Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along: Part 8

NOTE:  If you are just now hearing about the Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along, and would like to find out more, click HERE.

Hello Friends, I hope you have been well since our last Spring on Bleecker Street post (Part 7).

It’s so embarrassing to be late for your own party …. please apologize for the delay in posting the latest installment of our Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along!

But before I share about the new part added to the quilt, let’s enjoy what you have sent in!  And THANK YOU, and good job for keeping up!  And please don’t feel bad if you haven’t been able to devote as much time as you would like on the project.  I know I sure haven’t because of the happenings in my life recently.

This is mine from Part 7.

Billie of http://billiebeesblog.blogspot.com (I have “known” Billie for quite a few years.  I have affectionately called her the queen of BOM’s because she works out the coolest BOM projects. Stop by Billie’s blog and see all the amazing quilts she is making!

Gail’s 30’s version is looking really really sweet!!!

Alice’s blue version has such an amazing calming effect:

Good Job, EVERYONE!  Your quilts will all be absolutely GORGEOUS!!!

I am VERY happy that you are sewing along.  You can send me pictures of your quilt at anystage at any time, and I will just include your pictures in the next posting of Spring on Bleecker Street.

Remember, this is a sew-along for those of us who have more projects we can count, all going on at the same time, and still have a life to live. :-) So, absolutely no pressure to get things done on time. You can go as fast or as slow as life allows.  More importantly, I just want you to enjoy the project as I have.

****

The next parts for me (embroidery and framing pieces for the swirly bird blocks) looked quick and easy for me, but by far, this has taken me the longest time!  So, if you are doing it my pace — be prepared.  But then, I am slow at everything.  So maybe that’s why it’s took me longer than I expected.

You can either add the framing pieces first, or the embroidery first before the framing pieces.  I actually embroidered first — because I had a window where I could do Mom duties and handwork at the same time.  I probably would have framed the blocks first — because I think that will keep the squares squared up more easily.  But doing the embroidery first didn’t seem to the affect the square-ness of my blocks because I have starch-pressed the blocks really well before hand.

****

Embroidery: 2 hours per block (yikes!)

I have to admit — I am getting up there in age, ha!  When I do handwork these days, I use a pair of jeweler’s glasses to help.  I like to keep my stitches as consistent in length as possible.  The good thing about the glasses (though it makes me look like a total DORK!) is that I am able to see the weave of the fabric to gauge my stitch length.  My favorite is to have my stitches cover 2-3 weave lengths of the fabric.  If it’s 4-5 weave length, the stitches end up being a little too long for my taste.

When doing hand embroidery stitching, I always use 2-strands of embroidery floss!  I am using floss from my Marmalade Meadows floss I have curated for Aurifil!  I love the Aurifloss because like the rest of Aurifil’s threads, the floss has minimal lint — which makes my stitches really crisp! I am also not needing to condition my floss before stitching.  So I pretty much just thread and needle and take off!

You can order these amazing embroidery floss through your local Aurifil dealers, or you may order them online from

#1.  Cinnamon’s Quilt Shoppe here.

#2.  You may contact www.followthatthread.com to order.

#3.  Pumpkinvine Corner (scroll down to the bottom of order page) here.

The floss box comes with a free pattern to make this little mini quilt with the stitchery design inspired by Miss Baby’s art work!  She really did come up with the original artwork which I adapted for stitchery.

You are first to know — Miss Baby and Marmalade (the pot belly bunny) are working up something for Christmas.  I hope to be able to get the project completed and share with you by the end of October in case you want to make the project in time for Christmas!

Here are a couple of close-ups of stitchery on the swirly bird blocks.

And don’t feel like you have to followed exactly how many French knots to add to the tendrils.  I always get carried away when I do French knots, and I ended up adding more than the number of French knots shown in the diagram in the instructions.

Now onto the framing pieces:  another 2 hours!

The piecing is pretty much straightforward!  The only thought I will share is that it’s easier to make the pieced 1″ squares by fours!  Make units of 4-squares, and then sew them together.  That way, the 20-square unit won’t end up wonky!

It took some time, but the effect was so worth it.  The tiny squares gave the swirly bird blocks a cute jeweled look!

And that’s all for this time!  Remember to enjoy the journey!!!

It’s quite amazing to see the progress I have made the last few months — just for trying to keep up! I couldn’t have done it without being accountable to you!  THANK YOU for sewing-along, and thank you for ensuring that I am making progress, albeit be it snail-speed.  And you heard it first here — my next sew-along project planned for next year will be snail-ish!

Till next time!

Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along: Part 7

NOTE:  If you are just now hearing about the Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along, and would like to find out more, click HERE.

Hello Friends, I hope you have been well since our last Spring on Bleecker Street post (Part 6).

But before I share about the new part added to the quilt, let’s enjoy what you have sent in!  And THANK YOU, and good job for keeping up!  And please don’t feel bad if you haven’t been able to devote as much time as you would like on the project.  I know I sure haven’t because of the happenings in my life recently.

This is mine from Part 6.

