Tarnished Gold: A Bird's Nest

 Today I watched one of Lilla's recent videos about how to create little Whimseys and in it she created a birds nest.  Well I guess it was just the perfect thing to inspire me!  I looked at the block and thought a birds nest would be really cute so I tried a few things and came up with one using a couple of yarns and a perle cotton thread.  Inside the nest I put 3 little eggs out of pearls and 2 are a darker color and I made 1 a lighter color.  I thought it would be cute to have a little variation in egg color since usually that's how it is in nature.

After making the nest I thought it would be great in the lower area but needed a way to let it sit so I grabbed a piece of lace that was a scrap laying around and twisted it and started pinning it in place.  I loved the look of it and who know a twisted piece of lace would resemble bark so well for a branch.

I cut out little leaves out of several different fabrics and played around till I got something I liked and then sewed it down by the middles so they would look like the veins.

 More and more this block seems to be taking on a theme of a Nature Walk and all the pretty things you might see while out.

Tarnished Gold: Adding to the Silkie Frame

Yesterday while searching through my stash for inspiration I came across these red metal roses my friend Lillian gave me.  I thought maybe they would look nice around the silkie and sure enough I loved the way it enhanced the frame, so I stitched them into place.
It makes me think that it is still unfinished, I've never felt quite satisfied with the way the frame is looking and with the addition of these roses I think it makes it closer to the feel I am wanting.  I might hold more bead tryouts and see if adding anything else enhances it as well!

Three bare spots left on this block and still no firm ideas.  I think I will concentrate on the frame a bit more to see what else it might need and keep the rest of the block on the back burner to percolate ideas.

Tarnished Gold: Honeysuckle Flowers Finished

 I finally got to sit down and finish the honeysuckle flowers!  I love them, so sweet and subtle.  These photos seem to be a bit better to see the stitching in.
Then I took a few hours trying to figure out what's next!  Went though stash and still can't seem to come up with any ideas.  I think I'll call it a day, all that thinking and searching makes you tired! LOL  I hate getting stuck, but the good news is only 3 more areas to work on till it's finished.

I've Joined the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2013!

I've decided to join the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2013!  I have noticed that without something to motivate me I tend to put my creative stitching in the background.  So when I saw the announcement that registration for this year's project I decided to join it.  It simply provides motivation to create a block each month with only a few minimum requirements so your free to express yourself yet giving you motivation to create something new each month!  Even if you don't want to join if you follow the blog you will get to see some pretty eye-candy and the year progresses.  The 2013 blog is http://cqjp2013.blogspot.com/ and if you want to see last year's participants you can go here: http://cqjp2012.blogspot.com/

I start in January! YAY!  So now I'm mulling over ideas, if I want to do 12 themed blocks or not and if so what theme?  I was considering the Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker but I don't have any of the fabrics that are available to use and I'd have to do a lot of scrambling for stash.  So I'm thinking that this year I will start to collect stash for that theme so that next year I can do Flower Fairies.

I'm also considering a Tea theme, I have always loved the tea themes and haven't gotten to ever complete a project in it.  I have stash for it already so I can get to creating any time I want.  It would be fun do do a Tea of the Month theme and have them put together in some way.  I've really been loving the art journals or books of yummy lace that are out there and have never made one.  Maybe I will combine it into a book of sorts that you can flip through and enjoy each block as a page.  It would be a nice way to show my work to people and it would be portable too, kinda like a coffee table book. LOL And it would be something I've never done before and would be totally new territory to explore.  I really love this idea.

Tarnished Gold: Honeysuckle Flowers

Today I started on the honeysuckle flowers!  I used one strand of floss and did tiny thin lazy daisy stitches and then added some yellow pistol stitches.  It's so hard to see in the photo because they are so tiny and it's blending into the background fabric(especially the ity-bity pistol stitches), but in person it looks just right for bunches of honeysuckle flowers!

Tarnished Gold: Honeysuckle Vine Leaves Finished

I took a week off after all that trouble with the bullions but today I resolved to finish it once and for all!  Again I kept having trouble with them but I am relieved to have them finished.  I am not sure why I had so much trouble with them this time!  Normally they aren't that bad, and it makes me wonder if it was the thread I was using instead of embroidery floss.  At least it doesn't really matter if they are perfect or not, the imperfections give the leaves character. ;D  Now I get to move on to the figuring out how I'm going to do the flowers!

