20 Done-ish

With the addition of these

 I have reached 20 blocks.

Done-ish because the top one whose pattern I saw briefly on a Facebook reel had a black centre for each intersection.  I tried various stitches and beads but did not like the look.  So I set it aside.

 Done-ish because the middle one when viewed from afar seems empty on the right side.  I will revisit later.

The last one, I couldn't find a green fabric to match the perimeter's green so I used a bit of the same tie from the cut off pieces.  Kind of like the effect.

I figure that if I do one or two blocks a day from now until I finish I should be ready for the Pomegranate Show and Share in June.  Maybe. 

Also working on the leaves for the POM Temple Emanuel project.  The quilt is being quilted this week and hopefully we will be able to attach the tree and leaves before the end of the month.  Don't know what I'm talking about?  I'll review the project with photos when the quilt comes back from the longarmer. 

One more in progress

I perhaps should have documented my process.

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 I started with a burgundy tie as background and gold centre square.  Did not like it.

Then tried a goldish orange linen look background and burgundy background.  Did not like it.

Then a burgundy duppioni background with gold centre.  this was better.  I tried embroidering the burgundy perimeter with gold fly stitches.  Did not like it.

Finally settled on this gold silk background from upholstery samples and burgundy duppioni from my stash.  the central finding is from one of my recent trips to Israel.  I have now used up all of these particular findings of which there were originally six.  Unfortunately, the guy I buy from in Tel Aviv does not have a website or do online selling.  I'll just have to travel again...

In the meantime, I am mimicing the blue colour in beading from one of Inbal's deconstructed jewellry pieces.  My hands are not cooperting with my beading right now so I'm setting it aside.

I do want to try some shibori embroidery and may even venture out to the library to see what they have to offer in the way of books.  There is plenty of stuff on youtube but I'd like to see a few patterns at the same time. 

Three More

 

Picking Up Steam

I have, until today, completed - ish 10 blocks.

I say completed - ish because after I complete the 75th block, I may revisit and decide if I want to continue.

Here are the blocks I've done so far:

I try to let the necktie fabric dictate the colours, styles and techniques I will use.  Often my original idea does not end up happening and something else does.  I am using up the bits and bobs I've accumulated over 25 years of quilting/embroidering/sewing etc. and am rediscovering stuff I made for other projects which were abandoned which now find a place.

I'm also getting to review what I have and declutter at the same time. 

 

Blocks - Continued

 Although I determined I should photograph the block before embellishment, I forget until I had done the first seam.

This is the 2nd of the crazy quilt centres.

And the finished, block.

 

Ran out of sparkly thead at the bottom of the vine...

Hands were shaking a I attached to chamsa.

I think that the spider in teh bottom right doesn't match the rest of the block but can't decide whether to leave it or what.  Just had an idea.  I may replace it but not today.

I have two crazy quilt centres left - I will wait on them and try some of the other blocks.  But not today. 

First Blocks Done

 I have started embellishing the blocks.  If you think assembling the blocks was time consuming, you have no idea how the next process works.  It is so hard to decide how to embellish.  Stitches go in and I don't like the result.  Unstitch, keep stitching?

The first two blocks are done, I think.  I started with a crazy quilt block.  I should have photographed it before I started but I didn't.

This is the finished I think block.  I think because I'm not sure if it needs anything else.

 The frame is the last of Mel's ties.  The white fabrics are family wedding dresses or fabrics.  The threads, beads and findings are those I have amassed over the years.  I am also trying not to buy anything for this project but I think I may need to - I am letting the frame tie colours dictate the white sections embellishments.  My next crazy quilt frame is primarily dark blue with hints of gold and green.  I have next to no gold threads.  I will see.

The second block is one of the ties I received from Brenda, or perhaps someone else.  This time I remembered to photograph a "before".

 

 And this is the after.

 

 Imagine it rotated left so the feathers are hanging.

The burgundy is duppioni silk from a sample from my neighbour, the upholsterer.  

For this one, I tried several things and this is how it ended up.  

 

I don't have to be in love with each piece, just to do my best to finish them estheticly. 

 

 

Now What

 

This pile has 75 8 3/4" squares with 4 1/2" white centres.

Thanks to blogging, I know that it took me 18 days to make the squares.  An auspicious number, no? 

My next step is to embroider/bead/embellish/stitch in the white centres.   This step will take longer.  Do I want to do it by myself or with friends? Do I want to work with a theme or just wing it?

How much of the white do I want to cover?

Do I want to set myself a time limit (e.g. 75 blocks in 75 days?)

I am hoping to exhibit them which will directly affect how I back them and a hanging system.

I am taking a day or two to think about it.