Billie of http://billiebeesblog.blogspot.com (I have “known” Billie for quite a few years.  I have affectionately called her the queen of BOM’s because she works out the coolest BOM projects. Stop by Billie’s blog and see all the amazing quilts she is making!

Alice’s block is really special to me.  You have read about my major de-stashing effort, and Alice asked to be sent a box of my mystery fabric box!  She ended up incorporated one of the fabrics I sent her in the birdhouse block.  What a sweet gesture.

Gail sent in her Parts 5 and 6 progress pictures.  I love the 30’s fabrics Gail has used, making her blocks take on a sweet and whimsical feel.

Good Job, EVERYONE!  Your quilts will all be absolutely GORGEOUS!!!

I am VERY happy that you are sewing along.  You can send me pictures of your quilt at anystage at any time, and I will just include your pictures in the next posting of Spring on Bleecker Street.

Remember, this is a sew-along for those of us who have more projects we can count, all going on at the same time, and still have a life to live. :-) So, absolutely no pressure to get things done on time. You can go as fast or as slow as life allows.  More importantly, I just want you to enjoy the project as I have.

***

I have had another busy month.  Within the last two weeks and a half, I finalized almost 25 upcoming quilt designs. So I have been doing a lot of pattern writing.  I can’t wait to share with you these new designs — there are some really fun ones!

Back to Spring on Bleecker Street — I have only been able to do the applique on both the bird/swirl blocks this month.

There are a few things I thought I would share with you that might help your applique process go a bit smoother.

#1.  I use a lightbox for tracing and placement purposes.  I have this nifty LED lightbox that is really bright (you can get it at Hobby Lobby because that’s where I got mine).  So, the pattern sheet is place on the light box first, and then, the paper-backed fusible for tracing applique pattern pieces to prepare the fabric applique pieces.

Applicable specifically to this pattern, there is no full-sized placement guide included in this pattern, only a guide!  So, after you have prepared your fabric pieces, you will have to guess-timate and approximate where the pieces go.  That’s perfectly fine. I had no problems with that.

NOW — if you want both your blocks to be as close to perfectly mirror-imaged as possible, this is what you would do.  Work and finalize the placement of applique pieces on one block only.  Fuse the pieces in place.  Then, bring that block #1 (with applique pieces) to your light box (or a window if you don’t have one) — place the block RIGHT SIDE DOWN.

Then, place the background block of block #2 right side up, on top of the wrong side of block #1.  You will see where the pieces are placed on block #1, and then you can in turn place the applique pieces on the appropriate spots on block #2.

#2.  We all like to finish our applique pieces differently.  I like to finish my fusible applique pieces with buttonhole stitching.  So the following is applicable only to buttonhole stitching.  I like to use fine threads and small stitches for buttonhole stitching so that they do not dominate over the applique pieces.  In these pictures you see, I have used the newly released Aurifil Mako 80 wt!   The 80wt was developed for hand applique, but the spools are also machine friendly.  So you can actually use the 80wt for machine stitching as well.

I loved using 50wt for buttonhole stitching, and I am loving the 80wt for buttonhole stitching even more!  The picture below shows a close-up of my buttonhole stitches.

#3.  With buttonhole stitching, I always had problems with the direction-changing of the stitching paths where I have to pivot the stitches to be perpendicular to the edge of applique pieces, and more often than not, those pivoting stitches don’t come out looking good.  The other situation that frustrates me is that it’s hard to do buttonhole stitching around sharp points or narrow pieces…. so, over the years, I have come up with using a combination of buttonhole and outline stitching around my applique pieces — buttonhole stitching when the going is good, and then I switch to straight line stitching when the going gets tough (e.g. when I am getting close a pointy edge, or where the piece is just too narrow), and then, once I get through the rough spots, I switch back to buttonhole stitching again!  I like the resulting look much better that way.

You see how by switching to outline straight stitching, I didn’t have to deal with trying to pivot the buttonhole stitching just so…?  It’s much easier for me this way.

Here you see that the swirl on the bird is too narrow for me to really do buttonhole stitching.  So I just outline/straight stitched around it.

Now, I do have to warn you about the switch between stitches:  I always use my hand wheel (instead of my foot pedal) to control where my needle lands right at the edge of the applique piece. 

#4.  As mentioned before, I always press-starch my blocks REALLY good before I sew the applique pieces in place. That way, I don’t have to use a stabilizer on the bottom of the block, and I won’t have anything to peel off after the finishing stitches.

SO I am hoping these tips will help you navigate applique-ing small pieces, and my swirls relatively easily!  If you know me, you know that swirls pop up quite often in my applique designs. :)

Once you are finished with the applique, and are ready to move to the stitchery part, use the following as a guide to mark the embroidery.

