Embellishi​ng busy blocks

An email from Lauri Nuske this morning:

"Hi Gerry,
I participate in rr's and dyb's and have fun embellishing the different blocks. Most blocks I send out are solids or light patterned.  So when I get a block that is heavy patterned, like lots of flowers and calicos and dark prints, I get stumped as to what to add that won't get lost in the print.  Any suggestions?"

Well Laurie this is always a problem for me also...  We all want to do our best and have it show... but as you say it is difficult, if not impossible, on busy blocks...

First you have to be bold and willing to modify the block.. Consider using all-over stitching or  large clusters such as Cathy L. used here.  If it doesn't have a silkie, add a large one...  If it does have a silkie,  embellish a 2" frame around it to make it the focal point and draw attention away from busy prints. Look for laces to cover areas, large motifs, very wide ribbons and even patches of fabric. I covered an entire patch on a block last fall. Tulle or organza can soften difficult areas nicely.  

Sharon B. incorporates some large busy prints in her work but balances it with large dramatic buttons, dense floral clusters, and heavy and/or textured threads.

Everything you use or do will have to make a statement stronger than the prints.  The next time you get such a block send me a picture of it and I will see if I can give you some ideas...

But personally I find a whole block of busy prints extremely discouraging and it makes my work much less enjoyable..   Last spring I did two posts on this very subject and how Cathy K. and Janet P. handled busy blocks head on.

http://blocktalkwithgerry.blogspot.com/2011/06/whats-so-risky-about-bold-prints.html


http://blocktalkwithgerry.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-happened-across-work-janet-in.html

Note: My life is finally settling and in a week or two things should be back to normal...  I missed doing this blog and noticed several emails for it.  I will catch up as I can..  Stay tuned.

Response to comment!

Yesterday I received a comment that I am more than happy to respond to.....  "I have noticed in the past that you and many others talk about how elements should lead the eye around a block.....  But in this block you have placed the blue bird which is a fairly strong element flying right on out of the picture .... would you mind commenting on that please?"

Well when I placed this bird my eye was following the contour and the thrust of the bird which is upward.....not outward..

 In fact in my eye every element of this bird goes up ...not out.!!!

And so to me it was completing the path in the block.

To be flying right out of the block the bird needed to be tipped forward for the contour to aim it in that direction.   Note that the most important directional element of the bird is along the back...When placed side by side I hope you can see the difference... Of course Angela could tip the bird even further upward or place it closer to the rocks......

I am happy to answer questions at any time...

Susan's Asian Challenge Block.....My Two Cents.

Susan M from Australia did this block for the Asian Challenge on the CQ for Newbies Yahoo group.  She tied for 1st place and sent me her photo and the following message:

"I enjoy  your other blog where you “pull apart” a CQ block that you like, the elements in it and so forth.  I’d love for you to look at it and share any thoughts about it – positive or negative; things I could have done better; where I could add more or change things or whatever." 

I love getting emails like this.  It makes the time spent on a block worthwhile if I know someone else finds it useful.   So having said that............Susan's  embroidery skills are gorgeous and since this is only her third CQ block... she is indeed a CQ newbie.

Let me tell you first what I really like about this block.  Of course there's the needlework as for me  that is what it is all about .. She elegantly decorated the arch and columns in the focal patch and  her seams are very intricate.   

I love all the strong directional elements on the left and up over the corner... the straight back of the peacock, the bamboo that is surface texture for the odd shaped patch (a perfect solution), the heavily beaded print in the corner and best of all, the lovely wisteria hanging down into the patch below.  

On the upper right side  there are all kinds of curved elements to move the eye ... the stance of the maiden, the beaded spray and the beautifully done cherry tree. Lower right has a very original fan treatment and exqusite embroidered character..

Susan carefully chose her elements and they almost all make a strong  Asian statement....but for me (and it's only my opinion) the ribbon just doesn't fit. It's beautifully done but doesn't fit...so with the magic of photoshop I removed it.. In its place I rather see a dragonfly, a butterfly or even best of all, the wisteria carried even farther down into the patch. Adding some of the purple and blue beads to the motif on the upper right would add a little extra bling there.

