Hitting the Target

This past week it 

was 

 keeping my nose to the grindstone,

keeping my sewing blinders on,

knuckling down,

getting serious,

staying focused

and hitting the target!

Next panel:

50 circles to go.

I think I can...

I think I can...

I think I can!

Until Next Time-

5 Things You Might Not Know About Appliqueing

There are those who like to do it

and there are those who definitely don't.

There are those who do it the old way,

and there are those who do it a newer way.

I admit,

I like to do it the old fashion way.

Want to guess?

Why, I'm talking about hand appliqueing.

Here are 5 things you might never

 have known about the wonderful world of

needle turn applique.

1. Appliquers have the best thread collections.

Every piece that's stitched down has 

to have the exact color of matching thread.

So you can only imagine the number of spools 

of thread that includes.

2.  Hand appliquers don't carry

much excess baggage.

There's really very little equipment that's needed,

a needle, a thimble, scissors, and maybe 

a few pins here and there,

minus that big thread collection, of course.

3.  Appilquers don't like to show off,

and do mostly undercover work.

The key to a good applique is not 

having any of that thread show on the top.
Hand appliquers learn to make visible stitches.

 

It's suppose to appear like
the pieces are just part of the fabric.

But, if you were to look at the underside of the piece,

presto!

 There's all those beautiful tiny stitches in

a rainbow of colors.

4.  There can be considerable weight gain when appliqueing.

Just one panel of my Roseville Album quilt

weighed 2.5 ounces before I started

and now that it's complete it's 

 doubled in weight to 5 ounces!

Now multiply that out over the entire

surface of a quilt and you've got a sizable increase of weight.

That could require a few extra trips to the gym.

And, finally,

5.  Hand appliquers can come up short.

No, it doesn't mean that I'm not very tall,

it means

invariably, I'm short an inch of thread

to finish the inch left to stitch.

The question is why does it seem

happen so often.

Those of us who enjoy that "A" word

might get a little wacky from time to time

as we repeatedly 

make those invisible tiny stitches over and over again
that nobody sees.

So hug an appliquer and tell them "good job",

 but no comments about that little extra weight.

We're very sensitive.

Until Next Time-

Home for the Holidays

 This week I was invited to join

a new quilt group.

I thought it would be fun to meet

some new quilters,

enjoy some new friendships,

 be exposed to some new ideas,

and be inspired by other's enthusiasm.

The group was very inviting and friendly.

Although, it's hard to be the newbie.

I was enthused right off the bat by

their next motivational idea.

Each person is to choose one, two or more

WIP's and make a commitment to to finish

them in one year.

Okay, you say, we've all done that before.

The catch is that there's a small financial

obligation, as well.

It's like, putting your money where your mouth is.

Each project = $5.00

If you complete your project, you can have

your money back,

if not, your money will be given to the local food bank.

Actually, I think everyone who did this last year

 left their money in the pot and the

group made a very nice donation.

It sounded like fun.

So I looked through my "WIP collection",

and decided to start with this pattern:

 I had even bought a kit

 back in November, 2012.

( the receipt was still in the bag.)

Really, who starts a Christmas quilt in November?

Obviously, not me.

So, in keeping with the phrase,

"Christmas in July",

I'm officially adding my money to the pot

and beginning to work on this project

Who knows,

I might get it done for this Christmas.

  Until Next Time-

Busy as a Bee

If we were to walk down

my driveway today,

we might stop and wonder

what was that low droning noise.

And if you stopped near this tree

 which is called a Golden Rain Tree,

and paused to look at the beautiful showy yellow flowers

 on the long stalks,

we would know where that constant buzzing sound

was originating from.

Hundreds of honey bees

 busy at work

doing what they love.

 That's how it's been for me this past week.

I've just been as busy as bee

 

doing what I love.

 Hope you have too!

  Until Next Time-

Quilting With One of The Big Girls

Yesterday I had the chance to

do some machine quilting with 

one of the Big Girls and

trying something new.

We're fortunate

to have a Gammill dealership in town

called, Jukebox Quilts and

Kelly rents time and instruction on her incredible machines.

I've always wanted to try 

using one of the big computerized machines

with the Statler Stitcher.

I had a simple top done

that I wanted quilted with just an

edge to edge design and

plan to donate it to some worthy cause.

It was the perfect top to

experiment on.

And I have to say,

it was an awesome experience.

The set up took the most time, but

once that was done,
 I just pushed the little black button and 

off she went.

A couple of times

 across the surface of the quilt

 and then

slam, bang, thank you mam,

 

 it was done!

I could see where this could become a very fun and 

 creative thing to do.

And I'd like to try it again sometime,

but yesterday I walked away with a 

top freshly quilted and 

money still in my wallet.

Until Next Time-
.

I Want To, But...And a Winner

Since I got home on Wednesday,

it has been blistery hot.

I've been able to spend a little 

time in my sewing room,

which fortunately, is in the 

coolest part of the house.

But although I long to be sewing 

something on my machine,

I've tried to stay focused on

all of the hand applique I'm currently

working on.

I keep reminding myself

how close these panels are 

to being finished.

So instead I appeased myself

and sewed two bindings.

Oh, look.

I just created more hand work!

****

Thank you everyone who took the 

time last week to share what projects

you're working on during the summer.

I always have bigger plans than

time will allow, but that's okay too.

Now for the winner of my 

"Softly Spoken" fat quarters

designed by Harriet Hargrave

for Marcus Fabrics.

Running Man

randomly selected

#17

Nancy of

The Tattered Garden Quilting.
Thanks again everyone.

Until Next Time-

Softly Spoken and a Giveaway

Yesterday I decided

I needed a little field trip

 and went to check out what was new

at Harriet's Treadle Art.

I don't get to Harriet Hargraves's 

quilt shop located in Wheat Ridge, CO

which is a suburb of Denver, very often,

but when I do, it's always a delight.

Of course, when you first walk in the door

the first thing you see is 

Harriet's latest line of fabric from Marcus Fabrics

called "Softly Spoken".

It's beautiful.

Some did come home with me.

The colors are terracottas, blush,
aqua tones and neutrals.

The line was inspired from a medallion antique

quilt from Virginia, circa 1820-1840's.

The colors are sweet

and yet elegant looking.

And have been accurately

reproduced from the originals.

In celebration of "summer fun",

 I'd like to share a 

fat quarter bundle of this new delicious fabric line

with one of my blog readers.

5 fat quarters

Just leave me a note

letting me know what project or projects

you're trying to concentrate on this summer.

I'll draw somebody's name 

next Monday, July 7th.

(If your comment doesn't include your email
please be sure and include it.)

Until Next Time-