As you know, I didn’t quite get my act together, so I will be using the next few weeks to add the stitchery to my bird/swirl blocks, as well as the birdhouse block.  I will be using my Marmalade Meadows colors…. I love these colors, if I do say so myself. :)

Have you tried stitching with Aurifloss?  If you haven’t, you have to!  One thing that struck me when I first tried it was that my stitches looked much more defined and crisp.  Then, through communicating with Alex Veronelli, he told me the floss is manufactured the same way as the other cotton threads in that an extra step is added to the manufacturing process to reduce the lint!  I know what that step is — but you will have to find out what it is at Alex’s thread lecture.  If you haven’t been to the thread lectures, you have to!!!  

Anyway, you can order these amazing embroidery floss through your local Aurifil dealers, or you may order them online from

#1.  Cinnamon’s Quilt Shoppe here.

#2.  You may contact www.followthatthread.com to order.

#3.  Pumpkinvine Corner (scroll down to the bottom of order page) here.

Well, I have my work cut out for me with the stitching this month!  And meanwhile, I have this daunting quilt I am supposed to make for a magazine with about 80 star blocks.  I have to get the quilt top completed in about 5-7 days.  So…. I’d better get going and get star-block-making!!  Till next time, Dear Friends — and Happy Sewing!

Giveaway — Quilting Treasures Zola Fabrics to make an entire quilt!

Happy Monday, and I hope your week got off with a rousing start.  This is too good to not share!  I had shared with you this free-to-use pattern featuring the Zola fabrics from Quilting Treasures.  I am excited to hear that the fabrics are quickly becoming many’s favorite!!  Quilting Treasures is generously giving away fabrics to make this quilt!!! Click here to enter the giveaway.  I am turning off comments here so that you don’t accidentally leave your comment here and miss the chance on winning. :)

Click here to view the fabric group.  Be sure to check out the adorable snail prints!

Click here to download free to use quilt pattern.

Well, that’s it for now… Friends!  I hope you have a lovely rest of your week.  We have about two weeks before school starts, and still have lots to do before we are ready for school!  Yikes!

Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along: Part 6

NOTE:  If you are just now hearing about the Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along, and would like to find out more, click HERE.

Hello Friends, I hope you have been well since our last Spring on Bleecker Street post (Part 5).

But before I share about the new part added to the quilt, let’s enjoy what you have sent in!  And THANK YOU!!!!

This is mine, made using Bleecker Street fabrics by Quilting Treasures.

Billie of http://billiebeesblog.blogspot.com (I have “known” Billie for quite a few years.  I have affectionately called her the queen of BOM’s because she works out the coolest BOM projects. Stop by Billie’s blog and see all the amazing quilts she is making!  Seeing her projects always makes me want to retire!

Alice sent in her progress picture as well, despite having had a busy month!  Good job, Alice!  I am loving the calming effect of the blues Alice has used in her blocks!

And here is Kim’s batik version — so happy to see this done in batiks because the batiks give such a sense of depth to any designs.  And you can see that Kim has been VERY busy!!! I love seeing all the blocks that I have yet to make, and I am feeling really motivated!!

Good Job, EVERYONE!  Your quilts will all be absolutely GORGEOUS!!!

I am VERY happy that you are sewing along.  You can send me pictures of your quilt at anystage at any time, and I will just include your pictures in the next posting of Spring on Bleecker Street.

Remember, this is a sew-along for those of us who have more projects we can count, all going on at the same time, and still have a life to live. :-) So, absolutely no pressure to get things done on time. You can go as fast or as slow as life allows.  More importantly, I just want you to enjoy the project as I have.

Life took on a crazy pace for me, and before I knew it… another part of the Sew Along is due, ha!  I want to thank all my Sew Along friends for keeping me accountable on this.  I can tell you if you weren’t sewing with me, I wouldn’t have done as much on the quilt as I have.  I have had an under-the-weather Miss Baby for part of this part week, and add to that a rather traumatic experience of being locked out of our house because I was out just for a jiffy getting leaves for our new wooly bear pet!  It was good to finally settle in to get a bit of leisure sewing done.

For Part 6, I am making the birdhouse block – only the pieced portion because I am a bit unorganized currently with my sewing notions as I continue to outfit my sewing room!

Since this block will have some tiny pieces, so I made sure I press-starched my fabrics before I cut them.  The rest is actually quite straightforward with a few things to note:

#1.  When making the flying geese unit, I pressed the seams open so that I made sure I “hit” the point just right when I added the white tonal strip above the flying geese unit in finishing out the block.  Below is a blown-up image of where the point of the flying geese unit meets the white tonal rectangle at the top.

#2.  When I trimmed off the dog ears when making the flying geese units.  I went ahead and cut into the dog ears into triangles to make HST units to make the pinwheel units for the outer border.  With the dog ears, you can cut 4 sets of triangles enough to make HST units for 1 pinwheel unit.

#3.  When making the pieced leaves and stem unit, I pressed the seams to one side when making the pieced row units, but press the seams open when sewing the rows together.  The main reason is that with 1″ finished width, I didn’t want to lose any real estate from pressing the seams to one side.

And here is how my birdhouse block is looking.

I shall be back next month with the applique butterfly and stitchery added to the birdhouse blocks, as well as the swirl and bird applique blocks!

