Cream Tea Cozy

The good thing about moving is you have to get stuff out and then put it away again so you see some things that may have been tucked away for a later date! Well my cream tea cozy is one of them so when I saw it I got it out of the bag looked it over and started working on it! Most of the work you see is from wonderful ladies in a RR working on it! I have a few ideas to add to their work to finish it off perfectly! I'm adding vintage mother of pearl buttons to the lace in the upper left and a mother of pearl flower button to the lace flower in the center. I'm going to add sweetheart roses here and there too. I'll take another photo when I get more progress done...I still haven't sewn down the buttons! HAHA but I figured you all would like to know I'm back to being able to work on projects again and would like to see what I grabbed to work on!
Also what got me to want to work on this one right now is that my sister will be visiting me soon and wants to have a tea party and I thought it would be nice to be able to use this cozy for that!

Cream on Cream RR: Tea Cozy Home!

Here is my Tea Cozy block safely home from the Cream on Cream RR! Here is a photo of the block before it was sent out! Click Here to see all the work I've done in the RR! You can click on the photos to get a closer look at them.
I'm now going to put some finishing touches on the block and sew it into a Tea Cozy!!!

Cream on Cream RR: Jill's block

Well I tore out those awful orange looking Melanie Roses and instead added a climbing rose vine with butterflies and bees to complete Jill's block!

The climbing rose is a large feather stitch with lazy daisy leaves added and Melanie roses with fly stitch. Then the 2 butterflies are lazy daisy, ribbon stitch, straight stitch and fly stitches. I also added 3 gold bees to balance out and bring the gold around the block more. The block is now ready to make it's way home to Jill!

Cream on Cream RR: Jill's block

Well I started adding to Jill's block!

I added a feather stitch seam with clear AB seed beads and 2 lace butterflies that I added some gold thread to for color and interest. I think it looks sweet and goes well with the butterfly tatting.

THEN...I started working on some Melanie Roses and the nightmare began!!! ARG none of them are turning out that great and when I un-hooped the little area I saw I chose a BAD color...sigh...I really don't want to do one more of these stinking roses!!!! But I hate what I did and even adding some sweetheart roses won't tone down the color! For me the Melanie Rose is like your Hair...when you want to do it nice you end up with a bad hair day...and then when it's unimportant it turns out perfect!!! HAHAHA I think these will be snipped out because I can't stand them, but I don't have any patience to try more today, maybe after the weekend I'll try again.

Cream on Cream RR: Jill's block

I got Jill's block in the mail today as well! Now I'm just waiting to get inspired, as soon as I get a "vision" for this block I'll start working on it. Jill requested that I add Melanie Roses to her block so I'm-a-thinkin'! Better not think to hard or I'll hurt my brain eh? LOL I guess I'm in a "funny" mood! LOL You could probably blame that on TattingChic who's just started a blog, ya'll should hop on over if you don't already know her! She's got some very entertaining posts!

Cream on Cream RR: Meg's Block

Today I got Meg's block and right away the block just spoke to me and ideas flowed! I didn't stop working on it until I finished...several hours later here is the block...talk about addicted! Anyway the block needed some texture so I dug through all my pretty lace appliques and added them. Cobi and Debbie S. had added such beauty to the block that it made my part easy and things really flowed well. For example there is a Rose and Butterfly theme that has evolved with the block.
Now it will be sent on to the last lady to work on it before it goes home to Meg!

I added the vintage wedding dress lace rose and the MOP butterfly with flight path!

I also added the half crochet doily with 4mm silk ribbon sweetheart roses and ribbon stitch leaves. Also I added the crochet doily that was hand-dyed by Pam Kellogg...just perfect there! I added 7mm sweetheart roses and some 4mm ribbon stitches and then added some white straight stitches coming out the edge!

I also added this cute butterfly with some vintage wedding dress pearls.

Cream on Cream RR: Cobi's Block Adding Drama

Well I'm ready to send Cobi's Cream Block on now. I added a bit of drama to the block by using the Antique Gold Ric-Rac that Cobi had included with her block and wished it would be incorporated somehow. What I did was couch it in the shape of a bow with some small glass pearls. I think it helps the flow of the block a lot better, and I feel that it pulls it together more than just a hodge podge.
Don't miss the little butterfly I added way up in the upper right corner!

I finished up my motif I had started with the Vintage Wedding Dress Lace and vines, to it I added pearls reclaimed from a necklace and 7mm sweetheart roses with Antique Gold leaves.

Then I used some metal diamond shaped stamped findings to decorate the "fan" area and worked sweetheart roses in 7mm on the top of it and also added real pearls on and between the diamond findings.

Cream on Cream RR: Cobi's Block

I started working on Cobi's Cream block, it doesn't look like much but this block is BIG! I added some of the vintage bridal lace I reclaimed and Cobi asked for my vines so I put some in. Not finished yet I'm still thinking of ideas to do. I also started a little butterfly in the top right corner.

Cream on Cream RR: Debbie's Block Finished

Here is an overall look at Debbie's Cream Block. I think adding the vintage wedding lace balances out the other lace patches in the block. This block has such a vintage or antique feel to it, just beautiful! It was fun to work on! Now it's ready to send on to the other ladies in the Round Robin, I'm glad I got to be the first to work on it and add what I did.

