Lace and Pearls - Rita

This Round Robin has been fun from the very beginning. So much so, that I almost forgot to take photos this round to share with you...oops! So, these are partially stitched at various stages.

 First off, I added a couple of pieces of lace trim. Then decided to work around the Silkie area...with cross-hatched quilting (running stitch). The stitches cover the left, right, and bottom patch surrounding the photo...although it's hard to see in the photos.

Then, some feather stitching in ecru, light tan, and gold created the backdrop.

Next silk ribbon roses done in spider-web style; various shades of ecru, champagne, bisque, and tan...with glass leaves added.

Lastly, a Czech Glass Button Cabochon and a bit of lace on the seam.

Butterflies and Dragonflies - Arlene

My part of Arlene's block is now finished. Here are the other components, close up. 

 

 

 

Ready to mail to the next person in line. 

Lace & Pearls -- Susan's Block

 Just mailed out my work on Susan's block to the next person in the block's rotation. Arlene worked on the block before me, and did a wonderful job of adding some lovely pearls (and gorgeous Silk Ribbon!). So, I thought that more lace was what was needed...and not a lot of beads in the area I wanted to work. Hopefully, you'll agree...and if no...well, don't tell my muse; cause she can get a "real" attitude sometimes! And, I'm just not up to dealing with her right now.

 My first step was to find the right lace...and I selected a really pretty large blue heart; playing off of the little heart beads that Arlene had already put down on a seam. The heart was really pretty...but how to adorn it? It was just not enough all alone. More silk ribbon seemed the obvious choice, but that would not work because it would just "fight" with the lovely silk ribbon already next to it. And, another issue was that there were a lot of seams meeting where the center of the heart would be. So, I decided that the heart needed a solid white center to cover up those seams. I stitched the heart to a piece of white satin, then put a "S" in the center for "Susan". 

 A little blue heart with song bird helped to fill in some space and balanced out the area. I thought about adding pearls to the lace areas...but, there were already enough and balance was achieved just with the lace. Hopefully, Susan will agree when she receives her block; and if not...she is welcome to add more or adjust anything that I stitched. I'm a firm believer that once a block is "yours" you should change it until it makes you happy. You, after all, are the one who is going to live with it from now on.

Butterflies & Dragonflies Begins

Got my block pieced today for the CQI Round Robin "Butterflies and Dragonflies" which mails out on March 15th. I love pastels!

Darlene's Wine Continues

I managed to get a little more stitched on the Wine Round Robin this week. A little "D" for Darlene, complete with a Swarvoski crystal bicone grape cluster.

 And added some sequins and bead grapes to the fabric motif already on the block. Next....a few seams!

Midnight Fantasy Finished for Cathy L.

My portion of the Midnight Fantasy Round Robin block for Cathy L. is finished. I've added some ground cover floral at the "foot" of the large purple flowers...and some ants climbing up a stem. Thanks to Allie A. for "how to" on the ants!

And, because no little girl should go out at midnight without a protector...even a fairy...I've sent her along with her little Teddy. (And, if you want to learn how to do Soft Sculpture Applique, I have a class open now over at Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions).

Here's the entire finished section.It's ready to go into the mail.Also, I would like to add...if you want to participate in some really fun Round Robins, you should go to Yahoo Groups...and check out Crazy Quilting International. A great bunch of ladies!This won't mail out until the end of the month...so I can show it off to friends until then!

Roses, Roses, Roses...is back Home!

And isn't it glorious! I just love all of the beautiful stitching and ribbon work the ladies did! Thank you so very much to Cathy L., Meg W., Rita C., and Ruby R. for their beautiful work. Want to see some close ups? Of course you do!!!

So pretty, tiny little sweetheart ribbon roses, delicate lace trims, silk ribbon roses, and perfect bullion rose cluster. 

What a great idea...cross-stitching some roses on top of the fabric! I'm gonna borrow this idea for sure...cause I have some waste canvas around here somewhere! Ingenious...and beautiful!

Delicate little lace trim, fluttery little butterflies, and one is painted with pink nail polish...which I do myself too! Loved that!

Aren't these just stupendous! I love the ribbon work, and the charms...wonderful!

This large rose just proves that you don't have to shy away from large motifs! Just lovely.

Pretty, pretty little ribbon clusters...like walking along a garden path.

A second little fluttery butterfly, Very unique...made from layers of fabric cut to shape. Hope you enjoyed the eye candy...as much as I am. It's even more glorious first-hand of course...photos just never do our work full justice. I'm a happy, happy girl today...after having received this block back home!

Lace and Pearls for Arlene

Arlene's block will be making it's way to Nickilee next...some time this week. My work is complete! Here are some closeups Arlene...

The lace came first...some pretty morning glories up the side...

And a basket with beaded bottom and handles above it.
 You can just see a peek of the feather stitch seam with bullion flower buds and detached chain leaves.I thought long and hard about filling the basket with SRE flowers...but than all of the pretty dyed lace would have been covered up...and so decided to add some tiny bugle beads for leaves, and SRE French Knots in the center of the lace flowers. Arlene does beautiful SRE...so if she wants to remove the beads and put in flowers later on...that's fine with me! I fully believe once you get your block back...you can change anything you like!

Next I added a beaded monogram...and little pearl seam...a hand-dyed tatted trim seam with clay roses and sequins.

Lastly, A Silk Ribbon Embroidery (SRE) sprig of roses was added ...along with a bejeweled butterfly.

Teasing Arlene

The Lace & Pearls round robin at CQI has begun, and Arlene's block arrived last week. I have until the 15th of February to stitch about 1/4th of the block...before passing it along to the next lady in the rotation. BUT, I have not been able to let it rest...immediately upon seeing the fabrics, my muse was thinking! So, I've been stitching a little on it each day....and am almost done. So, thought I'd give Arlene a little tease today...this photo doesn't give too much away....perhaps, she'll get the full picture tomorrow! Ha!

Roses, Roses, Roses for Meg

The Roses, Roses, Roses round robin is coming to a close. This is the finished block for Meg...isn't it just gorgeous! She wanted a Yellow Rose for Texas theme...so we tried to stay true to that request, while working with the fabrics she constructed her block of. The ribbon work by the ladies before me is phenominal! Love every little smidge of this block!Here is my meager contribution...the bottom right corner...

 ...and a yellow rose beaded cabochon.

 My largest ribbon rose is a simple free-form type...roll the center...

...here's a better photo.

Stitch it down to an interfacing base. Gather the remainder of the long end of the ribbon...and wrap around the base.

Add some extra little petals to the base...gathering the bottom of each before stitching down...

And her is the final little rose. After cutting away the excess interfacing and stitching to the block...I added some green leaves around it. Easy, breezy!