Use the image below as a guide for applique and stitchery if you decide to go ahead and finish the block.

Happy Sewing-Along, Friends – keep making those pinwheel units!!

Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along: Part 3

NOTE:  If you are just now hearing about the Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along, and would like to find out more, click HERE.

Before we get started with Part 3, let’s just sit back and relax and enjoy the different versions of Part 2 (posted here) sent in by you all!  I know I have certainly enjoyed seeing your work.

Here is mine – using Quilting Treasures’ Bleecker Street fabric group!  Click here to view fabrics.  If you are new and wondering about the quilt kits, click here for information.

Here is Alice’s.  She blogs at http://aliceinquilterland.blogspot.com if you would like to visit her and make a new quilting friend.

Here is Cheryl’s.

Here is Jennifer’s.

Here is Gail’s.

Here is Debby’s.

These are Billie’s.

Here’s Sharon’s mini.  Instead of incorporating each part of the quilt to make a quilt, Sharon uses each part to make a mini.  VERY creative.  You may follow Sharon’s work on her blog here.

***

Seeing how your quilts unfold as we progress in this Sew Along is one of my greatest joys.  I am VERY happy that you are sewing along.  You can send me pictures of your quilt at any stage at any time, and I will just include your pictures in the next posting of Spring on Bleecker Street.

Remember, this is a sew-along for those of us who have more projects we can count, all going on at the same time. :-) So, absolutely no pressure to get things done on time. More importantly, I just want you to enjoy the project.

***

And here is Part 3.  Part 3 took me about 2 hours as well – so if you 2 hours to spare between now and May 15th, you should be able to make these “skinny mini” shoo-fly blocks. :)

The theme of this part remains to be “Keep Calm and Sew On” because we will be sewing with small pieces (just like in Part 2).  The trick in dealing with small pieces is to handle them as if you are handling normal pieces.  Keep calm – check your cutting, your machine, and you should come out just fine!

#1.  I do starch press my fabrics so that I keep the small pieces as non-distorted as possible.

#2.  I also finger press all my seams before heat-setting them.

(image from Secret Stitch Club)

Part 3 deals with half-square-triangles units.  They are special and precious because they will be finishing at 1″ — therefore, you will be making HST units that measure 1 1/2″ raw edge to raw edge.  I cut my starting squares at 2 1/4″ x 2 1/4″ instead of the conventionally prescribed 1 7/8″ x 1 7/8″.  That way, I can trim them to the unfinished size.

I make my HST units as normal…. but I press my seams open.  Then, I align the diagonal seam of my HST units against the 45 degree angle of my quilting ruler.  I trim the excess so that the HST units measure 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ raw edge to raw edge.

You can see the result of my trimming – but making the HST units that way allow me to make accurately squared up HST units.  And pressing the seams open reduces the bulk when I piece them later to make my shoo-fly blocks.  So at this stage, they are treated as if they are individual squares. [I actually save these trimmings, not usable for piecing quilts, to a lady who makes dog beds.]

Alright…. when I constructed the individual rows, I butted the seams between units.  But when I sewed the rows together, I finger pressed, then iron pressed the seams between rows OPEN!  Again, that reduced bulk, plus, it helped me to piece accurately the shoo fly blocks.

When I pinned the shoo fly blocks together, I made sure the points match at the top of the triangles of the units – very much like matching the seams when we made the house roof in part 1 here.

I pressed open the seams in between rows to even out the bulk.

I then added the shoo-fly assembly to sections made for Part 1 and Part 2 of the sew-along.

Oh — and watch my quilt grow, and yours too!

And that’s it for Part 3!  I hope you will have a blast making progress on this quilt as much as I have!   know the units are small, but I am hopeful that by making these small shoo fly units will help confidence in tackling small pieces in other quilt projects of yours.  Can’t wait to see what your Part 3 looks like!!!!

Happy Sewing, my sewing friends!!  Hugs to you all.

Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along: Part 2

NOTE:  If you are just now hearing about the Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along, and would like to find out more, click HERE.

Before we get started with Part 2, let’s just sit and relax and enjoy the different versions of Part 1 (posted here) sent in by you all!

Here is mine – using Quilting Treasures’ Bleecker Street fabric group!  Click here to view fabrics.  If you are new and wondering about the quilt kits, click here for information.

Here is Alice’s.  She blogs at http://aliceinquilterland.blogspot.com if you would like to visit her and make a new quilting friend.  You can also see Alice moved on beyond the first part – which is absolutely wonderful!

Here is Gail’s.  I love the 30’s fabric choices.

This is Sharon’s – she has creatively turned her part 1 into a mini — Loving this idea!

This is Debby’s with a kitty to welcome the guests – this is Debby’s first time joining in a sew-along!  I am so happy to hear that, and am proud of her!

This is Kathy’s – Kathy is a dear friend of mine, and I love her dearly!

This is Jennifer’s – she is using Japanese neutrals for a completely different feel!

This is Cheryl’s.  A polka dotted roof — what is not to love?!

This is Margaret’s.  I am loving her blue roof!

