NEEDLEPOINT CRAZY QUILT: Christmas stocking A genuine Victorian Crazy Quilt from the mid to late 19th century is a visual "feast," and worth studying from many aspects: The orderly chaos of the patches, the fabrics and colors, and, above all, the embellishments. As a needlepoint designer, I have, from time to time over the years, played around with interepreting the effects on canvas. Lately, in the last few years, I have especially enjoyed this avenue of creativity, as the variety of threads , beads, and other such delights - including silk ribbon for embroidery and making flowers - seems endless. My usual approach to a new design is to plan and draw the canvas first, and then go buy threads for the stitching. However, in the true spirit of the earliest of the C.Q. patchwork, I pulled out my thread stashes, and decided from what is already available, the colors and textures of the patches. And ---- instead of sticking to the old traditional colors (which I love), I am, as the earliest patchworkers did, creating f rom what I have! (of course if I run short, I can always go to the nearest needlepoint shop for more.) The picture is of a Christmas "mini-stocking," all bright and glittery. I endeavored to reproduce the textures of various fabrics - velvets, satins, gingham or houndstooth checks, twill, etc. The embellishments will be added soon - and will include silk ribbon flowers and embroidery stitches along the "seam lines." Notice that the "Lace" is actually stitched right into the needlepoint with bump stitches, rather than gluing on a piece of lace, as I have seen done. The "ruby" bracelet is mine (my birthstone) - and was an afterthought (or wishful thinking). I rather like it.!!!!! Come back in a few days to see the finished piece - ribbon roses and all.

Unbelievable!! Yesterday I could not get a picture posted. Today, for over an hour I couldn't even find this blog. There is hope for everyone!! I was out walking this morning, looking at the beauty around me, even to flower petals and leaves fallen off their respective hosts and into the street - and thinking again how inspiring the smallest bit of nature is to an artist. We do, indeed, see the world through different eyes, and endeavor to bring others to see what we "see." Where I live, the leaves are falling off the trees not because it is fall already, but because it has been very hot and there has been no rain for quite a while!! I start looking for leaves this time of year in yards and in the street to use as pottery molds, (leaf mold sounds more like something you fertilize the flower bed with than something used to make a ceramic tile.) as ingredients for collages - and a number of other things. The shapes are quite incredible. The illustrated needlepoint canvas really has nothing to do with leaves and nature and pottery, but I chose it as my last effort at posting a picture to this blog. Now, if I can manage it again tomorrow, I will be quite pleased with myself. Back to the subject of leaves - I even treat some of the larger ones to gold and silver spray paint for Christmas decorations. Very effective!!