July/August 2017 Monthly Challenge

This is my challenge piece for July/August, a Necklace made with mixed brass, raw brass, and antique brass Focal point with hummingbirds in free flight finding the yummy nectar of this flower.





All Brass Components, chain, beads, pearls, bead caps are from B'sue Boutiques. Focal flower and crystals are from my stash.. enjoy!

FUF 8/11/17 Cutie Pie in The Flower Garden

Sky's the limit for this Cutie Pie! Necklace made with Brass Ox metal stamps, findings, bead caps, beads, charms, chains from B'sue Boutiques. A Vintage Brass Ox filigree bracelet cuff was used for the background then wired a Brass Ox Bezel (with roll edges) in the center.  I then added a custom shaped platform out of a round Brass Ox filigree. Sat Cutie Pie on her throne and gave her a rhinestone necklace with a flower. Then came the decadent flower storm and filled her gardens! The Brass Ox connectors, chains, and tassel were decorated with porcelain roses, pearls, crystal Czech beads, bells, birds, coffee pots, gemstone chains, pearl chains, moons and suns... WOW! Did we have fun! Hope you enjoy!

WTW 8/9/17 B'sue Creative Group

My work table for 8/9/17. I feel fall in the air, and my Owls are whispering to me lol! Consists of all B'sue Brass Ox and a lovely druzy pendant/stone from my stash.

May/June 2017 Monthly Challenge

The Challenge color palette selected was Light Sage, Dark Sage, Sand, Coffee Creme and Gingerbread to go along with B'sue Brass Ox Components.

All Brass Ox Components, chain, beads, pearls, small porcelain roses, and bead caps are from B'sue Boutiques!

Finished Necklace March/April 2017 Challenge

Here is the finished necklace after I added my bling!

Extra Special Necklace, In Deed

Wanted to share with you where I have been for the last 2 years - B'sue Boutiques Creative Group on Facebook making Vintage Jewelry!

This is my challenge piece for the March/April 2017 B'sue Boutiques Creative Group. The challenge requirement were to use only Old Rose Ox Copper and Gingerbread Pewter. Along with that was our color theme, Worn Turquoise, which included dark gray, dark sea green, teal, dark turquoise, med gray and sage green. As I was pulling components for this necklace I was having a hard time getting it to pull together until I remembered the teal roses that I had gotten from Paula Gaskill. Like a piece to a puzzle the roses were the perfect floral component to make it complete! All other components, chain and such where from B'sue Boutiques  http://www.bsueboutiques.com  or my stash. 

I learned of Paula's crossing the day after the necklace was done - talk about the collective consciousness, there you go... Thank you Paula for your beautiful roses and Bsue for all the Good Stuff !! This necklace will always be my favorite!

CQJP 2015 Challenge

It's that time again!

Please share this on your blog, then go to cqjp2015.blogspot.com and register for the challenge. Photo submissions begin in January 2015.

Details are on the CQJP2015 Blog.

Hope to see you there!
~OwlBe~

To Fuse or not to Fuse, Makes Me Crabby!

My DH attended his Sons of the American Legion Crab Feast 2014 and after telling me all about the highlights of the event I got inspired to make a Fabric Collage to honor the memories there of.

Our Maryland Blue Crabs are renowned for their sweet meat and are just to die for! 

This was my first lay out. I chose the batik because of it's beautiful colors (like our crabs) and it reminded me of the bay water.

After gathering images and photos I did my mock ups and when it hit my fancy, I loaded them up in my graphics program and made them into photo transfers. I then cut them out with a wavy blade on my whizzy whacker.

I had planned on fusing the components to the background and embellish from there. At this point I hadn't decided whether to make a wall quilt, mount it in a frame, or what ever. The what ever turned out to be a canvas tote bag.

Now at this point I was happy with the way it was all falling into play. I stayed focused on the theme of the crab feast, family and friends This collage was going to his friend, so I thought I would let my DH take a peek and get his feedback. DH said he thought I was going to focus on his friend's family. Now I’m feeling I should do that as he knows his friend whom I have never met. So back to the drawing board!

This arrangement was okay, but it needed other elements to balance it. At this point my creative flow is slowing down and I'm having a hard time with decisions. I love the hand dyed lace pieces that I got from Cathys Crazy by Design  https://www.etsy.com/shop/Cathyscrazybydesign . I wanted to add the bay elements back in again and remembered the lovely lacy/mesh material I had.

Under the upper right hand corner I filled with the Lacy mesh, and added a bit of teal velvet. 