And I told Joyce it’s okay to turn in late homework!!!!  Even though Joyce didn’t share her block, she did share her fabrics.  I was hoping someone would do a monochromatic color scheme with this quilt — and Joyce apparently read my mind, somehow. :)  These fabrics are from Penny Rose!

I have enjoyed everyone’s version!!  I can’t wait to see how your quilt unfold as we sew along.  I have to say I am VERY happy that you are sewing along.  You can send me pictures of your quilt at any stage at any time, and I will just include your pictures in the next posting of Spring on Bleecker Street.

Remember, this is a sew-along for those of us who have more projects we can count, all going on at the same time. :-)  So, absolutely no pressure to get things done on time. More importantly, I just want you to enjoy the project.

****** Now, to Part 2!!!  Part 2 will take a total of about 2 1/2 hours…. and I have the total time broken down into 3 sections in case you don’t have a block of time that spans 2-3 hours!

The theme of this part is “Keep Calm and Sew On” because we will be sewing with small pieces.  The trick in dealing with small pieces is to handle them as if you are handling normal pieces.  Keep calm – check your cutting, your machine, and you should come out just fine!

#1.  I do starch press my fabrics so that I keep the small pieces as non-distorted as possible.

#2.  I also finger press all my seams before heat-setting them.

(image from Secret Stitch Club)

#1.  Remaining trees (~35 minutes).  As I was saying, I finger-pressed my seams open before trimming off the dog-ears.

Then I used the iron to heat-set the seams open.

When you pin the two pink tree units together before sewing, be sure to match the diagonal seams, and you will have the tree units match up nicely.

I sewed together the pink tree and the yellow tree, and set aside — without sewing on the 4 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ white rectangle.

#2.  Sun embroidery on 4 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ white rectangle (~ 1 hr, and that’s with me texting with my best friend).  The pattern didn’t show the sun drawing.  So, we will just wing it.  I first press-starch my rectangle so that it is not wobbly.  You would mark the circle for your sun where you would like it as long as you keep in mind where the seam allowance is on that 4 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ rectangle.  I marked the circle using the back of an Aurifil thread spool with a fine tip pen.

You can see that instead of triangles in the original design, I used radiating lines for the sun rays.  You can do however you choose for the sun rays.   I will be using the yellow from my Marmalade Meadows Floss Pack to stitch the sun!  I normally use a John James size 9 embroidery needle for embroidery stitches, stitching with 2-ply of floss.

If you would like to order the floss pack(s), Cinnamon Quilt Shopped has them here.

And you might have seen a pillow ornament I recently completed with the colors in the floss pack, and some fabric scraps.

Back to our sew-along, here is my sun stitched out, and pieced to the tree units.  I hope you can see that I actually stitched around the sun circle twice, stacking my back stitches.  I have never done it that way, and I quite like the effects.

And the newly completed section is sewn to Part 1.

#3.  Pinwheels (~45 minutes).  So, I looked at the quilt layout, and felt like I didn’t want to have to make a whole bunch of pinwheels all at one go later on.  I went ahead and made the 4 pinwheels needed for the yellow fabric.  I used the method here to make accurate and squared up pinwheels.  Give the method a try – you might be as happy as the result as I am! :)

I plan to make a few of these pinwheels to go with each section until I have all of them made.

And that’s it for Part 2!  I hope you will have a blast making progress on this quilt as much as I have!  Can’t wait to see what your Part 2 looks like!!!!

Happy Sewing, my sewing friends!!  Hugs to you all.

Stamp Pad in McCall’s Quick Quilts (April/May 2017) & More

Hello Friends, Happy Monday, and a Blessed Week to you!  Today, I am sharing with you my latest magazine quilt that became official, Stamp Pad.   Stamp Pad is featured in McCall’s Quick Quilts (April/May 2017) issue.  The full instructions are included in the magazine issue.

This is a design that majors in the basics — flying geese and rectangular patches — and yet, the result is quite eye-catching, no?  This design is perfect for telling a “fabric story” with any large or colorful prints.  But if you interested to use the fabrics I used, they are from RJR Fabrics‘ Garden Gate line by Robyn Pandolph.  Pandolph always has the most amazing florals!!

I have also designed an exclusive runner project using the same fabrics for Keepsake Quilting.

Purchase the kit here, or purchase the pattern here.

Be sure to check out my other offerings in Keepsake Quilting here.

***

Meanwhile, I want to welcome those of you who have recently signed up to join the Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along.  I am so glad you are on board.  Click here if you would like to learn more about the Sew-Along.

Again, like I have told many, I am running this Sew-Along with the pace of one who has way too many projects going on at the same time.  So, we will just be tackling small portions of the quilt each month.  The house/tree block took me 2 hours to complete… so, if you could just spare about 2 hours a month, I am certain you can keep up. :)Also, I found out this week Cinnamon’s Quilt Shop has the kits if you need to pick one up.  Click here to purchase the kits, and here to purchase the accompany Aurifil embroidery floss pack!

