Is it just me or does everyone have to clean their sewing room before they can work? Somehow, I had managed to cover every surface with junk during the few weeks since I went back to work. When it was time to sew again, I had to clear off a spot first. I'm not one of those people who work best in clutter. My life has to be squared away or I can't think straight. However, I hate wasting time with housework...
This is my latest and greatest project. It's a free BOM from Morning Glory Designs. I'm really excited about it. For one, I'm all about Art Nouveau right now! The other reason is that I've been waiting for the right moment to have a black background.
So, I started doing this using an overlay and freezer paper templates. I was going to be super proper about it so the end result was going to be masterful. No. It was not masterful. I have sewn and re-sewn almost every piece on this thing. I finally gave up and went back to back basting. I may still re-do some petals that are less than symetrical. This pattern is far more complicated than it first appeared. I'm much better at letting things be natural and organic. Precise is not my thing. But, I will persevere!
I also finished my final Guild BOM. This project was a lot of fun. I love the color I chose for it but I'm not convinced the patterned fabric was a brilliant choice. It is what it is at this point.
All together, I think it's adorable! Here's my disclaimer. The pattern I used had fusible square in a square blocks. I didn't realize that when I chose the pattern. I couldn't do fusible and my hand applique in the same project. yuck. So, I decided to use math and piece my own square in a square blocks together. OMG. They are terrible. I literally had to chop off corners on EVERY outside edge. I'm so sad about it. Math and me, not a good combo. But, naturally, I didn't mind enough to re-do them. Because, yuck. Math.
A quilter will be "Oh girl, get handle on your quarter seam. Those corners are sad". Anyone else, " oh, cute".
Then their is my peacock. These pics are a bit out dated because I've done a ton of embellishments since then. I've got disco balls at all the corners of the Cathedral Windows. To distract the casual observer from noticing that all my corners do not match.
The upper portion of the guy has crystal beading to look like feathers.
And, I have glass leaf beads in with the magnolias. That's my favorite, so far.
There is also more of the fringy purple yarn on his feathery bits.
The whole thing. I'm really pleased with it so far. Not going to lie, this almost ended in the trash a few times. Problems would pop up or I wouldn't be able to think of what to do next. Knowing I only had until May, I couldn't see it working out at all.
Now, I think when it's all said and done, I'm going to be pretty happy with it.