Tarnished Gold: Little Honeysuckle Vines

 OY!!!  I love this idea of tiny honeysuckle vines in the background of the bird, but wow have I been having trouble with these bullions for the leaves!!!  First I figured out that even through I thought I had the correct needle that nope I hadn't actually been using a milliners needle, which I figured out after having tried a couple sizes of needle, then I get a real milliners needle and it's so much easier but then it was too big of a needle, so then I switch to a smaller one and have some trouble again and have to make sure my wraps aren't too tight etc.  LOL

Two bullions per leaf, and so far I have seven sets of leaves completed which adds up to 28 bullions in just this little area!  I had to call it a day at this point! LOL  My original idea is to have the honeysuckle flowers be out of bullions too but I'm thinking they might be too large if I do in comparison to the leaves, so I might go with some tiny lazy daisy stitches instead.  Not sure yet but I still have a ton of leaves left to finish before I get to adding the flowers.

Tarnished Gold: A Little Birdie

I got the idea to add a little bird, so I sifted through a bunch of vintage patterns to find one and this little guy is the one I chose!

I traced him onto quilters paper and then stitched through the paper and tearing it away when finished.

I don't really like using the quilters paper but sometimes it really is the best option.  The patch of fabric is one of those kind of fabrics that you can't draw on because it will snag and ink will run, an iron-on isn't a good option on a crazy quilt either...so quilters paper it was.  LOL  I really hate tearing it away!  There's always the water solvable Solvy but that wasn't viable either since crazy quilts aren't really made for getting wet either, especially this one.  And plastic is even worse to tear away than the quilters paper.

So does anyone else have a method that they really dislike but use anyway because it works and is usually the best option?

I stitched him in using different threads for the different areas, his wings are a variegated brown thread, and his fluffy area is a metallic thread, as well as his beak.  His eye is a little black sequin with a tiny seed bead.

I love how it seems that the lady in the silkie is looking at him!

Next I'm going to add some tiny honeysuckle vines in the background of this yellow patch.

Tarnished Gold: SRE Rose Motif Finished

WOOHOO The progress for this session got the motif done!  I love it!  I had one of the leaflets drape over the beaded lace seam and I really love the effect.  Then I added some little butterfly beads to continue a butterfly theme.  YAY now on to contemplating what's next!  LOL

Tarnished Gold: SRE Rose Motif Progress

A bit more progress, I filled in more roses and some stems.
I used to fiercely focus on projects working for hours and hours to get it done, but lately I've been taking another approach by only taking a couple hours a day to work.  So it seems that I don't get as much done but it's really just slow and steady progress.  I guess you could say tortoise instead of hare?  LOL  I want to try this out and see if instead of stop and go if I keep up with a more steady pace, which is why I've been trying to upload my daily progress instead of big stops at the finish of one whole motif etc.  I don't even know if I really have any readers left after such long absences that have been common in the last few years.  So I figure it doesn't matter if it's boring to see such little increments of progress, it will help me try and keep up a steady pace so it's worth a shot.  Why not?  What could it hurt?  And so that's why I've started blogging again like this. ;D

Tarnished Gold: Beadwork

All I got done yesterday was to finish adding the beads to the lace. I do love the dainty effect it gives!

Tarnished Gold: Roses

 I started adding beads to the lace, and started forming a rose motif in silk ribbon embroidery.  I added a red seed bead in special places in the roses.  The more open looking larger bud is a new creation I made as I went.  It started out a lazy daisy to which I added ribbon stitches to the sides and one to the middle and then added loops at the base.

I used some thread to baste a sketch so I will have an idea how to fill in the rest of the motif.

Tarnished Gold: Lace Added

I have added lace to the seams and a locket at the bottom of the silkie!  Off to add some seam treatments now!

Lillian's Tablet Pouch/Cover

 My dear friend Lillian had sent me tons and tons of crazy quilting stash and in it was one of her blocks that is soooooo stunning!  I knew I had to make it into something special for her to use!  Lillian also has a Galaxy Tab so I decided to make her a pouch/cover for hers.  Here is a link to the tutorial on how to create an easy pouch.  The CQ block was already in a U shape but in order for it to fit onto the flap I had to shorten it about an inch but it wasn't a problem since it was the bottom and didn't have embellishments all the way to the edge.

I used an easy applique method and then sewed it to the flap and sewed some purple ruffled lace around the edge as well.

It's nice to create useable things, so that instead of being put away somewhere we can enjoy all the work that goes into crazy quilting and see something gorgeous everyday!  Her block was definitely one of those blocks that needed to be enjoyed!

Before I sewed on the block applique I sewed in place some Velcro for a closure.

Baby Gifts!

Here is a little bib that I added a applique strawberry and back-stitched in a "R".

This monogram I just used an air-erasable quilters pen and roughly drew an "R" then I feather stitched in the shape.  Next I added lazy daisy in one color of pink and then a second lazy daisy in the inside of that one in another shade of pink.  Last I added tiny lazy daisy leaves.

Receiving Blanket with Monogram

For this blanket I cut out 3 hearts out of flannel and then appliqued them on using different embroidery stitches.

