Fly Away Home!

I have decided that I thoroughly enjoy hand stitched applique. It's fairly quick too. There is nothing like curling up on the couch with some fabric, a needle and thread. I really must do more of that instead of using the machine for everything.

Well my little bird and flower are done, freshly in fact! Just stitched the bird this morning whilst the dawn chorus were singing outside. And now they are ready to fly the nest. I am really enjoying seeing everyone's designs coming to life.

Victoria I will be sending the blocks back to you either today or tomorrow. Thanks for all the work you've done with this quilt! It's going to look awesome!!!

Size Matters!

Eager to get on with my blocks and conscious they need to fly back across the pond, I loaded up the Steam a Seam, cut the fabrics, yep.... I cut the fabric! and laid out my pieces onto the first square that V sent. Now there is room around the pattern, but what struck me was, although these blocks have been cut to 10 1/2" was there any room for maneuver in the size... is it definitely going to be a 10" finished block or is there the slightest possibility that some of the pattern could be lost if they were to be a smaller size. Clearly size matters!

You can see I have a good 3/4" to 1" clearance around the outer extremities of my block design, so for me this was an important question. With a good 1/4" seam allowance, the design will still stand in its own space.

Phew! After a quick e-mail to V (isn't technology great!) all the blocks will be 10" finished. So I've gone ahead and pressed down my pieces and am ready to sew them down.

Now I'm no expert in applique, but I have fallen foul of this in the past, I'm sure the experts amongst you will point us in right direction.

To Sum it up: Make sure your design fits into a 10" frame so it

doesn't get lost in the seams!

Thanks Trudi for the post and info! -- V

A Plan is in Place...

I've received my fabrics, fondled them (what? you don't fondle your fabric?!?), and drawn up a plan for two WOW applique blocks, both with floral motifs. My inspirations came from my Jim Shore Dracula and a Crate & Barrel catalog I received this week...

What I haven't done? Taken a photo of the fabrics I got, or the sketches I drew, to upload and share with you...

I promise I'll get it together soon...

Happy creating~

Doris

My fabric arrived!

It actually came last week, but I am just getting a chance to post now. It's a fun collection! It's calling me to make some kind of flower and, because of the time of year, something inspired by Dia de los Muertos....

We Have Fabric!

It's arrived! Not bad for such a big distance - New York to New Zealand. And I received a couple of my favourite fabrics as well. So anyway I got to work last night and drew out a couple of designs. Fiesta to me is flowers...

and birds...

When I saw Victoria's Dresden plate I immediately thought peacocks. Here is my little guy ready to take off back to NY. Hang on a minute, you need colour first!

I have my patterns all pinned onto the fabrics ready to cut. I'm so looking forward to some hand stitching later today. I think applique is very me at the moment.

Thanks Victoria for this opportunity and also Jennifer for the wonderful fabrics.

The extra fabric....

Hello Ladies!
First, Can I say, I see so much creativity being whirled around it's fantastic & dizzying!

Also, I don't care what level of an applique person you are,
As I said, I had never done it, and hey! I did two cute blocks!

So don't be intimidated!

Just go and have fun with it!

It's always a challenge to use pre-selected fabrics,
But so far, I don't see anyone having a problem with it!

This is a photo of the "EXTRA" fabric JP sent along for me. it will make up the backing, as they are some big pieces... I love that toile print... I'm hoping I have enough of that for the whole back...

I love hearing how you all are coming up with your plan for these blocks!
I've even begged my mother into helping me.
She has some ideas already of her own to update a sun bonnet sue...
(I set up a blog for her, go send her some blog love.)
She doesn't get to a computer very often,
But I hope she finds it a fun tool to motivate her to start sewing again...

So keep the creativity swirling! I feel the Fiesta!

(one little note: I need these blocks to be the size I sent you, so if your cutting the white blocks, they will not fit well into the quilt. I'm trying to keep this easy, so if you can make sure, if your cutting it, make sure it comes back to me as the 10.5" block i sent you.
and when i say 10.5" I mean, that is the exact measurement I cut them at.
Not a sewn down size etc. as people were confused about that last time...
a trimmed block, size 10.5" is what i need back. exact. thanks!)

Fabrics arrived and dithering over designs

Thanks V! They are here! They arrived this morning whilst I was out, how did that happen! And I love them!

I have been drooling over many books for inspiration, drawn up loads in my pad, and rummaged through piles of magazines. I found a lovely pattern of baskets with cone flowers, but I think I'm settling on a version of this below. Can you believe the magazine goes back to 2002!
Hand applique isn't my thing so I think this will be fused with steam a seam ( I find its lighter than bondaweb) then raw edge appliqued.