I will be posting installment #2 of the sew-along on March 15th.  So, you definitely have time to catch up with part 1. :)  Click here if you haven’t seen installment #1.

Meanwhile, I have also been smocking.  Miss Baby still lets me dress her, mainly because she is not one who puts too much thought into what she wears.  It’s a win-win for us right now.  She is needed some new outfits.  So, here is my latest completed smocking project.

And here, I completed the stitching for a small little project that I work on at the school parking lot when I wait to pick up Miss Baby.  The colors I use are from my Marmalade Meadows floss pack.

And here is me and a homemade apple pie a couple of weeks ago.  I am not crazy about pictures taken of me, but I had to do it for one of the fabric companies, hahaha.  Miss Baby can handily consume an apple pie in half a day, if I let her… a pinch of nutmeg is my secret ingredient when I make apple pies! :) That pie looks a bit pale because I was scared to death the pie would look too brown for the picture, hahaha.  Truth be known, I popped that pie back into the oven after the picture was taken.  Things I do for work….

But I am curious though — what is your favorite pie?

And that’s it for now!  I shall catch up with you again in a couple of days.  Hugs to you all!

***

My 2017 Line-up

Editorial Feature

American Patchwork & Quilting (Jan/Feb 2017):  Close Quarters (Cover Quilt)

McCall’s Quick Quilts (Feb/March 2017):  I’m Blue For You

McCall’s Quick Quilts (April/May 2017): Stamp Pad

 

Free-to-use Design

Jan 2017:  Stars and Stripes Forever (Hoffman Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  HOPE (Windham Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  Bleecker Street (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Sheeps and Peeps (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Smarty Cats (Windham Fabrics)

Feb 2017: Wildwood Way (RJR Fabrics)

All Things BLEECKER STREET… and the biggest snowman!

Hello Friends, I hope you are well.  The sun is out where I am with a high of close of 60F!  I am so thankful for that – as I am a winter wimp.

1.  Spring on Bleecker Street Sew Along.  I just emailed out the preliminary email to ladies who most recently expressed interest in joining in the fun!  Please know that you are welcome to join in anytime.  And I just added a Sew-Along Tab on the top of my blog page which has the basic information.   Click here to access the special sew-along page!

You may download the pattern instructions and templates here.  And start to gather your supplies!!!

I will be using the Bleecker Street fabrics from Quilting Treasures for this project!  I am totally in love with these fabrics!!!!  You may use fabrics of your choice for the project.  However, if you want to replicate the original quilt,  I know of places listed below that are selling the kits/fabrics.  For the embroidery, I will be using colors from my Aurifil’s Marmalade Meadows collection.  Click here to read about the collection if you haven’t known about it.  I would imagine any Aurifil dealer will be able to order the floss for you.  Please know that I will be showcasing more ways to use up the floss in a couple of months.

* The quilt and floss kits are available from http://thimblemouseandspouse.com.  I think Lynn is still waiting for the fabrics and floss to arrive.

* Quilt kits from http://www.northerncomfortquilts.com/sales-and-specials

* Fabrics from Quiltropolis.

* Quilt kits from Hancocks of Paducah.

2.  Other Bleecker Street Projects.  Now, Spring on Bleecker Street isn’t the only quilt I designed using Quilting Treasures’ Bleecker Street fabrics.

Pinwheel Quilt

Click here to download pattern instructions.

Click here to purchase quilt kit(s).

Alcott Quilt.  This quilt is actually inspired by a quilt made by mother of Louisa May Alcott.  Mother Alcott took on sewing projects to supplement her family’s income.  My interpretation of the design is a tribute to all mothers over the ages who did what it took for the sake of their families’ welfare.

Click here to download pattern instructions.

***

3.  Snowflake blocks and “Biggest” Snowman.  Due to upcoming travel, I have been sewing up a storm to make some my quilt samples happen for the appropriate people.  No, we don’t have snow, but I have been making these fun snowflake blocks. :)

And here is Miss Baby’s suggestion on how to make the biggest snowman!  I found this on one of her school papers. [This might have come in helpful for your next snowstorm fun! :)

“First you have to build a big ball as big as the 2nd grade classroom, then a ball as big as the lunch room, then one as big as the second grade door.  Stack the smallest ball on the top of the medium one, and so on.  Then cut two trees down and stick them into the medium ball. Then get some beach balls and stick them in to make eyes, and so on.”

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you have had a great week so far.  We certainly have, as crazy busy as we have been over here.  Hugs to you all.  I shall catch up with you before the weekend.

***

My 2017 Line-up

Editorial Feature

American Patchwork & Quilting (Jan/Feb 2017):  Close Quarters (Cover Quilt)

McCall’s Quick Quilts (Feb/March 2017):  I’m Blue For You

 

Free-to-use Design

Jan 2017:  Stars and Stripes Forever (Hoffman Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  HOPE (Windham Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  Bleecker Street (Quilting Treasures)

Aurifil’s Embroidery Floss Collection: Marmalade Meadows

Friends, you know I have a passion for handwork. Over the years I have done embroidery, smocking and cross-stitching. I love stitching with my hands, and feeling the needle and threads as the stitches are formed.  I am very excited to share more about Marmalade Meadows, an embroidery floss collection I curated for Aurifil.

