Skip to main content

Candi's Sampler Block

I posted a picture a few days ago of Candi's block I received to work on in the CQI "On the Seamy Side"Sampler Round Robin. I have now finished my work on it. This go round the stitches to be used were fly stitch and spider web roses. In the picture above is the first motif I did on Candi's block. I made three spider web roses with a shimmery organza ribbon. I placed them on a bed of fly stitch leaves done in a variegated thread. I added rose buds and a sprinkling of clear beads.
This is one of the seams I did on Candi's block. I made a double scalloped line of chain stitch in variegated thread and added groups of three straight stitches with a gold bead at the end of each stitch. Lastly, I added those trust spider web roses again with a bit of fly stitch greenery, all done in silk ribbon. This seam was inspired by one I saw recently on Sharon B's In a Minute Ago blog (her link is on the right under Check This Out). It didn't end up looking much like Sharon's so I don't know if she would want me giving her the credit! lol
This was the second seam and it is just a very simple fly stitch topped with little pearls. Very simple. If you look below the seam though you will see where I may have lost my mind. I kept looking at the silkie on this block, especially her gorgeous hat with the ostrich feather flumes. I kept thinking .... EMU FEATHERS!! So, I went ahead and added some. I sure hope Candi likes them cause they are there to stay! Of course, they can always be trimmed and shaped into a more pleasing shape when Candi gets the block back.
This last picture is the whole block after both Clairee and I have stitched on it. It will be heading off in the mail to its next stop tomorrow morning.

My work on this block gave me a couple real challenges. These two stitches (fly stitch and spider web roses) aren`t high on my list of stitches I use often. When I first did the motif with the pale pink roses I had scattered silk ribbon french knots around it in two or three colours. My initial instinct was to scatter pearls but I had already used them on the fly stitch seam so I thought that might have been too many pearls. But those french knots bothered me because they seemed too busy. Took them out - even though I virtually never `reverse stitch` - and then of course you can`t take out silk ribbon work without leaving a mess. So where each french knot had been there is now a clear bead and I am happier with the end result.

Following my trusty A - Z of Ribbon Embroidery book I marked circles for the spider web roses. I thought I would use that water soluble pen. Seemed to work fine. Afterwards I used a q-tip and water to moisten the marks and set it aside. When I went back I looked at the back first and that gorgeous variegated pink thread had run! I was almost afraid to turn the block over but luckily nothing ran on the front! Whew - got off lucky that time!

The last challenge the block gave me I didn`t rise to meet. I have looked at what I have done and I am vaguely unhappy with it and I think I have boiled the problem down to one of scale. What I did - and cannot now undo - is to make things that are too large for the block. I should have gone with more delicate looking stitching. But, unfortunately, I can`t fix that now (Sorry Candi!) . Hopefully someone further down the round robin circuit will find a way to balance out the block better than I have done.

Comments

Cathy said…
Hi Kerry - I LOVE your spider web roses with the fly stitch leaves - it turned out beautifully. Very feminine. I think the scale and visual weight of your treatments is fine; when others add their work it will all balance out and will not seem so prominent. I'm sure Candi is thrilled. Wish you were coming to Colorado with us! Hugs, Cathy
Candi said…
OMG I love what you've done on my block!!! You do such gorgeous work! Thank you thank you thank you!! :-)
Hugz:)
Candi
pam said…
Hi Kerry,
I adore your work...you are far to hard on yourself!!!
Lovely seam treatments.. what a brill idea to use the organsa ribbon for those roses too came out beautiful and the beads seem to make it feel like dew drops there all fresh.
Hugs Pam Uk
Cathy, Candi and Pam - thank you for your kind comments. I am glad you are happy Candi - it is such a gorgeous block, your fabrics are so "touchy-feelie"!
Hugs,
Kerry
Anonymous said…
Your seams are very beautiful!! I love them. Hideko
BumbleVee said…
found my way here from Ati's blog...love your roses..... they are beautiful.
Anonymous said…
Kerry - I love this blog - if I knew WHERE to START, I think I would give it a try! Any books you would recommend? In "Candi's" block, what is the little "snowflake" thing above the silkie called and where would one find one? Joyce in BC (from landscape group)
Thank you Joyce! Blogging is easy so you should give it a try. I use Blogger - it is free and they pretty well walk you through setting it up step by step. Try it!

