Encrusted Block

A summary of my experience in Sharon's Encrusted Block class.

This is week four of the class, and I've done a little more to the block. The swan is turned and some darker tatting added below for a wavy effect, some 'hairy' yarn through the cretan stitch seam, and little ribbon and beads below the Fleurs block seam - although I can't get the picture to download...





I decided to add a ribbon flower to the striped area to break it up. The ribbon looked so stark, a few beads there would bring in the color. Now for something in the green area - it was shouting WORD, so I got to thinking, what is the theme of this block? Flowers? Well, I didn't want to write that out, so decided on the French, fleurs. I wrote the word, then embroidered it. It still looked lonely, so added chain stitched little flowers, in varying colors. This photo is from a new printer/scanner, and it doesn't pick up the colors as well as the camera does.
11/06 - I need to take a new picture. I added a tatted blue chain below the swan to look like water...




This photo is the most actual color. I've been working on a few motifs for the third week. In the past when the seams were stitched, and a motif in the block, perhaps a few beads, I may have thought it complete. Trying to follow Sharon's lead, I'm attempting to build a fuller block. After the flower basket and tiny tatted swan were added, it seemed really unbalanced.


Now I've added some seam treatments during the second week. The ribbon is a tea stained cotton. The seams are mostly covered, but even I realize it needs more.




Here's the beginning of my block for the Encrusted Crazy Quilt block for the first week. I love these 'neutral' colors together. Sharon suggested making the block square for this class, so I took some off the right side as the block sits here.