Stitching Time!

It is still snowing here in Istanbul, everywhere is under the white blanket, I love to read other blogs, still Christmas and New Year messages are posted, I enjoy to read them....

To sit in our warm homes when our furry friends watching us or sleeping near by, isn't it so lovely to stitch, create wonderful things?

 This image  is an adorable  for me with so much wonderful details, who doesn't want them in their own studio?

 Yes, it is really stitching time in these cold and snowy days.  But, I already have same old story, right hand tendonitis problem came back once again!!! I did overwhelmed in the past months, travels, carrying trolleys and some other hard works are the main causes.... I'm in a special  medicine cure again. I believe that stitching is a wonderful way to lose ourselves, even for a brief time and soothe our souls. I hope I'll be able to stitch soon and share them with you all.

Greetings from snowy Istanbul, wishing you a pleasant weekend, stay well&warm!!!

Last RR job done!

I've started Downton Abbey, DYD RR with great excitement. But, so sad that many incoming and outgoing mail problem ruined RR, it caused a disappointment for us.

I'm also so sad that  one of my partner's block got lost on the way. She made another one and I just completed my work on it. After having lots of stress related with the postage problems, I decided not to join any RRs. 

Theresa's block is my last work on a RR block. I hope she likes what I did on her block.

I tried to pay a special attention on her lovely block, which is all my favorite colors. As I always do, I tried to create something special...Especially this block was with Downton Abbey theme, should look rich!!!...My followers know me well, I love heavily embellished blocks.

 I started from the longest patch, added one of my beaded oya lace long the seam. In this block I used symmetrical  trios, oya flowers, laces, seam treatments etc. I used them all three pieces.

I used various types of beads on the seam treatments, I stitched chain stitches to cover seam assembly lines. I did them with  metallic Kreinik threads.

My right hand tendon problem still exist, therefor I'm unable to make SRE work, however, I did lots of beading on Theresa's block. I'm so glad that I found so many neat color beads, pearls in my stash, I used them in a harmony.

This photo shows final of the block, I enjoyed so much to work on Theesa's block. Now, it is ready to start its long way to WA, USA. 

This winter I'll not join any other RRs, just I'll try to complete some UFPs and start new projects. 

Wishing all the best, happy stitching....

Lots of Laces RR - My work on Nicki's block

I neglected blogging in the last weeks again. One of my recent work was Nicki's lovely block. It was another wonderful block, I enjoyed so much, worked so easily with a nice color harmony. One of  metallic ric-rac  that was sent me as a swap goodie, finally found its perfect place, with some additions  of small charms, metallic thread it looked so pretty. 

I added neat color beaded lace and its assorted flat type oyas, long type bugles and same color pearls made a nice combo. 

I don't use flower type sequins much but this time they found their perfect place, I believe.

This photo shows better my work on the left bottom side of the block.

My treasure gift by Vickie Brown

My dear friend Vickie Brown created a wonderful thing for me, when I saw a photo of this project I fall in love. I impatiently waited its arrival...By the way, our customs did a special application as they do always!!!!...I had to wait one week its custom clearance even though the carrier was UPS.  

She knows my denim jacket love. This denim jacket's new style  with a wonderful Victorian image and vintage laces&beads is an extraordinary work. I must admit that I haven't received a big handmade item  like this up to know.

 

This close-up photo shows more details

More important point is this label at the inside, this is Vic's elegance and delicacy to prepare very special thing for this special gift. It makes it totally personal, exclusive!

I wanted to thank Vickie once again for taking time to prepare a special gift for me. As I always say so, I met with amazing people in the CQ world, our passionate interest created amazing friendships...

Downton Abbey-DYB RR, my work on Freda's block

This is a lovely RR, indeed. Lovely pieced blocks are so nice, it is great joy to play with them. When I saw Freda's lovely blocks, I couldn't decide to chose one, because all of them were so nice. I was together with my mother, she is a lilac color lover, she suggested me to pick up this lovely one.

 I think, it was a really good decision because I found so many neat items from my stash and started to work.

 My chronic hand problem still exist. I tried to make a fargo roses but I couldn't pull-out the needle with my weak right hand fingers, it was painful try for me, indeed... Some kind of muslin fabrics  are so tight unfortunately I'm unable to do SRE  on fabric+muslin together. But,  as I decided to make a spray on the left side.  I did spider roses with hand dyed silk ribbons.