That "snowflake thing"was done before the round robin block came to me - isn't it clever!? It is made from "sequin waste" which you can buy at craft stores. It is what is left after they punch out the sequins in manufacturing them. Then this is the "waste" left but in crafts nothing is wasted! lol Clairee trimmed it into the shape of a flower and then attached with beads.

Hugs,
Kerry
Anonymous said…
Kerry - LOL - it isn't blogging I want to give a try - it's the crazy quilting!! Any books you could recommend in this area?
Thanks for explaining the "sequin waste". I will be following your blog and all the "seam treatments".
Oops - my bad! Sorry I misunderstood, Joyce! I can recommend a lot of books or I can recommend you learn the way I did -at CQI (Crazy Quilting International). There are a few Yahoo Groups out there for crazy quilters but this is my favourite! If nothing else, you will be completely overwhelmed with "eye candy". Check out te CQI blog and see what you think at:
http://crazyquiltinginternational.blogspot.com/

There is a link there to join as well.

For books - my favourites are Pat Winter's, anything and everything by Judith Montano or Carole Samples, Cindy Brick's great new book with lots of information on the eye candy, etc. etc. I could go on forever! Some of the blogs I link too here on the side bar are CQ related - Sharon B's In a Minute Ago is one of the first I found and still one of my favourites. If I can help - let me know!
Hugs,
Kerry
Anonymous said…
Thanks Kerry - awesome eye candy and Sharon B's site is great - now bookmarked. I have one Judith Montano book, so as soon as I gather some supplies - seeing as how I didn't win your wonderful kit! - I'll have to get started! Thanks again for your help.
Love the feathers in the hat!!! beautiful work.
Pat

Popular posts from this blog

Giveaway Day! (CLOSED)

I am very happy to be joining in the Giveaway Day through Sew, Momma, Sew .  I have chosen to share one of my finds from a shopping trip, or treasure hunts as I think of them.  This is an antique sewing box -  I could not resist it when I saw it for sale!  Were you able to guess the item from the sneak peek earlier in the week? The box itself is fairly small, 8 inchs X 6 inchs and 4 inches high (20 cm X 15 cm and 10 cm high).  From my research it is of Asian origin. Inside the sewing box is lined with hand-painted silk.  The inside of the lid features a neat little needlebook. In the bottom of the sewing box there are more beautiful hand-painted blossoms and an attached pincushion.  I hope you are as charmed by this little box as I was when I found it and that you will enter my giveaway.  I will be pleased to mail internationally so everyone is invited to enter. To enter, visit my Etsy shop and then come back and leave me a comment telling me which item you like best.  Feel fr

Save the Stitches Finished!

 I finally finished my "Covid Project"!  I worked on Elizabeth Almond's beautiful blackwork sampler design, "Save the Stitches" for much longer than I would like to admit...  I have to say though that it was very satisfying every step of the way.  I have not been able to concentrate on stitching in any significant way for some time now due to chronic pain and the dullness that the pain meds cause but having finished this piece gives me hope for my stitching future.  I also love the framing which was lovingly done by MJ of "Art Effects" in High River, Alberta.

BAS Week 35 - Bullion Stitch

This time the BAS Challenge is a stitch that can be used in either seams or motifs. It is an incredibly versatile stitch once you learn it. I put off learning the bullion stitch because I found it very intimidating, but I have to say that once I got the hang of it I have had a lot of fun with it. The possibilities are almost endless..... bullion roses... ... figures like watering cans... ...Christmas puddings... ... this little robin and worm - my personal favourite!... ....romantic hearts filled with roses... ... even a beehive and little bees.... ... or baby rattles! See, the possibilities really are endless! Now that I hope I have you inspired with ideas, here is the scoop on this stitch. It is simply a glorified french knot! There is an excellent video tutorial on Mary Corbet's Needle'nThread blog in her Video Library of Stitches. Mary has also written very good information and tips in this post. You can also check out Sharon B's Dictionary of Stitches