Scrappy Rails info update

  Just a quick update to the idea I shared yesterday about what I am calling the  Scrappy Rail Fence block and design.  We all know there is little under the sun that is new, and so it proved to be with this idea. 
  Within a few hours of posting Linda at Art in Search blog, sent me a link to info on this.    She had a file from It's a Stitch Quilt Guild from 2016.  They have a challenge each year for their show and provide a pattern sheet called a "Seed Packet" pattern. 
   Click here for the link to the pdf called Cabin Steps.    Scroll down the page to the listing for 2016.  You can then save or print out the pattern.    The only difference I noted is that they used a square for the light rail fence units. 
So now you have options.....buy magazine and pattern, or print the PDF.

  Many thanks to Linda for her sharp eyes to catch  the similar design.  And be sure to check out some of the other patterns provided on the guild's website.  Great to have those PDFs handy.
Happy stitching. 

Place mats again?

  I finished off a couple more of the smaller place mats over the weekend.  It was just too cold to go anywhere, or do anything else.  So I pinned and stitched a few things. 
   I had some leftover cuts of the fusible interfacing that were just big enough for a 8 by 5 grid for the watercolor.  That created a mat about 8'' by 12''---just a bit small, so I added a 2 '' strip of batik for an outer border.    No binding on this one either, just a simple pillowcase style edge.

   When I am not using binding on these small projects, I finally figured out how to get a better edge on them.  Usually, you need to leave a 3 to 5 inch opening for turning.  And no matter how I tried, my turning opening would gap/not lay flat/ never look just right.  There had to be a better way.

  I know I have talked about this, but for the life of me I can't find the older post, so I will just share the words for now. 

   I cut the backing fabric larger than needed, so I can cut it into 2 sections.    Then I turn around and sew them back together---leaving a 3'' opening un-sewn.  That is the opening for turning.  

  Then I can assemble the project placing  the top and backing with right sides together and the batting on top.  The batting is cut a tiny bit over the exact size needed.   (So the batting is smaller than the fabric being sewn.  I actually catch the smallest bit of batting in the seam, which holds it in place).  I sew all 4 sides....completely.  Turn it right side out thru the opening in the back and press.
  The opening is then hand stitched closed.  Projects just need a few lines of quilting to keep it in shape.  I usually stitch around the outer edge about 3/8'' from the edge first.    Quilt!  As much or as little as you like. 

  As a note for those asking for patterns......I don't have patterns for sale.  I have done up a couple of design guides for value placement.  These are found at the bottom of  the Patterns page ----look under the banner photo for it.
   I also do not have kits for sale.  But......here is a source for them.  Go to WHIMS .  They are a company with kits, pattern notions, and some watercolor fabrics.
Happy stitching.

Soft package

  I have forgotten to share a photo of my win from Connie at Freemotion by the River.  Fabrics, lots of batik fabrics...... lots of beautiful batik fabrics came in the mail last week, and a surprise pattern.  Connie enclosed her Hopscotch pattern, which will be a great scrap busting project.    Let me give an endorsement for her patterns.....beautiful with good photos, and lots of details.  So be sure to drop by and pay her a visit to check the pattern tab out as well as her tutorials.

  I finished off Connie's Christmas Pinwheels ---in blue --- last week.  Guess I am a little late for the season, but it will probably go into the gift stack for next year.  I had several things to bind, and some string blocks to work on.  Since the internet was out, an afternoon was free to me.
 








    I wanted some company as I stitched......I watched several episodes on our recorded list.    Enter my latest heroine.....  Miss Fisher of Miss Fisher  Murder Mysteries.  This is an Australian production, and I am hooked on it.  Found on our local PBS stations on the weekend.
    Phryne Fisher  is a gutsy flapper with a heart of gold to match her gun.    Her outfits are amazing to see and she carries them off well.  Great characters and  a period story line make me happy.  Of course, Dr. Blake runs a close second, but that's another story.  
  Happy stitching.  

Friday Finds.....tip and patterns

   It's Friday again....where did the week go?  I get comments about this feature all the time, so it will continue next year.   I may miss a few weeks during the holiday season, but I will try to pull at least one together for December.
 So if you are new here or even new to blogland, these photos and patterns are not mine.  They are things I pulled from around the blog world and pinned to my Pinterest boards.  Follow the bold link to get to the original source, or see he side bar for the link to Pinterest.



