A Thousand Teardrops Fall - BJP March
Another Teardrop pendant completed for the Bead Journal Project 2012.
This is pendant #3.
I've called this one "A Thousand Teardrops Fall" in memory of my faithful old Golden Labrador who passed away at Easter aged nearly 15yrs.
The ground fabric is like angel fibre but made of red and purple strawgrass fibres.
The beaded "tears" are made up of about 18 beads each and the overall effect has the "tears" just hanging loose as thought they are ready to drop.
The pendant is threaded onto a black satin ribbon which is tied in a bow at whatever length is required.
TAST Week 18 - Crossed Buttonhole Stitch
First of all I wanted to find out if I could control this stitch going around corners.
Yes, that worked out ok, and I like the different looks you get depending on which way the stitching goes 'around the bend' lol. i.e. the straight edge or the pointy edge.
Then I tried a 'stepped' crossed buttonhole row with the long stitch getting longer and the bottom bit of the stitch going diagonally.
I think I might be able to get this this variation of the stitch neater with a bit more practice, and I actually drew guidelines on my fabric for this one, which is something I haven't had to do before.
And then I stitched two straight rows back to back on my crazy quilt block and I really like this formal look.
I made sure when stitching the second row that I perfectly (or almost perfectly) mirrored the first row.
I think you can tell I enjoyed this stitch.
I did have some apprehension about the crossed buttonhole when Sharon B first announced it last Tuesday, but I found that inspiration came quickly once I started talking about it to the Tuesday Stitchers here. (Love you gals)
Actually I rather surprised myself just how fast the inspiration hit me.
Lack of time is the only thing holding me back from experimenting some more, but I shall definitely be using this stitch again.
CQJP - April - WIP
I've had a busy and enjoyable week of stitching.
Here is what I have been up to on my CQJP block.
My April Crazy Quilt Block - the Naked block
And here are some seam treatments close up photos.
Back to back Crossed Buttonhole stitch (TAST stitch week 18) in pale green perle cotton.
A couched blue satin ribbon and green cotton floss detached daisy's forming a 'V'. This seam treatment will have more added to it later. Probably beads.
This next seam started out as a double herringbone using two colours.
It may look alright in the photo, but on the block the colours were all wrong, so I went over it with a wrapping stitch in pale blue.
And this is a chain variation whose name I have forgotten.
As I completely forgot to add a crochet piece on last months block, I thought I had better get one made early on for this block, just in case I forget again.
This time I made a crochet ruffle.
So that is my April block WIP so far.
Happy Stitching
16 comments:
So very sorry to learn of the loss of your Golden Lab. Our animals love us without reservation, asking so little and giving so much they deserve our grieving and your Thousnd Teardrops Falling is such a fitting tribute.
Many lovely seam treatments, a feast for the eyes. Wish you could remember your chain variation, it does look familiar, perhaps Debra can give us a heads up. Your crochet is scrummy.
All your pretty stitching made me want to see your whole block! I really like the look of the back to back crossed buttonhole and the way you couched the ribbon. Very neat! So sorry to hear about your dog and am sure your commemorative piece is aptly named. It sure beautiful! Those are some of my favorite beads..... Hugs to you and your family.
Your appropriately named BJP is so unique. I've already left you a comment on it...somewhere. Although I think all of your crossed buttonhole stitches look super, I really like the pattern stitched in red. The couched ribbon is beautiful and will be beyond that with added beads. I can't imagine the time involved in wrapping the herringbone. I would never have even thought to do that. I can just image how nice the crochet ruffle will look added to your block. You've had a pretty productive week.
I was sad to hear of your loss also.
Wow, your beaded piece is fabulous! I really like those stepped crossed buttonholes and the way you lined 2 rows up, makes it look completely different.
Thanks Carol. I've looked up the stitch name in my Stitch Encyclopedia and it is Basque Stitch, a chain stitch variation that is worked sideways with an extra loop and twist.
Thank you for your comment and hugs Judy.
Those beads are just like the black sand on the beach where I used to take him for walks, which is why I chose those beads for this piece. I forgot to explain that in my main post. The black volcanic sand glistens and sparkles in the sun, it's an awesome beach.
Thank you Connie.
The wrapped herringbone was a mistake made twice, lol. Not only did the first colour not 'go', but the wrapping was meant to be more of an open effect, not covering it all like that. Ah well, I'm not unpicking it now, I'm sure I can live with it as it is.
Thanks Angela, I had an inspired stitching week.
What a great show and tell from you this week! When you are inspired, it shows!
I love your ribbon couching. I am going to nab that right away. And, while I am at it, I may even try the crossed buttonhole with that one straight leg crossed by the other leg --very dramatic!
I'm so sorry to read of the loss of your Golden Lab: we lost our black lab Cody on New Years' Day. Our faithful companions leave such an emptiness behind.
Your 'thousand tears' is so beautiful and aptly named.
Wonderful stitching on your block, and I love the ruffle!
I love the crochet ruffle! A wonderful thread-to-hook ratio, and a beautiful colorway for your block. I like all of your different seam treatments. Clever to wrap your purple-and-white with pale blue for color adjustment. The couched blue ribbon with green "V"s really makes me happy- great proportions and texture. And I just love what you've done with the crossed blanket (crossed buttonhole if you must - heh!) stitch! Here I was feeling bored with the thing, and you've come up with some wonderful variations that have me both kicking myself (for giving up on the stitch too early) and all excited about the stitch all over again! Thank you for sharing such wonderful detail photos!
Oh, I totally forgot to say how moved I am by your "thousand teardrops" piece. Wonderful sentiment, and a beautiful interpretation of the idea. I have to admit that when I first saw the picture without reading the explanation, I thought that it was/would be a wonderful interpretation of a peacock's tail (at rest, hanging down as if the peacock is perched on a fence or a tree limb)! But then, I can see a peacock's tail in just about everything if given half a chance. ;) ... Then I read your explanation, and I can totally see the teardrops interpretation as well. What a lovely and fitting tribute for the loss of such a treasured companion. It will be very nice to have the teardrop as a tactile connection to him (her?). I can also see the teardrop shape as a dog's ear (Labradors have floppy ears, yes?) and the beaded teardrops as fur. :)
As usual your stitching is beautiful and I always take pictures for my future reference. I love the Crossed Buttonhole stitch that you drew the lines and the second example when you mirrored the stitch.
And then there is the crocheting AND, AND the Thousand Teardrops piece. I am so sorry to hear about your dog. Our pets are so much a part of our families. The bead piece is Amazing.
Your seams are so lovely and so varied! Your beaded pendant is a beautiful and touching tribute.
The beaded piece is beautiful and I'm so glad you shared a picture of that. I like the experimenting you did with the buttonhole stitch of the week. It inspires me to look at it in a different way. I was immediately struck by the one with the V shapes and will play around with that one somewhere, I know. The seams on the block are beautiful, and I look forward to seeing them all together. Love the crochet and the colors!
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