what I'm talking about.
From memory,SharonB also mentioned them in "inaminuteago" blog in the last month.
There is also a yahoo website devoted to these ATCs
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FiberATC/

Thought we could all be inspired by looking at the beautiful work of Sharon Boggon. There is great inspiration for us beginners as we take our first steps. Look at all the lovely buttons and beads - so don't despair if you can't make bullion roses or do ribbon embroidery ... yet. I shall certainly be turning out 'grandma's' button box at some point during this RR :)

This beautiful heart is Elly's naked block. Now ALL I need to do is embellish - eck! No pressure!

This is Hope's block---ready to leave for Joma to play with!

Posted by Hello

In view of the fact that Elly has a heart doing the rounds,I thought you might like to see some small ones(4 inches) and there are more at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenmaurscorner/

maureen

Received a naked block today ! from Scootinelly. It is a beautiful heart shaped piece. Once I have her go ahead I will post a picture. I think it is a lovely idea to use a shaped block like this one, I wonder what Elly has in mind for the finished piece?

I've been becoming more and more frustrated with the MSN site not allowing me access to posting pics in the Album that LynetteB set up for the CQ blocks RR,so today I started "CQCrazy" and added scans of Hope's block,and I think,the fan block I sent off to Joma,which is now with LB.
My confusion (over relevent blocks) is due to the fact that I've got another four Fan blocks tootling around "out there" and as two are very similar,I'm not sure "which" went "where".
Anyway,I hope that the other stitchers can access one of the three places available for bragging!

As I couldn't view the pic on Jacqui's posting,I've included the link to "allstitched up" so that you can go visit her and see it!

Hopefully this should post a picture of my block here - fingers crossed :) Please let me know if you can't see it!

My first CQ block is on it's way to Trish in New Zealand.

My only problem in making it was in overcoming my reluctance to begin. All those choices! All the beautiful fabrics I had gathered - which to use and where? What shapes to cut and where to position them? Seems silly now :)

I used the stitch and flip technique and just dived in. First I gathered a pile of colours I thought would go well together and then I pulled them randomly from the pile, cut out any old shape that seemed to fit (well everyone on the forum keeps saying "no rules", right?) and stitched it down. I did have a few fabrics that slipped as they were sewn. I guess this is why some people were suggesting using cottons. But nothing too disasterous. I assume (!) that as the seams will be anchored by the embellishment / seam treatments this will not matter. Finally I was pleased with the end result and so glad to have actually got it done.

As for the log book / journal, well, I am sure I could have done better here! Due to taking so long to get the block done - procrasternating - I was in a rush to post and ended up writing an open letter to my RR partners (setting out my likes and dislikes) and enclosing some sheets of paper for them to add comments on. I will, hopefully make this into an entry in my quilting journal - you know the one I'm going to make when I get around to it!

So, now I wait for the really scarey bit - sewing on someone elses block!!!!

For Hope!A preview of seam treatment on her block.More work is to be done on the purple patch!

Posted by Hello

Having a quick browse through SharonB's "inaminuteago"blog I came across mention of the above link:
it takes to you a "workshop" on how to ruche fabric for use as floral decorations,etc.
Not knowing what skills some of our newbies in the RR have,I thought I'd mention it,just in case you're looking for new ideas.

This is Hope's block for the RR.As you can see,she has already started embellishing her block on the Egyptian print patch,where she has added Papyrus flowers in DMC Pearl thread,Along the seam line she added Cretan stitch in DMC rayon and loops of seed beading in blue and gold beads.

Posted by Hello

This is the Fan Block I posted to Dianne for the RR.
Needless to say there are no pins still in it and the lace is sewn in position.
I just forgot to take a photo in its "ready to go"stage,like I forgot to scan my Logbook :-(

I decided to let this block become a "potluck" one,in that I've not really placed any restrictions on my fellow RRers:
In fact the only comment I made was that NO bulky embellishing (e.g. buttons or beads) came within 1/4 inch of the internal seam line;suggesting that if this was to happen,the extra buttons/beads be attached to outside of block,with a note in the logbook for me to complete the work when it returns home.


Posted by Hello

Naked block (12x5 inches") for a Mobile phone pouch.The back & front are worked as one piece.As the piece was too long to fit in scanner,the lower(rear edge when finished) patch is missing.It matches the red/green silk on top edge

Posted by Hello

Hey - I just posted a DYB Maureen did for me on my block. Third piccie down in that post.

DYBs are where the ultimate owner pieces the blocks, and each person embellishes one each - a special sort of RR. Do pop over and see how clever she is. :)

Although, actually, I guess I can post the pic here:


It is the one on the left - the skinny bit on the right is where I am bringing it up a bit to fit into the overall work, and find a place for this dyed motif.