A few wool finishes

In a previous post I mentioned making a quilt found in the Winter issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects.  Here's the finished piece.  It was a lot of fun to sew and even more fun to applique.

Here's another fun wool piece - sheep and bunnies are my favorites!

I used Valdani perle cotton #12 for the hand applique.  Both are quilted on my Bernina. 

I've started working on the Sweet and Simple quilt.  It'll be a block of the month at Sew Graceful Quilting.  I post pictures later this week.  It's been a really, really, really fun one to work on.  Here's the quilt shown on the pattern.

November's Song

Here's a project I'm finishing in lieu of working on the Baltimore border. It is a Jan Patek pattern from her book "Country Paths".  I used fabric from Primitive Gatherings' line Little Gatherings and Jan's Together line. Of course, Triangles on a Roll are a must as far as I'm concerned when the pattern calls for lots of half square triangles!  

The first two photos are the overall quilt, next is a close up of the center, last  is a close up of the border. 

This is being offered as a block of the month at Sew Graceful Quilting http://www.sewgracefulquilting.com. 

I will have photos of several small wool projects later this week. This is short because I'm using my IPad to post - trying to keep some sort of proficiency with it but it sure takes longer than the good old fashioned big computer!

Border #1 - the madness begins

As I patiently cut my applique pieces I couldn't help but think about the quilting ladies who've gone on before.  How did they manage to make such wonderful pieces of art without all the modern conveniences we enjoy?  I guess that's where the daily newspaper or cereal box came in handy for making templates. 

I have almost completed the left section of the lower border.  I need to make some red berries and a few small miscellaneous pieces.  My plan was to move on to the center pot but I think I will skip it for now and make the right side. 

Those long stems on the left side will not be sewn down until the corner pot is placed when the borders are attached to the top.  They will help insure the border will flow. 

Here's a close up photo so you can see some of the fabrics I'm using.

To keep from duplicating and to keep myself organized, I made a working copy of the border and highlight each piece as I create it. 

I made a small project with about a zillion little pieces for Sew Graceful Quilting but need to remake it because of an error in the pattern.  So, guess I'll be sewing a zillion little pieces together this afternoon instead of working on my border.  I'll have a photo of the project next time.

The Fabulous First Border

Drum roll please.......it's time to start working on the first border (the one at the bottom) of the Friends of Baltimore quilt.  As a refresher, here's what the quilt will look like once completed.

I wanted to jump right in and get started but a project of this magnitude takes thought and planning.  So, I made bias stems.  Did I mention they're 1/8" bias stems?  And did I mention the borders will take miles (well, maybe not exactly miles) of bias stems? 



I cut templates, and templates, and templates.  Sue Garman, the designer, has carefully coded each piece with a letter and number so I am using numbered ziplock bags to store the templates.

I sorted fabric.  Sue suggested using clear plastic plates to hold applique shapes and fabrics.  I like her suggestion and have adopted it.

I cut the border which was scary.  What if I cut it too short?  What if it shrinks?  What if?  What if?  I took a deep breath and decided Sue covered that contingency because the corner pots are appliqued on separate squares.  Those squares will allow for "fudging" if necessary.

I'm starting near the center and working my way to the left.  Once the left is complete, I'll make the center pot and work my way to the right.  OK.......here goes....

Block done

Oh what fun I had making this block!   The background is the same as the other blocks - Kona Snow.  It was just a dreary day when I took the photo.  Probably didn't help that I used my IPhone either!

Here are the blocks so far.  I'm ready to start on border #1.  I have to finish another project first, though. 

Still trying to figure out why photos flip in odd ways from the phone camera to the blog photo area.  Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Friends of Baltimore Update

Yes. Two posts in one week!  I have been having a lot of fun working on this block. Every time I pass my sewing room (errrr....excuse me......I've been told it is a sewing studio not a sewing room), I have to stop and make just one more piece. 

The fun begins!

Do you ever have something you really, really, really want to do but you've got something else that takes precendence?  If so, you know how I've felt these past few weeks.  I really wanted to work on my Friends of Baltimore blocks but had a couple of commitments.  The commitments are almost finished so I decided to reward myself with a Friends of Baltimore blocks.  I was "supposed" to work on a border next but decided that's just too overwhelming right now so chose another vase of flowers instead.

I think getting all my applique supplies and fabric together is half the battle; but fabric is pulled and I'm ready to go. 

An update on Artie our garage rabbit.  He apparently headed for the hills because we have not seen him since "the incident."  We helped our local garage door repair company have a Merry Christmas - they replaced the rubber Artie munched on during his term of imprisonment. 

Hope to be back later this week with an update.  We shall see........