   Got stray threads......on the floor, design wall, by your chair?  And no lint remover around.  Make your own thread grabber.  I found this idea at the Seasoned Homemaker.  She calls it "no-vacuum sewing idea".  I call it smart.
There are a lot of neat ideas on this site.
  The photo is all you need.....plus a small foam paint roller and a bristly hair roller.  I am adding bristly rollers to my list for the next trip to the $ store.

Update note:   I found the bristly rollers at the $ store---4 for $1. I did not have the paint roller with foam head.....but I did find a foam craft brush.  It is the perfect size for the small hair roller.  Instead of rolling, I just dabbed at the threads.....worked perfect!






   Here is a downloadable project from All People quilt.  I love the chunky baskets....have I shown this before?   If so, it is worth repeating for the season.
It is small enough to put together in a short time.....only about 33'' by 40''.   A good weekend project that would make a cute gift.
















For flying geese fans------
A free pattern from Tula Pink.   I am not a big fan of the modern prints, but I do like some of her fun designs.   I love this funky quilt.......maybe it reminds me of how my mind feels some days.  It is aptly named, Misdirection.   Click here to download the pattern.     If nothing else, it is a great inspiration for your own design.






As always, please visit the links given for these patterns and ideas.

 Have a great weekend.....sew, or read, or just enjoy your family.   As for me, I am prepping a few dishes for the big Turkey Day meal for the men in my life.  It's how I tell them I love them  :)

Plume pattern from EQ7

    After doing the EQ7 stitch lesson that I shared last Friday, I played around with those plumes.  I changed the size, used the vector tool, cloned them, flipped them and rotated the plumes.  What fun to play and memorize the steps as I  learned.




 The result was a page of plume shapes.....plus the reversed image.  Perfect to use as a pattern for fusible applique.     Three in the corner of a block are cute.  They could be arranged in a wreath, or a tree.  And they would be perfect petals for a cone flower.

 

Dragonfly a la plume

  One more idea for plumes is to use them for dragonfly wings.   You could overlap them, or set them closer.  I drew the body, but it can be elongated or made fatter.














  Time to play with fusible and fabric.    I cut 2 background squares at 6 1/2'' out of a botanical toile fabric in brown and cream. I found a couple of other squares to experiment with.  Then I dug in the small scrap box for some autumn shades....very limited but this was just play time.
   I free hand cut the "stem" for the leaf cluster out of a dark green and added some plumes, mixing the colors to see how they played together.  I like the  whimsical feel of them.
  Ah...the dragonfly....love the colors.  He will become a mug rug.

   That's as much creating as I can muster.....I feel a change of season cold/virus has arrived and lodged in my head.   I am starting on a new box of tissues, and sipping hot tea.  See you next week with another batch of doll quilts.  Happy stitching.


 

Beginning English Garden quilt --the layout

   Last year Deb at a simple life quilts and I discussed doing a Year of Floral quilts.  Life intervened and we never got to the planning stage.  I am starting my year off with a floral quilt, and have plans for a couple more that I will share with  my variations.

 In my last post I showed the block I was using for the English Garden quilt.  It is a variation of a log cabin.....and you need to pay attention to the assembly and add logs to the proper side.  Ask me how I know.....I had a few that had the light and dark small square switched and they had to be ripped.







   So I teased you with the layout description.   Here's the photo from the book of the layout.    Note: the original pattern was made with 1 1/2" strips....I am using 2".
   The layout for the English garden quilt is a little different than most quilts. The rows need to be assembled vertically since the blocks are staggered.   I had to study the diagram to see that each row lines up differently than the previous one.

   Here's the book photo of the quilt....can you see the twisted ribbon effect?  Again this would be a great two color pattern, or done in batiks.

