A Queen of Versaille Holiday...

Creating holiday ornaments fit for a Queen...

This holiday season I've decided 

to create special ornaments 

commemorating milestones.

This includes 4 lavish Queen of Versailles

 (1 for us, and 3 for other producers... including Kristin :D in celebration of opening night! )

There does not seem to be too much bedazzle 

or pink where this show is concerned...

I ordered a bunch of pins 

from amazon that are perfect for my goals!

so center front is brooch in black.

Then I just started folding my 2 1/2 inch squares

 into triangles--- and pinning in place...

A swapped fabric color each layer...

After 3 rounds I flipped it over 

to make sure I could center on the back 

my pre embroidered square...

Then repeated rounds... 

always checking for angles to be similar to front

midway through, I made sure I was consistent

 so if I had to make adjustments--- I still could...

and then it was back to folding and pinning.

It got harder to push the pins in 

the more the layers met...

But eventually the full foam ball 

was covered in fabric!

next up, I covered center with 

a solid wide ribbon.

next up a thinner ribbon, 

and then sequin ribbon.

And then it was time to bedazzle 

with rhinestone topped pins.

finally, I could bedazzle no more...

so I moved on to the topper.

ribbons weren't enough, 

so I added crowns, 

because, well, why not?

Ready to be wrapped and gifted!

alaskan landscape confetti art quilt

Back in August, I was fortunate 

to participate in a Quilt Seminar at Sea 

aboard the HAL MS Eurodam to Alaska! 

On Sea days we gathered 

in our own little quilting retreat 

and let our magical creations come to life!

Supplies were hoarded from 🏡 home, 

made their way through security… 

and hauled aboard. 

Safely gloved with a level of caution

learned from my previous disasters… 

I rotary cut & diced fabrics 

to confetti bits- to paint the design 

of my Alaskan landscapes. 

I am talking about layers and layers

and LAYERS of tiny bits of 

batik fabrics to create the pallet. 

Before cruise disembarkation, 

the creation would need to be covered 

in tulle netting and pinned tightly

to foam boards to keep in place

for journey 🏡 home. 

Back on land... 

Life got in the way and 

it joined the WIP corner. 

I finally finished it this week.

#sallymankealaskanlandscape #quiltseminarsatsea 

#confettiquilt 

#bernina990

I had not touched my confetti quilt since August. Recovery since knee surgery had kept me off my sewing machine for several weeks.

I was extremely relieved when I broke the painters tape wrapped around the foam boards from cruise I had placed it between & 

found the quilt still pinned 

in place and in tact.

(Alas, I hated how it looked)...

But knew it remained a work in progress---

Slowly removed 1 pin at a time while stitching down lines to create a grid to isolate fabric bits...

After a few days I resolved to regroup and layer on more bits and create and image I'd like more than the current one...

After a few days it began to take form...

d

I could only work on my sewing machine 

using full knee pressure 

on the peddle in brief periods, 

but they grew a bit longer each day

Once I came up with a quilting pattern 

that seemed to complement it... 

then I had to figure out how to create landscaping... that meant TREES!!!

But eventually I got there...

trimmed down...

binding created... 

& then clipped in place to stitch

Here's a closeup of those trees...

Not quite sure where I'll display it yet...

For now, it will hang on my quilt wall

Liked it enough to share on Instagram!

Quilt Seminars at Sea Alaska Adventure

Finally,

It was time to set sail on our cruise to Alaska!

I had already premade my block

 for the group quilt...

And as a gift, 

I jumped on the 

ducks to be found at sea 

and created keyring on my Bernina 990

 to give to participants...

Once on board the 

Holland America Eurodam 

I was eager to pick up my welcome pack.

The next day we got started:

"If" 

and 

"When" 

I get it quilted.... It 

"MAY"

 look like the above... 

We'll see

We spent the first half the day cutting carefully preselected fabrics in to minuscule 

bits to mimic the pattern.

I... a previous victim...

and not willing to take a chance...

had my ruler with handle to hold and thick glove.

Alas, others did not.

We lost 2 quilters in the morning and 1 more in the afternoon session to rotary cuts. 

One never made it back :(

By the end of the day 

I was really loving the layout!

(Wish I had taken more images along the way... but the boat was really rocking and rolling!)

The next day we had to

CAREFULLY

& very stressfully

slip the board we had dragged 

in our suitcase under the quilt.

This was a 2 person job...

I would definitely have done this before starting this project had I realized the fragility of it. 

and if I do it on the road again,

 that will be the only way I do it. 

I found lifting this on to the board very stressful.

Once complete...

Everything gets covered in netting

 and must get pinned tightly

 in place against boards.

And then I took a final glance... admired my work... & taped closed my 

"3 Sided Standing Report Display Board"... 

hoping it would stay in tact til it 

made it home to be completed...