Showing posts with label embellishments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label embellishments. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Embellishing With Beads

Hello Everyone,

Something that is probably little known about me, is that I have a secret obsession with beads.  All kinds of beads, large ones for jewelry, small ones for embellishing a project, and just about any size bead in between.


This is just a small sampling of some of the beads that I have for embellishing. Can you tell what colors that I like?  Anyway, the reason I have taken the beads out to play with is that my guild is having a post card swap.  I thought it would be fun to make a post card for my partner that has some beads making it sparkle.


I took these took fabrics, Guinea Flower White and Zinnia, and fussy cut the flowers.


I used a fusible product from Pellon, that is similar to Timtex, and cut it to postcard size and fused the green batik down. Then I fused the flowers to the fabulous green batik and straight stitched around them with a decorative thread. 

Now I had a good base because it was thick enough and stiff enough to begin the embellishing.  If you enlarge the photo, you may be able to see the beads a little better.  But basically, I used a variety of different beads in the center of each flower to make them shine.


Then I took a glue stick and glued card stock to the back of the Pellon.  This way you don't see my stitches and I have a surface to write my note and address the card to my partner.  Once it is glued on, I took a decorative thread and zig zagged the edge to finish it off.  I really like how it turned out and I hope my partner does too!

It was fun to make and really didn't take more than an hour or so.  Now I will take it to Mary, my Postmaster and have her hand stamp it so it doesn't go through the mail machines.


This is the postcard that was mailed to me by Donna.  I love it!  Bright and sunny and fun to get in the mail.  Donna is not the one who will receive my card.   

If you have never made one definitely go for it!  

Until Next Time...

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Saturday, November 12, 2011

The Third Day

Hello Everyone,

I hope you have been enjoying the chronicling of my annual quilt retreat in Vermont.  Here are some more progress photos from the third day!


Maria's Christmas Celebration Tree Skirt... Looking good!!


Sue's mini Pineapple.


I took a little break in the middle of the day to visit my friend Frances Holladay Alford at her Embellishment Studio.  These few photos are from there.  Love the above button embellished pieces.


Very fun and colorful art quilt!


Close up of a bee on one of her art quilts.  You can see more of her work by visiting her website here.


Justine has made a paper pieced forest!  Still more to come on this one.


My African quilt in progress.


Deb and Shirley (mother and daughter) laying out a quilt on the design floor.

Lots more photos to come tomorrow.  But if you can't wait, check them out in my Flickr set by clicking here.  Tons of great photos!

Until Next Time...

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Saturday, November 27, 2010

Color... Lots of It!! And Winners too!

Hello Everyone,

I hope you have all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and also survived Black Friday!! Speaking of Black Friday, check out the specials going on my home page of my shop! We had a fun day on Thanksgiving visiting family, but we are now home ready to get back into daily life. That is a good thing!

Recently, at my quilting retreat, we had the wonderful opportunity to visit a fabulous studio of art quilter Frances Holliday Alford. It is located in the quaint town of Grafton, VT and is well worth the stop. Her studio is called Embellishment Studios and very appropriately so. I wanted to just sleep there!!

She has been featured in Quilting Arts magazine and is quite the talent. I took tons of pictures, but was really taken with one piece that is in progress. So I chose to show you these.


Simply gorgeous! She had drawers and drawers filled with buttons and beads. All categorized by color. All fun too! This is still in progress.


Once you start getting closer to it you can distinguish the different beads and buttons that she has attached. Things like flowers, ladybugs, and ducks.


Hands too!


It is a very organized, kind of disorganized rainbow of color.


I just love the way the circles go from larger to smaller. I look forward to seeing this one complete.

Doesn't this piece make you want to get out all your buttons and beads and just begin playing? Now if this wasn't enough to make you drool, just take a look at this...


This is her fabric stash!! Well organized and gorgeous!

Now for the winners of the rulers from this post...

The winner of the Hunter's Star Ruler is:

Suzie from Little Busy Bee

The winner of the V Block Ruler is:


Thank you to all who entered the drawing!!

Until Next Time...


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