Here's a closer look. I ended up adding some of the reclaimed vintage pearls to the SRE vines instead of the matching size 15 seed beads. I felt like that brought the motif together better.

This is just an artistic photo, I just felt like being creative and doing a close up at an angle.

Cream on Cream RR: Almost Finished

I'm now almost finished with Debbie's Cream Block!
I used some of the reclaimed lace from a vintage wedding dress for motifs. I think they are the perfect touch! Now I'm glad I had to take so long on it...if I hadn't this lovely lace wouldn't have been used!

I also took out the button...it was bothering me, I liked it at first but after a while it just felt WRONG so I ripped it out and added 7mm sweetheart roses and some extra ribbon stitch leaves around them. Next I feel that the vines need just a touch of beads I'm planning on using a same color size 15 seed beads just to give a hint of sparkle without overpowering everything.

Cream on Cream RR: A Little More Progress

Yesterday, I did a little more work on Debbie's cream block. I added in leaves to the empty vines, and also added a piece of tatting with a white pearlized flower button. I also added glass pearls to the spiderweb roses. The piece of tatting is a motif made out of size 80 thread from the book Mini Tats. The motif curves upwards, which is perfect for this bouquet, adding a three-dimensional touch. Since I had never tatted that motif before, it became curved because I hadn't tightened up the chains enough, the good news is at least I can use my mistakes in my crazy quilting!
I won't be able to work on the block today, but hopefully soon I'll be able to add more!

Cream on Cream RR: Slowly More Progress

Here is a little more progress on Debbie's Cream on Cream Block. I just added a few little branching vines from the main vines using stem stitch for the stems and ribbon stitch leaves. I'm still planning on adding more, going slowly is driving me crazy but it's what I have to do.

Cream on Cream RR: Debbie S. Block

I had put Debbie's block on hold for a few days while working on the pink block. While on hold the motif that I planned on doing was sitting on the back burner and simmering. I finally started putting it into action yesterday. I'll still be adding more to the vines they need some branching out still. When you look at these vines with all the ribbon stitch leaves you are looking at 3 yards of silk ribbon!!! Wow! And what's in my head will probably use another 3 yards!
I've learned about myself that anytime I need to stop and just simmer on an idea or block I go ahead and do it, because just like when you simmer a pot of chili it only gets better.

Cream on Cream RR: Debbie S. Block

I'm the first to work on Debbie's block it is completely hand pieced together, it's really neat to see! Her textures are really great and it feels like such an elegant block.

I added a lace butterfly over a seam that was pulling out, so it needed something to cover it, the butterfly was perfect! Then I held lace tryouts and I could easily add so much more lace but 3 other ladies still have to work on the block, so I restrained myself to the butterfly and the braid on that curving seam. I added ivory sweetheart roses alternating the sides of the braid.
I've started work on a SRE motif...that spot just jumped out at me as the perfect place for a bouquet and vines! I've only gotten the spiderweb roses in so far they are done using a variegated 4mm silk ribbon the color is called Light French Artichoke and it's an ecru with the slightest tinges of pink and green. I asked Debbie if it would be alright to use it since it does have a tinge of pink, I thought it works well and doesn't say PINK but I wanted to ask just in case she didn't even want a "tinge" of another color. Debbie said it would be alright so I went ahead and used it. I think it's perfect, and if you look it only seems beige but if you look really hard you can see the slight color.

Cream on Cream RR Tea Cozy

I'm starting a new Round Robin that is a Cream on Cream theme! I love these tones so I'm really excited about participating in this RR. I had an idea that instead of a traditional block, I would do a shaped block that will become a Tea Cozy! It is 10 inches tall and 14 inches across.
I used a lot of the fabrics that Jill sent me and some tatted edging that Marie made!
Let the fun begin!!!

Few things I'm working on and a Thank You!

First I would like to say Thank You to Cheryl who so kindly sent me a squishie of River Silk ribbon to try and the most Yummy velvets for my stash! A photo just doesn't show the delicious texture and suppleness of the velvets! Thank you Cheryl!

Since a pattern for the doily I found is no where to be found I just printed out the scan and counted the stitches and used that as a diagram. It's a very simple pattern no special techniques needed to do it all you need to know how to do is ring, chains, and joins. This doily would also work well for needle tatters.

I'm tatting it up in size 80 DMC tatting thread, which I love since it tats very nicely. Since the original doily is tatted in what I believe is size 10, it will be a lot smaller and delicate looking.
I've only gotten 2 repeats done but my goal is 1 repeat a day and there are 8 repeats in the pattern. As I was tatting it yesterday I had an idea that I think would be pretty. Three repeats of the pattern would look lovely as a skirt for a belle or princess, and all you would need is to embroider in the upper body! My friend Wendy is making a princess crazy quilt for her daughter and she said I can help with it too so I think I will use that idea on it.

This is a little sneak peek at the block I'm making for a Cream on Cream RR that is just starting up! I pieced it last night because I was too anxious to get started, but I still have a little finishing up before it heads out. I'll blog it later on when it's ready, and let you know what it will become when it is complete.

