TBCQ block 5

 

 
I thought the block was finished, but as usual, seeing it on the screen, it becomes obvious where more work is needed. Have a guess, and we will see if you were right next post

TBCQ block 5

 didn't have a chance to do any stitching while I was away this time. The weekend was run as a series of small workshops, so I didn't really sit around long enough anywhere to get things out. I drew a lot though...

Here is the progress on block 5.  I have done a seam here-and-there on black and gray blocks as well, but this is the interesting stuff.

and here am I in "sunny" Invercargill, at Bluff, the most southern point of the South Island

It actually was sunny for all of the weekend, except at the time we decided to take a road trip. We were up at 6.30 to get this trek out of the way before the meeting started. We are, after all, sent around the country to work!

Only two more weeks and I am off again to Christchurch this time. This meeting I will def get some stitching done!

TBCQ block #4

 I haven't had much time for stitching this week. This working business is a real hinderance to creating. I have Mondays fairly free, and I did nothing but olympics and stitch. Isn't that Cross skiing a blast!
Here are the results.

This was supposed to be the orange and green block, and I even put the orange ribbon aside during the day for the flowers...however, I forgot, and just took a stab at it when it came to stitching time, so, we have pink flowers, and orange butterflies

I have a meeting this weekend, so hopefully I will find some time to work on the black and gray blocks. I am off to Invercargill, which I am a bit excited about, and kiwi readers will probably wonder why!! It is at the very bottom of our little country and I am not sure that much happens there, but I have never been, and am not likely to go again, so I am looking forward to it. We even have a few hours when we get there, and may get to see more than the conference centre!

Blocks on Flickr

I have uploaded all the completed 'tumbling'  blocks to my Flickr page, so cruise on over there to take a look.

TBCQ progress

Here's the next block completed. I like this one! It is much prettier in person. The brooch is lighter than it has come out in the pic, very 'icy', and sparkly.
Freda asked if I would use tatting in every block, and I think I will attempt to do this. Using tatting is a signature of my work,  and I love the texture it adds to a block, as well as the history.

Here is a progress pic so far.

I haven't quite decided on how to work with the black blocks.  The lower embellished one is effective in the photo, but in reality, blah, don't like the look. To simple , and to add more to the seams would add more colour, which I don't want. The upper block was all black - stitching and beading, and I added some dark green thread. Which I do like. I love the black on  black, and the different type of fabric does create interest, but it needs something to lighten it up, literally, and visually. I am going to do another in just the green thread and see how that moves me.

My only problem now. I am loving the look to this quilt, and I want to make it bigger than originally intended, but I do not have a wall big enough to display it on (except opposite the toilet door, and while it would be a lovely piece to sit and admire, I am not so sure that guests will be excited by this option...)

I am settling into a rhythm with these blocks, and making decisions as I go, like trying to work with mostly 2 colours per block (+ green, cos thats a CQer neutral y'kno), and having one main focal point per block...

which is not what I did here....

I added the red roses, and then needed a very 'strong' element to offset that. I made the stacked herringbone in red...still not enough, so embarked on the SRE posie. The ribbon is more purple than blue (this is my purple and red block).
Once I had the two elements, I thought I'd better add the third - for newbies the general (not) rule (because there are no rules in CQ!!) is to have three visual elements, or motifs, on a block, to help draw, and move your eye around, and the human eye (brain) finds odd numbers more appealing than even. If the numbers are even, the brain perceives symmetry, and doesn't bother to look any further. .... so ends todays lesson!
....so, I added the dragonfly. At this point I decided that I wasn't going to stick to that rule. Each block needs just one "eyecatching" element to draw the eye once the blocks are assembled into a quilt.

And here is the start of block 3 - mauve/blue, and dusky pink

I tried a new seem. It is (as far as I can figure) a zig-zagged, alternating, barred, chain stitch . I see many in my future.

Pics of this block completed tomorrow.

