Vintage Victorian DYB RR - My work on Darlene's block

These blocks were so interesting for me. Because all those lovely blocks had been based for the characters of  the PBS show Downton Abbey which I didn't have any idea about it! Glad that there were nice details related with character in the RR booklet. 

I just used gray, black and white color threads for the seam treatments. I used bugles, sequins, small silver charms and various types of pearls on the seam treatments. I thought to make a white rose spray on the black patch but it has tiny mini sequins on itself, therefor I left it as itself, I worked more on the top and bottom sides. 

As I always say so, I like to make chain stitches on the small blocks like this one. I believe that chain sttiches shows seam treatments better.

 I've added a small parasol and silver handbag charm. In this RR we stitched our names, as well. 

I tried to catch an elegant look with contrasts with same colors....Silver embellishments looked nice to me with all those base colors. As I told at the begining, I've start with no idea with her PBS show concept, I tried to create an elegant, rich apperance with beads, pearls, etc.. I hope Darlene likes what I did...

Victorian Vintage DYB RR- My work on Tahlia's block

 2014 year started with different activities for me, one of them is a new RR, Vintage Victorian theme DYB RR. 

I've worked on Tahlia'a block which was designed as real vintage blocks and special fabrics. If fabrics are nice and soft to work on it is easy. I started to make my favorite big lazy daisy, afterwords I kept continue to embroider a fan and spider web. I used swarovski crystal beads to make spider, it is my new creation:))  Tahlia's biggest main parch is a soft silk fabric with olive green color. I tried to use my all vintage cotton threads with same color to make seam treatments . I also used olive green color silk ribbons to make little leaves....Upon her request I added my name and country and of course some oyas. 

I was hesitant what to do at the begining because I usually work on only solid fabrics, when I have blocks with different designs, different motifs, I scare to lose control of color harmony. I guess, I didn't exaggerate my work and catched a harmony, I hope she likes what I've done. Now, I'm waiting another block to play.

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 - Seam treatments

The left/bottom side of the block is fan model, that little triangle shape lace found its place easily and I mounted new type violets its top...At the upside, I kept continue to try seam treatments...of course, using beads, sequins, bugles, charms as I always do...Some CQ'ers doesn't like sequins but, I like to use them especially their contrasts on the fabrics are lovely for me.

Those buttons must be too old, that I have used several of them on the block...I bought them from Ankara several years ago. The owner of the store who remembered my mother as being his an old, loyal customer....I'm talking about circa 1970. He brought two big boxes of vintage buttons and said to me "These are from Cheslovakia, samples of the discontinue products, if you want to buy, just pay me a symbolic amount....". As you can imagine, I was in the candy shop, selected so many lovely vintage buttons and paid a symbolic amount. All those discontinue product samples are on my block now. I'm grateful for his favor. I always visit that stores whenever I go to Ankara and pay lots of money.

I used silk floss threads to make my Bullions stitches, one ply thread, 18 and 20 turns....

Those violet oyas are new types, I love their natural look

The lace looked so naked I did a chain stitch at the edges and added sead beads.

Stocking

I know I neglected my blog in the past months....an extremely hot summer is the main reason that I was so quiet. We are having wonderful autumn here in Istanbul. The green colors of leaves started to turn wonderful yellows and orange reds. My favorite time of the year is coming and I started to work on a UFP. This lovely stocking with wonderful poinsietta prints was sent me by a crazy quilter friend. I couldn't find a time work on it last year. I started to embellish it, adding sparky seed beads on the little ponsietta prints made it much more pretty, I already completed beading now, I'm thinking what to do on the borders.... In addition, I want to use my Kreinik metallic threads, most probably I'll use them to make chain stitches at the several places...I'll keep to post progress:))

2010 ArtBra Block completed

Here is the final of my 2010 ArtBra block....I shared its beginning, I also would to share some other details of what I have done lately.

In my previous post the blades of the fan were ready, I pieced the other part with some contrast colors. I believe after another experience that the paper piecing method is a life saver for those who doesn't like to use machine like me....

This photo shows my naked block. After piecing a block I always get so excited to embellish. I get all neat embellishments together and start:))

As I always say so, I love to create seam treatments instead of using trims. But, this time I used trims because they were so neat, especially beaded oya lace looked so pretty on that dark color fabric.

I like to use every kind of pearls, these pale blue pearls looked so pretty on this seam treatment along with those sequins... If I've used white they won't look like them. The harmony of the flat type oyas were perfect on the silk turquise fabrics.

I used several oya flowers that they are pretty new creations. Especially pale mint colors are looked so neat with my fabrics. These new oyas with lovely colors will be available at my Etsy store soon. Most of the metallic threads are Gutterman or Kreinik. Those flat type sequins and little charms were in my stash for a long time, aren't they look nice on that turquise background? Those glass beads are from my local bead shop, I used several of them on the various patches.

At top, left side, the little silver charms with carnation shapes are from a local bead shop, as well. The ribbons are also from our local market, I could make more SRE but, I didn't want to complete that area, otherwise I could miss all warm colors.
It was so nice to prepare another block for another great project. I hope I'll be able to participate more meaningful projects on the coming years. Special thanks for everyone who contribute on 2010 ArtBra Wallhanger project.

First CQ project of 2010!

