Helina's block and "Crazy Quilt Gatherings" guidelines

Sometimes the first decisions seem minor but they can make a big difference later on... Putting laces, braids, ribbons on seams can change the look of the block...

In the left photo I placed the pink ribbon to the left of the seam and on the right I placed it to the right of the seam.. You can see what happens to the white patch... Since I want to do a wide seam I am leaving it on the right.

Next I wanted a small lace on the curved seam... In the left photo I put it on the outside of the curve and on the right it is on the inside of the curve. It will be much easier to do a wide seam on the outside of the curve (on the green) so I am leaving the lace on the right...on the inside and will embellish it as a separate seam...I will probably add a gold cording down that seam for glitz. I chose the wide lace upper right corner because of it's geometric qualities. It will be perfect as a guide for a dandy fancy wide seam...


You have seen lots of Pat's magazine in CQ blogs but so far no one has given you guidelines for reading it...
1. Read it from cover to cover... my page twice..
2. Go back and visit all the blogs of the contributors.. I knew most already but some were new... Loved Suzy Q.
3. Pour over all the ads and visit them... I found many sources new to me and have placed orders..
4. (the stage I'm at now) Take a magnifying glass and examine all the incredible details....
5. Buy extra copies for your friends as gifts and give them these guidelines... order here

DH left for a 30 mile-bike ride at 7am this morning and it is only 19 degrees F. He was hoping his bike mate would call and cancel. But not wanting to be the wimp, he went... But even though it's cold, the sun is shining and there's no wind... I bet he'll have a grand time. Meanwhile I should be cleaning house for Cathy's visit but I'm on the couch in the sun with my coffee, my dogs, my magnifying glass, and Pat's magazine...

Last Block...seams only

This is my last block in the "Seams Only" RR and it belongs to Helina... As you can see there are only four patches and three long seams.. But Helina has very cleverly requested and put out the challenge for wide seams..... I will use some ribbon or lace to increase the possibility of seams...

And I love wide seams.. the large space they take up visually creates such interesting patterns...




As a contrast Jeanne's block in the same RR had 9 patches and endless seam possilities but all very short...









There are fantastic wide seams in my Carole Samples "Treasury" book such as the one I circled at the left... I've always wanted to use some but I seldom have the space...Now's my chance... There are so many that it will be difficult to choose just a few... I won't have time to get started for a couple days but will keep my book handy to start highlighting the ones I might try... This book will be the first thing I pack going to CT in April.

Carole says others take their books to office supply stores and have a plastic binder put on it. I think that is the greatest idea and I would have NEVER thought of it...

Tie and Morris

Remember the lovely tie I scanned and then it went missing??? I still haven't found it... We immediately blamed Morris who is usually guilty of everything, but unless he ate it I can't see where he could have put it that I haven't looked... So that means that I am probably guilty of putting it "somewhere safe"

So I don't know about you, but when I have exhausted my search options.... I start cleaning.. really cleaning... moving furniture type cleaning.. So far no luck but I haven't done a lot yet... I can't believe I had that tie for years and now when I can finally use it, I lose it...



And speaking of Morris... When we leave for a few hours we always put him in the laundry room where he can do the least amount of damage. We can't put Molly in there because she is terrified of linoleum floors... But Morris is 1 year old now and we thought we would try leaving him with Molly in the living room....because he cries when he is separated from her.


The sectional was neat and tidy when we left ...covered with blankets so they could look out the window .. There are about 20 cushions and pillows on the sectional and there was NOT ONE that wasn't askew. And isn't he the very picture of innocence.

What nobody talks about!

After the RR is over and a block goes home I'm assuming that I'm not the only one that makes changes both simple and drastic. We just never get to see it after that happens... I think also lots of blocks ends up in a drawer because it's hard to see what's needed.. This summer I want to do a tutorial on "Can this block be saved?" Well I'm showing the whole story of this block..

This is how it left home with lots of lace and a silkie....also instructions for lots of hearts and flowers and no orange. And I included a little verse that said it all... "My little trollop is a slightly soiled dove...searching everywhere for her own true love.." This was the same "encrusted RR" as the previous posts...

This is the block on it's arrival home with lots and lots of wonderful stitching on it... If I really love a block I will start the final tuning and I really loved this block... Please note Maire's delicate stitching on the stripes.. and Leslie's whimsical use of beads next to silkie... Ati finished framing the silkie with roses...Here's what I see I need to do:

1. There's a piece of naked lace in the upper left and we all know lace cannot be left naked.

2. I hadn't thought to request fans but there are two fabulous fans from Cobi and how clever for Cobi to add fans... perfect... and it needs MORE fans...

3. The tiny perfume charm which Ati added needs to be in her hand.

4. The button trail just isn't working but that one large red one is fantastic and I will use it.. Most of the others will go into my button box for use on something else..

5. Since the theme of the block is searching for love I want more hearts, hearts, hearts...

6. I feel the red silk roses need to be repeated somewhere else on the block....a purely personal choice.

Now here is the block after I finished it...

1. I embellished the naked lace upper left and turned it into a saucy garter.

2. I added four more filigree fans and beaded them.

3. I replaced the trail of button with a trail of hearts of all sorts and the key to her heart.

4. I moved the perfume bottle to her hand and I took that fabulous huge red button and painted a rose on it.. I placed it and a few others from the trail right up next to her head...

5. Finally I replaced the beaded roses lower left with luscious red silk red roses to echo Ati roses...

I don't often completely remove something but if I do, I use it on another block or somewhere else on the same block... I do add lots that most often is inspired by what the stitchers have done (like the fans)... I encourage everyone to make changes to suit you as it's your block... and share what you've done... This is an important part of the process and never makes it to the albums...

More birds, more eye candy...

This is another block from the "encrusted RR" group I posted about the day before yesterday... This is Maire's block as it started out with a patch of delicate forget-me-nots in the center.

I was third in the rotation when I received the block and the color scheme has been established... Ati had added the lovely yellow roses upper left... and I followed with yellow organza roses...I don't often use the organza ribbons but when they're right, they're great...

Isn't that little row of pearl buttons across the center absolutely precious.. I believe Ati added them... Cobi did the yellow pussy willows.

I commenced to work on the lower right half with some love birds and a little poem..Some how forget-me-nots needed lovebirds..

Again the birds were done on felt and appliqued on on the block (and stuffed slightly) I really don't intend it, but I do rather get heavy handed on a block.... a drama queen of sorts. Can't help it though... I will be ready to jump back into RRs by fall...

Leslie followed me and finished the block in grand style. Just in case you hadn't noticed...there are very strong directional elements in this block which carry the eye... Start at the branch lower right, follow up the pussy willows into Ati's roses and Leslie used her yellow roses to bring the eye right on around... And what a treat to have yellow roses... We forget roses come in colors besides pink, pink, pink...

What I thought was so special about this team of stitchers is that we all had a very different style but we all worked in harmony. I just love it when that happens..