Firstly, these Aurifloss colors were selected to be companion threads for Quilting Treasures’ new group Bleecker Street!  I will share more about Bleecker Street fabrics tomorrow.  Spring on Bleecker Street is a collage quilt I designed using the Bleecker Street fabrics that involve a bit of piecing, applique as well as hand embroidery.  The hand embroidery part uses threads from Marmalade Meadows.

The following picture was taken at this past Quilt Market of Spring on Bleecker Street.  Kits and patterns are available via your local quilt shops sometime in November!  Check and ask about the project with your local quilt shops that carry Quilting Treasures fabrics.

And you here how the Marmalade Meadows embroidery floss is at play in the following pictures:

I also designed and stitched a little wallhanging using the Marmalade Meadows embroidery floss, featuring Marmalade, the pot-belly bunny!  This is going to be a free pattern when the thread collection ships in December.

I quilted the wallhanging with Aurifil’s Mako 50 wt cotton.  When quilting around embroidered motif, I like to quilt densely so that the embroidery will pop!

 

I like that the Aurifil’s embroidery floss is wound on a charming wooden spool.  Some have asked if I feel a difference between Aurifloss and skeined floss.  One major thing I notice is that, with the other threads produced by Aurifil, the Aurifloss is very low on lint.  That allows me to have very crisp stitches.  [As to why Aurifil’s threads are low lint, you will have to attend Alex Veronelli’s thread lectures to find out — really worth your while if there is one offered in your area.  It is free to attend.]

So, here are the spools you will get in my Marmalade Meadows collection.  Even though they scream vibes of spring, I am actually working on a Christmas scene featuring Marmalade the pot-belly bunny!  Stay tuned for details. :)

Again, the collection ships this December to shops.  You may place an order for the collection with any shops that carries Aurifil products.  I know http://www.followthatthread.com will have it.  If it’s not listed on the website, just shoot them an email, and they will take care of you!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Till next time!

Happy Monday, and what to expect…

Hello Friends, I hope you had a great weekend.  My life has gone by like a blurry whirlwind of late!  I am leaving for Market in four days, and I still a little bit to get done before I can leave… thus the whirlwind!  I am going to give you a few heads up’s on things upcoming!

TOMORROW – my turn on Windham’s First Blush BLOG HOP and GIVEAWAY!  Check back on my blog tomorrow sometime in the early afternoon for the post.  It all depends on when I get my pictures taken of my project. I live dangerously, I know…. not by choice, mind you.  I used to have all my clothes and shoes laid out for an entire week.  Now, I kind of just jump into what’s available! :o)

For now, all I can show you is the “dress-fitting” shot of Softie the Squirrel.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016 at Houston Fall Quilt Market: Schoolhouse

I will be presenting my next book at Schoolhouse (Room 352A from 2:50-3:05pm) on…. on…. yes, domestic machine quilting!  Many of you have written to ask about having my Thread Talk posts compiled into a book, and yes, it’s finally in the process of happening.  I cannot be more excited about it.  So, if you are going to be at Market, or know someone who will be, and want to hear my humble 2 cents as a happenstance quilter.  You know where to find me! The following project is one of the projects I will be showing…. love this one!

SATURDAY (October 29, 2016) – MONDAY (October 31, 2016) at Houston Fall Market: Extension of Me… I actually don’t know what designs of mine that have been made into display samples.  But do check out the booths: RJR Fabrics, Hoffman Fabrics, Windham Fabrics and Quilting Treasures.

I know for sure you will see my quilty shenanigans at the booths Quilting Treasures and Aurifil using the following fabrics and threads.  These Bleecker Street fabrics are amazing, and you have to check out the quilts I have designed with them at Quilting Treasures booth (#2422).  These fabrics ship in November 2016.

See those embroidery floss?  I am happy to announce to you the release of Marmalade Meadows, an embroidery floss I curated for Aurifil.  These same floss are also supporting floss for Quilting Treasures’ Bleecker Street fabrics. Marmalade Meadows will ship in December 2016, and I will be sharing supporting projects starting shipping time.

You will want to check out Marmalade’s Merriment, stitched with Marmalade’s Meadows embroidery floss, at Aurifil’s booth (#1924).

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016 (4-5pm) and SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 (9:30-10:30am) at Houston Fall Market: LIVE MACHINE QUILTING DEMO at Landauer Publishing’s Booth (#646). At least that’s the plan, and I will do my best…. or you will get to see my flop at the machine!  I will also have my Thread Journey quilt for your close-up inspection.  Come by, and I will be happy to answer any questions you might have!

That’s it for now, Friends.  I going to fly for now… see you back here sometime tomorrow!  Have a great week!

Pinwheel Quilts in Fons and Porter Scrap Quilts (Summer 2016) and McCall’s Quilting (November/December 2016)

Hello Friends, Happy Monday, Happy Week and Happy October!!!