"Crazy in a Box"

I have finished the first cream block (light side). Boy, that was a mission. It has actually been a long time since I did CQ. Sitting down with a block in front of me was quite intimidating. I am definitely out of practice. What colour to put where? How to balance the block? Even though each block is a stand alone piece, and doesn't necessarily have to blend or balance with everything else on the quilt, I still want every one to be pretty...and right!

A commentor asked the size of each block. The sides measure 6"(15cm) each  10.5 x 6.25" (27x16cm) from point to point. It is a small block, equivalent to a 6" square block I guess in stitching area.
I struggled with my colours, as usual. Trying to stitch the cream blocks at night will be a no go I think. I frogged a revolting peachy mustard seam this morning. My quirky, rare, hereditary, colour blindness rises its stupid head again. At least I cant go wrong with black on black, and white on grey...

TBCQ - more pieced blocks

I made a few more blocks up today. I think they look great together, far better than I expected. I am really excited about starting this project. You can see the beginning of the stitching on the top gray block.

you can follow the progress of this quilt by clicking the TBCQ label (Tumbling Blocks Crazy Quilt)

TBCQ - 1st 'unit'

Thanks so much for all your ideas and suggestions.

I need you to know that I tried...I really tried, but it had to be black!! I did my cream block, I did my grey block, then I spent an hour and a half searching through ALL my fabric trying to decide what the 'accent' colour would be. It's black!! It works.

 I am going to try darker threads to embellish the seams on the black (did I mention "it's black") side - thanks Willa for that suggestion/thought/spark of an idea -to make it more 'lively'. The grey side is pretty much done for now ( pic to come later). I used white and a light beige-ish sassalynne thread to break the white. I am going to stick with just stitching for now until I am sure this is the colour scheme ( I am pretty sure it is).

I wanted to say a belated thankyou to those who suggested windows live writer as well...unfortunately, my computer won't download it, I have tried several times. Blogger and the pics seem to be behaving, but I much preferred uploading all the pics I wanted to use in one go, then clicking and selecting what I wanted, this "new and improved" way is rather labourious and slow.

New project - T(umbling) B(locks) C(razy) Q(uilt)

I am posting this in hopes that it will actually spur me on to acheiving something in the needlework department.
Planning for a new quilt - a wallhanging actually. I don't think I have another double bed quilt in my at the moment, and while I enjoyed the Black CQ, it was a strictly "thread only" affair, and I want to EMBELLISH with beads, and ribbons, and buttons and doo-dads.

So here is the plan. Input from you is wanted (and expected!!)

You may think this looks familiar...you are right. Sharon Bs Crazy Diamonds was a really inspiring piece for me, so that is the plan.
The top diamond will be pieced in creams, and embellished with my lovely sassalynne threads, beading, SRE, and anything else I can think of ( a-la Pam Kelloggs flower wallhanging - two inspirations for the price of one!!)

The other two sides I haven't decided. I was thinking grey, embellished with white stitching only, and then black, embellished with black stitching only. I want to keep these sides more simple, for a couple of reasons, the main one being that they will stitch up the same as my postcards, so they will be portable for  the weekend conferences that I attend.

That sounds a bit boring doesn't it??

Other thoughts were to have the 'dark' side in hues of grey, with black embellishment, and the 'light' side in a colour, maybe shades of green, or maybe I could manage to do them all different.... Although I am not a rainbow-y type of gal... and that side would still be embellished with white stitching to ensure that the light and shade of the tumbling blocks pattern is maintained. I do prefer "muddy" colours, so maybe it won't look rainbow-y. I would also use the graduated dyed cottons I favour for the 'coloured' sides. I guess if I do colour, and don't like it, I will be giving away a whole lot of diamond shaped postcards!!

So , there are my thoughts. What are yours?? I am excited about getting started on this, but I need my mum to get home and make me a template, and some of my special online buds are helping me out with cream fabrics...so i sit, and wait.