Fools Gold 2 Round Robin - Gerry's Block

Well I've waiting a couple of years to do this RR, and am so excited about it.  Some have already posted their photo's of some of their work, I'm a little behind......

Gerry's blocks are of burgundy rich pinkie colours, gorgeous let me tell you. Her theme is Jacobean Floral embroidery.... and only ONE flower as the main focal point, certainly a challenge for me, not a big fan of the technique, not that I don't like it, just not sure if I like it.

Here is my design after about an hour or two thinking about and fanning through books that I have on Gold work and Jacobean embroidery. I had not realised how many I had... WOW, even I was surprised.

The final piece is slightly different mainly the leaf and the extension veins.
Here is the finished block and as always close ups of the elements.

The colouring is not the best and not all together true.
Added elements are the Jacobean Flower bottom left, with kid leather and gold beaded center, with each petal a different stitching technique, buttonhole, colonial knots, detached buttonhole, grid stitch and more detached buttonhole. Base of flower is gold thread and gold thread chain. 

The center leaf is laid chiffon, couched along it's edge with gold braid. The center stem is gold sequins and gold purl done in 's' ing stitch. 

The spider's web is made in silk gold thread and a beaded spider.  The flower  has a pearl center. 

The beetle is made of gold kid leather with gold filmy fabric for his wings, with stitched burgundy silk buttonhole edge and seed stitch.  His head is large gold gilt.

The three bottom round beads as an accent to even the elements out.  I really hope this is what Gerry had in mind when she chose her theme and I'm able to give it to her.
Well I did really enjoy this challenge and look forward to doing the rest.

Arlene

CQJP 2012 and TAST - February work

I don't know why but for some reason I had trouble getting started on my work for this block. Then I decided why don't I add the TAST challenge stitches to it.
Here is the finished block

How I incorporated the TAST stitches was to add them to the seams first, Cretan with star sequins and red seed beads and feather stitch also enhanced with red and green beads.

 herringbone and detached chain.

 The wreath contains chevron, Cretan, fly, and herringbone stitch.

 First was a circle of chevron, then between each was cretan. On top of that is a round of herringbone and last several random fly stitches.  The wreath was then enhanced with gold star sequins and red, green and gold seed beads.

Now two down, 10 to go.....
Arlene

Lace and Pearls Round Robin CQI - Susan's Block

The colours of this block are ones that I really like. Soft pastel colours and Susan had left plenty of room around the block so I was able to mount it properly to have the block tight and so making it easier to get stitches straight.

First of course is the full block:

Here is close up of my section, it was hard to stop stitching on this block, the colour are wonderful.

This close up is of the and dyed lace motif, with added beads and pearls (yes there are real pearls) and buttonhole butterfly.

This next photo is the silk ribbon woven roses, with added pearls, beads, and Fargo roses, chain leaves and colonial knots.  Woven roses are so easy and they look so nice when bunched together. The seam beside the rose cluster is off hand dyed lace, and blue trim, with real pearls and aqua beads. Last of all two buttonhole butterflies.

 

Last of all was the chevron, herringbone seam, with added square pearl beads, and little purple heart bead flowers. The center of the seam has aqua beads and the different stitches are stab stitched together at the center.

This block was a joy to stitch on, and was so hard to stop, I could of keep going and embellished the whole block, but thought I had best not.

Susan I hope you like my work.

Arlene