 After making the blocks, I was overly anxious to see what a few blocks would look like.  So a layout test came next with just a few blocks and a couple of strips that will be part of the vertical sash.    This photo also gives you a chance to see the fabrics I am using.
  I also made an adjustment  to my fabric selection for the background....I'll share that when I get it cut......which is my next step for today.
   There's a forecast for freezing rain tonight....and also in the morning.  I may miss the Bible study group if the forecast is correct----you can't get down our hill or across the bridge safely with that slick stuff around.  Bad weather = more sewing time.
   Before I hit the rotary cutter, I want to say thanks for the support for my change in focus.  I had so many extra emails about it that I was quite surprised.  Many expressed the need for blogs with details and instructions rather than just photos of finishes, which are so great to me for inspiration.  These are young and older quilters that don't have access to a local shop or instructor.  Some are just plugging along, lost in trying to figure things out for themselves.   So sharing the wealth of knowledge and experience in our heads and hands  might be just what they need.   Renew your process pledge and pay it forward!  Happy stitching.   

Changing focus here and new project

 I am back on my feet again, and able to keep food down.....that was an ugly virus.  Anyway, it gave me pause and time to think about my plans.

   In the last couple of years I have done a lot of quantity, and gained a vast improvement in quilting skills.   I am not going to even count the number of quilts, much less small projects.  I guess I thought I was in a race, and had to have the numbers to get there.  I had made plans for about 15 quilted projects for this year along with a couple of challenges.  That is about to change.

   I want to take a slightly different direction here and put my focus on the design process.  I hope to bring out options, inspirations, and put some design ideas  into what I share.  A lot more content and focus on quality---how did I get there--- rather than the quantity.  I need time to quilt more donation quilts, so my finishes will number less I am sure.   I hope you will stick around, ask questions and come along for the journey.


   Last month  I started prepping this project for the new year.   I chose the English Garden quilt from the book Watercolor Log Cabin Quilts by the Palouse Patchers.   The book is out of print, but can still be found occasionally on different sites.  The block was described as a rectangular log cabin block that  is flipped and staggered across the quilt and becomes a twisted ribbon on the diagonal.    Something a little different I thought.   Right off I realized it was not quite a log cabin, but rather a variation at best.

Rectangular block for English Garden

    I did a mock up in EQ7 to show what I mean.  Strips are 2 " and you create a dark and a light side.  I caught myself adding the first light strip to the right instead of opposite the first dark strip......like a log cabin.  I went back to the book and checked  arrangement again.....this is correct.
    A setting strip will be added when the vertical piecing begins that will actually complete the log cabin look.   Not there yet...so I won't confuse the issue before hand.
 

    I went ahead and put in the cutting size measurements for reference in this photo that I used.     A block can "grow" and warp by strip piecing....
 ( butting one section to another against a long strip, sew,  and then cut) .   So I do cut the strips into the correct length before piecing to  be sure that the block is the correct size....it will finish at 4 1/2" by 6".

   I am using floral fabrics....what else would you expect.  But I think this one would be a good design to play with in batiks or scraps---- as long as you pay attention to the value and get a dark and a light side.  And the proportions could be easily made larger or smaller according to the strip size you want to work with.
  Meanwhile, I have some blocks to piece and setting lengths to cut......and next time I will show the actual layout.  Happy stitching.

Some prepping

    I began prepping this week for the trunk show.......that means sorting through the quilts scattered around the house.  Some are in use, or on the walls and need to be washed.  Hanging replacements also required!   So I am in the process of that.  The rest are stacked/thrown in the guest room to be sorted properly.    Someone kick me the next time I agree to do this!
 







   To appease the creative urge, I began a small project for fall.  When that bug bites, you must do something to ease it.
   I found this wonderful little wall hanging at Jill's blog, The Quilt Rat,....click here for the pattern.
 She designed it for thread painting---which I love---but it could be adapted for traditional applique.  I am just beginning the thread painting and hope to spend a wonderful afternoon with thread!   That should help brighten my day.......have a great weekend.   Happy stitching.   

Loose Change

  Save all your nickels---5" squares---and make a quilt!
  I found a perfect graphic of  $ signs to use on the label after I figured out a name.  Loose Change seemed to fit and apply to all those nickel squares.

  I used leftover strips for the binding----purple, red, and green prints.