Then I would suggest  the peacock's tail be lengthened.  It is a perfect opportunity to add a stong directional curve to the that area.  His tail is beautifully done but not long enough... For a while our neighbor raised peacocks and the male came to our house when he could get away and when he sat on the frame over the deck his tail was over 6' long.

The water lily is perfect although I did tint it a little pinker but the leaf needs to be larger and stronger to support it and add weight to that area... and she started with the ripples in the water around the leaf (a great idea)  but stopped too soon. .... more ripples add another strong curved element... and finally the lace motif detracts from the oriental character in the lower corner which holds its own beautifully without it.  A very small point but I REALLY like the character by itself ...

So here are the two blocks..The ribbon overwhelmed the block and  when it is removed the focus immediately becomes the lovely needlework  and with the blocks side by side I hope you can see the difference lengthening the tail and enlarging the leaf make.... 

 This is really an exceptional block and I'm delighted it received the recognition it deserved.. I shall certainly be watching for future work by Susan. 

If you have a block that you would like some direction or suggestion, do not hesitate to send it to me... I do get behind as these take time but I will get to them all... And so for Susan's block that's

Answer to question on RR etiquette

 When you work on a block do you infringe on another's work to make it flow??? Or should the owner of the block..... add the extras? ......Linda in NM

Well personally I rarely disturb anyone's work...But on a couple occasions I have needed to move something but I ALWAYS contacted the stitcher and owner for permission. 

On my left is a good example of teamwork in just that kind of situation..  (This is my block  in 2008)  In the top photo Leslie had done bead work and added a button cluster just above the silkie.... When the block got to Ati that is where she wanted to do a floral spray...  She contacted both Leslie and myself for permission to move the buttons. (second photo) She added her floral spray and moved the buttons lower left.

And it all mattered not as when the block returned home to me I replaced the button trail with a trail of hearts... I used the smaller buttons here and there and painted a rose on the largest one and put it by the silkie.

This is just a small section of that block and one day I will do a critique on the entire block as there is a lot to learn from it and it was an incredible bunch of stitchers...

So in answer to your question....Being last to work on the block before it goes home certainly give you a little more freedom and allows you to add here and there overall to bring things together before it goes home.  But the general rule is to not to infringe on other's work and do leave the final design decisions to the block owner.... But if you need extra space or for some other reason, CONTACT the stitchers..  Teamwork and communication are absolutely vital in RRs.

Now having said all that I DO often work into, mesh with, and extend stitching of others... and on the left is a good example... I needed a lot of space for my hummingbird vision and wanted to use that worrisome little corner  so I worked all over and through someone else's seam work.



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Question from Berta - UTS blocks

My question is - Is there a better way to piece a UTS block than the normal one?  I've been looking at blocks and all the embellishment seems to go up and down.  And I wondered if seams should take notice of this.  Have a  first for me UTS RR coming up and thought I'd ask.  Berta

What a great question and I have a long answer for you..  First I have never been in a UTS RR for two reasons... not my favorite colors and there is always a sameness about them...  It's like you are looking into an aquarium with the sand on the bottom and sea plants going up, a sunken treasure chest and a mermaid..
Since the water in the sea actually is in horizontal layers dictated by temperature and currents I see no reason for the seams to be vertical..  You can certainly add vertical needlework without regard for seams...in fact it adds more interest.

You didn't say if it were a traditional or DYB RR but either way if it were me I'd start doing some research and probably focus on one species or scene...  Maybe a huge grouper peering out from a rock cave and watching his prey or a large school of jellyfish presents all sorts of possibilities with beads, ribbons etc. I think a whole block of multicolored jellyfish has exciting possibilities... Try to think of doing something different and I will be watching..

Now having said that I did have to do just one traditional UTS block in an RR in which I was angel...  When the block arrived to me the obligatory treasure chest had already been added..  But I was thinking currents and looking down from above and  wanted a circular motion...  I began thinking "sea life on parade" and added the large beaded fish, the school of little fishes, the family of turtles and the dolphins on the wavy seam. (an of course the button)

Thanks for asking your question and remember.... DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!!!!!