Wednesday 22 June 2016

WOW: Time for a New Pattern!

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays
I'm loving these fabrics together, they really strike a chord with me 
I'm going to use them together in my new quilt design

I'm PDF-ing my latest pattern this morning. It's completely gorgeous (if I do say so myself!) and I hope to show it off straight after WOW this week, so be sure to pop back and have a look for yourself! This is all completely a spur of the moment thing, but it's such a straightforward quilt that I can get the pattern done in one day, so I've decided, why not?

I designed the quilt in question as a wedding gift for a friend who was looking for that special kind of quilt you only recognize when you set your eyes on it. I let her have a look at my latest designs and she picked this one out. Well, it was a good choice, she went ahead to make it up and I saw it for the first time on the weekend. What can I say? I was really impressed with how effective it looks, so I've decided to release it. 

There are many patterns in my folio that are ready for release ...but I haven't released them because I haven't had time to make them. I kind of feel that I should make all the quilts I design. This is an impossible task in just one lifetime, so I try to prioritize, but it's hard. So, I'm torn about seeing them made up..or just letting them sit on my shelf. Now, I've finally decided that I am at an age where I need to just put them out - so stay tuned and be sure to check back on Friday :) 
What's Your WOW?

Friday 17 June 2016

LE: Month by Month: Part 4

After all the preparation and fabric decisions of Parts 1-3, I couldn't wait to start the vases - and they were a real delight to make. You have the choice of finding the right fabric for your vase, then whether of not you'd like to embroider or applique your stems. Lastly, is the pleasure of the flowers themselves. Will your central lily be a white one? Or perhaps a pink or yellow one? Maybe you'll change the flowers completely? Finally in Part 4, you can play and create and even shape the design to bend to your own floral tastes - if that's what suits you.

I had a lot of fun auditioning fabrics for my vase and seriously considered fussy cutting huge rose printed blooms before sticking with the pattern and using printed fabrics to create texture rather than replace the actual applique pieces.

In the archive below, you'll find details of my embroidery stitch choice, how I auditioned my vase fabric and how I created my pieces. It's also time to consider what method you'll use to create your berries. There were some ingenious suggestions at the time - from using washers, to balls of wadding, to using a hole on plastic and creating stitched 'balls'. Whichever you opt for, it's going to be extraordinary, with LE, everything always is - the quilt simply demands it!



Love Entwined is an extraordinary historic quilt pattern with it's own dedicated Group over on Facebook. You can purchase the pattern outright, or sign up to a monthly subscription that delivers a 'Part' to your email in-box each month for just $9.95. If you're interested in this once in a lifetime heirloom quilt, there's never been a better time to start. We've gone before you and have the blog posts, pics and experience to show you how we did it. Also, with an encouraging online group making LE themselves, there's always someone to connect with and chat to about this quilt.

What's stopping you?

Wednesday 15 June 2016

WOW: Getting Busy With The Next BOM

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays
What a week! Sweet 2016 Part 5 was released yesterday and so was Hazel and Little Hazel Part 5 and Oma's Blues went on to Part 6. That's 3 BOMs moving along in one week, what an effort! I love releasing BOMs, it really gives me such a thrill to share what I know and watch others enjoy and play around with my designs, I feel so lucky to be connected to so many thousand creative quilters and sewers out there - you never fail to impress and inspire me.

As you can see, I've been busy and my floor is a mess-but it's a good mess and I'm glad that I can shut the door of my sewing room and act like nothing's happened when it's time to go and prepare dinner. Thank goodness for creative space!

What's Your WOW?

Tuesday 14 June 2016

Hazel & Little Hazel: Part 6

Next time I make a pieced quilt, I'm going to have to remember that Fassett fabrics shine on camera and look neon! I really don't think they look this neon in real life, but my photos in every lighting condition seem to prove otherwise. Anyway, luckily I love my Fassett Hazel because it sure does draw attention to itself!

Those of you making Little Hazel, this is your last month of blocks! Next month it's all about putting the top together and finishing the quilt. Can you believe it?! Where did the time go? I'm already wondering what will happen after Hazel...I'm getting addicted to the progress pics and don't know if I'm ready to get through a coffee break without seeing someone's work. 

