Monday, May 31, 2010

Black, white and COLORFUL!

Started another project, this colorful Dresden Plate hand project pattern "Flea Market" by Irene Berry from June/July 2010 Quilters Newsletter.  I am enjoying it so much I am having a hard time putting it down.  I am putting out a challenge.  Who would like to join me?  I thought I would demonstrate the steps I use to inspire.


I begin with applique stabilizer by Sharon Schamber.  This fibrous stabilizer acts as trapunto after washed.  Begin by directly tracing the pattern onto the stabilizer.

 
As I needed 108 of these, I traced several to use as templates, stacked 5-6 blank stabilizer squares under each template and cut the shape out directly on the drawn line until I had the number required.

Glue the stabilizer template to a fabric scrap.  Then cut fabric around template leaving approximately 1/4" seam allowance.


Place glue on seam allowance and turn under with finger or cuticle stick as I use.

Once turned under, join applique shapes together by hand with a whip stitch as shown.  I used black thread to match my background.


12 applique shapes joined together create one plate.  The plate is centered on the background and tacked with glue.  I then place pins at the tips of the shapes to prevent shifting while sewing.
The outer plate edge is sewn to the background using the applique stitch, again with black thread.  Once sewn to the background, the inner plate is then basted to the background.

Have fun if you decide to go for it.  I have 2 of the 9 blocks needed complete.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Go fish. . .

The fourth Wednesday of every month I hold an art workshop at Bigfork Bay Cotton Company.  Here is my rendition of this month's workshop based on Susan Carlson's technique as featured in the most recent issue of Quilting Arts magazine.


We had a full house and everyone had a great time



. . . and the ideas were endless.






Thursday, May 20, 2010

Something new. . .

Simply Patches Tablerunner
16" x 39" 
This is Simply Patches, a new tablerunner I developed for my beginning quilting class.  I have to give credit for my inspiration to two sources: 1) the wonderfully talented graphic designer that works for Bigfork Bay Cotton Company bigforkbaycottonco.com who is going to take my beginning quilting class but who doesn't want to make a full quilt; and, 2) Elizabeth Hartman of Oh, Fransson! www.ohfransson.com for her wonderfully graphic quilt settings. The tablerunner was quick and ever so easy to make. I feel comfortable that teaching the piecing and quilting of this is possible in two sessions.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Fabrics selected. Now what?

Well, here are my excitingly bright fabric selections for this bold floral panel.  I am still formulating a design plan but feeling pretty excited about the possibilities.  I could hardly sleep last night, and when I did I was dreaming about these possibilities.  I am anxious to get started but need to do some real work quilting for $$$.  I will keep you up-to-date on the project's status.

A bit of a break from the quilting world in sharing this small wonder I found this morning while hiking.  It was hiding behind a downed tree in a dark wooded area, only standing about 4" tall.  Often to appreciate nature's miracles, we need to keep our eyes open to the small things of this world.  May your day be filled with small blessings.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Beautiful site to see!

I just found this awesome quilt site www.ohfransson.com/ by Elisabeth Hartman.  What a beautiful site full of color, color, color.  Her patterns are simply beautiful.  I want to be her and design and see color like she does.  I will be studying this site often and sharing her patterns with others.

Friday, May 14, 2010

What to do with. . .

I am in love with this new floral we received at the shop.  But what to do with it?
  
 I feel inspired to create a new quilt pattern.  Maybe some flying geese creating a rick-a-rack border at the top and bottom.  Of course, I will use lots of bold, bright colors.  Any ideas?  I will ruminate on it for a while.  Who knows what will come to me.  Keep checking back to see what springs forth.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Plumeria blooming. . .

Here is the latest quilting of Plumeria by Brenda Yirsa that I have done for Bigfork Bay Cotton Company.  This is a lovely pattern with an artist's flair to it.


I really do enjoy machine quilting and especially like lines in my quilting.  Notice how I echoed the leaf lines in the border.  I find that machine quilting takes a rhythm that each individual has to find for themselves.  On that note it is interesting how our quilting can change from day to day depending on how our rhythm changes (or we just can't find it).  Quilting does offer a continuing challenge.  At least I never have the opportunity to become bored.

Sunday, May 9, 2010


Yesterday was Applique Club at the shop.  We are doing a block of the month with the "Hop To It!" quilt by Edyta Sitar and are on month 5.  Shown is my completed month 1's block, as far as I have gotten.  Really behind, huh?  I am machine appliquing these 
blocks with invisible thread.  The applique is turned under not raw edge. 

At the club, I introduced Pat Sloan's Meadow Breeze mystery quilt patsloan.com.  I am so excited about this quilt that I skipped working on "Hop To It!" and began this project.  Months 1 and 2 have been cut out.  I skipped to month 2 to begin stitching.  I decided to hand stitch rather than machine stitch this quilt.  Notice that I am adding bead embellishment.  It really sparks it up!


I love having a woman's prerogative of changing my mind.  I make great use of it on a daily basis.











Friday, May 7, 2010


I am beginning a new project, a mystery by Pat Sloan as found on Aurifil's blog, auribuzz.wordpress.com/ or Pat Sloan's blog patsloan.typepad.com.  This is the first month of 9.


Here are my fabrics.  I am going to machine piece with cotton and machine applique with wool and wool felt using Aurifil wool thread.  Keep checking and see if I am able to keep up.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

My first post
A work in progress