Save those scraps!

Posted in Hand-Applique Techniques, Love is in the Air, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I have been working away on the second block of “Love is in the Air” a pattern designed by Lori Smith. I purchased this pattern a couple of years ago and put it away with the rest of my patterns. Honestly, I forgot all about it. About a month ago, I went through my patterns and books in search of a simple applique pattern that would lend itself to a really scrappy feel. As soon as I “found” this pattern in my box of (far too many) patterns, I knew “Love is in the Air” was exactly what I was looking for! For those of you who may want to stitch these blocks along with me, the pattern is available here.

As I mentioned in my last post, I am using a collection of shirting for the backgrounds, so that means that each background square will be different, which I am not going to lie has me a little unsettled. But I do love a challenge!

Also, I enlarged the patterns by 125%. I cut my background squares 16″ x 16″, but I am not sure right now what size they will end up. I never have all the details figured out before I start a quilt….what fun would that be? Sometimes you have to listen to the quilt!

I started this block by tracing the pattern onto the background with a water soluble marker. Next, I made a bunch of leaves, using many different fabrics, just for the fun of it and then I auditioned them. Some I like. Some I don’t. Some of the leaves are competing with the background, so I will save those leaves for another project!

OK, next I added my stems. Notice I used the same fabric for all of the stems, just to give a bit of consistency.

Next, I went searching through my scraps and I found this piece of fabric I have had for about 8 years. I love this fabric! So I decided to use it for the 4 main flowers.

Then I went through my scraps and found a fabric that went with the flower fabric.

Next, I went through my blues and golds and chose a few fabrics that played nicely with the main flower fabric. So far, so good!

This patterns has a circle in the centre that I could make with a piece of bias and a 1/4 bias maker, but I chose to make a template instead and prep it in the way I prep all of my templates. So much easier! Instead of tracing the circle from the pattern, I used a compass to get a more accurate shape.

I cut the circle out and ironed it to the wrong side of the fabric. I decided not to cut the centre of the fabric out just yet, to keep it more stable.

Using starch, a stiletto and a mini-iron, I prepped the outside edge.

Next, I trimmed out the centre and prepped the inside edge.

Taking the freezer paper out is always fun (and kind of scary!) but it works like a charm every time!

Once it is glued in place, it looks very neat and tidy. Whew!!

So, I auditioned several fabrics for the centres of the main flowers…brown, black, burgundy, blue…nothing appealed to me. Then I tried gold. Gold it is!! But wait….

I thought the gold circles were a tad too big, so I made them a shade smaller.

Ahhhh. That’s much better!

Here’s a fun fact… I used three different golds in this block. After all, it is a scrappy quilt!

And here are both blocks. Sweet!

Keeping with the scrappy theme, I am working away on Trail Mix, a quilt designed by Laundry Basket Quilts. I chuckled when I saw this block.

In this block alone, there is a scrap from my hexie quilt I worked on last winter,

…a scrap of the background of my Civil War Bride Quilt….

….and a piece of the background of my Reminescence. Memories!

Til next time….

Kerry

10Nov2015

Trail Mix Progress and a new project!

Posted in Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I have been making steady progress on my Trail Mix quilt, designed by Laundry Basket Quilts. I must say it is rather addictive cutting and stitching all those tiny little pieces. Sometimes when I start a new quilt, I set up some rules or guidelines for that quilt. The rule for this quilt is that I can only use fabrics I have on hand. It certainly is a nice feeling to use the last bits of some of the fabrics I have had for…well, a really, really long time!!!

Ok, so, you make 4 of these units….

…..and stitch them onto these scrappy blocks.

Here is the first one which fit like a glove!

Here are the second and third units….

I was absolutely delighted when the fourth unit actually fit where it was supposed to without any puckers or pleats! One down, eight more to go. Yikes!

So, keeping that scrappy theme, I have started a new applique project that will also have a scrappy feel. The pattern I am using is “Love is in the Air” by Lori Smith. I enlarged the patterns by 125% to make the blocks bigger than the original size (8 1/2″). I am also going to make a scrappy sashing, but more about that later!

For my background fabrics, I am also going with a scrappy look. I have had this collection of shirtings long enough. It is now time to use them up! I’m going to use a different background for each block. Can’t wait to see what that looks like!!

I started this block like I start all of my applique blocks, I traced the pattern with a blue Clover water soluble marker. Then I made some bias for the stems (using my 1/4″ bias maker) and I started to make some leaves. When I do go fabric shopping, I am always on the look out for green fabrics (especially olive greens) that would make awesome leaves.

Next, I chose the fabrics for my flowers.

Each flower has a “bud” and so I chose this darker purple (on the right) as the bud. I thought there was enough contrast….

…but, as you can see, there really isn’t much contrast. Unfortunately, the bud gets lost.

So, I opted for a darker, more tone-on-tone bud for both of the flowers. So far, so good!

Next came the tail feathers for the bird.

And finally, the rest of the bird! Do you recognize the blue fabric I used for the bird body? It is the same fabric I used in my Mom’s quilt. You can read that post here.

Til next time……

Kerry

2Nov2015

Bed of Roses – Block 6

Posted in Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Here we are at the half-way mark! We have stitched 6 blocks (and a few corner triangles and side triangles) and so now we only have 6 more blocks to go!

I have said it before and I will say it again…these blocks are easy and very suitable for a beginner. You can use whichever method of applique you choose. I use the freezer paper with starch method. You can check out my videos here. Always good for a laugh!

Block 6 started out a little differently than the previous blocks. The leaves were glued in place first and then the bias stems.

Next, I added some simple leaves.

And some pretty pink flowers with yellow centers. I love the added detail of these yellow centers. The square edges give some contrast to all the curvy pieces.

I decided to work on the center section. The yellow piece is the most challenging piece in this block, but you shouldn’t have any problems with it! As I mentioned earlier, I use freezer paper as a template and press the seam allowance over the template with starch and a mini-iron. When I am done prepping the piece, I pop the freezer paper out. It is that simple!!

Now I add a small drop of Roxanne’s glue to each petal and place it on the block.

It’s starting to look impressive, no? (I bet you are saying to yourself…”I bet I can do this!!”)

So, next, I prepped these pieces and stitched them in place.

I don’t like to add all the circles at once. I find the thread can get tangled up in the circles that are glued in place and not stitched yet. So first I added the dark circles and stitched them.

I added the lighter circles in each section and stitched them in place, one section at a time. Sometimes I like to break things down in parts or sections. That way I don’t get overwhelmed:)

One more section to go. Yippee! I have come to the conclusion that Bruin is my Vanna White.

And, finally! Here is the finished block. Beautiful!

So here are all 6 blocks, which are available on my website Simple Bird Studio. I also sell all of the notions I use including my favourite mini-iron.

I have been slowly working away on Trail Mix, a pattern designed by Laundry Basket Quilts, which is available on Craftsy. The online class is awesome with lots of helpful hints on how to use up those scraps.