Orchid at Philadelphia Flower Show

This is Jolly Green Gem. Another work of art.

Orchids from the Philadelphia Flower Show

Mother Nature at her best. Check out this color palette - fucshia, burgundy, pink, lime green, soft green and grass green.

This photo was taken at the Philadelphia International  Flower Show. This year's theme was Hawaii.

Art Nouveau Black Block Work in Progress

This rectangle block is in the early stages of embellishing. There will also be two additional "sister" blocks. I work from the center to the outside of the design when creating collages. I don't know if there will be stitches on the seams. I find that difficult to do. It adds a linear hardness to the piece. It's all about the eye flowing  within the entire design.

I've used a fashion plate from 1885 for the vintage image and pulled in silk colors from the RibbonSmyth doupioni assortment pack. With those pieces, I used fabric patches from a Victorian velvet jacket, shattered lace netting tambour embroidered with a massive amount of black sequins, a Victorian shattered lace bodice, floral-print silk from a skirt, and the brown velvet diamonds and embroidery are from the most amazing 1930's fur coat lining that my brother acquired. He knows I have a "thing" for old fur coat linings. The old satin linings are heavy and many feature beautiful brocades.
I dyed a rayon leaf to match the colors in the vintage image, using RibbonSmyth rayon dyes. I made a button to match the colors of the image and tacked it into the top left corner. For balance, a piece of Ribbonsmyth moss bias-cut silk was added to the bottom corner. To tack the silk ribbon in place, French vintage black-jet glass sew-ons were added. These small diamond-shape beads have the stamp of the couture house pressed into the back of each bead. Iris tri-cut beads and black buttons will be added.
I don't know how the pieces will turn out, but the process working with black has been interesting.  Buried in paperwork and taxes, these pieces will be worked on after the last trip to the accountant!

Doilies and Ticking Fabric WIP

This is the basted ticking wall-hanging. The border around the embroidery will be 4 1/2" wide, in order to cover the electrical panel. No matter how it turns out, I'm going to like it. It reminds me of the endless hours embroidering as a little girl at my grandmother's house, who allowed no TV! We embroidered endless "tea towels", aprons and pillowcases. My grandmother, a short, little lady, part English, part Native-American, would pop two phone books in the front seat of her car, sit on those in order for her feet to reach the pedals, and off  to the local TG&Y for floss and embroidery transfer patterns. Lucky us!

Embroidery and Ticking fabric wall-hanging

How could anyone not love ticking fabric? This little stack has been sitting on the dining room table for awhile. I rarely find 6 doilies embroidered in the same pattern. I can still see the pre-stamped pattern on the pieces. I believe the embroidery was done in the 1950's with 6 strands of cotton floss and beautifully embroidered.

In our utility room, which is  laid out like a kitchen with an office, we have a large electrical panel on one wall. I continue to remark that I will make something to hang over the panel. The embroidered pieces were basted to rows of  simple crazy quilt strips. The white space in the doilies was so glaring that I've cut the doilies down to a much smaller size. Now I think I've cut them too small!  Thanks to Leonie and Stephanie...their assembly tips are greatly appreciated. 

In Honor of Jane Austen Fabric Collage

“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”

― Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

For Deb



This is a collage inspired by Jane Austen, that left early this morning for Canada. My friend is suffering through a hip not mending, with her mobility confined to a nasty wheel chair, brightened only by the love of her dog.

 

I added a small St Christopher medal to the piece and have to admit that I also collect rosaries; not only for their beauty but the energy they possess, the prayers that were offered while being held in hard-working hands.

 

I'm a lace addict. Now that that is out in the open; I can justify, the totes of lace, the lace wedding gowns waiting to be disassembled, the lace collars, the doilies with a hole in them, their beauty not diminished... the need to adopt them is evident when stepping into my office...

Pussy Willows

Shortly these little pussy willows will burst forth with a thousand small yellow spikes.

Pussy willows mean Spring and what a treat to have such a beautiful reminder! How lucky are we to appreciate  nature and color in all its amazing forms?