April Showers bring May Flowers

I'm enjoying the Crazy Quilt Journal Project for 2013.  My blocks are 6.5" x 6.5" most of the time. The embroidery tends to shrink the block a bit but it is big enough for me to explore new stitches and just  small enough that I don't get bogged down.

April Shower bring May flowers...the lady with the parasol is appliqued to the block using silk thread.  I believe in using silk thread for applique. My favorite is YLI Silk #100 fine silk.  The silk sinks into the fabic and disappears, never to be seen again.  My rain drops, Ricky Tims Razzle Dazzle, polyester from Superior Threads, color 251.

My teacher and very dear friend, Glender Irvine of Silver Springs, Florida introduced me to Di van Niekerk's silk embroidery.  I was luck enough to pick up a copy of Di van Niekerk's book Roses in silk and organza ribbon at Jo-Ann's for 50% off the regular price...great deal!  I experimented with the twirled ribbon rose and I'm looking forward to trying the different techiques including the two stumpwork birds presented in the book.

Stay tuned for the flowers of May.

Enjoy!

Way of the Cross...Fabric & Lace Book

Lace Remnant

Small holes and yellowing, this remnant of antique lace, found at this year's Broward Quilt Expo inspired this fabric and lace book.  The lace reminded me of the vestments worn by priests and in honor of the Catholic Church's first priest, I created this small fabric book.

The book consists of nine images on eight pages. The cover, the image of the Last Supper was satin stitched over the lace and red Radiance (cotton and silk blend fabric).  All of the images are satin stitched on red Radiance. I hand stitched gold thread in the arms of the cross and tied the blood drop with red thread.

Close up of blood drop and Lace

The following six pages depict seven of the stations along the Via Dolorosa.  

Blue lace trim, the color associated with the Mother of Jesus was used on this page as well as burlap to represent the prison Jesus was held in overnight.  The words of Simeon "...a sword shall pierce through your own soul"  is printed on organza, stitched on and the edges were burned both to age it a bit and to prevent it from fraying.  The strong and courageous women in Jesus' life are presented here.  It was not my intention to do so but in retrospect I think it's perfect.

Tea dyed lace trim edge the image of Veronica, who full of compassion and courage wiped the face of Jesus with her veil.  Her reward was the imprint of his face on the cloth.  I printed the words "His face shone like the sun..." on organza and stitched to the side.

A black metal ornate cross with a red crystal in the center, symbolizing his blood adorns the page of the Crucified Christ.  The pocket on the last page is behind the circular image of the dead Christ and could be used to hold a Rosary or prayer cards.

Back of Book, Christ's Resurrection

I worked on this book during Holy Week.  It was not planned, it just so happened that I started to work on it at the beginning of the High Holy Days and found it to be a wonderful form of meditation.

Enjoy.

Crazy Quilt Journal Project March & February 2013

This block is March's entry...
I enclosed the ribbon roses with lattice work and added  a bit of antique lace, a woven basket and seed beads.












The following block was for the month of February (Valentine's Day) which I forgot to post to the blog the month it was due.  I thought I would continue with the doorway theme.  One often needs a key to open a door and we speak of a key to the heart.  Notice I also forgot to include my spider!

Enjoy!

Contemplation of the Virgin and Child

The Virgin has been the focus of contemplation since the Wedding at Cana.  I was inspired by Redwood Mountain Musings to create this contemplative aide with lots of antique lace and trims.  My fabric and lace books seeks to remind us that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, carries with her the spirit of contemplation as she "pondered all these things in her heart and heard the Word of God and lived by it."

The book measures 7.5" by 6" and weighs just 8.75 ozs.  There are three two-page spreads, plus the cover and back pages for a total of eight embellished pages. Each page has a picture of the Virgin & Child with the exception of the last page.  Inside the first page is a pocket for Rosary beads and small mementos/keepsakes.

There is also a side pocket of cut-work embroidery for prayer cards.

The Queen of Heaven wears a cown while angels adore the Babe.

Ribbon stamped with the fleur-de-lis (symbol of the Virgin) ties the book close.

Enjoy!

Doorway to the New Year

January, Doorway to the New Year

I thought that I would challenge myself this year and so decided to take part in the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2013.   The project is all about promoting the art of crazy quilting and encouraging the artist who take part in the exercise to explore, grow and demand more creatively of themselves.

January's block, Doorway to the Rest of the Year, is the first of 12 crazy quilt blocks (one for each month of the year).  Each block measures 6" by 6" just large enough for some variety but small enough that I'm able to finish the block and meet my deadline. The stitches used in this block, Algerian eye (hot-fix crystal at the center of the Algerian eye) French knots and straight.  I think I would like to explore one stitch per block.  In January's the predominant stitch is the French knot done with variegated silk ribbon and some pearle cotton.  

Stay tuned as the door slowly opens into the next month...

A Gift for My Husband

Printer's Tray

The Holidays are a difficult time for Rob and I.  We miss our families especially our parents as they died way too young. Rob is an only child and as such his Mom left him mementoes of his dad (who died when Rob was 15) and of the life they shared together.  Many of those keepsakes were in boxes stashed away, hidden and when she died I added her treasures to those boxes.  When I first saw the printer's tray a few years after her death, I was not certain what I would do with it, all those little compartments! In the old days of the printing press the compartments were called type cases so named because they were used to hold the different letters of the alphabet. My husband's gift however holds some of the letters of his life, prominently displayed for all the world to see.  This tray measures 16" x 11.5" and has twenty-one compartments.  I have emptied those hidden boxes and filled the compartments with all the treasures that would fit.

Shirley's Fish Brooch.

       Here are a few of the treasure filled type cases:            

Rob with Mom and Dad

Child's Crayons and Game Pieces

Paris, the timeless city

Film Strip, Dad's Baby Ring & Computer Board

Nesting Bird With Roses

Crown and Treasure "Light Bulb"

 

Fir-de-Lis Note Pad

1,2,3...

Journey Key and Crown

Shirley with her Accordian

December 25, 2012

Happy New Year!

Treasured Hand-Me-Downs

MERRY CHRISTMAS &

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL

This little doll was made by my mother before she died.  She loved Christmas and would spend hours making decorations for the tree and the house.  Our home for Christmas was a wonderland, decorations everywhere, no corner escaped a toy, a doll, a reindeer and/or any one of the many Santas in her collection or the decorations she made with such care and joy. Her tree would be dripping ornmaments and this ornament was one of them.

This porcelain brooch is not really a Christmas ornament but a Christmas gift from my father-in-law to my mother-in-law.  Then, in 2004, my mother-in-law gave it to me to hang on the tree, the very first Christmas she spent with Rob and I.  This ornament and the angel that goes on the top are the last ornaments to be placed on the tree as they are always given noticable places on the tree.

The watering can...a small, plastic, orange, watering can.  It has been in my family for over three quarters of a century - our family heirloom and treasured by all of us. My grandmother bought the watering can for her very first Christmas tree, now it hangs on my tree. Eventually it will go to my niece, Kimberley as with all of my decorations and so the treasured hand-me-downs move forward to the next generation of children and family.

Christmas is a time for family, memories, traditions and treasured hand-me-downs.

Happy Holidays!