Something not quite right…..

Posted in Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

You know that feeling when you look at the quilt you are working on and you know there is something not quite right, but you don’t know what it is?? Well, that is the feeling I had every time I looked at the vase I am working on. I finally put my finger on it yesterday. The fern and the leaf are not only the same colour, they are the exact same value! All I see is a glob of light green, not two distinct leaves. Drat!

So this is what I did. I un-stitched what I had to so I could remove the offending leaf. The yellow circle is also stitched through the leaf so I had to remove it, too. Double-drat!

Next, I cut out a new and improved leaf. This time I checked to see that the leaves have some contrast. They do! And, then, I stitched everything back in place. Much better. (sigh of relief!)

Speaking of leaves, I have just posted another Youtube video on how to tackle those deep inner curves on the fern in this vase. You can see it here.

And, my Sunday Afternoon Applique Group met yesterday and had just a bit of Show and Tell. This is Lynn’s “Stitcher’s Garden” from a class she is taking at Country Concession, one of our local quilt shops. As you can see in my recent posts about our group, Lynn is one talented (and productive!) quilter!

The daughter of one of our members in the group is going through a round of cancer treatments. So we are doing what all quilters do when we want to show we care…we are making a quilt for her. Here are some of the blocks, and I am expecting more to be handed in by the end of the week. I’ll keep you posted on the progress of the quilt…

Til next time…

Kerry

23May2014

Always more than one option….

Posted in Friends of Baltimore, Hand-Applique Techniques, Hexagons, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

It occurs to me from time to time that quilting is a lot like life. You rarely are in a situation where you do not have options. And the option you choose is really up to you (and not the Quilt Police!). There are a few dainty buds in the border of Sue Garman’s “Friends of Baltimore”. How you decide to make them is totally up to you!

Here are the buds……they are the same but I am going to prep them two different ways.

First, I ironed both buds to the wrong side of the fabric and cut them out.

For the first bud, I prepped it in my normal way.

Next, I removed the freezer paper and cut out the circle to use as a pattern for the red centre and prepped it.

Bud #1.

For Bud # 2, I decided to do reverse applique. I think this term often confuses people. (You are not appliqueing in reverse!) You are simply reversing the layers. For Bud #1, I placed the red piece on top of the green piece. Bud #2 involves placing the green piece on top of the red piece.

This technique involves cutting a hole in the centre of the fabric and still leave a seam allowance that you can turn.

I carefull clipped the seam allowance. You can see that I didn’t clip right up to the freezer paper. And you can see how small the hole is!

Then I carefully turned the inner edge.

And once the outer edge was prepped, I removed the freezer paper.

And finally, I cut a piece of red to place under the bud. There is no need to prep the edges of the red piece of fabric. It will be covered up.

So here are both buds glued in placed in the border. Remember, you always have options!!

In my spare time I am still making hexies…and still loving it!!

Til next time…

Kerry

16May2014

Prepping and prepping…..

Posted in Circle of Tulips, Civil War Bride Quilt, Friends of Baltimore, Hexagons, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I have been spending most of my spare time prepping the second border of Sue Garman’s “Friends of Baltimore”. I must admit, it is a little tedious, however, I am sticking with it!! It isn’t long before this…

…and this…

….becomes this! For those people who have asked how I prep my pieces, you can see more here.

Once the pieces are prepped, I use a dab of glue and attach them to the paper pattern. I do this for a few reasons…one is so I can make sure I prep all of the pieces and don’t forget any. The second reason is so I do not lose any pieces (been there, done that!). And I can preview my fabrics, which is especially useful when doing multi-couloured flowers.

Once I get a section prepped, I am eager to glue it to the background and then I stitch it in place. I find it easier to break the process down into smaller chunks rather than to try to do the prepping all at once, then all of the stitching at once. That is just the way I work!

Yes, I have been hexi-ing! I have a special project in mind!

And finally, I am in the process of turning the last(!) corner of Circle of Tulips. So exciting!

Speaking of excitement…my Civil War Bride Quilt received a ribbon at the Plowing Match Quilt Competition! All quilts that received a ribbon will be exhibited in the Lifestyles Area at the 2014 Simcoe County International Plowing Match and Rural Expo September 16-20, 2014. Sweet!

Til next time….

Kerry

8May2014

Back to the border…

Posted in "To Everything There is a Season", Friends of Baltimore, Hand-Applique Techniques, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Once I had the second border of Sue Garman’s “Friend’s of Baltimore” traced, I was raring to go! (I really don’t like tracing, so I will put it off as long as possible.)

When I am filling a vase with flowers, I like to prep the pieces and place them onto my paper pattern before I glue them to the bacground fabric. That way I can tweek anything that looks out of place.

First, I added a few stems and buds. But then I realized, I couldn’t go much further until the vase was in place. (A few of the flowers and leaves overlapped the vase.)

So I started to build the vase. The edges of this piece will be totally covered by more pieces…keep watching!

Then I added the base.

Next came the second layer of the vase.

…and finally, the very last piece of the vase!

Well, except for all those circles! Sweet!

Some of you have asked me if the patterns for “To Everything There Is A Season” are available for download only or can I mail them out. Yes, I can mail you a paper pattern instead of emailing you a link. I have added this option to my website. The cost is $10.00 and includes a color picture of the block and shipping anywhere in Canada or the U.S. To have the patterns shipped to other countries, please contact me.

Til next time…

Kerry

4May2014

Put the hexies down and walk away!!

Posted in "To Everything There is a Season", Friends of Baltimore, Hand-Applique Techniques, Hexagons, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Even though I am OHOH (Officially Hooked On Hexies), I still have some projects that are needing my attention. As of this moment, I have 3 (how did that happen?) hexie projects on the go. First, my brown-ish-neutralish kind of scrappy collection.

Then, there is my bright-cutesy could be a baby quilt collection.

And last, but certainly not least, it the first block of a Hexie Quilt Along (Value Proposition Quilt Along) that I found on an amazing blog by Karen at Faeries and Fibres. If you want to know anything about hexies (I mean anything!) and English paper piecing in general, this is a blog you must visit! But make yourself a cup of tea first, you may be there a while!

Last night, I took the time to trace the second border of Sue Garman’s Friends of Baltimore. I would really (I mean, really!) like to have this quilt finished by the end of this year. You know, one more thing to cross off the bucket list! Yikes! Do I see ferns??

I thought I would show how I assembled the hummingbird block, the latest block of “To Everything There Is A Season”. Looks complicated, but really it isn’t!

First, I traced the pattern on to my background. Next, I added the leaves and the blue flowers.

Now, I have a dilemma…the leaves have covered up some of the traced lines, and I cannot see where to put the flower petals. Here is my solution. I “build” the flowers on an applique pressing sheet.

Then I pick the flower up in one piece and glue it in place. Easy peasy!

Here is how I stitched the hummingbird. Don’t forget that the “underneath” wing goes on the background before the feathers. I forgot, so I had to un-stitch the feathers and insert the wing underneath.

Next, the head, the underbody and the tail feathers…

…and the top body and a beak. He just needs an eye!

Til next time….

Kerry

2May2014

To Everything There Is A Season…Block 2

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

Wow! Time flies, doesn’t it?

Last month I presented the first block of “To Everything There Is A Season”, a quilt designed exclusively for Simple Bird Studio by MT Designs. You can see that block here, along with some BOM details.

It is time to present Block 2, The Hummingbird. The pattern is available for purchase on my website.