Crazy Quilt 6" Swap Block Stories
The velvet is Italian. I included the embroidered pansy for thoughts of friendship. Butterflies, for me, symbolize creativity and that it is okay to let your imagination fly. The silk ribbon and organza bouquet was a la JBM.
My First Block
This block is the first 6 inch block I ever made, and the second Crazy Quilt block I ever did. I spent some hours looking over Crazy Quilt Central, and Judith Montano's books to get ideas.
The center square has my favorite color beads in it, it also has my cat's face! I was going to put a flower copied from an eight hundred year old wall hanging in the center block. I did an outline for it, using perle cotton thread. When I got through with the outline, I saw that it was my cat's head! I had grey tapestry wool setting there on the table, and the next thing I knew, there was George, my cat!
I had a dream of making the feather stitch in beads, so I tried that! The butterfly was done using my new punch needle. This butterfly is the second thing I had ever made with a punch needle.
The hedge that has flowers peeping over it is a small piece of edging that I crocheted with Brazilian thread. OH- the silk ribbon work on this block is the first of silk ribbon I have done!
The silver 'D' (for Dawn) was done using paper as a guideline. I did not like the result, it was too difficult to get the paper out of the letter. I'll not do that again!
I was VERY nervous about sending this block out! I know my inexperience shows! BUT- I wanted to get to see some of Dawn's work 'cloesup', so I could learn!
Lib
I had such a wonderful time working on your block. I enjoy working in jewell tones, but I normally don't use prints. The printed velvet called out to me and I had to use it. I have tried to include items that reflect me and there are some just for decoration.
The maple leaf is for Canada and the cream beaded flowers are stylized trilliums for Ontario. My garden has many roses so I made you a basket of roses. Teh little basket is my own design and embroidered with Sulky gold metallic.
I crocheted the lace edgingin #40 ecru cotton, but felt it was still too light. I tea dyed it using 4 Red Rose (Only in Canada) tea bags to make it more in line with the tones being used.
I love cats and have a big blue Persian named Muffin. I found a neat pattern of a Persian on the net and scaled it down to put on the block. It was also embroidered with Sulky gold metallic.
The black seam embellishment was a combination of fly and straight stitched done in one strand of silk floss. I then added the black beads. I had found the black fan on one of my travels. I would like to try to copy it sometime.
Last I included my name and of course the key to represent my initials. The basket, cant and my name were embroidered us tissue paper patterns that I basted onto the block.
Karen
© 1997
This page designed by Dawn Smith.
Last updated August 11, 1998
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