I finished the "panels" a couple of weeks ago and have been distracted by the horrible news headlines, school vacation,Tmblr,and Facebook. 
Today I decided to try to get a picture of the embroideries on the background fabric that is not ready, ie no beads or sequins yet.

My original plan is not working so back to the drawing board.

Trip to Delectable Mountain Cloth

Today I got my monthly fabric shopping "fix" by going to Delectable Mountain Cloth in Brattleboro VT.

The rolls of fabric on the stand are great for crazy quilting.... no two are alike!!!

It's really the greatest store teaming with fabulous fabric!!!!  

I have also found a great source for sequins!!!  They are made in France by Langlois Martin and are Excellent quality.   Great for tambour because they come in worms(strung on thread).  The link is http://www.paillettesetbroderie.com/.  I am giving you the address so you can go there at your whim.  It comes up in French but you can click on the flag in the upper left corner for English.

Expensive but the only other way you can get the variety and quality is to go to France!!!!

The last flower embroidery for "My Ravel quilt" is completed.

I worked on the center red flower forever.  First I ironed on a layer of metal organza and outlined it with red metallic thread and black 15mm beads.  Next I embroidered 2 separate layers of tulle with the jagged outline of the flower and cut them out.  Then I outlined the center shape of the flower on velvet with 18mm metal facited beads and cut it out. Finally I built a flower sandwich.














I have 3 more small solid circles to embroider  plus the motifs to complete before I can start assembling.
See the label "My Ravel" to see the rest of the designs.

After spinning my wheels for a couple of weeks and cleaning out my sewing room and and and I finally finished a couple of circles I sort of liked.

I also have been working on the motifs for the other two panels.  These travel easily when stitching with friends.

I also wanted to share my needle index book with you as I linked to Susan Elliots Plays with Needles.
I first got this in early 2002 when I took a class from Jane Nicholas.  The class supply list required 10 different needles.  I bought a large package of assorted John James needles and a needle index created by the Valley Quail Chapter of the EGA in Walnut Creek, CA.  I filled it for the class and have never stopped using it.  I love it.

I add a page in the back to honor my broken and very bent needles.

The butterflies were a lot of work and I was not happy with the way I overlapped two of them on the circle..... so I made a new background.  This was by far the easiest way to redo the circle.  First I trace the ferns onto the organza, then I outline them with YLI green metallic thread and then colored them in with green fabric paint.

 Then I cut the butterflies out of the old background and fixed them on the new.  Now they each have a  place of honor.

On the previous circle I used sequins to do the motion squiggles.  I really did not like the way they came out so I used Superior Glitter thread and really liked the results.  I like it so much I ordered 4 more colors on line and can't wait to get it.

Susan Elliot previewed  The Art of Embroidered Butterflies by Jane E. Hall on her blog just before I was to start this embroidery.   I decided to order the book and wait (hard thing for me to do waittttttt)  before I started this butterfly circle.  I was hoping to get a different perspective and some inspiration.  The book is truly beauitful but it is way way way out of my league so put it aside and resorted to my old stand by SEQUINS.... I ordered about 10 different colors of  2mm sequins from Cartwright's and here is the result.  The two top butterflies mushes into the one beneath.... might have to have a do-over!
























These two lamé circles that will be on this panel along with the butterflies.  This panel will be the lace over purple lamé not the turquoise that is shown.  

Wishing you all a Happy Holiday Season!!

Progress on my new project!!
 I am calling it "My Ravel".  When I first applied to Ecole Lesage I want to do a piece called Ravel.  It is fashioned after French 18th century textile prints inspired by Persian design.  That's when I discovered the Level thing at Lesage. The Ravel piece is Level 7 and I had to start at 1!!  I will never get to 7 so I am doing my own Ravel inspired wall hanging.  It will be about 36" wide and 45" or so Long.  There will be 3 panels one lace over turquoise Lamé, one over purple Lamé, and one over fuchsia Lamé.  Here is the turquoise panel.






















and

The motif will be repeated in each panel in a different size and in the panel color.

Stitched the design with beads, black metallic thread, and 

some turquoise organza fringed and placed around the middle square.

Stitched the design with beads and black metallic thread.

I took fuchsia Lamé and stitched the design on it in black metallic thread.  Next I covered it with sheared tulle then copied the design on top of the tulle with thread and put the black flowers in the centers.  The tulle is too thick to see the shadow of the design under it.  Next I will have a lighter hand.

This is just a piece of weird ribbon trim tacked over Lamé.
























and finally the panel layout.  I am not sure if I like it this way... Too ordered??    Nothing is sewed on yet so I will start the next panel and see what happens!!

Sorry for the spacing thing...when doing the post it always looks OK until I publish it and the spacing is all wonky!!!!! 

Happy Thanks Turkey day!!