CQJP 2013 Block 3

Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2013 Block 3

Well, it is nearly June, and I finally completed my March block for the 2013 Crazy Quilt Journal Project. 

CQJP 2013 Block 3 prior to embellisment

First, I added the miniature toy wagon to the sidewalk.  The cross-stitch pattern is from the Leisure Arts leaflet 150 Itty-Bitty Motifs with designs by Jorja Hernandez.

Wagon from Leisure Arts 150 Itty-Bitty Motifs designed by Jorja Hernandez

Next, I added the door and windows.

 

Using a satin stitch, and DMC #8 White Pearl Cotton, I satin stitched around the frame of the door.   Using the same thread and satin stitches, I added shutters to the window.

For the curtains, I folded small sections of lace and carefully stitched the folds together.  Placing the raw edged folds in the back, I stitched the tops into place.  I brought the thread up through one edge of the center of the curtain, carefully slipped the needle through the lace and gathered the center to "pull" it toward the window frame, then went down through the fabric on the other side, tacking the pulled curtain to the fabric.

After adding the curtains, I was ready to add the window box.  (If this is something you choose to try, I would recommend using a thinner fabric than I did.  White denim folded to hide the raw edges turned out to be rather thick to work a needle through for embroidery.)

Knowing my embroidery would secure the window box into place, I folded the raw edges under and only stitched the short sides onto the block.

A white pearl bead was placed on the door to create the door knob. 

Then, I made a cobblestone path from the door to the sidewalk, using the same thick variegated brown threads I used on Block 1 for my January block.  The path was inspired by a motif in the book Silk Ribbon Embroidery Bible by Joan Gordon. 

As this scene was not snowy, I found four brown shades of DMC floss similar to those in the thicker variegated floss.  Using various combinations of those four shades, I combined two strands of floss and filled the cobblestones in with satin stitches.  I worked the stitches and different angles.

I was not sure how this would turn out, but I was happy with the end result.

The next step made me really nervous.  Even after completing it, I hoped I had not ruined the block.  Inspired by a photo I found with a Google search of "window box images," I added pink and purple "flowers" to the window box.

The flowers and their leaves were made with French knots and variegated pink, purple and green flosses.

Hoping to make gutters, I added white Chevron stitches along the edges of the roof with the DMC #8 White Pearl Cotton floss.  Then, I worked small chain stitches along the seam between the house and the sky in the upper-left corner.

As you can see, the corner where the Chevron stitches changed angles ended up looking rather funky.  I decided I would hide that section with the leaves of a tree.  However, I feared a tree between the door and the window would look out of place.  So, I added the trunk of a tree along the right side of the house and its branches extended along the roof.

Using two strands of DMC cotton floss (1 strand each of two shades of brown), I chain-stitched the trunk. 

For the leaves, I used two similar shades of 4mm Riversilk Silk Ribbon.  This part made me nervous, as I have not done a lot of silk ribbon embroidery (SRE) in the past.  However, I was pleased with the results.

I wanted to add a tall sunflower along each side of the front door, but the house was already yellow.  So, I looked through my book by Diana Lampe, and decided to add Agapanthus instead.

(First, I added white chain-stitched "trim" along the seam between the front and the side of the house.  And, I added panes to the window.)

We owned a yellow house once.  And we encircled the tree in the front yard with flowers.  So, I decided to do the same with the tree in this block, following directions for Diana Lampe's English Primroses.

The final additions were a Forget-Me-Not flowerbed along the edge of the lawn and the sidewalk and the sun in the upper-left corner.

Adding the window with curtains and a window flower box required me to step outside of my comfort zone.  I had a lot of fun working on this block, so I am glad I challenged myself.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog!
Renee

A Trick for Precision

As promised in my last post, I wanted to share the method I used to make the "J" monogram and to create such a precise wavy line on the glasses case I made for my mom.

I learned this trick in The Magic of Crazy Quilting: Second Edition by J. Marsha Michler.  (However, I traced my "J" from another source.) 

The book recommends tracing your design onto tracing paper or tissue paper.  I only had colored tissue paper on hand, so I used that.  (Please note, I was extremely careful not to get the tissue paper wet.  Have you ever seen the color leach out of wet tissue paper?  I was worried it would stain the fabric.)

The other key suggestion was the use of a HARD lead pencil.  I found a website stating the higher the number of the lead in a pencil, the harder it is.  So, I used my husband's 4B art pencil.  I also learned that was a HUGE mistake.  Apparently, the larger the number with a "B" after it, the softer the lead.  And the easier it is for the lead to transfer to the thread as it pulls through.  (My clue should have been that it was darker than a #2 pencil.  The harder the lead, the lighter the mark.)

Anyway... I traced the "J" onto the tissue paper and basted it into place on my block.  Next, I embroidered along those lines.  I used DMC #8 Pearl Cotton in white.  (Later, I wished I would have chosen a darker color so it would have stood out more.)

Then, I tore the tissue paper away and carefully removed the pieces that remained.

This left me with a monogram to embellish.  (You may be able to see the top section is a bit dark, due to the pencil lead transferring.)

I loved this method!  (Michler gives more tips in her book and has two fonts of letters.  Did I mention her book was one of the best gifts I have received?!  It was not even on my wish list.  I thank my husband for buying it all the time.)