A few months ago, I shared with you some tips on making pinwheel blocks here.

Well, that’s because I was making pinwheel blocks upon pinwheel blocks for a while there for the two following pinwheel projects. :)  It truly is amazing to me how a simple unit, when used differently, can create totally different looks.  I think that’s what appeals to me in designing quilts.  I love to see what I can do with simple quilt blocks.

#1.  Pinwheel Parade in Fons and Porter’s Scrap Quilts (Summer 2016)

Pinwheel Parade is made with Windham Fabrics’ Chambray Rose.

I enjoyed quilting this quilt — and here are a few pictures.

Here is the back:

And the front of the quilt center looks like this:

You may recall I had another editorial feature in McCall’s Quilting last year using the same Chambray Rose fabrics.

#2.  Up next is Winter Wind in McCall’s Quilting (November/December 2016)

A special thank you to my dear friend Darlene Szabo of Sewing Graceful Quilting for quilting the quilt for me.

Winter Wind is made with fabrics from Quilting Treasures‘ Canterbury line – elegant & masculine & timeless! Exclusive kits are available for a limited time here.

I have 2 copies of the magazine issues to give away.  If you would like to have it, just leave a comment! :)

That’s all for now, Friends!  Lots more to come…. but lots more to do as well, so I’d better fly for now!  Hugs to you all.

***

My 2016 Line-up

Note:  You may click here for the exhaustive list of my published work.

Editorial Features:

American Patchwork & Quilting 2016 Calendar: In Your Corner

Australian Quilters Companion (Issue 79): Little House on the Hill

Australian Quilters Companion (Issue 80): My Heart At Home

Fons and Porter Love of Quilting (March/April 2016): Constellation of Stars

Fons and Porter Love of Quilting (September/October 2016): Highland Stars

Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2016): Estelle

Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Fall 2016): Rainbow

Fons and Porter Scrap Quilts (Summer 2016): Pinwheel Parade

McCall’s Quick Quilts (December 2015/January 2016): Rows of Roses

McCall’s Quick Quilts (February/March 2016): Early Birds

McCall’s Quilting (January/February 2016): Sherbet Stars

McCall’s Quilting (November/December 2016): Winter Wind

Quiltmaker (May/June 2016): Lavender Love

Quiltmaker (July/August 2016): Dawnstar

Quilters Newsletter (April/May 2016): Tartan Links

Quilts and More (Summer 2016): Tutu Cute

 

Free-to-use Designs:

January: Heads Up Crib Quilt & Playmat (Quilting Treasures)

January: Big Love using Go Big or Go Home (Windham Fabrics)

January: Star Dust using Brittany (Benartex)

January: Wish You Were Here (Hoffman Fabrics)

January: Farfalle using Whisper (Windham Fabrics)

January: Tulips Quilt using Flower Pedals (Windham Fabrics)

Post Houston Fall Market #4

Hello Friends, I am going to share with you sightings of the extension of yours truly (aka quilts made from my designs) at Market this year.   Seeing the quilts at Market made me forget all the all nighters I have pulled this year!

One of the highlights for me this year has been the opportunity to design with a reproduction line by Mary Koval for Windham, Postage Stamp.  I met the Mary Koval, and felt gratified knowing that Mrs. Koval approved of the designs I did using her fabric line (click here to find out more)!  This Sundials Quilt is one of four designs I did using Postage Stamp, and was displayed at Windham’s booth.

Also at another end of Windham’s booth, this Tulip Quilt using Flower Pedals (click here for more details) was also displayed.  There is also a look book here.

Additionally, two of my Christmas designs using Windham’s Storybook Christmas (click here for more details) were displayed at Windham’s Christmas room.  Congrats to Windham for winning 1st Place Single Booth with their Christmas booth.

Then, I saw a fun lap quilt I design for Island Batik, at their booth, using their Desert Rose line (click here for more details) bunched up and hung — the one in the foreground.

Hoffman Fabrics displayed a quilt I designed using their Wish You Were Here line (click here for more details).  The blocks were meant to look like postage stamps.

I also had designs at Quilting Treasures‘ booth featuring their upcoming lines Royal Princess, Woodland Wonder, Charleston.

The cover quilt of my book Creative New Quilts and Projects at Landauer’s booth.

My All That Glitters quilt that is featured in the latest issue of American Patchwork & Quilting also made an appearance at their booth.  More about the quilt is forthcoming.

And just for the sake of completion, my Thread Journey quilt was displayed at Aurifil’s booth.  More pictures are found here. This quilt will be on tour with Alex Veronelli next year as he lectures at quilt shops on Aurifil threads.  Be sure to find out if there’s a lecture near you.  Alex’s lectures are fun, entertaining, VERY educational and definitely worth your time! I had been to one.

The sight of these quilts rounded off my year nicely, not because I am great in any way (I am well aware I am NOT!), but rather I am humbled by the thought that someone else saw something in my designs, enough to share them with others.  I feel immensely blessed.  And through it all, may my God and Creator be glorified.