Summer Breeze DYB RR Jo's Block: All Finished!

Late Friday night I finished the block! I loved working on this block and loved doing the elegant Victorian style! I got to try some new things that I've been wanting to try out too. Like it was my first time incorporating a cameo like this and some new stitches for seam treatments. I'd never done the buttonhole bows or half wheels before, and I don't think I've ever done the triple feather stitch on a block before also the fly stitch foliage! Another first was using some flat silk, and some rayon thread...both were difficult to work with! LOL

I added size 15 seed beads in amber to the outer buttonhole half wheel spokes and a clear brown to the triple feather stitching.

Here's the fly stitch foliage I added to the SRE motif. I used a fine gold Kreinik thread, I love how it sparkles and looks delicate. I think this photo shows the color of the silk ribbon well too. Ecru with a tinge of pink and green the name of it was called Light French Artichoke! LOL I had gotten it from Hand Dyed Fibers.com but it's been discontinued.

I added green size 15 seed beads to the picots on the chains of the tatting to bring the green around a bit more. I didn't want to add too much green to the block since it's primarily white/black/gold/cream but I did need to balance it a bit from the green vine. I felt if I added any more to the block it would be too much.
Also I added more of the fine gold feather stitching in the cream patch area and feel it works a lot better now.

Here's a nice shot of the cameo I love the way it turned out and the sweetheart roses around it look like a part of the cameo. I love the gold rose applique with beads and pearls on it too.

Click Here to see all the posts for the Summer Breeze Blocks

Summer Breeze DYB RR Jo's block: Almost finished!

I've been having computer and camera troubles lately so I haven't been able to blog my progress as gradual as I usually do. Here's how the block is looking right now! I've done a ton! I don't know where to begin telling about it!

I tatted some clover edging that would be Motif #13 of the 25 Motif Challenge. I alternated pearls and metal heart beads on it and added a tiny bead cluster in that corner.
Near the cameo I added gold feather stitching on a seam with a gold button near, I still need something else in that area. I also added black buttonhole bow ties in DMC rayon thread with gold beads in the centers.
Around the cameo I embroidered cream sweetheart roses in 4mm silk ribbon and added size 15 gold seed beads around them. I also antiqued a lace applique and embroidered gold size 15 seed beads on it with some pearls. I added a triple feather stitch in black size 12 perle cotton thread. I made half buttonhole wheels in gold silk buttonhole twist and added 4mm darker cream sweetheart roses and 7mm cream ribbon stitches.
The upper right silk ribbon embroidery motif I made using a variegated pale pink/ecru/green 4mm silk ribbon for the spiderweb roses adding pearls to the centers. I used 7mm cream silk ribbon for the sweetheart roses. The gold pearl flower and dangles are earring parts I salvaged for crazy quilt stash. I feel that the motif needs a little something more so I'll be testing out some fly stitch foliage in the fine gold thread.
I need to add little touches here and there in order to complete this block, which I just love!!!

Summer Breeze DYB RR Jo's blocks: Getting started

Well I got started on Jo's blocks for the vine I couched down a green cord for the main stem along the curve then I added the gold metal flowers with pearls in the center, then started adding ribbon stitch leaves using the new edge dyed silk ribbon I got from Evening Star Designs. I like how the color of the ribbon has a gold tone in the center! Then I realized I needed branches vining off the main vine! LOL So I stem stitched some in using green Kreinik flat silk. Then added more ribbon stitch leaves and another gold/pearl flower!

I like the little gold butterfly there too, but haven't stitched it down yet. I did stitch on the cameo and I changed my plans for it a little since Jo mentioned she would like some of my SRE on her block. I'm now thinking of putting sweetheart roses around it with pearls interspersed.

Oh and the seam treatment I have so far is one strand DMC floss in a cream color in the herringbone stitch with gold silk chenille french knots at the points. I feel the seam still needs something in the open spots but I haven't figured out what yet.

Summer Breeze DYB RR: My work on Marie's Block

Finished! Here's an overall photo of Maire's Block you can click on it to see a large version. I really love the way it's turned out! I added some size 11 clear AB seed beads to the lady's hat.

I added Swarovski crystals to the centers of the spiderweb roses, and assorted Czech glass beads and size 15 seed beads. I also added sweetheart roses in sets of three and lots of cream french knot flowers as filler. I added back stitch stems and ribbon stitch leaves. Last I added 3 metal butterfly beads.
For this bouquet I was really trying to get a lot of texture in and push myself. There were a few moments where I wasn't sure if it was going to turn out well, as I finished the flowers it was looking crowded to me but I still had stems and leaves to fill in. The amazing thing was as I added stems and leaves it pulled together and looks just right!

When looking at the photo of this seam I thought it needed a little something more so I added little bees in light gold and cream. I made them with a bullion knot for the body with 2 stitches couching the body, a french knot head, lazy daisy wings, and a running stitch flight path.
On the 'Love' I added a sweetheart rose and 2mm ribbon stitch leaves.

Click Here and Here to see more details and descriptions of how I embellished the block.
Click Here to see all the Summer Breeze posts