I used chain stitching, blanket stitch, and running stitch with colonial knots placed in between.

On this bib I cut out a rose from a print and appliqued it into place.  Then I "quilted" in specific spots to define the rose even more.  Then I used an air-erasable quilters pen to write "Rosalee" and back-stitched it in.

I jazzed up a plain white bib, and with a name like Rosalee I couldn't resist a Rose Theme!

These butterflies are iron-on applique's...hey don't knock it, I messed up and in order to fix it the iron-on appliques hid the mess...LOL  Then I added a running stitch flight path.

Easy way to cute-ify a plain onesie!

Tarnished Gold: Silk Ribbon Embroidery

 I added more sweetheart roses with a pretty variegated silk ribbon.

 Then I added a vine with size 15 seed beads, some silk ribbon leaves, and some pale lilac flower beads.

I added a touch of darker color to the butterfly and flower lace and then puffed it up by tacking a few of the edges in place to keep it puffed as I liked it.

Tarnished Gold: Silkie Motif Progress

I started working on more embellishing around the silkie!  I coffee dyed a piece of lace and added a bit of lace for her collar!  I also started adding sweetheart roses around the frame.  You can see how I start on a motif, I didn't really have any plan just wanted to start with my touch of red and just sprinkled the roses around.  I have a few other colors of silk ribbon picked out to fill in.  I know some plan or pre-draw but I like to just wing it and go with what feels right.  I do that a lot with design in every area of my life, from my garden, to by home, to putting flowers in a vase, to silk ribbon embroidery!  There are times I like to plan to get a general idea and then hash out the details as I go, but this time I just went with my idea and sprinkled roses.

I remember back when I first started creating my own designs instead of using a pattern and I used to be so scared of the unknown, all the what if's, that things can go wrong, get stressed out and fall into analysis paralysis! LOL  But now that I've been doing it a while it gets easier to go with the flow and let it just form.  To step out in faith and do it.

Huh, interesting, I say that and think this is a reflection of my life recently too.  I have been learning to step out in faith, to trust God and go.  It's amazing the peace that you have once you start living it out, taking risks, choosing to ignore fear, not let fear control me or control the choices and actions I take.  I've been growing in that area of my life and because of that, fear has become smaller, faith has grown larger, and peace is the result!  I find it fascinating that it is translating over into creating too!

Tarnished Gold: Silkie and Lace

 Ok so looking at the block I think that a Silkie might be a nice addition...I don't usually use them and I thought why don't I use them?  Usually I'm saving them for something special, yet whenever I make something with a purpose they never seem to fit the idea so I figured since I have no purpose other than to just make something pretty that I like why not use one that looks PERFECT!  She kind of reminds me of the second sister in Downton Abbey!  LOL

 I held some tryouts and this lace seemed so perfect!

 Then what do you get when you add a tiny delicate piece of lace with a star sequin and a vintage rose montee?

A pretty little adornment for her hat!

So far I'm really loving how things are going!!!

Tarnished Gold Block

Yup I actually created a new block yesterday!!!  Shocked?!?!  LOL  I haven't done much work in a very long time, but my Hubby encouraged me to do some just because.  With no reason attached, no purpose behind it.  That was some of the reasons why I haven't created in so long so with those out of the way I thought why not?!  It's a 10 inch block and I just felt like using gold and bronze-ish, maybe it could be considered tarnished gold?  Anyway I liked the center print with it and I figured I can embellish with those colors.  I'm dreaming of luscious silk ribbon embroidery which is my fave and I haven't gotten to do any in a long time.

Small Group Birthday Gift: Cell Phone Pouch

Every year I make a gift for each girl in my small group at church. This year I will be making cell phone pouches for each of them. The common thing will be the fabric, each will have this black and white polka-dot but have differing embellishments to suit their personality. This girl loves vintage right now so I picked a vintage lace and embellished it with embroidery and beads.

Christmas Ornament for Wendy

Every year I have a tradition to make and exchange a Christmas Ornament with Wendy! Here is what I made for her!
I used a red rose print with another red fabric that has tiny white polka dots. Then I added lace and embellishments! Lots of vintage on this heart!
Love you Wendy!

Little Embroidered Pillow

I used a font to create a pattern and used a light box to transfer with a pen onto the flannel fabric. I then back-stitched it using a green perle cotton thread. I even sewed a little pocket on the back for a pouch of lavender to be tucked in.

Cover for my Tablet

I used a polka dot print cotton fabric with some gorgeous coffee colored lace! Now I have a simple yet pretty cover for my tablet!

Flower Pin/Hairclip: Fay

This flower I made using a couple of purple fabrics, some large hole tulle and some bits of purple lace. I glued a vintage style gem in the center!