My Favorite Books

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Every 'Bead' of my heart!

Here's my finished BJP for February.
'Every Bead of my Heart'
8 1/2" x 11"
February 2010

I printed out three of my zentangle designs onto a piece of my hand dyed fabric then beaded each 'zentangle'. Free motion quilting filled in the background.

I used sequins, seed beads (11 and 15's) and size 6 beads for edging.
Size 15 beads were used to fill in this heart and 11's for outside.

Bugles and seed beads were used for this heart.

My friend Susan gave me a great idea for March! Now I'm off to surf the web for the right picture! I'm going to continue with using my 'zentangles' for the area to bead and I'm staying with the size of a journal quilt (8 1/2" x 11"). I did elect to not have a theme (e.g. art of nature) but use my 'zentangles' as my inspiration.
I really enjoyed working on this piece and anxious to get started on March! Thanks, Susan!

20 comments:

  1. This is gorgeous! And I love the clever title. The way you have combined your machine quilting and the beaded designs is beautiful. I especially like the top heart which seems to have a row of roses.
    Marty S
    Crackpot Beader

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  2. how fun! very clever idea. they are very cool. each one is so different, but they go "together" perfectly. love it!

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  3. Oh...My...Gosh!!!!
    My eyes and finger hurt just looking at the photos, but I am greatly admiring the work!!!
    Beautiful--don't know how you do it. I'm just trying to get in gear for the big work I have to do and remain planted at the computer, finding ways to avoid it! LOL!!!
    Excellent job!

    XXOO!!
    Anne

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  4. February is my favorite BJP month because I get lots of "hearts"... and yours is heart X 3, which makes it even more delicious! Colors, designs, techniques... all working together to warm my heart!!!! Three questions... Did you do the machine embroidery after tracing your zentangles and before the beading? Do the stitches for the beads show on the back side? On the heart with the roses, how did you darken the fabric inside the loops of machine embroidery? Thanks for telling!

    Robin A.

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  5. Very heart warming, the zentangle idea is lovely.

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  6. Thanks for kind comments!!! To en scaned them in my computer andanswer Robin's (3) questions. I drew my zentangles on paper th printed on my purple fabric. The dark areas you see on the outside of the large heart are from the printing of the zentangle. I then free motion quilted the entire piece and outlined the hearts with FMQ'ing. I usually am able to bead through only the batting and not to the back but I wanted the beading to act like 'quilting' so the majority of my stitches did go through to the back. I did cover the stitches on the back up with a piece of fusible fabric before I beaded the edges. Hope this explains the process! Any questions, I'll be happy to try and explain better! Robbie

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  7. Thanks for kind comments!!! To en scaned them in my computer andanswer Robin's (3) questions. I drew my zentangles on paper th printed on my purple fabric. The dark areas you see on the outside of the large heart are from the printing of the zentangle. I then free motion quilted the entire piece and outlined the hearts with FMQ'ing. I usually am able to bead through only the batting and not to the back but I wanted the beading to act like 'quilting' so the majority of my stitches did go through to the back. I did cover the stitches on the back up with a piece of fusible fabric before I beaded the edges. Hope this explains the process! Any questions, I'll be happy to try and explain better! Robbie

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  8. This is a lovely combination of intricate techniques -- very beautiful!

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  9. This is just beautiful! I love the colors and that you used zentangles. Very cool!

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  10. This is beautiful! I love the way you did the edges. I can't decide which one I like best, they are all so gorgeous!

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  11. What fabulous work on such a small canvas! I love this type of beadwork better than jewelery. You have such a good sense of color choices, nice work!

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  12. I like how you incorporate zentangles into your work. It's so free!

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  13. I'm so glad we don't have to choose favorites!!

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  14. Everything about this piece is beautiful and amazing. I love the combination of your quilting and the beading. I am excited to see what you do next!!

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  15. Fantastic! Great job - I love the colours you used.

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  16. Wonderful idea to use your zentangle hearts. Love the way you translated the lines into beads.

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  17. Great combination of free motion quilting and beadwork! Very impressive!

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  18. So cute with the dancing hearts, and I love the edging with the large beads, great idea!

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  19. These look fantastic. Excellent use of the zentangle designs.

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Had to put Word Verification back in! Getting strange messages!!!