Welcome to my Memorial Day Salute!
Monday, May 27, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
I'm Not Missing--I'm Busy
Besides getting ready for the Say it with Flowers blog hop beginning May 27th, there's been some real catch up work around here. Four quick coasters to match a quick table topper were first. This is part of my stash busting program and I am really making headway. The touch of black blends well with my blackbirds.
For my philanthropy efforts, I machine quilted these five children's quilts. The tops are made by another quilter and she never fails to amaze me with her patterns and color combinations using donated fabric. I pick up five quilts twice a month to quilt. Then another quilter does machine binding and it is always perfect. For these I just straight-line quilted. Sometimes I free motion--it depends on the quilt and my timeline.
For my philanthropy efforts, I machine quilted these five children's quilts. The tops are made by another quilter and she never fails to amaze me with her patterns and color combinations using donated fabric. I pick up five quilts twice a month to quilt. Then another quilter does machine binding and it is always perfect. For these I just straight-line quilted. Sometimes I free motion--it depends on the quilt and my timeline.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
It's for the Birds Blog Hop
How fortunate for each and everyone of us to have come upon Sew We Quilt and Madame Samm for putting together so many great hops. And thanks to Mary at I Piece 2 Mary for leading us in this hop.
When I was accepted into this hop, for some reason I kept thinking the theme was blackbirds. My mind was racing and I came up with a few ideas. However, later I realized the theme was any bird, but my projects were already in motion.
First I made a blackbird using Joan Shay's Petal Play method. I used the Cardinal pattern I had made in one of her workshops about six years ago and altered it a bit to resemble a blackbird. For quilting the background I just followed the wavy lines in the fabric to do the cross hatching. Her patterns include birds, flowers and more plus she has books as well. Find her site HERE. In the last picture better shows the individual feathers. The leaves are dimensional too.
And lastly a potholder. They aren't blackbirds but they are black birds.
There are many other birds to check out. Here's today's list of stitching creators and there are only a few more days left.
When I was accepted into this hop, for some reason I kept thinking the theme was blackbirds. My mind was racing and I came up with a few ideas. However, later I realized the theme was any bird, but my projects were already in motion.
First I made a blackbird using Joan Shay's Petal Play method. I used the Cardinal pattern I had made in one of her workshops about six years ago and altered it a bit to resemble a blackbird. For quilting the background I just followed the wavy lines in the fabric to do the cross hatching. Her patterns include birds, flowers and more plus she has books as well. Find her site HERE. In the last picture better shows the individual feathers. The leaves are dimensional too.
Then there is this fun side of me that often pops up in my creations. How about four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie from the old nursery rhyme? A quick bit of back stitch embroidery for the wording and a funky chicken blackbird for the top of the pie. I used silver potholder insulating for the pie pan and learned you can not press it.
There are many other birds to check out. Here's today's list of stitching creators and there are only a few more days left.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Embroidered Small Quilts
It is getting close to my turn at "It's for the Birds" blog hop so I thought I'd share a set of embroidered quilts--one recently completed as I busy myself with the camera and my birds.
The dresses quilt began in the heat of last summer. It was good to stay in the air conditioning and sit by the light from the window. The blocks were so charming it was hard to put down.
The pattern is Stitching Betsy's Closet from Acorn Quilt and Gift Company (this is not an ad) and was originally an applique pattern. It is only 24" x 29" but big in fun.
The dresses quilt began in the heat of last summer. It was good to stay in the air conditioning and sit by the light from the window. The blocks were so charming it was hard to put down.
The pattern is Stitching Betsy's Closet from Acorn Quilt and Gift Company (this is not an ad) and was originally an applique pattern. It is only 24" x 29" but big in fun.
The designer then offered Benji's Pockets in a redwork pattern. However, I wanted to have it similar to the dresses' quilt and it was easy to just stitch in the colors of the sashing blocks. It doesn't have the details of the little girl quilt but it was the process that was the most important part.
Here are the center blocks. The itty bitty corner stones are pieced.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Doll Dress Quilt
A friend stopped by today and, poor thing, had to be bored to death as I dragged out a few quilts she hadn't seen before. She really wasn't bored--she's a quilter too. So I quickly got a picture of this one to share with you.
Now I'll admit I enjoy needle turn applique, but fusing is much quicker--instant gratification. When I fuse I "window" the fusible so there is less of it and to prevent stiffness of the appliqued piece. My sewing machine does a nice button hole stitch saving my hands for more important hand work. On another quilt of this pattern, I did use needle turn and embellished the dresses with lace and buttons.
Now I'll admit I enjoy needle turn applique, but fusing is much quicker--instant gratification. When I fuse I "window" the fusible so there is less of it and to prevent stiffness of the appliqued piece. My sewing machine does a nice button hole stitch saving my hands for more important hand work. On another quilt of this pattern, I did use needle turn and embellished the dresses with lace and buttons.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Paper Piecing is Fun
It was another search here but a quick find. This small paper pieced quilt hung in my laundry area and it came down for the holidays. Since 1930s fabrics are my favorite and easily mixed together, this was another stash busting quilt. The yo-yos were made the old way. Now the only way yo-yos are made is with those clever yo-yo makers. The applique is fused and machine buttonhole stitched. The only quilting is in the ditch. It was a perfect quilt to do a pieced binding.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
String Placemat
Here's what I was doing with my strings aka strips of fabric I showed on my rack the other day. The pattern was adapted from one in a Quilts 'n More magazine some years ago for a tablerunner. Somehow I did not save the magazine or pattern. My daughter has a set of four placemats made using this pattern cut down from the tablerunner size to placemat size. I am going strictly by memory (whatever that is) and once completed, I wasn't sure if the strings were to be all the same size or not. I just used from current stock. Note: the bias binding is two pieces of fabric and lucky me to still have some of the green stripe fabric left. It was to be machine stitched to the back and hand sewn to the front. But, hey, it's a placemat that'll be washed often. Therefore, a blanket stitch should hold it together just fine and was so much quicker. There were enough smaller strips to make mug rugs as well.
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