Stash/Design Wall Post/Applique Too!

I used a 1/2 yard from my stash to whip this charity top together.  I used a modified tube technique for it:
This top took about an hour and is for my St Ann's charity group.  Numbers on the sidebar for my stash report.

 I added another row of appliqued circles to my Happy Scrappy Orphan block quilt.  Need to work on this more as I'm getting behind, but what else is new?

And in the mail:
I got my huge box of Goodies from winning Rhonda's giveaway!  So many goodies! Just wanted to say a big thank you to Rhonda at Ravelly 1 for this. More on this later.

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times, Lyn's BOMs Away, Connie's Linky Party Tuesday and Esther's WOW as I have done some applique. Phew - now off for two days of fun with my cousins and Mom in Temecula. See you for Hexie Weekend which is still open til Monday, midnight.

Hexie Weekend 6/27/14

Out of town guests arrive today - two of my favorite cousins from Houston, TX.  And then there is the World Cup - so not much blogging for the next 10 days.  But I love eye candy so here's one I found on Google images and want to share with you:
Love how hexagons were used here along with paper pieced stars.  This is an replica of an old 1920s quilt.  The pattern was used as a raffle quilt here  Have you found a hexagon quilt you're considering replicating? Please share it or your work in progress with us.  Linky below.  Blessings!


It's Applique Wednesday

because yesterday I was all day at the beach with the grandkids.  Poor #1 was sick, so he basically dipped his toes in the water and took a nap under the umbrella.  #4 walked up the rise, took one look at the ocean and said "Wow!"  It was his first time.  Every time I said "let's go now", he begged to stay longer.  Finally, on the way home, I asked if he wanted to go to the beach again.  He said, "no".  LOL - that's the way it is with 3 yr olds.

The past week was busy with other projects and soccer (see previous post), so today I'd like to bring to your attention:
This is one of my favorite combo's = scrappy backgrounds and applique flowers.  Go here  to learn all about it.  It started in April, but you can get the two blocks at her Craftsy store for just $1.50 each.  The blocks are 12" square.  Enjoy!

Design Wall Monday 6/23/14

Coming off the design wall:
 Mom asked me to quilt this lap quilt for her.  She did everything but the quilting.  I was hesitant at first because she had already  bound it. But she had SITD around the blocks and just inside the yellow French knots.  That seemed to stabilize these large blocks enough that I had no pleating as I quilted it.  I used Bottom Line Silver on both top and bottom with a 80/12 needle and the tension set at 2 for my Bernina.
 Here's four of the six.
and a close-up of one of the ladies.
Here's the back - she used a purple flannel that matches the sashing and borders on the front side.  Now to bury all those tails.
Still on my design wall is my Soupçon.  I was able to add the two borders of Part 6 and have begun the paper piecing third border of this last part.  These will take me a while.  I figure I have 9 hours left on the other three sides.  My PP section was 3/8th shorter than my top.  So first I squared the top again (one side was off) and took out the papers in the center of the PP strip.  I was able to gently stretch the strip to get it to fit.  If I hadn't removed some of those central papers, I was afraid I'd have some gathering in that blue print border. Phew.

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times and Marelize's Anything Goes Monday.  Now back to the exciting World Cup games!!

Hexie Weekend 6/20/14

I've been prepping hexie stars as I watch the World Cup.  It hasn't been as productive as I envisioned because so many of the games have been outstanding and surprising.  But what did I expect when the best players of the game have gathered together to go for the Golden Ball.  It has been exhilarating to see them play so well and for 95% of them so sportsmanlike - a far difference from 1998 when I watch my first one and 2010 when the refereeing was awful.  But enough of that - back to hexies. I did manage to prep seven more stars and finish sewing the one I had started.
I was going to mainly use 30s fabrics for these stars but my stash has a mind of its own and its turning out brighter than the first ones.  I did find that the centers I chose are of more contrast to the petals. Not wanting the stitches to show I decided to try invisible thread to sew them together.
I used Superior Invisible Thread in the smoke color and worked over a piece of white paper.  The hardest part was tying the knot at the needle to keep the thread from slipping out of the hole.  I also learned I needed to work with shorter lengths of thread - about 12-14" instead of the 18" I'm use to - to keep from wrapping the thread around a side of the hexagon and not noticing it because of the invisibility of the thread - lol.  What do you think?

