Marci's Block Work

I just finished stitching on Marci's block as my part of the Round Robin group on Crazy Quilters International. It was a really pretty block to work on, purple, tan, green, cream...very well constructed...and I truly enjoyed stitching on it.

The green drew me to it first, and I had a piece of velvet rickrack that matched the colors beautifully...so stitched that down across one corner seam...and included some straight stitches, crystals, bullion roses, and a tiny hummingbird in flight.

Then, include one of the TDiTM stitches...my favorite...lot's of French knots. Added some "rocks" at the base of the flower garden.

Lastly, I decided on a mixed group for my motif. I had a little basket button...it was shank...but I cut the back off so it would lay flat. Then I got out the drill and put about 5 holes in the basket so I could end my SRE leafs right on top of the basket or a more realistic look. Added some embroidery "wheat" and padded leaves. Thought about SRE for the flowers...but I had recently gotten some really neat little flowers, and decided to use those...with some crystals, rocialles, and seed beads for a little more bling.

TDiTM Stitch #23

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

This stitch is a little shorter than some in the past, and I really find I like it a lot. The beaded version used bead caps with pearl centers. I think it would be a great stitch to weave a ribbon under the zigzag...and that's what I'm going to do for my first seam in Sharron B's Encrusted Class block!

Might do it twice, so I can use the beaded and un-beaded versions, I like it so much!

Hope you enjoy it too!

TDiTM Stitch #24

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

For this stitch, I did not do any beads. However, after finishing it...I think a bead added at the intersection of the straight stitches...above the leaves would be really neat!

You might note that I'm not doing so much explaining on what threads and such...cause I'm lazy (translate that to busy), and have been using Perle Cotton sz 8 for most of these stitches lately, when that changes...I'll let you know.

TDiTM Stitch #22

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months Here's an unusual stitch for you...and one that has great potential. How about with black seed beads for eyes, or a string of seed beads and bugles for the tail? This little dragon fly is stitched using the jumbo template zigzag size...finally found a use for that! The zigzag only has the right slant stitch used...as the opposite side is not required. Of course you could alter and have the dragon flys slanted towards the left is you used that "back side" of the zig zag stitch for your base. No beads on this stitch...but they could be incorporated in the eyes and both...I just didn't think of that until I was well down the road past this stitch. Duh! This version is stitched in Perle 8, olive green.