There was a long patch on the top, I did a long seam treatment. I must admit that I've spent hours to make it:)) I used mostly main colors of the block, I did contrasts with those colors.

 That lovely dyed lace was on the block, sewn by Freda. I added soft lilac tone pearls on it. And added vintage charms at the bottom.

This photo shows my work on the block, I liked its colors so much and worked easily. I hope Freda likes what I did.

Downton Abbey-DYB RR, my work on Ola's block

Some of my followers should remember I've had some struggles to work on a buddy's block last year, she had "Downton Abbey" concept on her RR block. It was totally unknown issue for me, after my trials I learned that it is a famous TV show and I tried to do my best on that mentioned RR block. 

When I recognized a new RR with "Downton Abbey" theme, I decided to join without hesitation. All those lovely blocks with fancy fabrics should turn to a real beauty with "Downton Abbey" theme.

 So, I received first block from my RR partner Ola, her naked block was so pretty with nice fancy fabrics. I decided to work on the main colors, black&beige. I collected all neat items from my stash and started to work. At first, I added a lace at the right side. I made Chevron stitch with variegated black thread at top, added lots of things, sequins, bugles, metallic seed beads.

My partner should like to have some oyas but, unfortunately I don't have any neat color flowers I just added a nice handmade beaded lace. I preferred to create rich seam treatments with contrast colors.

Some SRE with black silk ribbons and help of metallic golden color thread looked pretty at the beige patch, addition of the golden color leaves made that side nice, isn't it???

As I always love to make chain stitches with metallic threads, I did them on the black velvet patch. Added some little charms, too.  On the middle beige patch, I added a big size "Life tree" charm that I've found it recently in a forgotten box.
So, my first work on this interesting theme RR finished and it started its long journey to reach Brenda...Now, I'm waiting another block to play with...I wish I could live in the past eras:))  I love all those elegant, fancy things of the past eras....

Diva's Elegance DYB RR - My work on Nicki's block

I really had an unlucky situation with my infected finger, that little thing bothered me too long. I hate excuses but  it was so painful for several weeks and afterwords it sore badly, I couldn't even hold a needle...So, I had to cancel some projects and some commitments delayed. Unfortunately, I'm behind the schedule for the Diva's Elegance RR. But, I so grateful for my dear friend Nicki's understanding. Because, her block suppose to at home two weeks ago:((

Nicki's block is a pretty I started to add a lace and vintage blue trim...I love blue color and I was keeping that old trim for a special project...This lovely block was perfect piece to use it.

I wanted to write "baby" with those letter buttons but I didn't have latter of "A" . Therefor, I only did this medley on top of the lovely baby print. I loved that teddy bear charm, I used it on the lovely fabric which has wonderful blue tones.

I did seam treatments using bugles, sequins as I almost do...I like lovely glaze of the sequins, they always give another beauty, I believe.

I used some other little charms as well on this block to reflect baby, child related items:)

I tried to do my best with this sore finger, right hand index finger!!!! I hope she likes what I did on her wonderful block.  I enjoyed so much to work on this pretty block, I wish I couldn't have that unlucky finger problem, I could perform better. 

So, we came to end of the another RR, it was so nice, friendly group. 

By the way, my blocks came back home, I'll get them together to  make a wall-hanger. I would like to thank all participants once again for their efforts on my blocks.

Crazy Quilthing-Christmas Heart

I work on cotton fabrics rarely but when it comes to Christmas project I love to play with them. One of my friend created this cute heart shape block for me and I embellished it for another friend:) 

I started from SRE part, completed poinsettias and wreath. I also did seam treatments.

Used flat type pine tree form oyas on this block, added white seeds beads as snow:)) 

I'll complete its back side now, I want use solid color fabric as back side, it shows embellishments better. My current back and neck pains bother me so badly but I don't want to give up at this special time of the year.

ROUND THE WORLD BLOG HOP

I  have been nominated by  Jenny Clouston,   www.sewsocrazy.blogspot.com   to participate in The Round the World Blog Hop. She is very talented quilter from Australia, I would like to thank her.

There are a few questions that we have to answer so people can find out a more about us.

