FOR A WEDDING

WEDDING GIFT SEASON

I don't know if there is a season for wedding gifts, around my house they are in season all the time.  I suppose it comes with the territory.  That territory being a large family.  I am the oldest of 6 siblings; 4 girls and 2 boys.  My youngest sister has had one wedding recently. 

Then we found out there is to be another wedding, the last of October.  I drove to Denver last week to deliver a quilt for them, just in case I couldn't go in October.  The following is about that quilt:

http://stashraiders.blogspot.com/2011/08/snowbound.html

My husband's family has surprised us with a Wedding in Vegas.  The couple, has their registries.  I don't know the wife well. I went to the registries to find her colors.  I had thought I would make her a set of place mats and napkins for her kitchen.  I saw something I knew would be one of a kind and she wouldn't be able to buy it anywhere.  She had chosen  the Lenox Botanical Boutique collection.  There is a platter in the group (the following is a pix of it)

This picture came from http://www.tableandhome.com/prodbbgefh site.

I copied the picture, enlarged it until it was approximately the size of the actual platter (I had to go to 350%).  Then I traced it onto white paper.  I had decided to make a table runner which could be used under the vases and platters.  The following is the plan, but I still had to decide how to execute it.

I had thought I would probably applique.
 My applique skills are on the good side (I don't do iron on applique).  But as I looked at the pattern on the paper I thought , "This has to be done by September 11th."  No Way, popped into my head. 
I re-looked at the googled images and noticed they seemed to have variegated colors.
I am hoping this is not a camera reflection.

I decided to execute the designs in embroidery.  My Needlework skills are so-so, but I figured I could do acceptable on at least one stitch.  I tried a back stitch and it looked terrible.  I pulled out the stitches and tried a split stitch.  It looked worse.  Then I tried a stem stitch.  It looked nice.  While I've been doing it I have developed a rhythm which may not be the correct stitch but it is working for me.

Pencil used in tracing the pattern onto the fabric.

 I used a blue quilt marking pencil to draw the pattern on the fabric. 
The fabric is white on white that has an extremely small design on it. 
It gives it the look it is frosted (the glass on the items is frosted crystal). 

I am tracing one section at a time.  I have finished a section and I am working on the second section. 
I started on opposite corners.  I don't know if I want use all four sections I have planned.

Hooped section I am working on.

Finished section unpressed, because I don't want to press in any dirt that might be on it.

As you can see I have chosen 6 skeins.  Each one with an "olive" edge to it.  These are DMC floss.  They are current.  I just purchased them on the 29th.

I can't tell you what size needle I am using.  I pulled it out of the pin cushion and used it.  I picked it because it has an eye, just big enough to get two strands of thread through with a needle threader and it had a great point.

I have not planned borders or any other finishing.  I do have a batik downstairs with the correct colors.  Right now I think I will only do the two patterns on opposite corners.  I don't want it to be too busy to set the items on (when I finish the second pattern I will make a decision if it needs more designs).

The fabric was from my stash as will be the borders and binding, but alas, I did not have any of the correct color of thread so I had to relent and buy.  This was not my first transgression.  While in Denver (I was working on my hand pieced king size quilt.  this project is over 10 years old)  I went to the LQS and purchased a yard of navy Batik.  I had no more of the Jenny Beyer "eye lash" navy RJR fabric which I used to border the quilt.  That fabric was purchased over 10 years ago in Denver at their annual shop hop.  It was the year Jenny produced her "Moon Glow quilt".

When I came home with the fabric and the quilt I discovered the blue in Natural light was not what I want.  I will search my stash but I am fairly positive there won't be anything there.  My stash is not blue heavy.

Thank you for visiting. 

 I love sharing my projects.  All writings, patterns, and pictures are mine.  Please ask permision before using.  (Credit is given for items not my own)