Today we're focusing on the Hazel Mosaic block and given what you've already accomplished, this is easy. Here's a step by step guide to how I made mine - you'll see how straightforward and self explanatory it is.



Hazel & Little Hazel are my current Free BOMs  
You can join my BOM Group my clicking here now. It's full of fabulous, talented women sharing their work, ideas and inspirations as they make my quilt patterns. Join us and our friendly, supportive community today. 
OR 
Wait until the 15th of each month and download the available pattern right here directly on my blog. The choice is yours. My old Yahoo Group has closed due to limitations on the platform. If you haven't come over to the new group, now is a good time.

Monday 13 June 2016

Sweet 2016, Part 5: Cupcake Cuties

 
This month it's time to indulge in some super sweet Cupcake Cuties and what a tray they make! I'm having more fun as each month goes by - I love choosing between fabrics for the most delicious combinations - and the best bit? Applique Cupcake Cuties are of course, guilt free. And that's a good thing as I've been dreaming of my all time favourite coated rum balls since making them for my quilt! 

Who doesn't love a cherry on top? And with just a single line in permanent marker over the fabric, you can add dimension to your cherry that looks all the more convincing! 
Here's how I made my own cuties this month:
I've gone with two types of lovely pink fabric for my first cupcake 
and topped it with some currant fussy cutting
 This is what the underside looks like, and yes I've opted to turn edge my applique again! I don't know why I didn't just raw edge the whole thing like I first planned, but once again, as soon as I start to applique anything, I always return to this method!
For the base of the cake, I simply cut a larger body piece in one shape
and shaded the in between lines with permanent marker in brown 

This is what my second cupcake looks like, 
I used the same pinks for the tops and added a cherry on top, because why not? 
 and this is what the underside looks like
 The meringue for one came together like this
and as always, I glue along with Elmer's to hold my shapes in place
layer by layer
 and so on 
 and the front, with my fussy cut flower
I opted for beige and blue, but your meringue could just as easily be white or anything else that tickles your fancy. For mine, it needed a sprinkling of sugar, so I stitched on some little beads to finish
The praline comes together in the same way: by layers
 And as I always say, it's the prepping that makes it all 'come together'
I find that labeling each piece is the only way I can keep track
Applique in this way is my own preference, but you could of course cut larger overall 'background' shapes for each motif and draw in the details with permanent makers, if you prefer. This quilt is perfect for trying out new techniques, so don't worry if the thought of so many pieces daunts you!
 step by step..
Rumballs are my favorite and coated rum balls (or giant truffles if you want to change them) 
have to come in threes, one or two is never enough!
As you can see, when I drew my cake stand, I added details as below that don't appear in your pattern. This is because I couldn't digitally add the specks, however you can add these details with your choice of fabric, beading or pen work. I'm already making another set of three rum balls for a fabric 'postcard' wall hanging for my DD who is also a rum ball addict and in that version, the coating is dark chocolate on a chocolate ball covered in tiny brown beads. For this wall hanging however, I have decided on pink, yellow and green coatings to harmonize with the colors used throughout. Feel free to make it up as you go.
 and the method is just the same: prep your pieces, clip and turn
 be neat and use an orange stick or pin to help with those tricky edges
 and the front...
or you could just raw edge the applique, do whatever suits your own style 
 Yum!
When it comes to creating the dome this month, I stitched bottom strips together
 which alternate light and dark grey
The grey tray 'plate' is a single curved line, but after placing my motif shaped in position, I went back and removed sections of grey plate background in order to remove bulk behind my shapes. You don't have to do this, I just decided to because I always like to remove any bulk.
 So it looked like this before the shapes went down
and this is what an afternoon's applique looks like!
This is where we are up to, placement wise is Part 5
remember not to sew down your domes onto a background until the very end!
Understanding the pattern release schedule: anyone can join Sweet 2016 at any time and when they do, they will receive a new block each month from that point onward. The day they receive each new block will depend on the date they signed up and made their first payment. Everyone who starts Sweet 2016, starts at the beginning, Part 1. Specific blocks cannot be purchased out of turn. 

Whenever you choose to start this BOM, be sure to keep us updated on your progress by sharing your work over in our Sweet 2016 BOM Facebook Group, see you there!

'Sweet 2016' is my current Mystery Applique BOM
It's just $3.95 per month
Delivered digitally, to your email inbox each month

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