Wednesday, September 13, 2017

BCQC-2 Open for Registration


The BCQC-2 module is 
OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
14-16 September 2017
There will be three major objectives to this module:

* COLOR — Learning all about Color Selection
* PIECING —Techniques for successful Flip’n’Sew pieced blocks
* EMBELLISHING — Promote individual creativity while reinforcing the
    techniques learned in the BCQC

The Color portion of the module is intensive. It will cover the first six tasks:

· Planning for Color
· Impact of Color Choices
· Color Mixing
- Reading a Color Wheel
- Color Play
· Fast Color Selection Techniques

The Piecing portion of this course will focus on fabrics and the flip’n’sew method of piecing a block. It will not include a pattern, but does recommend using strips of fabric rather than patch pieces of fabric. So, yardage (1/4 or even 1/8 yardage widths is fine) for this method. We will be using cotton and silk for this course. This section includes the next two tasks:


· Fabric Selection
- Flip’n’Sew Method (pitfalls and solutions)

The Embellishing portion of this course will include:

· Lace/Trims
· Seam Embroidery
· Silk Ribbon Ideas
· Finishing with Beads, Baubles, and Charms

In total there are 11-tasks for this course. Just as in the BCQC each new task will be emailed to you after you have posted the prior task. 

This is the "follow-on" class to the BCQC-1, which you should have completed first. It builds on the techniques learned in the initial basic course and gives you experience in selecting COLORs for your fabrics/embellishments that will work together nicely. 

To register:
Send me your name, email address, state/country information via email to shaw.kathy@yahoo.com

Hugs!
 

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Artist Trading Card Swap -- Come Join in the Fun!

Have you seen the fun swap that Crazy Quilt Quarterly is organizing?
 
It's open to anyone in the USA that follows the rules and submits on time! So, do you like to work on Artist Trading Cards? Do you like receiving little surprise in the mail (really who doesn't!). 
 
 
 
Not sure what an Artist Trading Card is? Well, it's simple...it's a mini-CQ block that measures the size of a calling card or business card. It has a finished edge (zigzag edge is fine), is built on a foundation (muslin, interfacing is optional but advised)...and is embellished. The back has an "information card" attached to it (per the swap guidelines).
 
For every ATC you submit...you get a different one in return!  Pam Kellogg will do the "swapping" for all the entries...so you have to mail your ATC's to her following the guidelines below:
GUIDELINES

* Create a crazy quilted artist trading card (2 ½” x 3 ½”). 
 It must be crazy quilted and it must be the stated size.  
We ask that there be no politically themed entries (patriotic is fine). 

* Any embellishments should be flat to keep mailing costs down 
(eg. seed beads, flat buttons, ribbon, embroidery, charms, etc.)

* Each ATC you create must be mailed to Pam and MUST include a SASE 
(self addressed stamped envelope).  
Be sure to include a separate SASE for EACH ATC you send! 

* Please use the backing card (pattern provided) on each of your ATC’s 
and also include your email address on each one so the recipient can contact you.

* NOTE: you will need to privately email Pam at pkellogg@mc.net or Mary Anne at
marmic1954@hotmail.com to indicate your desire to play 
and to receive her snail mail address. 

* Alas, we can only open this to residents of the United States.  
Deadline for receipt is January 31, 2018.

* As a further incentive Pam will photograph each ATC and they will be published in a special edition of the magazine….the date of which will be announced as soon as it becomes available.

* Six of the ATC’s that we receive will be chosen for the cover. 
 Those six artists will receive a prize - an extra ATC created by one of our staff members!!

Have fun and let’s swap our mini’s – ATC’s CQ Style!! 


Be sure to either print the above images(fit to page size) or click HERE to download a pdf file.  Either should fit on a standard 8 1/2 inch X 11 inch paper.  Use cardstock for the ATC back and the little ATC envelope!
 The magazine is hoping hoping to receive and trade at least 300 Crazy Quilt ATC's!!!

Hope to see you join in the fun!

Sorry to only be able to open this to USA folks...but perhaps if it goes over well...we can expand this idea next year to the international folks as well. 