I'm linking to Richard's Link a Finish Friday because I did finish one star and also to Can I get a Whoop, Whoop for trying a new technique.  I'd love to see your eye candy - hexie or otherwise; photo link or blog post will do.  Linky below. Remember it can be old eye candy - if it's new to me, it qualifies.

Applique Tuesday 6/17/14

Two of the games tomorrow will mark the last of the 32 teams playing their first 2014 World Cup game.  There are a lot of great teams out there!  And Mexico will be playing Brazil! So I'd better post now.  I have been trying to do a little hand work as I watch, but it's hard because I take my eyes off the screen for a couple of seconds to take a stitch and someone makes a goal or something - so actual sewing is out. But I've prepped about six hexie flowers, so that's good - and I was able to do a tiny bit of applique. Today I'd like to walk you through how I'm doing my Anna's Garden blocks.

Make a copy of the pattern.

Number the various pieces in the order needed to be laid down (ie leaves that go under the branch) Then cut out the pieces leaving as intact a silhouette as possible - it was easy with this one. Cut on the center of the black lines.

Now make your freezer paper templates by turning over your cut pieces so the writing( and those dark lines around the edges) are not showing and trace on freezer paper. I put the number and the color of the fabric the piece must be on the freezer paper dull side.  Now iron the freezer paper (shiny side to back) to your fabric back and cut out 3/16th from edges.  Turn the edges over using the starch method. Once well dried, take the freezer paper out.  

Assemble a unit using the cutout pattern as your guide. 

Use small dots of glue on the part that overlaps on top and press together.

I then made the other bird.

Now ready to place these on the block.  Place the cutout pattern over the square (I forgot to take a photo of this stage). I lined it up with the branch I had already done. Add a bit of glue around the figures and set in place.  Let dry.

Here is the block ready for hand appliqueing.

Once I've done that here are the bits that are left to do.
Would love to see what you are doing.  Leave me a comment and I'll come visit.  Blessings to you all.
PS: I'm linking to Esther's WOW, Connie's Linking Tuesday Party, and Judy's design wall Monday.

Hexie Weekend a Bit Early

Hi, there are three World Cup Games tomorrow, so thought I'd post early as I will be watching!  Even have my España shirt ready.  Was a very busy week so not much done as the previous one.

 A fourth done with my EPP circle . See about it here.
Half done with the next hexie flower. Hopefully I can do prep work as I watch the games.

No linky party this week.  I'll be too busy to monitor, but would love to see what you're up to, so leave me a comment.  I'm linking to Richard's Link a Finish Friday.  Hop on by.

Applique Tuesday 6/10/14

Only 2 more days before the start of the World Cup!

I've decided that the only way I'm going to make any progress on these WIPs is to schedule a day for each one and do at least 15 minutes.  So I wrote down all the ones I have worked on lately (this doesn't count what I call UFOs now) and found eleven.   So I jotted them down on my calendar one per day.  Here's the applique ones.

1. Love Entwined - finished part 6 which was one of the corners.

Here's what the center looks like so far.
2. Then I worked on one of the Benjamin Biggs blocks.
Adjusted the pattern a bit (it was too bulky for me) and need now to turn the edges over the freezer paper with starch and iron.
 3. You saw the orphan block on the previous post.  Those circles were appliqued.
4. I made another block for my Whimsical Garden.

These are relatively easy, so I don't know why it is taking me so long!

and, 5.  I got half way done with an Anna's Garden block:
This is the only one I am doing by hand, so it's taking me longer.


I had so much fun appliqueing! However, my plan has made me realize, in order to be more effective with it, I need to have different work stations so I can make the best use of my time.  But that's not going to happen.  I don't have enough space!  I need to come up with a modified plan. For instance, once I got all the stuff out to complete the LE, and in order to finish it, I couldn't touch my machine for three days. Not happy with that.

