Dream Box

This project was made to be part of an exhibit that will take place in November at the Whittier art gallery in California.
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To make the box frame, I first started to draw my pattern onto a stabilizer, added a piece of felt underneath and stitched along the drawn lines

I then cut out a a piece of silk Dupioni the same size, layering it on top of the stabilizer, then stitched again on the same lines but on the felt side, added another piece of silk on the felt and followed the same stitched lines again (still following me ...?!)

I started free motion quilting the 4 layers, using invisible thread in the bobbin and metallic sliver thread on top

Same process of layering the drawned pattern on stabilizer and sandwich it with felt and silk, was used to make the box itself

Quilted  it

Once quilted, I cut out along the roof shape

Gathering different colored threads/cords, I then prepared my own cord to use along the box and frame

And couched this cord with a zig zag stitch along the sides of the box and frame

My box started to look like something at that point !

I then decided to embellish the "inside" of my box, adding 5 letters drawn onto painted Lutradur, looking for some meaningful word to fit the 5 sides of the box...

After thinking about 5 letters words  I could use, and eliminating "lunch, match..." , it became obvious that "Dream" was the one to chose !

I free motion quilted the Lutradur around the letters onto the inside of the box

I then decided to embellish the front of the box, adding a different colored rectangle of silk

and cut out palm trees from upholstery fabric

Satin stitched with metallic thread around the palm trees

and couched a fancy thread along the fold of the box

More embellishments ...

I then signed the base of the frame that would hold the box, writing "Septembre" instead of "September",

sorry ... just had a "French moment" ...

I added some camels on each sides of the frame and a nice golden trim at the bottom

I covered wooden bobbins with a coordinated fabric and used a glue gun to attach them to the base. I then hand stitched the bottom part to the frame

I made 5 beaded loops on top of the box so I could close it,  using a cord ending with a lock and a key

I added a button to be able to close the box

and Voila !

To create this box, I got inspired by a wonderful book from Janet Edmonds, called Beginner's Guide to Embroidered Boxes, and a 2004 Quilting Arts Magazine