Friday, November 21, 2008

Cottage CQ...Traditional Seams

Thank you all for your comments about enjoying the progress of this experiment!

It is definitely a departure from normal crazy quilting...
...although I have been putting some simple and traditional stitching on the seams around my "seam driven motif" trees. I just had to see how the two approaches would integrate.

I want to make sure this "reads" as a crazy quilt, not just a landscape quilt. These traditional stitches give that connotation, but they look kind of woodsy, too, mainly because of their similiarity of line, scale, and color to the printed imagery.
Fun, fun! I think it's working o.k.

Here's a view of the woods section so far....

I want to keep the seams fairly simple, mostly because that inkAid treated fabric is so awful to stitch through. Bent needles, pliers, many jabs into my fingers while stitching...I will not be using that stuff in an application like this again. Yowie....
The beach was mostly printed without it, and I look forward to stitching through that nice soft cotton....
Oh, and the bulldozers have been and gone, too...

The transition is better and makes more sense visually.
The shape seems a little lopsided, like the central oval around the cottage has a bump in it. But that's where embellishment can solve my problems. Some nice clumps of beach grass along that bottom edge should even things out nicely....at least, hopefully!

18 comments :

Debra Dixon said...

You are really good at picking out the areas that need to be highlighted and then fearlessly embroidering a big ole fat seam treatment! I need some of that nerve!

Marty52 said...

Lovely, just lovely... I love the woods. It looks much more balanced with the beach on the left bulldozed a bit. They did a pretty good job! ;0)

Donna said...

Fantastic, I love everything about it.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

You absolutely never cease to amaze me!

Judy S. said...

Your bulldozing did good things! Beach grass sounds good...and then there's always rocks! How about some branches that extend into the sky? This is going to be just wonderful when you're done!

Susan Elliott said...

First of all, in addition to new fingertips, I predict you're going to need some more green threads/silk ribbons before long. I'm also beginning to see that you are just at the beginning of this undertaking. I must say that, though I find the beach intriguing, I am most curious about the sky...I have bought supplies and I'm hunkered down for the long haul...

Anonymous said...

I have enjoyed your blog for some months now -- your skill is inspiring! And today I recognized you on the cover of my new TAS newsletter. I am looking forward to the accompanying article.

Best,

Anonymous said...

Your stitching is beautiful and the colours are lovely.

Deb Hardman said...

You can always through an extra layer of batting under those bumps too, & call it trapunto!

What you are doing is amazing & beautiful! It is fun, fun, fun just watching you!

Anonymous said...

Ah yes, you handle that bulldozer well, beach looks like it belongs there. Your tree stitching is fantabulous. I love this piece, I wish I had done something like this. One of these days I'm going to cut loose, shed the inhibitions and just do it!
Granny Fran, I think it is when I get to you thru the Ringsurf List that I have the comment problem.

NickiLee said...

I love checking in every few days to see how far you've come along with this new project - it is absolutely fabulous! You are my CQ hero!

Anonymous said...

You are right, the left hand side looks so much more balanced now.

Nellie's Needles said...

Looking goooooood!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Ms Aller, what wonders you have wrought! I'm caught up in the process and can hardly wait to see the end result. You go, girl!
Jan Myhre

nancysews said...

I have been watching your progress and must say that it is beautiful.

Jeanne Turner McBrayer said...

This is going to be so beautiful...and very original! Love watching the progress.

Summerset said...

The two types of stitching are integrating nicely. You have such a unique piece - a great blend of old and new techniques. I think that it has a broad appeal as it combines several art forms in a familiar cottage scene.

Kathy said...

I jumped over here from Ravenhill and I'm so glad I did! What gorgeous work you do---your work seems to be very intuitive. So lovely---I'm so inspired ; )!