I'm linking to Esther's WOW, Connie's Linky Tuesday Party, and Let's Bee Social.  See you there!

Big Giveaway

This is just a teeny part of what's being given away.  Photo by Rhonda.
Rhonda at Ravelly1 is having a big giveaway!  Go here to leave a comment and enter.
Good luck!

Design Wall Monday 6/9/14

First, a quick stash report:  Donated 3 yards to guild; a fat quarter's worth for the blocks I've been working on - applique doesn't use much, and a half yard for my Soupçon QAL and Happy Scrappy Orphan Block BOM project.  Totals on sidebar on right.

 On my design wall is this paper pieced part of a border.  These take a while and I have eleven to go.  They will make up the last segment of Part 6 for Soupçon.

I was able to add one side to the Orphan block border. This is easy, but I need to work on some charity tops for Thursday, so have had to set it aside for now, but the month is young.

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times, and Lyn's BOMs Away.  Go take a look.

Hexie Weekend and Winners

Hello, time to show my hexies:
3 done so only 46 to go - LOL.  The papers still need to be removed - that's why they seem a bit off color in the photo.  No focus flower in this one.  Took me about an hour to do.  I hope I get faster at this.

I also started a new EPP.  Elizabeth over at Occasional Piece has started a new project, and it's a beauty!.  It is using EPP to make circles.  I was intrigued and so thought I'd give it a shot.  Her first one is lovely. She's going to make 12 blocks.  I'll be happy with one to make as a pillow.  I'm 1/6th of the way done with my circle:

I'm using freezer paper for my templates and gluing them instead of basting.  So far, so good doing them by hand- best seam allowances ever for me.  Can I get a whoop, whoop for a new technique?

And, the winners from last week's giveaways are:

For the paper pieces, according to Random.org, Kathy in the Ozarks!
The winner of the 100 Block issue is Susan @ CQ4fun.  Welcome winners!  Send me a snail mail and I'll send your winning along in the coming week.

Okay, I've shown you my hexies, show me your's! Linky below.  Remember it can be a finished project, a new project or one you are thinking of doing. End's Monday, midnight.


I'm linking to Richard's Link a Finish Friday, Sarah's Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop, and One Flower Wednesday.

Applique Tuesday 6/3/14

The directions for June have arrived for the Happy Scrappy Orphan Block of the Month Quilt.  This month we have four options!  I knew instantly the one I wanted to try - the one with Applique!

So my next border will have circles around the center medallion.  

I'm using Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect circles. Don't they make great circles?  There will be five per side and one in each corner.

I also got to machine applique in the June Block Lotto block.
Since I made last month's blocks look like a sun, I'm making this month's blocks look like a flower - a purple coneflower with skinny petals.  Need to make three more for my sampler.

Are you doing any applique?  Leave me a comment and I'll hop right over and see yours.  I'm linking to Esther's WOW, Connie's Linky Tuesday, and Lorna's Let's Be Social.

Some Firsts

First, you still have time to link to Hexie Weekend (ends Tuesday, Midnight) and get in on the giveaways.  Just go to the previous post.

Another first is I finally have some numbers over a part of a yard to add to my stash report.  There was 2.13 yards for one backing and another 1.13 for a VA quilt backing.  Figured I can't FMQ if I don't have a top ready, so yesterday I started to sandwich two UFOs to get them under the needle.  See my totals on right sidebar.

Then here is a photo of our first tomato for the year:

My DH is not happy with the state of the plant - says it's not as hardy as the one before, but we do have a bumper crop coming along.

Then there is the first yellow cactus flowers:
They're even more beautiful in actual life as I noticed them at high noon which is not a good time to take photos and the pot is too heavy to move.

Lastly, on my design wall is my Soupçon where I have added the first border and starting to add the second one of part 6 of this wonderful project by Karen.

What's on your design wall?  I'm linking to Judy's Design Wall Monday,  Lyn's BOMs Away, Anything Goes Monday, and Something Old, Something New 

SAHRR Round 5 and 6

  Ready to show rounds 5 and 6. Actually, the prompt for 5 was make 4 of something. So I chose four patch, and actually since that made my q...