Maureen's bluebird, tutorials and an online class.

I hardly published my post yesterday where I was whinging about doing tutorials and within an hour I received an email from Maureen Greeson that she had used my "birds on felt" tutorial to make a bluebird for her February CQJP ....and a precious one it is.

She chose an excellent pattern for this beautiful bird and shared it with us on her blog... I am going to try this one myself... You must go see it on the block and save the pattern she so generously shared... She also mentioned a problem cutting it out so I will go back and review the tutorial and see if I can solve that problem...  The last post I did on this subject could have definitely had bigger and better pictures.  Every time I review a tutorial I find things I could have explained better and they can always be improved with revisions so I always appreciate your input.

Maureen has asked me to teach an online class and I readily accepted.  Doing tutorials is excellent practice for just such an endeavor.  Cathy L. also commented yesterday that I should have explained how to divide an

an image for doing a cut away transfer and she is absolutely right. So when I redo that tutorial with Kerry's goldwork block "how to section the image" will be my top priority...  AND I will run it past Cathy for her input and approval.

I'm in the final stages of Janet's block and my mind is already rushing ahead to Kerry's.  I would love to use some of the miles of various shades of gold tulle in my stash.  AND I want to keep focused on the "marriage" of goldwork and CQ....  You are going to LOVE what I have in mind for Kerry...  Not much stitching time today..but I can spend some time thinking about an online class while in the car.  It's a Gerry "good-wife" day...

Goldwork update and more on transferring designs..

Updating the goldwork....  I just chain stitched around the "too thin" cording and it worked just fine.  I didn't even pick out the thin cording...  I just chained right up against it.. and the extra weight of the chain worked great.. It would look neater if I had done a chain in the first place...

I used a 3 ply DMC gold thread on a spool... It did have a tendency to separate at the end but made a nice chain...  I will use it again.

I also found a long braid of gold cord which I had salvaged from something... As you can see it's a bit wavy after I took it apart but it's a nice weight and manipulates nicely.  I am using it on the bells.








Now on the subject of transfers...... I use applying the design on the back when I am using black or doing something with an ornate design or with a lot of curves. But by far and away my favorite way (and quickest way)  to transfer a design on something I can mark on is my "cut away transfer" technique which I use OFTEN and I already did a tutorial about it. I use a light box (or window) when I can but usually the thickness of the fabric plus the foundation make that impossible....so my version of cut away evolved.... It is amazing once you get the hang of it and, yes Cathy L., you could even use it to position those fairys' eyes. You can transfer most anything in 3-5 steps...

Kerry emailed me that she wants her goldwork piece to be romantic with "aged" colors along with the gold. So while I was working on Janet's block last night I was thinking and planning for Kerry's block.. What I have in mind is very detailed and will be perfect for demonstrating again the "cut away" technique. 

I wish you could all just gather around the table and watch because frankly doing tutorials is a pain... I do some work, take a picture, do some work, take a picture...etc. etc.  Then I have to edit all the photos and annotate them... so I'm whinging and hoping my efforts are appreciated.  It will probably be at least a week before Kathy's blocks get here from Canada...

Progress on Janet's block and how I transfer to to black

I know others use light colored pencils and chalk through tissue and even stitching through tissue... I don't like the residue of of chalk and pencil and find stitching through tissue cumbersome especially since some of this is velvet... So I reverse my design and trace it on the back of the block.... Then I baste along the design with a light thread.  This time I used gold thread to see how that works....

The basting stitching are easy to follow and easy to pick out...  This design is rather elaborate so this method works well for me.

This whole RR is a learning experience for me and an exciting one at that... I have tried to use different materials for each step so I can decide what works for what.. 

It was hard at first manipulating the cord while stitching it but gradually I have gotten adept (well rather adept) of coaxing and shaping the cord with my left thumbnail.  Not difficult, just takes a little practice.

To complicate matters I have always moved the needlework to accommodate my right arm which is partially paralyzed.. So moving the needlework and doing things with that thumb is like rubbing your tummy and patting your head.  But practice will prevail...

I love the larger cord as it is wonderful to work with...  I have learned to pull each couching stitch tight and secure it often.  I'm couching with Sulky gold thread. If I don't remember to pull the couching stitches tight, the cord will shift later...

The biggest problem so far is the cording pointed to by the arrow.  It is too thin and I need something just a tad larger to balance.  I will be taking it out today and replacing it with a chain stitch and will show you the difference.  The small cording will be useful in another design...just not this one.

The large button in lower left corner is just taped there for an audition.  It will hide all the ends of the cords.