   Everything seemed to have burst into bloom almost over night.  I just could not resist grabbing a little bit of that color in these photos.  Nothing quite tops a beautiful Spring day and a new quilt.....unless it is buying more fabric!  And I did that earlier today.

  This is my last practice page that I drew before beginning to quilt.....just to give you an idea of what I was trying to create.  Note that none of the leaves are really "perfect" and the stem is imaginary.  The back stitching and touching the prior leaf or curl gives that illusion of a stem.     I can't stress enough how much the sketching has improved my machine work.  To say nothing of the confidence it builds.  Hope your sketch book is getting filled.

Christmas Quilt Show 2012

Welcome to the Christmas Quilt Show for 2012!

    Hello, my name is Rudy.  I'm the  mascot for the Get Your Mrs. Claus On project.  My Mrs. Claus gave me life recently when she turned the little blog button (on the right sidebar) into moi!  We owe special thanks to Mrs. Techie Claus   (aka Dana at Stormy Days blog) for  the blog button idea.  

   I may be small  ( only 12" by 14")  but I have a very  important job around here.  You see I am also the guardian of the doll quilts that arrive from all over the country, and the Virgin Islands, and Canada, and France.   It is a big responsibility to oversee the arrival and make sure each doll quilt is photographed  before sharing.   On mail day when the squishy packages arrive, my nose glows redder.  I also must remind my Mrs. Claus to keep lists and write thank you emails, too.   There's a very big and special group of Mrs. Clauses at the HGTV message board that  help make the doll quilts.  My Mrs. Claus says I  am to say a big hello to them and their leader, Nicki.  Merry Christmas to each of you, too.

     I like it best when I get to take a break and rest a while outside.  I keep my eyes open and stay alert even then.  You never know who might be around and interested in the quilts.  Why just a few days ago I saw a couple of strangers who were quite interested in a recent winter scene quilt my Mrs. Claus made.  Just look at these two!  My antlers began to itch.   I was quite suspicious of the one with that funny pointed hat.  

    I managed to lure the other guy away from the quilt, so no damage was done.  I  gave him a stern warning and sent him on his way.  Guardians have to be firm.  My break is over and  I've got to go back inside now.  So you can visit a little with Mrs. Claus.
 

Mrs. Claus aka Debbie here......
   Rudy is quite the  protector and talker, I must say.  And I  love him....who could resist that face of his.
  For his construction,   I used fusing  technique and machine  applique for all the pieces.  The eyebrows and grin---which unfortunately got hidden by the binding---are machine stitched with a saddle stitch.  The ornament cording is zig zag stitched in place.  Fabric pencils were used for added highlights.  

  And as a special treat for you, I have added a new page above entitled "Patterns".  There you will find the line drawing for creating your own Rudy.  I am sure he would love to see photos of any cousins you create.

  Thanks for stopping by to meet Rudy.  He loves company.
   Enjoy the Christmas Quilt Show and be sure to check out the link above for entering for prizes.  There are a lot of them.  Voting will be found there too.
   Merry Christmas and happy stitching.

What a hoot....

 A cold and rainy afternoon just fit the bill for some experimenting....not the chemistry kind but the stitching type.  I worked up the owls into a line drawing for a pattern, which I traced onto fusible.  Then fabric selection....fun and fast and not too picky.  Blue tones for one owl, and purple for the second.

And boxes of thread....cotton, and rayons, and polyesters.

I love the crazy eye fabric on this owl. I   took a little liberty with the leaf arrangement and spread them out some what, and extended the branch to reach the edge of the background.  I believe this one is a professor...note the puffed out chest on him.

  And this one is a  probably a cheer leader with the flirty wings and the scalloped shaped eyes.
  I put them both on a pieced background of odds and ends of fabric that worked together, and  covered all the edges with a zig zag stitch.  Not quite sure about the border/s yet, but I think the heart shape leaves will work for the quilting.

Experiment  results:    Relaxing, and really satisfying because I did not have mile high expectations.  Just some quirky time interpreting  photo / drawing  to fabric.  A time let my inner voice speak through the fabric.  

  So if you are interested in the line drawing pattern for these 2  .... here's the link to Owl patterns   .
Enjoy and send me a photo if you use them.
Happy stitching.