Circle of Flowers - Another BDE flower completed

I completed my second flower on my "Circle of Flowers" project. Switching the thread colors between the two didn't seem to hinder the design, since they would have been across from each other either way and are both form of daisies. I think one of the hardest things to remember when doing Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery is that it has a Z twist and stitches need to be wrapped around the needles in the opposite direction than when using regular flosses or other S twist threads. That and the fact that the Lola thread has a definate end to have at the knotted end and at the needle end. Stitching with them at opposite ends causes the thread to twist terribly. But, all in all, these threads are wonderful to work with once you get used to them.....really! I know some people don't like them and think they're difficult, but they really aren't like other rayon threads. These are very soft and pliable....not springy like so many other rayon or "art silk" threads. If you haven't used them before, you really should try them. They have a luxurious sheen that I have only seen in one other thread that I've used before.....Chinese silk floss, which I really enjoy using, too. The difference is that I'd have had to use several plys of the silk floss to equal one of the Lola. I may have to try making the same flowers doing just that as an experiment! Good project for this evening.

More on my Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery project -

Well, I have learned one thing for sure . . . .you shouldn't read needlework directions at 2AM. The directions for making the Knotted Lazy Daisy and the Geron Daisy are on the same page with one right above the other one. Now, just HOW I read the directions on the bottom of the page for the flower on the top of the page will probably always remain a mystery.....maybe my eyes were just tired and they kept dropping lower. Anyway, somehow, I used the thread for the Geron Daisy to make my Knotted Lazy Daisy. The ironic thing is that I could see that the picture of the project showed a thread that was way more orange / peachy than the thread that I had. I even checked it by another skein of the same number to make sure. . . . but I also checked it by the wrong number, so that didn't help. Soooooo, my flowers will have switched colors than the original sample, but it's not that much of a problem, since they're both daisies. The most important thing is the stitching, anyway, right? I think the knotted lazy daisy stitches came out pretty well. I'm posting a picture of the finished Knotted Lazy Daisy flower. I'll post the next flower tomorrow.

New BDE Project

I've used some of the BDE techniques on crazy quilt projects, but have wanted to learn more by doing more actual BDE projects. Luckily, for me and others, Rita Goff has agreed to mentor a group of us. We're from all over the country, so this will be an on-line gathering of willing and eager students. Rita has started a separate Yahoo group....Circle of Flowers, for all of us to interact. The pattern that we're doing is called Circle of Flowers.....a design by Maria Freitas for Edmar Designs. I'm posting a picture of the finished kit as shown on the JDR website, where it is available for purchase (as well as from other BDE vendors). I've done the greenery, so far, on my own Circle of Flowers project, so I'm going to post a picture showing that much done.

I'll post each addition as I do it. We're planning starting a new flower each week.

Hope you enjoy going down this new pathway with me.......no actual flowers to smell along the way, but hopefully some pretty ones to see!

Brazillian Dimensional Embroidery Project

I said that I'd fill you in on all of my current projects, so here is project #2. This one is a Brazillian Dimensional Embroidery item. This lovely work is done using the beautiful rayon thread by Edmar. This thread comes in different weights and textures and has a fantastic sheen. It has a Z twist to it, whereas most threads are made with an S twist, which means you have to stitch with it a little differently. I've only done a couple actual BDE projects before. I'll post a picture of my very first BDE class project that I did while taking a class from Rita Goff last summer a the CQ retreat in Omaha.

Current Projects . . .so many and so little time!

I'm currently working on about 6 projects. I'll tell you about each of them in the next few days. The first one is a new bed cover for our upstairs guest room that our visiting friends and relatives call the "Pink Room". I had decorated this room for my mother-in-law to use when she stayed with us while battling breast cancer. I wanted a bright, feminine room that would be cheery for her when she didn't feel well enough to get out of bed. We carpeted it with dusty rose pink plush carpeting, I wallpapered it with a tiny pink and blue floral wallpaper, and added an accent wall with a framed dusty rose wall with pictures of victorian ladies in it. I haven't wanted to change the room too much, because it brings back some of the good feelings and memories of the bond that she and I developed during that difficult time together before she lost her life. We've replaced the twin bed with a double one, but have changed very little otherwise. Since the old coverlet barely fits the newer bed and and I don't want to replace the curtains, I've decided to use some of the old coverlet's fabric and the matching cotton sheets as a focal fabric, I'm adding an assortment of other fabrics to make a crazy quilted coverlet to replace the old one. Thinking of the pictures in the room, I decided to make the theme of the coverlet be Crinoline ladies and flowers or other items that might have been used by crinoline ladies......high button shoes, fans, etc. I love embellishing my crazy quilting with beads, buttons, silk ribbon, and other baubles, but since this will be actually used on a bed; I'm going to only use embroidery, applique, and painting techniques for embellishing. I will use fancy fabrics; though; like silks, satins, velvets,etc., as well, as a few cottons. I'm going to make larger blocks....16". I've finished the first section in the first block. It's a crinoline lady. This tiny lady is only 3 inches tall, but I sure enjoyed using Brazillian Dimensional Embroidery and painting techniques to make this section. I painted the background of the sky, grass, and dress using acrylic paint that I'd added textile medium to. I'll post other sections as I add them and embellish the seams. I'll also share a picture of the room once I take a picture of it.

Quilt Club Challenge Gift

Each year, one of the quilt clubs that I belong to has a Christmas gift exchange challenge. Everyone that wants to participate in the gift exchange puts 1/2 yard of a fabric of their choice in a paper bag with our name in it. The club president adds a number to the outside of the bag, takes the person's name out of the bag and documents the names with the number so that no one else knows whose is whose. Bags are then picked at random by the participants who can then add any fabrics that coordinate and come up with a gift using at least a 6" piece of the "owners" fabric. I thought that I'd show you what I did with the fabric that I received in the bag I picked. The fabric was a cotton floral in shades of blue and yellow....no other colors. I decided to make a hussif...a needlecase that also has places for other sewing items like scissors, thread, needlethreader, etc. I added other blue and yellow cotton fabrics, blue felt, and then crazy quilted it using various threads, beads, and buttons and embellished it with embroidery stitches. I used a light batting and to keep the "book" in shape, I added plastic mesh to two of the center sections and the "spine". This was my own design.....I used no pattern. Feel free to make one of your own, they are very handy. I'm working up another design that will specifically be used for on an armchair. When I have that done, I'll share it, too.

Wedding gift wallhanging

I'm going to try to be more consistant and try to blog at least 3 or 4 times a week. I'll sometimes talk about some of my old projects and try to keep posting about current projects that I'm working on. Here is a picture of a gift that I made for my nephew and his bride a couple years ago. It was included in the premier issue of Machine Quilting Unlimited, which was quite an honor. The wallhanging was about 30' x 42' and was my own original design . It was made out of charmeuse satin in ivory and beige that was appliqued and then heavily quilted using a double layer of batting to give the trapunto affect. I quilted it by machine on my domestic Pfaff. I was pleased with the finished result. and the couple were very happy with it.

I love coming up with my own designs. I either sketch them out on paper or use my Electic Quilt computer design program, which is wonderful.