Eat. Drink. Stitch!

Posted in Amy's Quilt, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Is it just my imagination or is time whizzing by faster than normal? I looked at the calendar this morning and realized (much to my surprise!) that September 1 is not that far away.

Amy and Bruce are getting married on September 1 and I still have a fair amount of quilting to do on their quilt. Let’s be honest, there is a lot of quilting left to be done! The bottom right hand block still needs to be done, as well as the the borders. And it will need a binding…and a label….yikes!

I love putting hidden gems in my quilts. I found a fabric that had little sayings printed on it. I fussy cut 4 of the words and stitched them in to a flower on each border.

I used a Frixion marking pen to mark the quilting lines. I was thrilled to be able to mark the quilt top and not have the marks disappear before my eyes while I stitch. Brilliant!

Speaking of brilliant….. Solar Iced Tea!

Fill a large pitcher with a 8 cups of water. Toss in 6 tea bags and leave in the sun for 6-8 hours. Easy Peasy!

Til next time…….

Kerry

20Jul2012

I can always find time to stitch……

Posted in Quilt Labels, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Even when I am on vacation, I can always find time to stitch. My husband, Paul, and I are taking a much needed vacation in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Visiting Cape Breton, especially the Cabot Trail, should be on everyone’s Bucket List. The scenery is nothing short of breathtaking!

Of course, I take my applique with me everywhere I go!

Whenever I travel, “being packed” means having my prepped block, my thread, my scissors, and my thimble….oh and some clean clothes!

Before we left for holidays, we finally hung my quilt, Reminiscence, a pattern by Lydia Quigley, in the front entrance.

Notice how some of the nine-patches in the sashing are a darker blue? Most people think that was done on purpose! But here is what really happened…but remember…mum’s the word! I carefully cut, stitched and counted the many, many, nine-patch units. When it came time to put the quilt together, I was short 15 nine-patch units. Of course, the fabric was discontinued and I could not get any more. I decided to make the missing nine-patches out of navy blue fabric and then place them strategically in the sashing. I am sure one day I will find a baggie full of the missing nine-patches!

Here is a close up. The machine quilting was expertly done by Rose at Elite Quilting. Rose brings all my quilts to life!!

And here is the label.

Til next time…..

Kerry

9Jul2012

Ran out of fabric…

Posted in Amy's Quilt, Feathered Star Quilt, Friends of Baltimore, Sue Garman Pattern by Simple Bird Applique

I was progressing so nicely on my Feathered Star…then I ran out of the white background needed to make the borders. It’s every quilters nightmare! My local shop ordered in a bolt for me so I will pick it up today. While I have been waiting for the fabric to arrive, I have been stitching away on Block 7 of Friends of Baltimore. It is finally finished!!

There is a sashing of half-square triangles between each block so I am going to start making those soon. Here is what I have done so far!!

And, last but not least, I am slowly getting Amy’s wedding quilt hand-quilted. Time is flying and the wedding is less than 2 months away!

Til next time…..

Kerry

7Jul2012

It’s not finished until it has a label on it!!

Posted in Quilt Labels, Sunday Afternoon Applique Group, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Lately, I have been on a mission!

My mission is to have a label on the back of every quilt. I believe it is so important for future generations to know the history of the quilts that will likely be passed down to them.

Here are a few quilts and the labels that go with them. All of the quilts shown were machine quilted by Elite Quilting.

I made this quilt for my daughter, Kelly. The pattern is a Piecemaker’s Calendar from 1999. The quilt is hand-appliqued in blocks, then stitched together.

The little girl raking the leaves always reminded me of Kelly, so I made that block twice and included one on the back.

And here is the label.

Here is my version of “Aunt Millie’s Garden”. Every year my Sunday Afternoon Applique Group chooses a quilt pattern and everyone works on their own quilt. This is the quilt we worked on last year. It belongs to my daughter, Courtney. When I told her I was going to give it to her, her only response was: “Gee….it’s bright”!

I was rather speechless when I saw the amazing job that Rose (from Elite Quilting) did!!

The group is getting together this Sunday. Won’t they be surprised when they see it actually has the binding AND a label on!!

This is “A Mermaid’s Garden”, which is based on the pattern, Simple Gifts, by Mary Sorenson. We entered this quilt in the MQX show a couple of years ago, and Rose won a ribbon for the machine quilting.

Here is a close-up of the quilting Rose did.

And here is the label.

What information do you put on a label? Include anything that is important to you! If I make a quilt specifically for someone, I make sure the label states that. Not that I think my family will be fighting over my quilts (!) but this just clears up any misunderstandings!!

Til next time….

Kerry

3Jul2012

A Day Well Spent!

Posted in Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Today I had every intention to go into my sewing room and working non-stop for a couple of hours. But I am not the most organized of quilters and my room was in desperate need of some tidying! I started to put stuff away and realized a few strange things about myself.

Here there are:

I seem to have a fear that one day they will stop making sewing needles. Well…I am prepared for that day!

If you asked me how many pairs of scissors I own, I would not have said 6!

I am more than ready for the day when they discontinue colour #610 Mettler 60 weight thread.

I seem to have made it my life’s work to find the perfect set of bias bars. They all work perfectly!

I collect anything with a “chick” theme.

I even have some “chick” knitting needles.

I have held onto this Fossil Fern colour chart for a really long time! I would say it is one of my many prized possessions! There is a small swatch of….get this……every colour of Fossil Fern ever made! One day I will do something with it…just not today!

My sewing room is pretty tidy (for now!). The hallway is another story!! Yikes!!

Til next time….

Kerry

1Jul2012

Not that I need another project!!

Posted in Civil War Bride Quilt, Friends of Baltimore, Hand-Applique Techniques, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Oh!!! It finally arrived!! Talk about speedy delivery!!

A couple of years ago when I was at The Ellie Sienkiewicz Applique Academy, a student showed her stunning version of The Civil War Bride Quilt at Show and Tell. You can imagine the ooohhs and aahhhs from the audience! It has been on my radar ever since I saw it. Thank goodness for the internet! I happened upon the pattern on Threadbare’s website. Needless to say, the check was in the mail and I have been (im)patiently waiting by the mailbox.

Now the fun begins!! I am now auditioning fabrics and backgrounds!! This is such a good way to spend an afternoon!