Princess Bubbles Creates

My crazy quilt journal project for February isn't a block.  Obviously.  It is a bodice.  I hope that everyone can see that.  I am excited to work on something a bit different.  I have some stitching and some buttons done so far.  Still lots to do! I am linking with http://pintangle.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

AACK!  I am falling behind on the stitches.  I try really hard to stay on top of them and it is making me a little stressed that I am behind.  Breathe deeply, it is just a stitch.  I wasn't expecting Sharon B at  http://pintangle.com/  to show a new stitch today.  I was going to push through and try to get it done today but that is stressing me worse.  So here is the beaded shell chain stitch from last week. I really like the beaded stitches.  I am using them on my bead journal project.  I will get to the new stitch before next Tuesday but right now I have to concentrate on preparing some class samples for a teaching gig in May.

I have added some stitching to this experimental piece.  I am liking it and want to add some more.  This piece isn't so very difficult to stitch through even though it is pretty stiff.  In this photo I have the piece resting on a piece of transparency that I have colored.  I am debating on using that as a backing.  I also have a bunch of gelli prints  that I am considering using.  Decisions, decisions?

I am liking this piece more.  I have cut away even more since the last post.  I like the irregular edge that I have created.   I have also added some more paint.  I am not pleased with the way the colors are being portrayed in this picture.  Not right!  Trust me when I say it is starting to look good.  Now I think that I am ready to stitch into this piece.

I am calling this block finished.  I marvel at the way people embellish their crazy quilt blocks.  Some are so ornate and encrusted.    I tell myself that I SHOULD do my blocks that way.  SHOULD is a dirty word though.  A friend shared a fun quote with me once - I won't should on you, if you won't should on me.  I really like that!  I have decided that I won't should on myself either. I am linking with http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/ and http://pintangle.com/

Thanks to Sharon at  http://pintangle.com/  for the instructions for the the Shell Chain stitch, bottom picture and the Beaded Link Chain stitch, top picture.  The close up pictures aren't all that clear, sorry.  I don't want to show more of the pieces as they are projects that are in the works and no where close to finished.  These stitches have a lot of potential and I look forward to using them now that I have learned them!

I thought I would try removing something from this piece.   The fabric has paper towel adhered to it so it doesn't fray or ravel when cut.    I am really liking what is happening with pieces cut away.  I definitely want to do some more cutting away.  Hopefully once I have done that I will be able to start stitching into this piece.  I feel like I have learned a lot from my explorations with this piece.