Last week I got farther along on Koi Pond, and then was stymied once again. I finished beading all the fish, and they look great, but the purple beads do not shine as much as I had hoped. You have to be fairly close to the piece for you to notice them.
The last element I wanted to add was a water lily in the open space in the lower right corner. I pulled fabrics, trying to find something with a subtle print to add some dimension to the applique. Deciding on one that seemed to match the pebbles in the border, I then went to the internet for a photo of a water lily for inspiration. Finding one that I liked, I fused Heat and Bond to the back of the fabric, and began cutting out petals.
I kept cutting petals and laying them out until I had a nice flower.
I transferred the petals to a teflon pressing sheet, peeling the paper off the back as I went. I fused the petals together, peeling the base off the teflon sheet when it was cool.
I found a lovely cording in a golden taupe color to do the pollen stamens. I used a cording foot on the machine to stitch it to the applique.
I was feeling pretty happy with this, until I lay it on the piece and found the fabric is too light. It takes all the attention away from the fish and the beading.
I decided to tea-dye it to try to dull it down a bit. I poured the tea over it instead of letting it soak, as I didn’t want the heat-and-bond to be damaged. But it is still too light. So now, I have three choices – try to tea-dye it again, leave it off entirely, or start over with a darker fabric. I have nothing to lose by dyeing it one more time, so I’ll do that next.
At our Area meeting, the program committee went all out on refreshments and decorations for the Christmas in July theme. The tray in the middle had finger foods in the shape of a Christmas tree.
The dessert table was so festive with home baked treats.
The program was a fun fabric folded star. The ladies doing the program handed out prepared kits for everyone, which was fabulous. We began trying to follow the directions, and I had a bit if a time trying to figure out the first step. With some personalized instruction help, I was able to successfully fold my first one in about 45 minutes.
They said the folds and tucks would hold without any sewing, but I decided to stitch an ‘x’ across the middle to be sure when I got home. Of course, you all know I cannot leave well enough alone, LOL, so out came my red buttons for a bit of decoration. I made the second star in about 15 minutes as I had the hang of it now.
We could take home the extra kits, and so I made three more at home in about 20 minutes. Each one gets a bit faster! I stitched them all, and added buttons. Then I put them on point, and added a gold cord hanging loop. I’m going to put them out for sale at the Fiber Fair in October. The best news is the fabric was in and out in just one day, so I don’t have to count it for Stashbusters.
For our July 4th meal, I had to set a patriotic table for two. It is a good time to use the star shaped melamine plates for a grilled meal. The table has the stars on red chargers, white napkins with red rings, and the patriotic bowls for our dessert.
A silk flower arrangement in my white ceramic basket is flanked with star sprays for the decoration. In front is my melamine flag tray to put our brats on.
Yum, brats with corn and a spinach salad. I made deviled eggs, too, using my Perfect Deviled Eggs recipe – the last recipe you’ll ever need. It has enough variations that you’ll need years to try them all. There’s only one on the plate for the photo, but I ate four – two earlier in the day as an appetizer, LOL!!
My Sweet Babboo prefers cole slaw, so I make some just for him.
Our dessert was a layered trifle, with pound cake on the bottom, vanilla pudding next, topped with a combination of strawberries and blueberries finished with a dollop of cool whip. Divine!
We were recently invited to a “salon” given by a friend. This is a party, where every guest has to give their answer to the question of the day during a discussion time. This was more entertaining than it sounds. The rest of the time is spent socializing and eating the marvelous appetizers the hosts provided. We were told emphatically not to bring any food or drinks. But my southern upbringing will not allow me to arrive as a guest at someone’s home empty handed. So I bought a lovely glass pitcher as it is more useful after the fact than a vase, and filled it with hydrangeas from the bush in front of our home. So I followed the instructions, but didn’t arrive empty handed.
Back in the sewing room on Saturday, my embroidery machine stitched happily away while I worked on other projects. I did these two which will become a wall hanging.
Then I stitched out the sewing machine in a larger size which will be put with our guild’s logo on a tote bag for taking to meetings.
I found this cute design for a kitchen towel, and stitched it out.
Then this one was stitched on another towel.
I opened the botanical print jelly roll and put it with the butterflies and I don’t think my original plan is going to work. The colors just don’t seem to match well, so back to the drawing board for this one. These little panels may need to be put into a small lap quilt.
So, I’ll be sewing more this week on several small projects in the works. What are you working on this week?
From My Carolina Home 
It’s so frustrating when your ideas don’t meet expectations. I love your folded stars. I’ve also heard they don’t fall apart, but like your ideas to make sure they won’t. Seems like going in and out of the decorations box over a few years might affect them & I keep treasured decorations so they need to last.
Wow — that has turned out so beautifully. Bravo, Carole. And I am wild about the stars. You were so smart and spot-on to add the buttons. It really elevates it. I bet those will sell like crazy. Your dinner looks similar to our July 4 dinner! The table is pretty and the trifle was a pretty brilliant idea. Wish I’d thought of that!
Love the beading on the fish. The flower looks flat and bright yet. Maybe if you painted the edges of the petals so they stand out? Maybe if it were smaller? Maybe if not a whole flower but top third of one in the corner? I know you will find the solution. You are talented like that.
I appreciate your willingness to experiment. And for sharing the process. Inspiration!
