Decisive I'm not!!!!

I had prepared these three bird patterns to do in gold for my next three CQJP.  I thought long and hard about which I wanted to do first.  It was going to definitely be between the owl and the swallow.  I finally decided on the swallow.... definitely...

 

And what did I do first?... the baby birds...The nest is the star here so it got all the beads and sequins, etc. and I will add more when I actually put it on the block.. I chose this lace but need to paint it gold yet.  I experimented with lots of gold threads, etc but what turned out to be a surprise material that worked well as a filler was narrow strips of gold tulle.





And how did this come about.  Well I had some stitchers here on Saturday and I traced the baby birds on some blocks for them to do and I put a big selection of various texture in cording, threads, etc. in the middle of the table.  Their task was to be momma birds for the day and build a nest for their babies.  Since they were doing this I decided I would work on mine also....in gold. They had a fun day being momma birds.

Yesterday I rested a while on the front porch and watched a white-crowned sparrow flying in and out of a juniper building its nest....

Eye Update and stitch progress..

The sight in my right eye is pretty much a fun house mirror image like this picture (not only blurry but distorted as well) and because of a partially blocked vein in that eye I will be lucky to keep that much vision.. and it is not fixable. But I use drops usually used for glaucoma to reduce pressure in that eye so the vein does not completely block. The blocked vein is not part of the macular and is a separate problem all together.

I can see things fairly well with my left eye if it is something within about a 24-36"  range and it allows me to stitch with my wonderful magnifying lamp. 

But you might remember about 3 years ago I shattered the ocular bones on the left side of my face and they had to implant a plate to support that eye to keep it from sliding into the sinus cavity...That saved the eye but it affected its ability to focus...especially when it is tired. So I can only stitch for short periods before the eye tires and I see double.  Grudgingly I'm accepting what I just can't do and finding other ways to do things.


Having said all that I am determined to slowly finish up what I have going...  First the books of the cottage blocks.  I have six of the blocks as pages all   bound.  Will now add laces etc. to finish off the pages...

It is nearly the end of April and  I am barely started on the gold images let alone the cream on cream..  As always on anything I cut out, I outline with a very tight chain stitch.  The last ones I did on gold velour but I'm wanting to try these on cotton and will paint the fabric gold before I stitch it. (after the outlining)  These are small enough to stick in my sewing bag and tote about...  I love that.

And the biologist at a nearby wildlife refuge confirms that we have a visiting badger in our forest... and the hummingbirds have arrived for the summer....now I'm waiting for my wren who arrive in May.

February CQJP finished

Finished this cedar waxwing last night and will take a break from CQJP to reorganize and get other projects underway.. upcoming birds will be hummingbird, robin on nest, barn owl and swallow.

 

 

 

 

Hit the thrift shops yesterday and found a few treasures including another revolving shoe rack...What wonderful space savers and organizers they are.  This one is much nicer than the other one I used for thread and ribbon.  I will fix this one for paint bottles.  Who would ever use it for shoes??????

So far so good.......

So far so good with Plan A..  Getting ready to position the waxwing and do more gold stuff. 







Last night's dinner.  Duck crepes with a plum sauce.  Happy Hubby!

Charting new waters....

Charting new waters or wading in over my head.  I'm about to start the waxwing and they have such a soft smooth look that I want to use layers of tulle and keep it simple.  On this frog from the gold RR I used lace over several layers of tulle.  The lace has been cut away and he is ready to cut out but you can still see the tulle.

On this perfume bottle I tried netting over about 4 layers of tulle and lame....  This was from the same round robin.

So on the waxing it's only going to be only tulle...4 layers - two different colors.  To keep it spare I will only use the tiniest of my gold beads for the shading and the smallest cording to secure it.  That is the plan A anyway...should work..  hope not to  have to find a plan B...(or C).

I have picked the lace for the wing and painted it gold. I will pin down all layers of tulle and work through all layers and not cut away the tulle until it is entirely done...













Had a spectacular sunset last night. 

Next birds and progress report

One of the things I failed to mention last month that often I will print several paper copies of a bird (or other image) in various sizes and place the cutouts on the block to see what size works best.  I can also use these cutouts as "space holders" when I'm planning my stitching.









The next two gold birds will be a cedar waxwing and a hummingbird.
The waxwing is, as you can see, fairly simple shapes and can be transferred  easily with my "cut away" transfer method.







On the other hand the hummingbird is quite complex but it too can still be easily transferred you just have to cut away more parts.  Shown here as a paper cutout above (sections marked for placement of gold embellishments)  and below the results after doing the transfer by cutting away bits.


Things I've learned so far: 

I figured the gold velour was going to be a bit stretchy headache but I had to try it anyway because I loved the color and texture.  But it turned out to be fabulous.  The color enhanced the beads, etc. and it was a dream to applique....so I am using it some more...  I couldn't have been more shocked at how well it worked out.

