2016 Crazy Quilt Calendar just released

It is still so hot but it is already September, only four months for the New Year!

Pamela Kellogg's 2016 Calendar just released, I'm looking forward to get my own copy to review it.

By the way, I'm so excited for being "May page" of that lovely project. I did a special block according to project format. My  friends, followers know it well that I keep some items for the special  projects, I used lots of them to create my "May block".Pam sent me a lovely blue bird photo, I printed and decided to create a block  mostly with blue+pink colors. 

I just used a dark blue color lace trim and golden color ric-rac and a beaded lace, I did all other seam treatments myself. 

There were some dark blue+blue+white combo little oya flowers, I put them on to pink patch, my little bird now looking them:)) The fabric of that mentioned patch specially hand dyed from our southern part. I love to use those fabrics for the quilts that I make according to paper piecing method,  their performance is great, no comparison with the standard cotton fabrics.

As I mostly do, I used a Chevron stitch as a base, kept stitching, added lots of beads, with some contrast colors. I especially made some long patches to create long seam treatments.

 I added some other stiff type oya flowers on the dark blue patch, they really popped up. I did spider rose flowers with variegated silk ribbon. It is our locally produced silk ribbon. I really like their natural color scheme. I also used same type of ribbons to create leaves and other SRE works, as well.

As I told before, I used many special items. My vintage Czech  buttons the most important ones. Their story is interesting for me. I was going to Ankara frequently during my daughter's college years. One day, I went to an old store that was selling elegant accessories in my youth, as being a naval family, we located in different places, one of them was Ankara, our capitol city. My mother's choice was always haute couture and she was getting real special things from that shop for her tailor made dresses. After all those years that little shop's goodies were still so exclusive. I selected lovely trims and I noticed a small button but it was on their little showcase. He told me if I've interested in with buttons he could bring me some boxes from storage. I waited a few minutes, he came back with two boxes which were full of Czech buttons. He said, these are only samples, most of them discontinued products, I bought them long time ago, nobody interested in with them, just select as you wish just pay a symbolic money. You can imagine what I felt that moment, I bought lots of wonderful buttons. But, I still blame myself, why I didn't buy those two boxes with all those buttons!!! In those days I was a Newbie, I didn't know the value of  them.

I tried to catch color harmony as much as I can, colors of my block are so soft, I tried to take photos in day light however, I believe that they don't justice real colors but I'm happy with outcome, I  really enjoyed so much to create something for the coming year. 

It is a great honor to take part in that project among all those well talented&experienced Ladies:))

So, I tried my best to create a special block using special items from my stash. I hope you like my "May page" and entire calendar. Wishing you all the best....

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.

Details of my block - More details:))

As I've told at the begining I used so many treasure items from my stash. The crocheted motif is from my Mom. It must be at least 40 years old piece. I added a beautiful bead on it. Dear CQ'er friend Jan sent me from Texas long time ago.

The decollatage of my Victorian Lady was empty...needed something to fill her empty nest...I created a special necklace for my Lady!....small Svarowski crystals and drop beads were perfect to make a necklace. By the way, the colors of small Svarowski's were so neat the backgraound color of the print. Those small drop beads are amethyst. Her earrings and ring are Magnifica glass beads. I'm sure that my Lady had fantastic jewelleries but in today's economic conditions I could just offer these:))) LOL!

The ribbons that I've used to create fargo roses are from Ribbonsmyth. I love Vic's hand dyed ribbons, her color scheme of ribbons are fantastic.

Those vintage laces turned to butterflies so easily, I liked their 3D look, I must dig my stash to check if I have more of those laces...I want to use this style butterflies again.

When I've started CQing, I was trying to create new objects to use on my blocks...One of them was my little hats, most of my CQ'er buddies know that little hats...I did one to use on this block, too.

Those fresh water pearls are also important for me...Those were sent me by Nora Creech. She was a real CQ guru for me, she may rest in peace...I always remember her contribution to create my lovely Bluebonnets...I've attended her Crafty College online course as of 2003. Afterwords, to win a prize of CQMagonline was a real big surprice for me...

I tried to explain details of what I've done, what kind of products I've used on my block as much as I can...I really enjoyed so much to create something for dear Pat's magazine. It was lovely to sit at my Studio and stitch something with "Spring theme" when it was heavily snowing. Another cold weather is forecasted for Istanbul, I must start another project:)) I've started to use important materials of my stash with this special project, be better start another one immediately. Otherwise, I may start to keep them again for a special project;-) LOL....

Wishing you all the best, happy stitching....

Details of my block - Embellishments around the silk print

After putting soft salmon color lace under the silk print, I selected various neat colors of same type oyas.
;

I kept continue with an organdy ribbons, I pleaded and secured them with little beige color pearls.... I've bought that organy ribbon from one of local quilt store here in Istanbul. I used it one of RR block as well, I liked its good combinations with these color of oyas as well.

The harmony of the main color of the silk print , lace and oyas were perfect, so I could start to sew them:)) Afterwords, I made leaves with dark color silk ribbons...

Another block of "Spring Garden" RR

I completed another RR block as I was telling you in my previous post. This block was another cheerful one with lovely colors, I easily worked on it. The owner likes lilacs and lilac tones, I specially added a Chevron stitch with lilac color thread and added neat colors of sequins and beads.

A close up photo shows the details of the beaded needle lace and ceramic rose type buttons and additions I made with pearls. My floowers know that I mostly like to create my own seam treatments I rarely use trims but these beaded oya laces are always exceptional, I love to use them if their colors are neat...

The theme of the RR is "Spring Garden" but there are always potted flowers in the gardens, am I right? I stitched the edges of the flower pot with back stitch, made long vertical and horizantal stitches and couched the intersections of them. I added small size stiff type oya flowers, those tiny mini flowers gives 3D dimensions that I love on the CQ blocks and at last I added a watering can charm and made running stitches with metallic silver thread to symbolize running water:))

I'm waiting last block to play with...so, another RR will be completed:))