Tuesday, September 17, 2013

LE and Broderie Perse

At last the excitement really begins with the addition of the flower vase corners in LE. I have looked forward to this part for months! As I have mentioned before, I purchased some Dutch chintz for this project before the pattern was even released, hoping that I would be able to use it for broderie perse and was delighted to find that it was perfect! However before beginning I shopped my stash to look for other fabric options to include as well. I have only used this technique once before and was not concerned with the background color of the fabric because I was just appliquéing individual flowers. However, when looking at antique quilts I saw that usually the background fabric of the floral fabric matched the background of the quilt so that the stitching did not need to be so precise and so that more details could be kept. With that in mind I ended up eliminating most of the fabrics with darker backgrounds and here is the resulting pile of fabric.



The front left fabric is my Dutch chintz focus fabric. I have 1/2 yard of this fabric - I wish I had more but at $40/yd it will have to do. There are 2 fat quarters of different chintz and then a few fabrics from the stash with similar colors and style of flowers.

I first looked at the pattern to determine the approximate size of flowers that I would need and then began cutting and placing a few. The first few I think I cut too small a seem allowance so we will see how the stitching goes. Anyway, using the pattern as a general guideline I just kept cutting and placing flowers. The pattern was on my light box so I was able to see it through the fabric when placing the flowers. Here is the arrangement of flowers.



As you can see the tiny bias stems that I made in the previous post are also in place. Those were added after the flowers in a way that made sense with the design. Originally I wanted to embroider the stems but I am liking these. Once the leaves and flowers are stitched there will still need to be a few tiny stems added and these will be embroidered. I actually selected the vase fabric first as it helped me visualize the arrangement as I went. After completing the arrangement this far I started auditioning fabrics for the hearts.



I decided on these and then added the hearts and filled the arrangement with leaves.



I had trouble deciding about the leaves. Broderie perse or not. As you see I decided to just cut them out green fabric from templates. I just like the look. And the little sprays where the pattern shows stems and berries are just cut from fabric and will be stitched down with the background showing to keep all the detail intact. Hope that works!

And here are a few of the flowers that got rejected for this vase. Some were cut from a fabric with a red background. I love the flowers but they just didn't seem to work well with the others. Hopefully some of the remaining flowers will make their way into one of the next vases. I must say this process has me hooked. It was just so much fun arranging the bouquet. Now to get stitching! Oh and you might notice a pile of blue pointed ovals from part 3, more samples as I am thinking I might be changing out my originals. I have decided not to make that decision til after all the vases of flowers are stitched!



On a final note, thanks to all for the well wishes on my upcoming back surgery. I have lots of handwork prepped for the long recovery and look forward to reading the blogs and seeing progress on LE. Hope to be back soon!

Happy stitching!

20 comments:

Missie of Traditional Primitives said...

Oh, it will be beautiful! Lots of pieces leftover...you'll have to use them up in a coordinating runner for a bedroom dresser if you use this quilt on a bed. I started a Broderie perse project in the year 1999. It was from a Smithsonian inspired fabric line in all blue and brown tones. I tried to add in more colors, but it didn't seem right. Then, just last year, Anita Shackelford taught a broderie perse class at our guild and I brought that old project to get her advice about adding in more colors. It looks great now, even though I have not had time to finish. Maybe since BP is coming back I will get this out and finish in my free time. Ha!! It's a good thought anyway... Will be thinking about you as you have your surgery. Keep us posted when you feel up to it!

Thimbleanna said...

WOW! It's looking so gorgeous. I love the bias stems so much more than I would like the embroidered ones. And your flower arrangements are just gorgeous.

Good Luck on your back surgery -- will be thinking of you on Thursday.

Cheri said...

Your Love Entwined is coming along beautifully. The Dutch Chintz is a lively piece and perfect for this. Happy stitching Heather!

Angie in SoCal said...

So gorgeous, Heather - the broderie perse is perfect, and I love the vase! Will be thinking and praying for you on the 19th.

Donna~~ said...

Gosh it looks absolutely beautiful!

Brandie said...

Wow! It's looking amazing! I've never done broderie perse and I'm curious to see how yours turns out. It already looks wonderful!

Unknown said...

You made a really wonderful bouquet of flowers! Auckje

audrey said...

That is just beautiful! The chintz is so ridiculously expensive, but when you start working with it like you have, it all starts to seem reasonable.:)

Jane in Cumbria said...

It is looking lovely! Chintz flowers are so beautiful!
You will be in my prayers on the 19th!

Rachaeldaisy said...

I guess the high price of chintz is why someone came up with broderie perse all those years ago so in a way you're having an authentic experience of using it carefully. Your vase of flowers is really beautiful! Wishing you all the very best for your operation, I'll be thinking of you.

Unknown said...

Ditto what Rachaeldaisy said about an authentic broderie perse experience--I had a similar experience trying to stretch some vintage mid-century fabric for a broderie perse quilt. Totally different era, but exactly the same motivation!

The chintz bouquets look really fab--can't wait to see them stitched!

Unknown said...

I love the arrangement of flowers. Perfection:)

Every Stitch said...

Great choice of flowers and fabrics - and the colours are just right with your colour scheme. This will be beautiful! All the best with your back surgery.
Hilda

Barb said...

The vase of flowers is beautiful. I love broderie purse and you are an expert!
Sending you good wishes with the upcoming surgery. Be sure to let us know how you are doing.

Glenda said...

Hi Heather a great tutorial of how you built up your flower arrangement, it does look beautiful so is worth all the trouble you went to over fabric choices. Wising you all the best for you up coming operation and just hope you are able to start your needle work again to help you through recovery. Take care Glenda Australia.

Helen said...

Stunning,love it. Thanks for the tutorial, watching your progress makes me want to try LE.!!!!!

Karens Quilts, Crows and Cardinals said...

Heather your applique for LE is just beautiful ! What a wonderful job you're doing. Best of luck on your fusion - - my sister had one a little over a year ago and is doing well. Take good care! Karen

Victoria said...

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Marijke said...

Beautiful vase with flowers!
groetjes van Marijke

Donna said...

Just beautiful. I am trying to eork out how to broderie perse. Do I just cut around chosen picture and then needleturn? Many thsmks
Donna