Next my initial plan was to paint a bunch of lace gold and work from that.  But there is such small amounts of lace on the birds and the shape has to be so specific, I realized I'd end up with a pile of gold lace I wouldn't use.  So I will paint lace gold as I need it..

First block finished... adventure underway!

The January block was finished once my signature button was attached.  The first birds that come to mind now are waxwing, hummingbird, and swallow...  Having a new bird to look forward each month will keep this challenge interesting.

Almost done

I know I said I would photograph how I did the bird and I had every intention of doing a step=by-step but I got started and so caught up that I forgot all together.  I promise to do the next one in steps.

It is done except for the beak and will be about here on the block.  I will also add a branch and legs and feet once it is appliqued on the block.

The lace I painted gold for the wing was a orange/rust piece to begin with..  I painted it gold, added a gold rub and then a tad of glitter.  At first it was too big so I removed it, cut it much smaller and was happy with it.  As I look at it now I want to move the perky little tail a little further back.... but all in all I am delighted with it and eager to try another bird next month...

Cut-away transfer AGAIN!!!

Of all the things I have shared I feel my method of cutaway transfer is the absolute niftiest.  If I want to transfer a design or image to a fabric with texture (velvet, linen, lace, etc) or a fabric that has a prominent print or    fabric that is too special to make any mark on, I ALWAYS use this method and apply it to the BACK of the fabric.  There is already a tutorial on this blog but I will go though the steps once again...

Since I work from the back of the fabric  I need a reverse image of my design.  Then I apply an iron-on interfacing to the back of the fabric.   I mark my image into sections. 

I then cut out the reverse image I want to transfer and lay it on the interfacing and trace around the whole image.

Please note:With birds I do not cut out the beak.  I always apply the beak at the very last.

Then I start cutting off the smallest outside bits.... in this case the top of the head and the tail.  Then I place the image back on the interfacing and make a line where I cut away.

I just keep cutting away bits and marking where I cut.

Eventually I was down to the wing which was the last part to cut up.

You can see what is left of the paper image as I cut it all up into small bits.

Then I do some basting with a contrasting thread on the lines...











And when I turn it over  I have my bird on this velour fabric.  There are no marks or chalk  or tissue paper to deal with and the basting stitches are easy to remove as I go along.  You would be amazed how easily and quickly you can transfer even very complex images this way.

So I have gathered my metallic gold threads and sorted them from light to dark and will soon show you how I start the stitching.

January CQJP and coveted buttons

I have finished the "crème d la crème" part of the block and it is ready for the gold

work bird which I am anxious to start.  Please notice the delightful little pearl square buttons lower left.  They were on a jacket belonging to my friend, Marilyn Lipmann.  For about  3 years every time she wore that jacket I followed her around with my scissors.  She finally tired of either the jacket or me (or both) and let me have the buttons.  There were several dozen and I adore them.

 

I left the basting lines in the photo.  The outer red is the size of the block and the inner  one is where I stop beading.

Thinking ahead....

I'm about to start my first goldwork bird for by January CQJP and it's time to make a decision... mainly what will the first bird be.  I have narrowed it down to two birds.. cedar waxwing and a wren. 


Since the gold bird will be monochromatic I decided to start with birds that were pretty much the same value..  It will be easier to translate to gold materials.







Another criteria in my choice was that it have some distinguishable  characteristic that makes it identifiable.  With the wren that is the white eyebrow and perky tail and with the waxwing it is the mask and top crest.

Then I need to find a pose that maximizes the opportunity for embellishment since I want to use a lot of my gold stash on hand.  So I am going through my picture file of birds.

I want some way to make some of my laces gold metallic and have been waiting for Susie Wolfe to arrive as she is bringing a variety of gold fabric paints from her supplies.  Luckily she will be here in 5 days...

Checked out my supply of gold threads left from the goldwork round robin and I have plenty.  In that RR I tried all brands of gold threads and found I definitely loved the very fine Kreinik metallic threads the very best.  The ones I liked the least were Candlelight gold and DMC gold....both shredded and disintegrated.  I like Sulky gold for couching. I will try some of the golds mixed with black and see if I can use them.

My world outside in general is pretty much monochromatic.  I can usually see all the way across the prairie to the mountains from this window, but the fog has come right up to the fence.  Our 4-wheel drive vehicle has been stuck in the driveway for 3 days so am housebound as well.  Hopefully we will get out today to get some much needed groceries.

Morris has perfected the art of couch potato and this is his favorite position. I can't see how sleeping with his neck all twisted can be very comfortable...

Got the lace and now the gold stuff......

Several years ago I did a series of RR blocks doing my version of goldwork using ticky-tacky Christmas trims and combining it with CQ.  Since they were RRs I had to send them all out but I want to do some more for myself with the CQJP2016.. So the goldwork will be combined with the crème de la crème CQ   and will   be a similar concept as the block below..  I will do the goldwork "off-block" and add it as I did in this block..

