Applique Tuesday

While I haven't had a chance to get back to my applique projects, I did go to a workshop last Saturday and did some applique a different way. The teacher had us fuse it to a piece of muslin, then thread paint it. Once that is done, we cut it out of the muslin and attach it to a already quilted background. The last step is to embellish the piece.

Here's my flower ready to cut out.  I have to make the background first. I bought some beads to embellish the black center of my poppy. I was going to make a wall hanging, but now I think I"ll use it in a medallion quilt. I have an idea for one.

The teacher, Marguerite Tate, couldn't have made this easier for us. She had kits for every step of the process. They contained fabric already fused to Steam a Seam 2, beads, you name it as to embellishing. We all brought foam boards to place the pattern and muslin on so we could place the pieces. Here's a few done by my fellow students:

She was an excellent teacher! Explained all the steps and was so helpful. Alas, she doesn't have a blog or website, but if you'd like to learn more go here to see a guild post about her visit.  Marguerite's email is there if you want to contact her.

Would love to see your applique or any other eye candy! Leave me a comment and I'll come and visit. In the meantime, I'm linking to Connie's Linky Tuesday and Esther's WOW.

Design Wall Monday Plus

First, the stash report - not much to report.  Used an 1/8th of a yard to do part 2 of the Happy Scrappy Orphan Block of the Month Quilt.  This is going to be fun.  You might give it a look see.

We're making a medallion quilt. I chose this 20s Sunbonnet Sue block for my center. The border is really more purple than burgundy - don't know why it came out that way.  She's on my design wall.  How about you?  What's on your design wall?  I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times, Lyn's BOMs Away and Anything Goes Monday. Do check them out. Stash numbers on right sidebar.

Hexagons, a Finish and Flowers

I've got a ways to go for my 8 hours (as per Hexagon Alley) this month for progress on my hexagons, but getting there:

The small hexie in the bottom right is the size of my first hexie project. The second is almost twice the size of it. I spent some time going through my stash finding a piece to use as the background.  That is a 5 1/2" square.  I'm designing this as I go.  I do know I want applique somewhere on this new quilt. Would love to see your progress on your hexies or anything you're working on. Linky below.

I also have a finish that I did some FMQ on.  This is a charity quilt that I'll give to the local Cancer Center.
Measures 44" square. This is the center quilted motif.

And here's the back:

Finally, here's a blooming cactus.  The photo doesn't do it justice.  The flowers were all that gorgeous lavender and only the very centers and stamens were white.  Big too - about 5 inches across. Stopped me in my tracks as I walked by.

I'm linking to Leah's FMQ Project, Richard's Link a Finish Friday, TGIFF,Friday Flower Fotos and Amanda Jean's Finish it up Friday.  You can find the buttons on the sidebars.  Have a great weekend!

An InLinkz Link-up