Monday, December 14, 2009

progress

Hey, ladies... hope all is well in your world this beautiful December day! It's been more than a few days; however, I have progress to show you. Here is the total quilt as it stood last weekend. Of course, it's still in pieces and chunks, but you can get the overall idea. I'll be putting narrow borders between the outer blocks and the center portion, but I'm not sure of the fabric yet.
Total quilt - half way

Here's the center portion, all pieced together now. I've added leaves to the trees, as well as short stacks of beads and leaf beads to give it some depth and life. I also added a couple of button clusters in the upper reaches of the tree. I will probably add at least one more, but I'm not sure where it will reside.
Center - eglantine

Here's a closeup of some of the work on the tree. I spent ALOT of time doing buttonhole stitch leaves!!
Tree closeup

Along the twisting runners and vines I have added vintage sequins as eglantine (sweet briar rose).
Ferns and eglantine

Now we are moving on to the blocks along the right and left borders. Here I've added a tall grass bunch to try and make it feel like you are peering through the grasses on the edge of the glade. Sort of. ;0) Anyhoo... here is the right border. I'll be putting a spider web and associated spider on the upper right portion of this bunch of grass. This is couched round satin cording.
Right border blocks - grass

And here is the left hand border, with another bunch of grass. This is some type of piping that I sewed on with beads. This bunch is slightly shorter than the right hand side.
Left border blocks

Here is a closeup of this clump of grass with the addition of the crocheted leaves on the bottom. I'm putting these crocheted leaves all along the bottom of the quilt. My vision is working so far! WooHoo!
Crocheted leaves

I have accomplished more this past week but have no pictures to share yet. I'm getting there! I'll try and update later this week and show you what further additions I have made. Love ya'!

14 comments:

collettakay said...

Amazing! What a work of art!

Jo in NZ said...

Marty, its just stunning!!
i don't know about a border that would 'seperate' the middle section and the outer blocks... anyway, whatever you do will work, i can be sure of that.
This has been a long process, but certainly worth waiting for. Beautiful!

Debra Dixon said...

Very impressive! Did you crochet the leaves?

Cheryl said...

AMAZING! I love your color scheme and how the colors flow in the piece.

Threadspider said...

This piece feels like a labour of love,Marty. It is such a privilege to witness its creation-and to admire your great skill.

Rian said...

Oooh {squeal} it is YUMMY! I love the way you interspersed the leaf-beads with the embroidered ones. Truly inspired, Marty!!

allie aller said...

Those grasses add so much to the overall look of the piece!
And those leaves truly are to die for.
This truly is coming together so beautifully!

Susan Elliott said...

Wow. It just really hit me what an incredibly large undertaking this quilt is...You have done A LOT of stitching my friend...I LOVE the tall grass up the one side....all those leaves and the button clusters in the tree is a very very cool idea...plus the sweet briar along the bottom is very, well, sweet...

I am considering stitching a whole crazy quilt for 2012 but I'm a little worried about taking on something too large...how do you feel about working on this quilt?

sharonb said...

This quilt really is something -as people have said the grasses up the side to tie it together is inspired.

Mary-Frances said...

Oh, this is absolutely stunning! I have no idea how I'd missed your pictures and catching up on this piece!

Anonymous said...

That is absolutely beautiful. A real work of art. an inspiration of the first order. Thank you so much for sharing so generously
Marjorie
Good2cu@blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I love this masterpiece.hugs from Italy.

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Marty, Your CQ creation is truly a beautiful work of art. I love all the leave stitching. The crochet leaves are fantastic. Your beaded journal project is also fantastic. You are a very creatived and talented stitcher. You inspire me to get back to my CQ project. Hugs judy

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more Judy, not only about this work but the background to the blog, truly inspirational in the real meaning of the word 'something to which we/I aspire' if only......
Marjorie