This is the April Block created for the CQJP ~ Crazy Quilt Journal Project. Each block begins with a focal using Japanese brocade fabrics, gathered over the years. The finished wall-hanging will have 12 to 16 blocks and will be exhibited at the Pearl S Buck Foundation 2013 Fiber Exhibition.

Black Edwardian crazy quilt block

This is one of the finished Edwardian blocks, that is a part of a 3-block wall-hanging. The blocks will be finished with a velvet edge and backed in a rust Scalamandre brocade. I used an Austrian vintage image for the focal and pulled colors out of the image for the fabric choices. My goal was to work in all black embellishments, but I simply can't do it! I found some small velvet pods at a millinery store in New York and now I want to use those on everything!Torn black lace from a Victorian bodice, given to me by a friend in Virginia, was used around the vintage image. Next, vintage metallic wire ribbon, from Tinsel Trading, was laid on top of the lace. This piece was done while I was travelling. Always a challenge to work out of a zip lock bag of trims. I separate all my trims and lay them on a tray; then work off of the tray.

Velvet Bird Cuff

This is a cuff I made over the week-end using one of our new embossed velvet birds. This piece is a sample of wearing your crazy quilting on your wrist! We sell the aluminum cuff blanks on the OldElements etsy site. Endless possibilities with these cuff blanks. I pieced 5 doupioni scraps together with the width of the stitched piece one-inch wider than the aluminum blank. I glued hot pink wool on top and underneath the cuff. I dyed a rayon motif to match the colors of the silk pieces. Tinted the velvet bird to match and stitched the bird on top of the rayon motif, with tack stitches on either side of the body. I wanted the dimension of the bird to stand off the cuff. I added ab vintage sequin scraps from a flapper gown, on either side of the bird body. Stitched a pearl, from an old necklace, to the ground and added vintage beads and sequins, near the head of the bird. Finished by whip-stitching the silk hem to the wool. Added a beaded picot stitch with yellow ab seed beads. This would make a great, easy class with ready-to-wear results!

Homage to Van Gogh

The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents Van Gogh Up Close. The exhibit is in its final weeks. If you are in the area; an exhibit not to be missed. The exhibit featured "up close" Van Gogh paintings. Paintings of blades of grass, wheat, grapes or his famous sunflowers, all in brilliant colors with movement and dimension. His use of lavender and lilac oils for tree trunks or stone walls, set against a turquoise sky with his famous horizons, perched in the top quadrant of the canvas, dotted with yellow ochre houses; offers a glimpse of his brilliance. For those interested in textile design, Van Gogh's work is abundant in perspective and spatial design. Time could be spent interpreting his style in blocking a canvas. Using adjectives to describe his work, seems trite. Next at the Philadelphia Museum...the Rembrandt Exhibit. A trip to New York this week for the preview exhibit of "Conversations with Schiaparelli and Prada" at the Metropolitain Museum of Art. Next to Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli's work, during the 1930's, was the "rage"; lush with surreal details. And following that exhibit, a trip next week-end to the James A. Michener Museum in Doylestown, PA to see the Angel exhibit - "Treasures from the Uffizi". Each of these exhibits offer inspiration in color and design; more than the mind can absorb. Vincent van Gogh died at 37 having accomplished 2,000 works in 9 years, many of those created while in the mental asylum at Saint Remy. He painted "Starry, Starry Night" in 45 minutes. He failed at every job he undertook. He was friendless, penniless and survived by the support and love of his younger brother. Some of his oil paintings were painted with transparent, thin, pale lines of paint; thought to have been painted when Vincent was painfully low on supplies, while waiting for his brother to send more paint. And yet his work has been viewed by billions who acknoweledge and appreciate his genius. Vincent, as you watch us view your art, awestruck....our endless gratitude...