Obsession….

Posted in Civil War Bride Quilt, Hexagons, Sunday Afternoon Applique Group, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Obsession is defined as the act of letting a thought or action rule your thoughts or actions. Ok, then, call me obsessed! I have been spending my time making hexies….every waking moment.

I have even graduated to Six Pointed Stars. Yikes! What next?

My Sunday Afternoon Applique met on Sunday and we had some awesome Show and Tell. Kathy F. stitched this gorgeous quilt, depicting a gazebo and some beautiful spring and summer flowers.

Take a close look at the back. Kathy F. in am impeccable stitcher!

Next, is Dolores’s quilt made of Civil War fabrics. Once it is quilted, it will hang in her front hall. Wouldn’t that be a treat to see every time you walked in your front door?

Helene’s block is beautiful! The quilt Helene is making has 16 of this same block. Can’t wait to see it finished! Check out the background. Spiffy!

And finally, I showed the group my finished Civil War Bride.

Til next time…

Kerry

23Apr2014

Hexies Everywhere!

Posted in Circle of Tulips, Hand-Applique Techniques, Hand-Quilting Techniques, Hexagons, Ladies of the Sea, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized, washing my block by Simple Bird Applique

Recently, my hubby and I took a very last minute road trip to New York City, just for the fun of it. Of course, we did all must-do things when you visit NYC. See the Statue of Liberty…check. Figure out the subway system…check. Walk in Central Park..check. Visit The City Quilter…check!

When we visited Central Park, I couldn’t help but notice the sidewalk stones. Hexagons…everywhere. I was inspired!

So, when we visited The City Quilter, I picked up some paper foundations to make some hexies. Ok, maybe I went a little overboard!

I couldn’t resist a few charm packs, just so I could get started!

So this is how I spent the Easter weekend…making hexies! Very addictive! I am making them the old fashioned way…stitching the fabric to the paper template and whip stitching them together. Very relaxing! I am trying hard not to over think things and just keep them scrappy.

In between my new found hexie obsession and cooking Easter dinner, I managed to finish the Xebec block of Sue Garman’s Ladies of the Sea. Once the ship was complete and the flowers were stitched on, I started the skull and crossbones bones. I must admit, I love this little touch!

Next, I embroidered the ropes.

When I was finally finished, it was time for a bath.

I have just turned the third(!) corner of Circle of Tulips. Good times!

Til next time…

Kerry

17Apr2014

Which Piece Goes Where??

Posted in Hand-Applique Techniques, Ladies of the Sea, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

One of the most challenging things about applique is determining which order to glue (and stitch) pieces to the background. Some blocks are easier than others to figure out. This block was not one of them! Here is how I tackled the “Xebec” block from Sue Garman’s “Ladies of the Sea”…

Since the seam allowances on the black part of the hull were going to be completely covered by other pieces, there was no need to prep the edges. But I did draw the seam allowance on the front of the piece, just to make sure everything was going to line up.

I also took the time to baste it to the background just inside the seam allowance.

Next, I added the brown top piece. Notice that the left hand edge is not prepped, but all of the other edges are.

This next skinny piece is going to go on top those raw edges, but it is going to go under the top brown piece…..

…but at the same time, this little gold piece gets tucked under the top piece. The edge that is not prepped will go under the top piece and the rest will stick out.

Needless to say, I had my thinking cap on!

So, this is what it looks like so far.

As you can see, this skinny brown piece is actually smaller than the seam allowance, so I had to trim just a tiny bit of the black piece before I could stitch it in place. Dicey business!

Next, it was time to add the main sail. I stitched the bottom and side edge, and then I basted the raw edge that is going to be covered up….

…by this.

Voila!

Til next time…

Kerry

6Apr2014

First Border On!

Posted in Friends of Baltimore, Hand-Applique Techniques, Ladies of the Sea, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized, washing my block by Simple Bird Applique

Last Wednesday evening I finished stitching all I could on the first border of Sue Garman’s “Friends of Baltimore”. I filled the sink with hot soapy water and let the border soak for a while. I use hot water because I think the glue and starch soften quicker in hot water…maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t, but that is just what I do! Next, I like to use Soak in the water, but if I don’t have any Soak on hand, I use dish soap.

I normally let it soak for an hour or two. When I went to take the border out of the water, I was mildly shocked to see that most of the red fabrics had run into the white background. After doing a quick bit of research online, I jumped in the car and went shopping for some Oxy-Clean and some color magnet sheets. Luckily, I found them, came home and threw the border into the washing machine with both products. I am happy (and sooooo relieved) to tell you the border came out of the washing machine without a speck of red dye on it. Thank you, Quilting Gods!

The following day, I laid the border out on a towel and let it dry. Once it was dry, I placed the border onto the pattern and marked the cutting lines with a water soluble marker. I always cut my background pieces larger than the pattern calls for, so they need to trimmed to the correct size.

Next, I stitched the border on.

When I went to press the seam flat, I noticed that some of the navy blue fabric had frayed, and it was sticking out past the seam allowance. I very carefully trimmed off the navy blue bits. I mean….very, very carefully!

So here we are!

I promised myself once I had the first border stitched on, I would start the next block of Ladies of the Sea, another Sue Garman pattern. The ship on this block is called The Xebec Pirate Ship. It looks very interesting with that skull and crossbones! I used a gradient fabric for the bias stems.

If you look closely, you will see the color goes from light to dark green. Fun!

One day (when I have time!) I am going to do some research on cats and quilts. I had not seen Bruin all morning. I placed my quilt on the floor so I could take a picture of it. I went to find my camera and this is what I returned to find. Sheesh!

Til next time…

Kerry

4Apr2014

To Everything There Is A Season…Block 1

Posted in "To Everything There is a Season", Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I am so thrilled to show you the first block of “To Everything There Is A Season”. I have chosen to start with the “Spring Urn” because I am so sure that spring is just around the corner!

“To Everything There Is A Season” is a full sized quilt designed by MTDesigns exclusively for Simple Bird Studio. The quilt consists of twelve 18″ blocks and a center medallion that measures 36″. The outer borders have not yet been designed, but I promise, they will be spectacular!

Here is how it works….For the next 12 months, I will be presenting a new block on the first day of the month. The center medallion and outer borders will be available after all 12 blocks are available. The cost is $7.00 per pattern. The pattern for “Spring Urn” is now available on my website Simple Bird Studio. Just click on “patterns”.

The good news is…you can start at anytime. And, you don’t have to purchase all of the patterns (but I would love it if you did!). Perhaps you would like to stitch a seasonal wallhanging…or two! The choice is yours!

When you purchase a pattern, you will receive an email with the pattern attached, along with a colour picture of the block. The pattern can then be printed and tiled. Spiffy!

Til next time…

Kerry