On the left hand bottom I also added the lacy mesh. Now the hand dyed lace just didn't work anymore as there was not enough contrast. Dragonflies came to take their place and I gave them each beaded eyes.

I needed focus to go to the photos and images and added another border in golds and oranges. My colorway is now gone that I had originally planned, but let it flow to see what it wanted. I made black rick rack out of velvet, then applied metallic rick rack on top of that. It calmed the border down but seemed to still have the fluid element in tact.

I played around with buttons, ribbon, shells, you name it. Nothing wanted to go into my design (what was left of it) and it finally occurred to me, it's done. If I added these other elements they would snag on anything and I'm sure would become a catch-all. (Besides, men usually like it simple where as woman love sumptuous things LOL!)

As for the fusing of this piece, I used wonder under on the background, borders, photo transfers, and the dragonflies. When I was sure my surface design was complete, I fused this to the canvas tote and hope it stays put. I ran my needle into my finger and under my nail because the wonder under makes it difficult to stitch. After giving the dragonflies eyes, I wasn't real keen on the idea of decorative stitches that we use so lovingly on our crazy quilts.

I didn't attend the crab feast with my DH, but I didn't care because he steamed a dozen jumbo blue crabs for me at home before he left. I was a happy camper to say the least!

CQJP2014 Anything Grows Feb Block

Ah... February, shortest month of the year, hearts and flowers and Mardi Gras!
My muse is on the run to find all that sparkles and gleams of sparkling light! Purple, green, gold, music, dance, hidden magick, Kings Cake, and good eats.This block is gonna be easy to work I say... but was it?

I choose green silk, purple satin, purple velvet, lace, gold fuchsia lame. 
The center patch is a deep purple velvet covered with a black lace infused with deep blue flowers. It gives this area a magickal texture, one that draws the eye down to the velvet thru the lace. It also gave stability to the patch.

After the block was done I mounted it into a Grip-n-Stitch Frame Hoop that I had used for the last block. That didn't last long because the frame (now with use) became unstable.

I had several round hoops, but with the size of the block, was like putting a square peg into a circle hole :)

I dug deeper into my hoop stash and found a tapestry/scroll frame and gave it a go. Finally! I think I have the right frame for the job. I added 2" of muslin on both sides and used scotch tape on the new side borders to insert into the slits of the frame, then taped it to the frame and border again and adjusted the tension to make it drum tight. YaHoo! That was the ticket! 

 Along with trims of green and gold, beads and coins (from a Kings Cake) and golden instruments from my stash were added.

See how nice she mounts up! 

 Note the gold patch - it's lame but looks like a stripe in other pictures... :(

 Had to figure out a way to keep the mask from being lost due to not enough contrast!

I needed to do something with this corner area to pull things together and keep the visual aspect moving.
I made a small piece of Angelina fabric and embossed a dragonfly in the center. Using a sequin and bead I then attached the horn. The coloring in the Angelina worked just lovely.

 The gold trim looked really regal when first stitched down, but really hard to embellish further because of not having trims or beads with enough contrast. It seemed even the white pearls didn't do the trick.

 Keeping elements away from the seam line used to attach it to another block was a challenge in itself!

 Can you see the lace pattern on the center patch under the trumpet?

 After several ideas for the mask, I ended up attaching a wee bit of white lace at the top of it. I also added green sequins just below that and star sequins under that. Sorry it's so hard to see.
I then made a platform so to speak under the mask. It is a gold lace ribbon for texture and trimmed with hologram sequins at the base. The sequins really dance in the light and add so much color to the block!

Here is the finished (at this point in time) February Block. I will still need to do more work on the embellishments when added to the quilt.

What have I learned with this crazy quilt block?

1. How important it is to have the right hoop/frame.
   It has to help you, not hinder!
2. Watch how you are holding your hoop by using the right tension in your hand while stitching.
   I was far to hard the last time by pulling it thru like I was fishing :)
3. Not all patches have to have a stabilizer,
   the muslin backing most times to the trick.
4. I'm still saying "but what if?"
   If it doesn't work - take it out, it's your piece!
5. When you ask your Hubby what does he think,
   look at his eyes and expression for the answer, not his spoken word. Remember most of the time this art is all Greek to him, but he is taking the time and effort to share time with you.
6. It's okay to say stop, I'm done!
   You can always go back to it and change anything you want.
7. "But my Grandmother and Aunts didn't use that!"
   I guarantee if they had the materials we have today they would! LOL!

Hope this post may have helped you with a problem and/or even better yet - inspired you!

See you next time with my March block!

Blessings!