Since I gathered up all the laces yesterday, I awoke this morning eager to gather all the gold stuff I had left and I still had plenty.

Luckily I am snowed in or I would be tempted to hit the sale bins for Christmas gold trims on sale and I really don't need any..

I did want to make some of the more structural laces gold and experimented a bit this morning.  Gold paint alone made them too dark but if I painted them, let them dry and then buffed them with gold Rub n' Buff,  I could achieve an antique gold look.. It also toned down some of the trims that were too glitzy. 

Talked it over with Susie W. this morning and she had a few more suggestions to try..

Also Connie E. posted for exquisite beaded birds and I was excited to see what the artist used for the bodies.  It looks like maybe a faux ultra-suede and she painted on it. It would be nice because it wouldn't ravel.

  I had just a bit of that fabric and the gold paint I put on it was ghastly (on the left) but I think the Rub-n-Buff will work (on the right).  Again Susie suggested some other products for me to try.  I also remember when I was making dolls I used gold eye makeup to get a soft gold look on fabric.  So I will get organized and try a lot of techniques.


Here are a few of the other blocks in that series.  The butterfly was worked on gold brocade and it needled well but raveled... and I have no more of it... For the body of the bird lower left I used a gold lame but it did not needle well so maybe I'll have to hit the fabric shop after all when DH gets back from the coast.  The block lower left was inspired by a piece of William Morris wallpaper.
 

Auditioning lace and journal tip...

I started auditioning laces today..I have a special drawer for my most special and prized laces.  They're usually very delicate, handmade and with fine thread.  I don't tat so any quality tatting I find goes in that drawer also.  I used many of them on the corset blocks but still have plenty for this CQJP2016.  I had to wash some today and tea dye some of the stark whites.

Tip:  If you are thinking of making a journal cover keep an eye out for simple doilies of this type.  They are often overlooked because they are so plain but they are perfect as a foundation for laces.

 

DH left without me this morning...I would have worried all the way over, all the time we were there and all the way back so I chose to stay home warm and safe.  He kept saying I wish you would come and I kept saying I wish you would stay home.   He called to say he made it over the pass and sent this picture.

Lace Journal Cover and Change of Plans

Working on this lace journal cover as a Christmas gift.  Giving it a good blocking before I add more lace and final beading.  I use 1/8" elastic to finish it so it can be moved to another journal/planner or address book.

All the CQJP blocks are pieced and on foundation.  Only this one has the guides basted.  The black is the size of the block and the red is a warning to stop beading.  I have ample allowance to make a book and also ample foundation in case I want to use a hoop.  I always like to use a hoop if I'm doing a lot of satin stitching..  We are going to the coast for the holidays and I will take the rest of the blocks and do the basting in the car so I don't have to look at the icy roads.

I decided that I would not like to work on white for a whole year.  Although this looks beige, it is really cream.  So instead of white-on-white....it will be cream -on-cream... 

I'm naming it my "Crème de la Crème" series. 

 

This was a cream-on-cream RR block... the last block of mine worked on by Jo Newsham whom I miss dearly.  I want to include a lot of her seam patterns which I have saved.  She was the very best! This is on my to-do list to block and mount...The intricate diagonal seam near center block is hers.. Cathy Kizeian, Rita Cruz, Cobi Wittekoek were also in this RR...a stellar bunch with a needle.

Have I mentioned I love lace?

Last year one of my dearest friends gifted me some lace she had received as a bride in Italy almost 40 years ago.  I used almost all of it on the corset blocks...  Last week she gave me this box of laces belonging to her late mother-in-law who passed away in 2000 at 81 years of age.  The laces were carefully wrapped in tissue by her mother-in-law Luigia who lived her entire life in Milan... and who I was told wrote lovely poetry.  I just love it when I have a connection to the materials I'm using...  As I am stitching her lace, I will be thinking of Luigia writing her poetry..

And speaking of lace...  I had forgotten our little post office is now closed during the noon hour and of course that is when I arrived..  With about 45 minutes to kill it so happens one of my favorite thrift store (VOA) is just a block away.  It is the one that consistently has a good supply of vintage linens.  I found 2 dresser scarfs with lovely edgings, 5 finely crocheted doilies (one edged with variegated pansies).  The vintage pansy doilies are a very rare find any more.)

And what are my plans for all this lace?..... CQJP2016 of course. This 2008 block was mine when CQI used donated wedding dresses to make blocks for quilts for breast cancer fund raising. I loved doing the white on white and want  to explore it further.  So that is what my focus will be for next year.  Now that I am finishing the CQJP2015 I am eager to start getting ready for next year.  If you are considering participating next year, registration is about over.  This is a completely personal challenge allowing stitchers at any level to hone their skills.  People from all over the world are involved and share their work.

It's a wonderful opportunity to make friends world wide and see work that is truly inspirational.





http://cqjp2016.blogspot.com/