Sunday, May 29, 2011

Memorial Day


Freedom's Colors
©2002 Roger W Hancock 
Red is for Bravery;
blood shed in sacrifice.
Freedom came with lives the price.

White is for Liberty;
freedom's purity.
Life be free from God's decree.

Blue is for Justice;
as vast as the sky.
Over freedom's land to occupy.


Flag Book Mark I designed with rings and chains.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Ruby's CQ Block

Ruby's CQ block is all about Victorian. I tatted a Crinoline Lady from Pam Palmer's book, "Tatting Treats Two", using  size 80,  Lizbeth 615, Yellow LT thread. It was tacked down, sequence added and  silk ribbon roses made with french knot and stem stitched. Also added was a silk ribbon for her hat. A spray of stem stitched roses fills out the area. To the right is Herringbone filled with more silk ribbon roses. To the left is Feather stitch with beads and the bottom are Lazy Daisy butterflies and Chain stitch. 
The black berries and Cretan stitch in upper left corner were stitched by Katy
 Ruby's left side corner block, I made a Victorian Shoe using the Buttonhole stitch to sew it down and filled with Lazy Daisy flowers.
The pattern came from the Carr Crazy Quilt, 1888.
The tatting pattern  is  Mary Konior's  Leaf Braid to cover the curved seam. The thread I used was Lizbeth 40, 124 Spring Garden. Four tiny beads were added to the top of the tatting.
This is the completed block so far. Pam is the last person to work on this block and can't wait to see the finished piece. Will post a picture when it is completed. Nice work by all of us!!!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Portugal and Maria's Tatting

Look what my Tatting Angel from Portugal sent. Thank you very much!!! I am always interested in seeing the rest of the world even if it is from pictures.


Legend of the Barcelos Cockerel

According to legend, a pilgrim on his way to Santiago de Compostela was condemned to death by hanging at his pass through Barcelos, having been unjustly accused of stealing some object of value. Shortly before the sentence was carried out, the condemned man commended his soul to Saint James. In answer to his prayers, the roast cockerel the judge in charge of the case was about to eat stood up and started to sing. This is the origin of the famed Barceló’s cockerel, universal symbol of Portugal.
Very Interesting….
Maria lives outside of Cascais.



The best of all is Maria’s tatting!! Isn’t it beautiful…Many Thanks

Thursday, May 5, 2011

The Heavenly Orb


The Crazy Quilt International Group has a challenge for the Sun and Moon. I decided to enter the challenge right after Jane Eborall's Tat it and see that turned out to be an airplane. 

 Here is the center of the wall hanging. I had "sun and moon" material so I embellished it  with silk ribbon and beads. On the left is a red moon and beads from Guamilito Handcraft Market, Puerto Cortes, Honduras.  My girlfriend travels and this was a gift from her. The Owl and the Moon is a red work from an 1800's quilt.  It is hard to see but on the right of the moon is butterfly material heavily embroidered in gold threads. To balance the butterfly, I cut one from the material and appliqued it on to the left of the moon, also embroidered in gold thread. You will find bits of tatting and buttons surrounding the moon.
 The top right is a red work "Sun and Moon" kissing. You will find the pattern in Patricia Cummings E-book "Redwork Renaissance Revisited". At first it did not show up so I painted it with ink paints and happy with the results. Adding the outline stars, sequins and crystals it makes it stand out. At the top is an outline of the big dipper and  a handcrafted butterfly from Burano, Italy. It is an island off the coast from Venice. Another gift from my friend Jessie. Thanks Jessie, love all those little gifties and finally found a home for them!!!
 On the bottom left is a blue work "Crescent Moon Goddess" from a nineteenth century design. It is in Patricia Cummings book, "Redwork Renaissance". My first Crescent Moon Goddess is on my very first crazy quilt. I am so pleased that Patricia did a write up with a picture of my work for her e-book, "Redwork Renaissance Revisited". Please visit Patricia  at  http://www.quiltersmuse.com/ 

 The center at the bottom are my UFOs... The center one is made with felt and embellished with beads. The bottom UFO is a button that looks like a hat and streamers added. Saturn is made with the long and short stitch and a gold trim for the ring. The little dots are small squares and stars  all hand stitched with Kreinik Metallics.
On the right corner is the tatted airplane from Jane Eborall's TIAS. Thanks Jane for the fun adventure during the dreary month of January!! It is hard to see but above the first wing it is back stitched and reads, "Fly Me To The Moon"!!!! Of course there has to be a jet trail worked in silk ribbon fly stitch.
 On the top left side are two more moon goddess embellished with silk ribbon and beads.  The big butterfly charm was painted with blue ink and dusted with Fairy Dust!
The finished wall hanging with the label. I added a thin batting and hand tied through out the wall hanging. All threads were knoted and sewen back into the quilt so no threads show just a dot where the fabrics were connected.
It was a lot of work but challenging and fun!!