Down to the wire!

Here it is, early evening on October 31st, and I'm just getting a chance to post my October Free Motion Quilting Challenge piece.  Maybe that has something to do with the fact that the last stitch was sewn just about an hour ago!  Better late than ...

Our October tutorial was presented by Teri Lucas who inspired us to write our names in stitching and try out a few new FMQ designs, including a wonderful nautilus shell.  Well, that threw some of us for a loop, yours truly included, as we attempted to sketch and figure out a progression for creating these cute little sea creatures.  But, persevere we did, and there's an ocean-full of nautili just waiting for you to see at the link for the October Challenge on SewCalGal's site, here.

This challenge was both inspiring and daunting, growing as it were, like Topsy as I progressed through it.   But I learned a lot, and that's what this is all about.  So, here are a few photos.  It was raining hard this afternoon so not much opportunity to take good outside photos, but I tried a few different lighting situations in an attempt to highlight various parts of the piece.

First, the sketch, such as it is - doesn't look hard at all ...   From this:

To this

A little wavy, but hopefully when I have a chance to block it, it'll lie flat, that's my hope anyway.  And here are a few close-up shots:

 These little seahorses needed eyes!  So, I thought I'd try a bit of embellishing.

 Now, who can stop with two beads?  Not me, no-sir-ee, why don't we really add some glitz and glam and try a few sequins too!   After all it IS a treasure chest, and this is the day folks get all gussied up and put on the glam!

Mary Schroeder of Quilt Dancer invited us to try her version of nautili when she posted her October challenge piece here.   Here they are in the photo above, guarding the treasure chest.   These were a LOT of fun to try and added some great variety to the piece.

Thanks to Teri Lucas for providing us with this inspiring tutorial, and to SewCalGal who keeps us all in stitches every month with this fabulous FMQ Challenge!