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. 

So close - so far

 I have four blocks left to sew.  

 

My machine is telling me not now.  The top thread keeps breaking, making knots, etc.

So I am going to listen to my machine and say ok.  I'll do them tomorrow after I give my machine a thorough cleaning.

But in addition to the blocks on my design wall, I have these done.

 So I am doing OK.

Did I mention that I cut one half block 8 1/2" instead of 8 3/4"?  Fortunately, I have no shortage of neckties or batting so once I have the final count, I will see if I need to make more.  I also noticed that one of the ties had a cut so I'll have to replace that one too.  And did I mention that in some of the centres I sewed the interfacing to the front instead of the fabric?  It doesn't show so I'm leaving it the way it is. 

Stuff happens and artists improvise. 

Necktie Hebrew trivia

The word for necktie is עניבה (pronounced UH-KNEE-VAH).  Its root is Talmudic, referring to a knot. Also used for noose "anivat tliyah". Oy.