Sunday, March 23, 2014

Halloween Crazy Quilt is Done!

Hooray!
Here she is in all her Glory:

I finished all of the embellishment stitching late Wednesday night...OK, 
it really was still Wednesday, not quite Midnight!  Perfect timing for 
a Halloween Piece.  
On my last post, I mentioned my 'Zen Place' for doing all of the 
Embellishment stitching.  It is a different state of mind from needlepoint
 stitching.  I was worried about getting there.  
You are looking at a 'finished' needlepoint canvas, 
and instead of being done, 
you look and have to think, 
"OK, now to ADD!  What can I do to jazz up each and every faux 'seam'?" 
On March 9th, when I did the post about having all the background 
work done, 
I really was worried.
It is hard to decide where to start and what to do for the embellishing. 
 It took me a few days of worrying to tackle it.  I'd pick it up, look,
become overwhelmed and put it down.  Well, maybe if I organized all
of the bits and bobs, the panic would subside.
I gathered up beads, and sparkly threads, Swarovski Crystals, funky trims, 
ribbons, charms and buttons. 
Then, I decided that worrying about doing 23 seam treatments was really
overwhelming me.  "Kelly, darn it just pick a place and start!",
 I goaded myself.
   In the center, is the alternating Wheat & Bead sequence that I have used on 
the other 2 CQ pieces.  I knew it would work...so I began.  
Hooray!  The ice was broken!
 Then I decided to do the Stepped Wheat sequence, 
alternating the black & chartreuse silk perle, seen in lower left.  

 From experience, I knew that the Fan needed super skinny
treatments with lots of beads and bling, so I got busy on those!
Isn't it lovely?  Such Harmony!
I was really on a roll!  Once all of the fan is done, plus the first two,
suddenly 12 seams are tackled and the rest is much less daunting!
The fan edge is done with a SUPER COOL new trim & thread
combination from Access Commodities:
Silk Wrapped Purl & Silk Couching Thread.
Amazing Stuff!
A close-up of the Memory Wire Bead Twist.
The upper right corner has some simple twists with unique trims and threads.
And along came a Spider!
The Mish-Mash Ribbon Seam Treatment looks splendid in Halloween Colors!
 
And the Beaded & Be-Ribboned Tassel Trim is quite festive!
And more close-ups of other fun bits:
 Just look at the Sunflower center full of  messy beads and sequins!
 Delightful Tiny Buttons and a Vintage Bakelite bead with 
a plastic Rhinestone center...the epitome of tacky! 
 I just Love it!
 The wonderful cluster of Buttons with a Vintage Rhinestone 
Shank Button...Adorable!
 I was thinking about dangling Halloween Charms the whole
length of the Ribbon seam, but decided to stop after the
Jack-O-Lantern...was worried it might overwhelm!
(But, I can always change my mind!!!  Hum?) 

Now that the piece is done, time to write the Stitch Guide!
ARGH!!! Talk about overwhelming!
Ah well, until next time.
Happy Stitching, All! 




10 comments:

  1. GEORGEOUS!!!!! Do you get tired of hearing how creative and talented you are??? Would you tell me how you created the spider?

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    1. The spiders body is a tiny 3mm ball of felted wool, tacked in place,
      then a Rhodes stitch in black Petite Very Velvet to cover. The arms were long stitches in the Petite Very Velvet, over-stitched w/ 2-ply of Bijoux. The head is a cross stitch in the Velvet w/ 2 shiny black 14mm seed beads for eyes. He is rather dapper,
      for a spider! :-)

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  2. Fantastic.....I am a needlework finisher and very detailed oriented and all the details on this piece is to say the least wonderful....I don't envy you having to write the stitch guide....The only suggestion I can give is take a nice warm bath, get a good night sleep and them begin.....Arlene Edelman Harris

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  3. My Oh My, Kelly!! You've done it again!! I've told myself "No More purchasing Needlepoint" until I finish multiple items. But I may have to break down for this one. When I finish my granddaughter's Christmas stocking, I may start the Christmas CQ because they're sooo much fun to stitch! Kathy Wallace/Midland, TX

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    Replies
    1. Kathy-Did you know my trunk show is at The Stitching Post in Midland, TX right now?
      A perfect opportunity to break that no new needlepoint rule! LOL

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  4. wow - this is truly amazing with the embellishments and surface stitching. you rock ! Melody

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  5. Where are your patterns sold?? I love love love the crazy quilt designs!!

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