I have finished the Christmas cardinal.  I was debating between single strand silk and Edmar and decided on a lightly variegated silk which was just the color of the silk I stitched the bird on.  And the variation in color gives the bird a vintage look which I think is perfect... I'm especially partial to satin stitch done with a very fine single strand thread.

The cording I love is center bottom and the "too thin" stuff is to the right of the hoop.  I am experimenting making chains with different gold threads as you can see... So far I prefer the Krenik over the Candlelight.  I would have liked to do some of the fill on the bird with beads but 11s are too large and none of my 15s were the right color...

I took my mother to breakfast and shopping this morning and we have leftover halibut cakes for dinner so I have an entire afternoon and evening to stitch.  HOORAY!!!

Morris loves bugs, pies vs. tarts, and so much for Myrna Loy

Managed to do some stitching the last couple days on my CQJP "Morris Loves Bugs" page.  Of course the lady bug is a peek-a-boo and lifts up to show another Morris peering back.  I found that gorgeous sequined lady bug on a blouse from a thrift store in CA... I hardly left the store before the scissors were out.

Lower left among the daisies is Morris in stealth mode... Closing in on him is my wonderful woolly caterpillar which looks much better in person...  I crocheted a length of eyelash yarn and stitched it down and trimmed it short.  The spider web is there but no spider yet... I plan to add ants, more ladybugs, bees, 1 dragonfly and the piece de resistance; "rainbow butterflies.."  This page will mainly be a name and count the bugs...

When I had growing kids I loved to make cakes but mainly just for DH pies are now what I do most.... except I love to do tarts... They look prettier and take less fruit.  This one is a "Sour Cream Apple Tart" about to go into the oven yesterday.   Besides I can remove a tart from the pan and put it in my ancient glass-domed cake stand.  I've had the stand for about 50 years and it always pleases me to see lovin' from the oven in it...

A couple years ago I found this lovely  piece of lingerie at a thrift store.  I had planned to cut the lace from the sleeves.  But every time I looked at it I thought of Myrna Loy (Thin Man series) floating around in an elegant morning gown so I left it hanging on my closet door.  Maybe one day I would wake up 75lbs lighter (LOL) ,and  I could lounge on my brocade chaise (LOL), and my maid (LOL) would bring me my coffee on a silver tray (LOL). But this morning I cut off the lace and so much for my Myrna Loy fantasy.. In the lower right corner you see a bit of one of the dolls I made... She has a quite sinister face and an elegant gown...she's called Arsenic and Old Lace.

My crazy quilting life in one blog post!

Pigtails and Quilts is  having a "Crazy Quilts are Quilts Too" celebrating crazy quilting and I'm pleased to be participating..  Crazy quilters are being asked to tell about their work...show examples, tell when you started etc.

  I live on the "dry side" of Washington State with mountains to the north and wheat fields to the south. If I'm not wearing an apron and cooking, I'm wearing my chatelaine and stitching. I especially love creating art that is functional, dimensional and tactile. I have a huge barn filled with endless bins and boxes of interesting bits and pieces for more projects than I have time left. I live on a farm with one husband, numerous Tunis sheep, three chickens, two corgis and a large garden planted for wildlife

I started crazy quilting about 16 years ago and it was entirely different from anything I do now...  I used a foundation fabric and applied vintage cutter linens and embellishments.. I had just gotten a new sewing machine which did lettering so I had sayings all over this vest for my husband..  It was one of my very first pieces.. We used to have booths at flower shows and this was his "uniform."  There was very little in the way of seam treatments as all the edges were the linens themselves.. and all the embroidery work was what was already on the linens.  I still have a large supply of these linens and would like to do another project using them.  I especially like the saying "I'm a fungi."

This block pretty much defines the encrusted look I love to do..... pieces that the longer you look at them the more you see... And I  like to tell a story with my blocks even though I may the only person who hears it...  I also have a real soft spot for the whimsical and it often shows up in my work.

Even though the traditional lace and embroidery work such as my piece on the left is my comfort zone, I continually try to stretch the limits of what I can do with a needle.... such as on the right.

This quest for challenges is why I love to join round robins.  I'm asked to do things and use colors that I would have never done on my own... Over the years I've been in Crazy Quilt International, I figure I have worked on well over 100 blocks which are now around the world.  Here are just a sampling. Please enjoy and thanks for stopping by.  I would love it if you would become a follower and visit regularly...   Also drop by Pigtails and Quilts and visit other crazy quilters and see what's happening.