1. What Quilting/Sewing things am I working on?

I do like sane quilting but crazy quilting is my passionate interest, I love to create different blocks heavily embellished with pearls, beads, sequins, charms... I like to join Round Robins with my favorite themes such as Victorian, Vintage, Winter, etc. I really forgot how many RR or different activities  such as charity projects I’ve joined  since 2004.  

To win a contest with my first big project was a great motivation, the influence of the Victorian style and Victorian colors are so obvious on my quilts.

2. How does my work differ from those of it's genre?

I believe that every crazy quilt is unique and has special reflections of its creator. In a decade,  I did so many projects, some of them were  heavily embellished  memory quilts with  the 40x40” dimension,  charity blocks etc....I must admit that I have just a purse and a few small things for myself at the moment.

To join RRs keeps me busy, in addition to review different blocks is always a learning period for the endless journey of the crazy quilting.
My weak point was to create CQ blocks...however, I improved in the past years, I assemble pieces more easily now a days:))...I think, my painting experience helps a lot to play with colors to make nice combos.

I love to use fancy solid fabrics to create blocks that they show  crazy seam treatments more apparently. I rarely use trims, I love to create my own seam treatments using lots of beads, sequins, bugles, charms and of course oyas! Oyas are our traditional Turkish needle art samples. It has a long story for me how I've introduced them to the CQ world. Some stitcher friends calls me as "Queen of the Oyas" and they can recognize my work among the others easily.

 Crazy Quilt Gatherings is a wonderful quarterly magazine of the CQ world, it was a great honor for me to take  a place on its cover of  2012 spring issue. I spent long time to create it, but I enjoyed so much.

I always love to collect small charms, objects to use on my blocks, I’m a real keeper and my extensive travels helps me to find interesting items...But, I must admit that they are mostly for the important, future projects, like this one!!! I hope those important future projects will be realized soon to use some of all those collected goodies.

To play with all those beads, lovely threads, laces, buttons....covering all those assemble lines gives me a great joy, I may work for long hours...

3. Why do I create what I do?

Crazy quilting is a special love of mine, the answer to many interests. What other handcraft combines embroidery, sewing, beading, applique, laces, ribbons, buttons, painting, color designs, self expression so many things?  To top it off, its a little self indulgent with no function at all, other than to be beautiful and a little intriguing!

I love the outcome of a heavily embellished block with a theme...I love to create memory blocks to give presents and love to join RRs.

4. How does my creating process work?

To be honest, I mostly work on charity works and RRs....I must also admit that if I like a RR block at first sight I really don’t know where to stop, I keep continue to fill my part crazily...

In my CQ journey I’ve met lovely Ladies that they share same passionate interest,  so many wonderful friendships established from all over the world, their inspiring work influenced me to create my own style. I  love to share lovely ideas,  trading goodies from all over the world.  It is another wonderful part of the CQ’ing is different swaps. I joined so many different swaps, they helped me to build my extensive stash.

I try to see my projects’s final stage in my brain before the  beginning.  I mostly work on the different project in the same time. I spend long time my at my studio. 

But what I love most to do is to teach, share my experiences. There are so many CQ'er Ladies that  I have met over the years and the work they create is truly inspiring.

I think I told a lot about myself now I would like to introduce my nominatees;

Barbara Nicki Seavey, http://cqnickilee.blogspot.com.tr/ She has incredible imagination to create wonderful blocks, and she uses amazing laces dyed by herself. 

Wilma van Wagensveld, http://www.wilmagoescrazy.blogspot.com.tr/ She is talented quilter from the Netherlands, I like her style so much.

I would like to thank Jenny once again for her kind invitation:)

Diva's Elegance DYB RR - My work on Claudia's block

Our "Diva's Elegance DYB-RR" runs smoothly. When I've received Claudia's blocks, I loved all of them, and decided to work on a block with mostly blue tones. I've started to make a Chevron stitch and adding sequin, bugles and seed beads to have an elegant look. Afterwords, I did my new type flower with bullion stitches, I added golden bugles and made other contrasts with beads.

 I added one of my favorite beaded  oya trim on the blue patch. I did a oya spray using contrast color tones of "Cimcime" models to catch a nice harmony on the main colors of the block. As I always say so, I like chain stitches on the assembly lines

 At the final, I've added one of my new oya, pear flower model at the bottom which made a nice appearance  with the fushia color patch at opposite side. 