Hi Carole. I’ve been working on a couple of quilt labels and I’m getting ready to pin baste the next quilt.
Like one of your previous commenters, I know you’ll find the solution to your lily pad problem! I’ll enjoy seeing what you end up deciding. My local quilt group friends wanted to learn how to make those stars, too, and they were tricky until you got going and got the hang of it. Yours are pretty, and I love the additional stitching and buttons you added. Brats were on our 4th of July menu, too!
Use water soluble pencils or crayons to change the color. You’d be amazed at how well they work. I use them a lot now and surprised that it took me so long to discover them. Mary
Whew! (mopping forehead). You have been one busy lady. I hope the lotus blossom works out on the Koi Fish project. It is really lovely. Such a yummy meal for the Fourth. We had brats too. Really enjoyed them. I have made the Scandinavian stars in the past. Your addition of the red button really adds the perfect touch. I will remember that idea.
Hi, Whenever I read blogs I think of responses and then forget them as I keep reading. Age? One thing I might suggest for your gorgeous Koi quilt is to try adding some metalic thread around the beads that you feel are too dull. Oh, and the tea-dying idea…..I don’t think soaking should dislodge the leaves from your fusible. Or maybe a spray bottle with some coffee? I find my worst stain is coffee with cream when it comes to getting it out.
Your deviled egg recipe sounds much like what my taste buds would enjoy.
Charlie
I really enjoy making the folded star ornaments. I hope that the next tea dye helps darken the fabric enough!
The Koi are so pretty and sewing all those beads is so time consuming.You are right about the water lily. What about just a brown seed pod….I’m knee deep putting together a Raggi Ann doll for my # 9 grand child birthday coming up in Aug. She will be one and maybe to young for this but who knows how long I’ll be around so..this is it.
The beaded koi turned out so beautifully. I know you will figure out the perfect solution for the flower. The parties look and sound so fun. Darling Christmas ornaments.
Carole, I know you have probably mentioned it before but which embroidery machine do you use?
My machine is a Brother.
I really love your Koi project–it is so beautiful–the addition of that lilypad will be just the perfect thing for that corner…lovely work hugs, Julierose
I love the koi pond quilt. I’m sure you’ll find the solution to the lily problem. I don’t work on many projects in the summer. I have too much to do outside. I am working on an afghan for my mother right now. It is worked in the corner to corner method with a different bird on each block. I will have to wait for it to cool down before I put it together though. It’s too hot now and she doesn’t have air conditioning. LOL. I hope the rest of your week goes well.
I love the beading, and think the purple is very subtle. It looks lovely as it is. I’m wondering if the scale of the water lily isn’t too large and that might be why you are not thrilled with it. I’d try different fabrics; maybe shades of a similar fabrics and see if you like that better. My other thought was 2 or 3 much smaller water lilies in varying shade. You are the artist, so go with your own instincts. I love the folded stars; and the stitching and buttons is fantastic. Sounds like you are having a great week!
Your table decorations look wonderful! I have not been setting nice tables and really need to start….I had made kits for the folded fabric stars to make with some crafting friends when we stayed together for the week between Christmas and New Year. Some of our folds did not stay…I love the button addition and will do that to mine. In addition to the Christmas fabrics, we also made some in blue & white as Hanukkah stars 🙂
Your Koi piece is really lovely. I wonder if you actually need to put anything in that corner. You’ve beaded and embroidered it so beautifully that for me it speaks for itself. But you do you 😊
You are having a lovely time making other lovely pieces and having happy social get togethers. It is so worthwhile.
Mary :))
Carole, I really like your koi project. The beading is beautiful. Yes, the lily should be darker, and maybe smaller. It draws the eye away from the fish. If you had a green with a bit of a purple vein in it, it might complement the fish.
can you share the folded star pattern? It would be good for our church craft sale in the fall.
thanks for sharing your beautiful projects, food ideas and books. I enjoy your blog very much
Niki
Yes, I have to agree with you, sadly your water lily looks much too bright. Let’s see what you do with Plan B. Have you considered using a dusky muted pink for the flower? My quilt club showed us all how to make those folded stars a while ago, it was harder than it looked! Yours was a good idea to stitch it down in the middle section.
Thank you for the inspiration as we’re home bound until heat is over. Loved the creativity of your work and book suggestions! Eileen
As mentioned above, crayons make work to shade the water lily. Our guild has a very artistic lady that uses crayons often for shading or emphasis. This koi quilt is turning out so beautiful with your beading. Three friends and I took a road trip today to a couple quilt shops~~now to get busy using everything I bought.
You have been very busy! I hope you get the flower color to your liking. Maybe the second tea dye will do the trick. It is a beautiful shape.
the salon sounds like a lot of fun. Your hydrangeas are gorgeous-the perfect blue color! Great idea to use a pitcher for the vase. The folded stars look pretty. I like the idea of sewing a button in the middle to secure all the layers. I can’t wait to see the tote you make with the sewing machine embroidery!
I love your button addition to the stars!
two projects…quilting on ‘dreams’ and hand piecing ‘alaska’….love those christmas stars..no doubt they will go quick
I’m wondering if you got some really watered down acrylic paint and painted some shadows on the lily petals. I think it looks a bit flat and could use some shadows for dimension.
Oh my!!!! You are so talented!! I love seeing all your creations. You put so much skill and love in each item.
I actually like the way the purple beads look.
And good luck with the tea dyeing.