Hugs!

 

Friday, September 1, 2017

Linda's block (progress report)

While not finished...thought I'd share what I've done so far.  Linda's block is the last block for me to mail in the traditional Floral & Roses round robin. Since I'm the last person to work on the block, it is my "job" to balance all the prior work across the block as well as adding to fill in any empty spots. The final result should be a beautiful and finished project!

Here is the block as it arrived in the mail. There are several areas of really pretty embroidery stitching and some gorgeous silk ribbon roses and iris flowers already here. (Well done Lonna, Marcy, & Lydia)! Here are some closeup's of the areas:

Lower Right (such pretty iris flowers) corner:

Center roses vine, is just gorgeous and so delicate!


Center and lower left areas (excuse the lamp neck). So much embroidery work!

Upper central and left area! You can see that there is a lot of work on the block already. Of course there is also still room for more in the lower center and upper center open patches.


So, another final look at the BEFORE block...there are some areas that strike me as being a bit out-of-balance.


You can see that there are some light areas in the block (white lace trim, white butterfly, white tatted motif, and cream iris flowers). But overall, the block reads more "brown" than anything else...especially close up. So, my thought is to add more "life" to the block by pulling some of the blue that's in the background fabric out more along with giving the block more texture with lace. There is one seam done in blue in the center (see the chain half-circle seam?). So, this plan would also help to build on that idea already started.


So, I asked Linda if it would be okay to really add to the block and she gave me permission to play as much as I wanted. You know that makes me happy! So, I've pinned all of the lace pieces in place to begin. These will be followed with stitching layers...but for now, here is the plan for adding the lace layer...and I'll give you some close-up photos too.





Some of this might (read that as "will" since I have already actually stitched everything by the writing of this post) change as this is just my PLAN at the moment.

The little blue flower in the fabric (see upper most area in the photo above?) is the key to the color idea. The first motifs to go into place were the tiny blue butterfly and neutral/yellow flower in the upper center area. This establishes the blue...and anchors it to the fabric color area by drawing the eye to that little butterfly.


The left central area gets some blue as I'm moving the eye around the block. Green is everywhere on the block, so more is not too distracting...but a lighter shade gives it motion. This placement also deals with the bulky area of the block were several seams intersect. The tiny lace trims in antique looking beige hide the raw seams there but are small enough to keep the focus on the surrounding embroidery work.





I want to add some seam work in the open area left at the center left (almost corner) but the blue needs to be pulled into that area too...so this little floral motif with dragonfly should do the trick! It looks right at home next to the lace that is already beside the iris flowers. Placing the dragonfly so that it extends across the ribbon seam on the left will pull the viewer's eye to that area of the block.





The center right area has a dimensional flower there already. It is the only object on the block that is worked really "off the surface". So, it needs to be balanced with other dimensional work or be "anchored" so that it does not become distracting by it's "differences". These copper colored laces will give it some depth and provide a nice neutral base, while the bits of blue will pull the eye to the motif and cause it to be balanced in color across the block. The empty seam to the right gets a dragonfly to help it appear to be an intentional design decision rather than looking 'un-done'.
This little dragonfly also balances the one at the opposite corner of the block.

Last, right below the flow is the more central right area of the block. This needs some blue, so adding a small piece of trim on the empty seam line should do that. To balance all of the lace now on the left/center of the block there will be some tiny bits of lace trailing through this general area and a small lace motif in the fabric patch above the iris flowers.





After the lace has been sewn in place...I'll work the seams left to me and add whatever else seems to be needed once that has been done. Here are my ideas for "supplies". The threads are will be darker shades of the colors in the fabrics as the laces have brought more light into the block...so we need to layer some darker shadows as well to pull together the existing and the new. The silk ribbon flowers include some blue but also some wine to pull that color to the front of the layers as well.



Last to be added will be some beads to accent the seams and add some bling to the dragonflies, etc. Just tiny beads nothing large and no button/bead clusters. Maybe some tiny beads in the seams? We shall see....so check back this weekend, I hope to get all sewn and this block ready for the mail next week.

Hugs!