Knowing I wanted to use this method in the future, I began searching stores and craft stores for hard lead pencils.  (In the U.S., if the # is followed by an "H", the bigger the number, the harder the lead.  It also means the lighter the lines, though...)

In the end, I purchased a 5H pencil from Amazon.com.  It arrived just in time to make the wavy line along the lower-left seam on my mom's glasses case.

I also found a set of four decorative rulers I had purchased from Creative Memories years ago.  The wavy one was perfect!
 

As you can see, the line is very light.  (I wondered if I should have purchased a 4H pencil instead, but this worked.)

Making the monogram, I discovered some of my fabrics were not very forgiving.  It was difficult to smooth out the needle marks from tacking the tissue paper into place.  So, this time, I tried to stick to the seam lines as much as possible.

Using 2 strands of green DMC floss and a stem stitch, I embroidered the wavy line.

After removing the paper, it was ready to embellish!

Did I mention that I love this technique?!  (It gives me SO many ideas for the future.)

On a more personal note, and a bit off subject... It seems by body and food have decided to have a few disagreements, without my consent, of course.  It could be a lot worse, so I am not seeking sympathy.  However, I must say that for the past month, I have been truly grateful for a hobby that allows me to simply sit and stitch.  I have several projects going at once (to stave away boredom.)  As it turns out, being a mysterious woman and a bit of an enigma is not as glamorous as it sounds - lol!  On the bright side, it has allowed me time to complete the two glasses cases shown in my last two posts.  And I hope to share more projects with you soon.

In fact, I am hoping to finally finish my next CQJP 2013 block today.  I have used a few new techniques and ideas with it, and I think I like the results.  Of course, with every new section I work on, I am certain I am about to ruin the block.  Someday, I hope to feel more confident.  At the moment, I am just glad I am willing to step out of my comfort zone and try something new.

This is the before picture of my CQJP 2013 March block prior to any embellishment.

I am off to finish it up so I can share the transformation with you soon!  Thank you for stopping by.

-Renee

A Glasses Case for Mom

This is a project I have been wanting to share, but did not dare.  It was a gift for my mom.  She reads my blog on occasion, so I did not want to spoil the surprise.

Diana Lampe's book, Embroidery for All Seasons, is still one of my favorite resources.  I used her directions for the fuchsias and for the cottage pinks.  However, I changed the colors a bit to match those on the case.

When I  have more time, I will share the trick I used to embroider the J monogram and to stitch such a precise wavy line along the bottom-left seam.  (I am SO thankful for the positive reviews posted on Amazon.com for J. Marsha Michler's book, The Magic of Crazy Quilting.  My husband bought the book for me for Christmas because of those reviews and it is my other favorite resource!)

For the back of this case, I used pink Oregon State University fabric.  The lining is a soft pink gingham flannel.

My boys have requirements about gifts to my mom.  I have been told they have to be pink, soft, and fuzzy.  This one is not fuzzy, but the OSU fabric helped it gain their approval!

Thanks again for stopping by!
Renee

Landscape 1 Glasses Case Completed!

Well, I have never claimed to be a seamstress.  There is a good reason for that - my sewing skills are definitely at a novice level!  The bottom is slanted.  One corner is rounded, and the other not-so-much.

I wish I had not used the fluffy green fabric where I did.  And, the sun should have had a few more chain stitched rows. However, that being said, I think I am still happy with the way this gift turned out. 

I found a fat quarter of this green fabric in my stash and used it for the back.  As for the La Mode button, I picked it up at Jo-Ann Fabric the end of last year, planning to use it with this gift.  The scenic picture with the tree seemed just too fitting! 

The inside lining is a soft yellow flannel.  (You can see it peeking out around the flap for the button.

Thank you for stopping by!
-Renee

Glasses Case Panel - Landscape 1 Almost Done

This gift is almost complete!  The crazy quilting is done, I just need to assemble the rest of the case. 

As you can see, my fear of the tall grass hiding the flowers was not unfounded...

I used 2 strands of a green DMC floss to make uneven buttonhole stitches along the seam between the grass and the water.  Next, I used a single strand of yellow DMC floss to attach a small yellow bead to the top of each "stem" created by the buttonhole stitch.  Using 2 strands of variegated yellow floss, I added lazy daisy stitches around each bead.  The taller "stems" received five lazy daisy stitched petals, and the shorter "stems" only received three petals.

The fluffy green fabric looked too strange with lazy daisy flowers, so I opted to not to add them in that section.  I did put a yellow bead at the top of each "stem."  My boys decided it looked like the flowers were peeking out of tall grass.  (My husband simply laughed.  I told him I hoped the tree made up for the flower seam treatment!)

Next, I used two strands of yellow DMC floss to stitch two butterflies.  A single strand of the same color stitched their flight paths.

Finally, I added a sun in the upper-left corner. Two strands of DMC yellow floss were used to make a series of chain stitches.  Both ends of the rows of chain stitches extend a bit past the seams.  This way, the sun will be full in that corner.  The "rays" are split stitched with the same floss.  My only hope is that I made it large enough to really show up once the case is sewn together.



Thank you for checking in to see my progress!
-Renee