Floral quilt
May 11, 2009 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Bead Embroidery, Fiber & Beads, Make Art Monday, Mixed Media, Non-Wearables
Make Art Monday!
I’ve been experimenting with some elevated beadwork, a very different style to what I normally do. I learned this particular style of raising the work from Nancy Eha, and it’s opened up some new avenues of exploration for me. Here’s a detail:
It’s not too appropriate for most clothing, since the “petals” are only hooked down in three spots…it would be too easy to snag them on something and rip the whole thing out! But it’s a fun application for quilting 
As usual, I am stuck with no name for this piece. I’m not entirely happy with the results either. I thought that I wanted some of the petals to hang over the edge of the quilt (you can see them on the left), but now I don’t really like the way it looks. I’m trying to decide whether or not to add another strip around the quilt edge…what do you think?
There are some extra process shots here if you’d like to see more!
Extra process shots where?
Oops…duh! I added the link
Thanks for the heads up!
Ah, there they are.
I love it just the way it is.:) The elevated beading is gorgeous!
Thank you, Jill! I really like the individual flowers, I’m just not sure I like the one of the left sticking over the edge like that…
I am not sure, since I cannot see it in real life, but I like the flowers hanging over the edge. It gives the impression that you are just seeing part of a larger picture, like a painting that doesn’t end at the edge of a canvas.
Thank you for your insight…I hadn’t thought of it quite that way before
I also like the flower at the left edge, but i find asymetry appealing.
You might consider extend the beading at the bottom to the left edge. Or experiment with beading a few of the little bubbles close to the left and top edges? Something to accentuate the asymetric aspect might make it work for you. …Or, just enjoy it as it is 
Oh You Brilliant Girl!! That’s it! Extend those lines on the bottom, and I’ll have the balance that I think it’s missing. I love asymmetry too, but I need balance. Thank you so much for putting your finger on it!
Hi Cyndi,
Very nice! I like the elevated beading. I rather like the beads coming off the left edge as a petal and agree with Laura about extending the beading further to the left. It has a bit of lopsided look at the moment. I love it though.
Shirley
That’s exactly what I’m going to do…just get it un-lopsided if I can
I love how you interwove the beaded flower petals.
As to your question, I guess I am in the minority. I would like to see another strip of fabric like a photo mat to pull it all together. Then the petals which hang off the edge would look like an OOB (out of bounds) photo. I think that would be cool.
The interweaving technique is something I learned from Nancy Eha.
I’m probably going to do both…extend the stitching *and* add to the frame. Just as soon as I can fit it in between other projects