Blog Hop Designer!!

Good Morning Everyone!!  I’m am SUPER excited!!  I’ve signed up to be a designer in a Blog Hop.  For those of you who only follow me because you LOVE me, that means people go from internet blog to internet blog.  Looking for things, or collecting patterns.  In this case, it’s a block pattern.  Starting April 1st, each blog on the list will offer a paper pieced quilt block centered around the theme “Garden Party”.  It’s sponsored by SewHooked.com.  The link to the sign up page is in my side bar!!

I first asked my daughters what Garden Party meant to them.  I ended up with flowers, butterflies, and dragonflies.  Then I asked Mom.  hehehe   She said WINE! Not a bad thought!  Sooooooooo, I added a lot of this together.  I’m super happy with my block so far.  I need to keep a lot of it a surprise, I think.  Yes–that is going to KILL me!!  BUT, I will show you this.  Needs some tweaking–notice the seams didn’t line up quite right…

Chardonnay, anyone??!!  LOL  I LOVE MY MOM!!

And now, BACK to the crazy applique.  All elements are stitched down.  The colored blocks for border 2 are cut.  I just need to measure and measure and measure again to get the panel cut to the exact right size.  The inner black border, too.

See ya’ll later!!!!

 

OH WAIT!!!   The Apprentice!  How could I forget?!?!?  She stole Bernie from me yesterday.  In the process of doing this, she reached 4 of the 21 goals for her 4H project!!  She pieced and quilted the front panel, added the back, shoved in a pillow form, and hand sewed the opening.  Threaded the machine, threaded the hand needle–Yup!!   That is my little quilter!

peace and pieces,
amy

Applique quilt, next installment

Well, once again–HERE is the original pattern.

The color pallet.  Bought almost all of this yesterday!

The beautiful stack of fused pieces.

The VERY FIRST PIECE!

And the first BIG piece.

The bunny.

And HERE is how far I got today!!!!

Close Up…

I only see ONE part where it’s not quite identical.  I’m so very pleased!

I still need to make the sun, and 2 more clouds.  AND sew ALL of this down.  The sewing part will take a while.  Don’t look for too much progress now.

peace and pieces,
amy

How to fix a mistake!!! (a tutorial of sorts)

So today’s entire morning was spent trying to figure out HOW in the HECK I was going to reverse my pattern, after I’d done all the main work.  Well, the easiest way would have been to reprint the pattern in reverse, then retrace onto the wunderunder.  But computer ink is expensive.  And taping these darn pages together is a PAIN.  Soooooo….

First, trace the entire original pattern in sharpie and note all numbering.

Then trace onto what ever paper you choose.  I used computer paper and then the last of my freezer paper for the big pieces.

Flip and number on the WRONG side of the pattern.  The numbered side is now the RIGHT side of the pattern.  See how we reversed that????

Now, depending on your eyesight, the paper you used, and the marking pen you used (Sharpie for me), you may need to retrace THIS side of the pattern.  I didn’t have to.

Take your wunderunder and retrace the NEW, REVERSED pattern.

If you already marked your fusible, and don’t want to waste it, use another marking pen that is obviously different.  The first marking is pencil and the 2nd is red Sharpie.

And WHAT if you mess up this way too??  Then your name might be Amy!  Sure hope I can actually understand my markings when I start fusing.  UGH.

So now I need to figure out how to get to HobbyLobby and buy my fabric.  I have only a few here that work.  It’s too late today, and I have a ToDo with the Apprentice tomorrow.  I guess Friday will have to suffice.

Hmmmmm…….THAT means, I’m FREE???  RIGHT???!  WOOHOOO!!   Going to grab that bowtie quilt and get to sewing!!

right after I clean the kitchen floor!

peace and pieces,
amy

Cameron Council on Aging quilt top.

I’m currently out of batting, so this is all I have to show.  I wanted it to look as Old Fashioned as I could, and it will be machine quilted on the Long Arm.  I’m thinking some swirly pattern of some sort.  Possibly the leaf panto.

And I’ve been working on the applique for the Olympic Poster quilt.   It’s printed out, and laid on the island.  I’ve already numbered and traced each element.  I’ve searched through the stash, and I have very few fabrics that will work.  I sure hope HobbyLobby has a BUNCH of Kona Cottons.

Yup–it’s THAT big.  Everything is numbered, then traced and re-numbered, and THEN, labeled on a note card.  This is the most intense applique I’ve done, so I need all the help I can!  LOL

oh NUTS.  I JUST realized that I did this wrong.  I should have flipped the image before printing it.  Everything is going to be mirror imaged this way.  Danggit.  Now I have to retrace the whole thing.  UGH!  Oh well.  Such is life, huh?!

Stay tuned!

peace and pieces,
amy

Quilt in place, and 2 on the pipeline

The first mini quilt has been placed.  This is for my brother.  The fresh dirt means he had a new neighbor move in recently.

I have all 20 blocks done for the Cameron Council on Aging Raffle quilt!  Going to try and get that top put together today.  I don’t think I have any backing, though….hmmm……  Need batting too.  DARN!

And I have started creating the pattern for THIS quilt!!  I’m really excited about it.  The applique was a poster from the Olympics in the mid-late 70′s.  This will be a TWIN quilt!!

Better get to work!

peace and pieces,
amy

Mini quilt foray

I have never made mini quilts before, and I just made 2!!  These mini quilts go on 2 graves.  The first is for my Grandmother.  The block (in EQ) is called Grandmother’s Favorite!  And her fav color was blue.  It finished at 5 inches!!   WOWSERS!  Then 1/2 borders.  I’m really pleased with the way they both came out.  And almost every seam matches on this!!!

And I’m trying to get my brother ready for Mardi Gras!  I did this as a reverse applique, then plopped the purple on top of that.  I think it should make it more weather-hardy.  Only time will tell.  It also was a 5 inch block.

The pattern was adapted from a free BOM by Dream Castle Quilts.  The link is HERE.  I think I’ll redo this for the front door!!!

peace and pieces,
amy

The rest of Christmas

Just thought I’d show ya’ll what I gave MY mom!

The runner

Notice the AWESOME wine glasses!!  From my equally AWESOME Aunt!

closeup of the quilting

Just a general meander.

with place mat set #1

MORE left over blocks!!  I didn’t realize I could have done this quilt 2x!

with place mat set #2

And yes, she has 2 complete sets.  When we come over, my kids do a number on her tableware!!  LOL

So all that’s left to show off is Dinah’s desk set.  Eventaully, I’ll break in and photo that, too! Until then…

peace and pieces,
amy