Take It Further May - Block

I finished up my 23rd button block the other day:



I still have a long way to go on this project as I want it to be quite large. I'm still thinking I'll need between 80 - 100 blocks.

I'll take a break from it for a bit and do my Take It Further block for May. I did a bit of treadling the other day and this is now ready to stitch on:



My Take It Further blocks will also be sewn into a quilt at the end of the year. As I mentioned in my last post, I don't like to define myself in any way but as a channel through which the creativity of the Universal Mind flows. This block won't have a predetermined theme but instead, will go where ever it goes. I do have a beautiful vintage crystal pin that matches that periwinkle blue fabric perfectly. I'm not sure yet if I'll be using it but it is in the back of my mind.

May Take It Further Challenge

I didn't get around to stitching yesterday so I thought I would talk a little about my Take It Further block for May.

Sharon's concept is: "How Do You Describe Yourself As An Artist?" Be sure to read Sharon's post on this. You can find it here.

I've always defined myself as a designer. Thinking about it though, that's really just a label describing what I do. In all honesty, I prefer not to put myself in any catagory. I see myself simply as a "channel" through which the creativity of the Universal Mind flows. I take that creativity and based on whatever medium I'm working with at the time, I interpret the idea and apply it to the canvas using the skills and techiniques that I have & know.

After much thought, I have decided to let the block develope on it's own and speak for itself. As always, I will work with the color palette that Sharon chose (she graciously accommodated my request for some pink!) I will see where the block goes and what theme presents itself as I stitch on it.

When I read Sharon's post on this, the first thing I thought of was the "silence between the notes" in music. Or the "empty spaces" between written words. Without the silence or the empty spaces, all there would be is chaos. Truthfully, how would we describe the creativity of the Universal Mind? It just is.

I'm hoping to sew up my block today and start my stitching on it tomorrow. I want to finish up my button block with the cat button first.

Button Block #23

I sewed this block specifically for the Czech glass cat button. I found it on Ebay:



We're going to head out for breakfast in a little while and then run some errands for my mom & dad. I expect to stitch on this some more later.

I was asked about the accuracy of the DMC matchups for the May Take It Further Challenge palette. They are accurate based on the color settings of my monitor and my printer. All hardware is different so I can only go by what the colors look like on my monitor and my printout. I use a DMC Color Card and I matched them in natural sunlight.

Button Block #22 Complete

I finished up on this block the other day:



Be sure to click on the image so you can see that Bird Of Paradise button up close. It's really pretty! I found it on Ebay.

Thanks to everyone who commented about my book. As soon as I have a few free hours, I'll move it over to a Print On Demand service. That's probably what I should have done with it in the first place but I didn't know much about those services then and I'm no computer whiz! I'd much rather be stitching than sitting here researching things. Anyway, when I have things ready, I'll let you know.

In the meantime, Sharon B. has posted the Take It Further Challenge concept for May along with the color palette. And she graciously accommodated my request for some pink! I'll talk more about my theme in the next couple of days. I'm planning on sewing up my block either on Monday or Tuesday. For those of you who enjoy using the DMC Floss Color matchups, here they are:



I'm off to bake some cookies for my dad.

Button Block #21 Complete

I finished up the peacock button block:



I think I did justice to the beautiful peacock that Allie sent to me!

I then started on this block:



I have a beautiful green glass Bird Of Paradise button for this block that I bought on Ebay 2 weeks ago. Yes, I know the point of this project was to use the buttons that I have here and not be buying more but I couldn't help myself! I have a cat button that I bought on Ebay too! Nothing wrong with a few special buttons on this quilt!

In other news, in regards to my "Elegant Crazy Quilt Seam Treatments" book, I've been considering moving it to a "Print On Demand" service. I'm wondering if it's just too much of a pain for stitchers to have to print it up themselves. It's not something that bothers me but I'm wondering if I have readers who would prefer to receive a hard copy in the mail? If anyone would, could you please leave me a comment and let me know?

I'd still like to offer a second volume of border designs (the borders are already to go) and I could do both at one time.

Please let me know your thoughts everyone! Thanks!!!