Outrageous Embellishments

   Frances Holliday Alford

Screen Shot 2013-02-25 at 12.35.35 PMI enjoy making my Outrageous Embellishments pieces.  The collection of materials is part of the fun.  This week I have been making a small piece for a close friend with a February birthday.
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Purple is her favorite color and amethyst is the birth stone for the month, so color choice is easy.
Screen Shot 2013-02-25 at 12.35.56 PMI start with a very stiff interfacing such as peltex or other non-woven material  If you cannot find a stiff enough piece, use two layers.
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I like to use a background fabric which is opposite on the color wheel from the chosen color.  Most of it does not show, but there seems to be more life in the piece when the small glints of bright color show through.

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I baste a piece which is a little larger than the interfacing piece.  This piece is 12×20 with a yellow orange background fabric.

Chosing the embellishments for the piece is by intuition.

I like to use some Austrian crystal, some nicer glass beads, mother of pearl buttons, and some seed beads.

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I also like to use plastic pieces, often from children’s toys , buttons, or jewellery.  Toys or sparkle pom poms work well.

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If you have a Venus of Willendorf lying around, use her too.
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Sew each piece down separately, using at least three strands of embroidery floss or a double strand of Silomide beading thread.  I use a sturdy large eyed embroidery needle for the larger objects.

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After the piece is completely covered, you can put a fabric backing on it.  I used purple violet floral  fabric because it is the birth flower forFebruary.
When you make any piece of art work, be sure to put a label on the back with your name and the date of completion.

 

How To Trim Flying Geese Without A Specialty Ruler

If you don’t have a Bloc-Loc ruler, you may find trimming these flying geese challenging. But by following these steps, you should be able to get four accurate geese in each color!

First, line up your ruler so the point of the flying geese unit will be trimmed exactly ¼” above the point. Try to line the unit up as straight as possible on the other three sides.

Next, flip the unit over. Line up the edge you just cut on the 2” line of the ruler as shown below, and trim the excess from the top.

Flip the unit right side up again. Line the lower left corner up with the 3 ½” mark on your ruler as shown above. Trim the excess on the right.

Finally, flip the unit over again so the point is pointing towards the 2” line. Align the left edge of the unit with the 3 ½” ruler mark as shown above and trim the excess on the right. Your flying goose unit is now ready to be pieced into your block!

Quilt Documentation Tip

 Andrea’s block story is all about the importance of quilt guilds. Quilting can feel solitary, but guilds bring us together. It’s a topic of conversation that was discussed with two Birthday Block of the Month Designers in a recent Textile Talk where the participants all shared emotional stories about their love for their guilds. 

Did you know that your guild can document your quilts as a group? Consider hosting a quilt documentation day in your guild! Follow these instructions and have members share three minute stories about one meaningful quilt in the Quilt Alliance’s signature Go Tell It documentation program. You could even host a screening so all of your members can see the videos! Get in touch at: qsos@quiltalliance.org

See You in October for Month Seven!

Thank you so much to everyone who has participated in the Quilt Alliance’s Birthday Block of the Month so far! Our designer for next month, the seventh block we’re making together, is Bonnie Hunter herself! 

Be sure to tag @quiltalliance and @3rdstoryworkshop on Instagram with your block photos this month, and use the hashtag #QuiltAllianceBOM. And leave any questions about this month’s block in the comments below!

3 Comments

    • quiltalliance
      quiltalliance on February 25, 2013 at 5:27 pm

      Thanks, Elisa! We’re working on it.

      Reply
  2. Victoria
    Victoria on February 25, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    I see all the images here… you have to let the page load perhaps…

    Reply

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