After a hectic period finally I'm back to my routine life and gave a start to stitch with a lovely project. One of my online buddy from the USA will have a presentation to show different CQ applications from different cultures. She just kindly asked to borrow one of my CQ project for the mentioned presentation but I wanted to create something different for her as a present . As most of my CQ'er buddies knows, I don't use much trims on to my blocks, I love to create my own seam treatments. But this time, I used different handmade beaded oya laces to reflect Turkish application on a Turkish style CQ block. Everything,, I've used, on this block is from our local market.
I started to get pieces together with my favorite Victorian colors,
after piecing the block I added neat color trims, of course I selected them among my beaded oya laces, and stitched seam treatments using mostly silk threads. I crocheted two little hats, but I decided to use pinky one, it looked more apparent with its lovely colors and its contrast border ribbon.

This is a highlight of the bottom side. All those embellishments that I used are from our local market. The silk ribbons that I used to make web & fargo roses are also local products, that variegated silk ribbon looked so pretty on the web rose . The bronze butterfly charms looks like antiques. Recently, I found that little tulip charm at a local bead shop. I especially wanted to use it because tulip is another nice symbol of Istanbul. The origin of tulip is Istanbul, it goes to 15th-16th centuries, Ottoman Empire.

This photo shows the right side of the block.I used my favorite style oyas on the pink fabric and added a calla charm. It is also a new charm that I found it from a bead shop at Ankara. These oyas in this photo are a new creation with my favorite colors with lilac and purple tones of floss thread.

A CQ block without an evil eye bead won't look too much Turkish. Of course, I added a nice evil eye bead to complete it:))
This photo shows some other details of the left side.

Here is the final of the 7x7" little block that I made for dear friend, Lynn. The block on its long way to go to Ca right now. I crossed my fingers it will be reached to there in time to be used at her presentation.
Unfortunately photos doesn't judge the colors so well, however I wanted to share all details of my first CQ project of 2010. I hope 2010 will be a creative year for all of us....Happy stitching.....

Last RR block

This is the last block of our RR. As I've explained before, this RR has a different concept each person makes a specific thing on each block. According to the rules, as being last person, I added all pizazz.... beads, sequins, charms and some other final touches on this lovely block.

This photo shows my additions on Reneta's block.

This is a close-up photo that shows my additions on the sky part, I added a brass bird charm. Afterwords I decided to make a cloud. But, in that white part I decided to make blue color clouds! I should add more sequins but unfortunately they weren't sufficient amount. One of old metallic Gutterman thread with variegated color looked so neat to me! I did some chain stitches on the sky.

In this close-up photo, my additions looks better. I added many beads, little charms, etc. I found many neat color embellishments in my stash to add, I hope Reneta likes her block after our work. But, I really would like to say that the photo doesn't justice its beauty. It so much pretty in person. There are lovely details in that block.

This RR was another different experience with its interesting rules, I enjoyed to work on all blocks. Now, I'm waiting my block's arrival.

New Necklace-Set

Most of my CQ'er buddies and customers know oyas only with their little flower forms. But, there are so many different applications of these amazing lace art. Here is a wonderful necklace set with my favorite color. But, as being a CRAZY quilter, I thought it was so simple, to make some attractions with some beads will be nice idea. But, I must admit that I was so hesitant to destroy its beauty, I never want to add any other things on oyas but this time I wanted to try something different.

I started to add neat color pearls and Swarowski beads. The outcome was nice and I kept continue....

Here is the final of this lovely necklace set, isn't it looking much more elegant? A crazy touch always gives a feminine look!!! I added this lovely necklace set to my ETSY. Visit my ETSY or ARTFIRE shops to see other alternatives.

Willa BC block for 2009

As I always say so, our little oya flowers got so famous in the CQ world after I've used one of them on a Breast Cancer Wallhanging project several years ago.
I would like to share an eye-candy here that dear friend Willa who is also one of my loyal customer, she used small flat type oyas and ceramic roses on her block for 2009 BC Wallhanging project.
She is a purple and lilac color lover like me, please visit her blog to see her lovely block.

Back to stitching:)

I visited my bead shop the day before. I found new little charms:)) I used two different types with seed beads. I especially liked the little four petal metallic beads/charms (whatever you call them:), I used blue color seed beads to mount them.

Finally, I'm back to stitching after a long time. I've started to work on Shirlee's wonderful "Winter" theme RR block.

I've ordered some kits from Eveningstardesigns.

I received a wonderful Patterns&Instructions sheets along with my order contents. I inspired from a CQ stitch combination to make this seam treatment for Shirlee. I plan to add some other beads, I'll share its progress.

Bead stores at Ankara

I spent long time in this store that they carry wonderful products. In addition, this lady creates so nice, elegant necklace sets. Her exclusive designs are so nice, indeed. I wish I could have more time to watch her amazing work.

I lived in Ankara in the past at my youth and I visit it frequently now. But I must admit that I've never been there, at Vakif Sulu Han.

"It was built in 1511 by Hasan Pasha while Ottoman Emperor 2nd Sultan Beyazit was in power as a foundation..it has got 63 rooms to stay, shops and double hamams as a big caravanserai of that era..it was renovated in 1980's, now its rooms gives service as bead and artificial flower shops."

It is an amazing place for a CQ'er, like me. I was losing my mind when I saw all those colorful beads there. Unfortunately, my time there was so limited, however I took photos, met with very nice people, all shop owners were so friendly.

I got so impressed in that huge, old building, its authentic, exotic atmosphere and beads, charms, thousands of different materials... It seems that I'll be visiting this authentic place at my every Ankara trip.