A spray would be so lonely without butterflies, I added several charms, and beads as well. 

There are some RR blocks, you decide what to do at first sight, this block was one of them, I worked so easily and enjoyed so much while working on it.  I hope Claudia also likes what I did on her block. Now, waiting the arrival of another set.  

Happy stitching!

International Flags Project

I would like to give a brief info about Turkish flag before explaining the details of my own work which I’ve made it for the Crazy Quilting International groups’ international flags project.Turkey’s flag  is red color including  with white colors of crescent and a star moving centrally in front of the sun with reference to the meeting of the Turkic solar deity Gün Ana (Mother Sun) and the moon god Ay Ata (Father Moon) brought by the space god Khan Erklig . The event technically constitutes a solar eclipse when the moon partially occults the sun at times of syzygy. The flag is often called “Al bayrak “(the red flag) and referred to as “Al sancak”  (the red banner) in the  Turkish national anthem.

The current design of the Turkish flag is directly derived from the late Ottoman flag, which had acquired its final form in 1844. With 1923's Treaty of Lausanne, the Republic of Turkey was officially recognized throughout the world, and the flag of the Ottoman Empire became the flag of the Republic of Turkey.  Its measures have passed by a law during the Republic period on May 29, 1936 which formed the shapes and measures of the current flag of the Republic of Turkey.

In my 12x12” block I put red color patch in the middle of the block.  I used a silk print of our flag to have proper proportions for the star and crescent. I precisely appliqued them and covered with a chain stitch. 

 When I received  an invitation to join this project, I got so excited....I created a special thing in my mind at first moment... I should use only read&white colors...I should make long seam treatments, so, I prepared my block accordingly. I had fancy fabrics in my stash, both red and white colors, I combined them easily. Also I used various white laces....I selected a red&white beaded lace trim, it is totally handmade beaded form of our traditional oya laces.

After sewing silver star&crescent charms I decided to use only silver tones of metallic threads and other embellishments as well to catch an elegant look. I kept continued to make long seam treatments mostly using Herringbone and Chevron stitches....I like both stitches, they give wonderful alternatives to use sequins, beads, charms, etc.

I had a miniature Maidens Tower charm in my stash. Maiden’s Tower is a symbol of Istanbul. The name `Maiden`s Tower` has its roots in the more popular story relating a maiden`s misfortune. According to this tale, a beautiful Byzantine princess was once quartered in this tower. It is said that soothsayers had predicted her early death by snakebite. Her father, Emperor Constantine who loved her dearly, built an extended castle  and placed her there to avert the fatal end. Eventually the girl died of snakebite, which entered the castle in a grape basket. The other story doing the rounds links it to the Leander-Hero romance and gives it the name Leander Tower. This tale tells that a castle was built on the present site by a Byzantine Emperor for his daughter Hero. When the Emperor learnt that his daughter had a love affair with a commoner named Leander, he imprisoned Hero in the castle. This could not dispirit Leander who, being of athletic-make, would cross Hellespont to see Hero. One stormy night he had no light to guide him and drowned. Hero, hearing of the mishap, flung herself into the sea.

I put this mentioned tower’s charm and did  waves using white seed beads and silver metallic thread. Added stars on the sky...Crazy quilters’ imagination is endless. 

In the Ottoman Empire, tulips played such an important role that the reign of Sultan Ahmed III (1703-1730) has been labeled the "Tulip Era". Ever since tulips are so important in our art world.  I created a special tulip like flower form with my own imagination. I used ellips, flat type pearls and made petals with silk ribbons. Ribbonsmyth’s un-dyed sheer silks helped me a lot to create them, thanks Vic, I love to use your ribbons and highly recommend them for new stash builders.

I believe that birds and butterflies are the symbols of freedom, I added them on my block as a symbol of our independence as well.

I used an old silver metallic thread to stitch my name and country name.  I like to use this thread because it gives an old, antique look. 

I made bullion stitches to make little flower flower form on the  red color buggles...Each of them has 18 and 20 wraps with cotton perle.  

This is the last photo that shows final stage of my block. It is already on its long way to reach Cathy Kizerian. It will take a place on a big wall hanger of the international flags project. I hope I'll be able to see it in person on next years retreat. 

Wishing a peaceful world  to you all....