December | 2016 | Simple Bird Applique

As it turns out, I did not get much time to stitch while on holidays. There was just way too much to do! I am always on the lookout for designs that remind me of quilts. We stayed at the Boulderado Hotel, in Boulder, Colorado, which was built in 1908 and rich with history. These tile floor are from the hotel and they are everywhere…the foyer, the restaurants and they even continue outside. Very inspiring!

This is the Christmas tree that was in the foyer. It is 28′ tall and very festive.

OK. Let’s get started. This block is the 4th block in my new BOM, which I launched in September. If you didn’t get a chance to sign up, you can do that now(!) on my website. You have from now until January 15 to sign up. We will be making 9 blocks from Sue Garman’s “Friends of Baltimore” and using the setting from “Baltimore Squared” (another awesome pattern designed by Sue Garman). Some of you have contacted me and asked if this BOM is available as fabric only (because you already own both patterns). That option is now on the website.

Block 4 is a perfect example of a block with lots of layering. If you tackle this block like you would a jigsaw puzzle, you will sail through it without any stress. You will notice that I started filling in the pieces around the outside edge…just like a jigsaw puzzle.

I started with the delicate purple and yellow flowers. See how easy it is to place the pieces on the background when you draw that seam allowance on? Magical!

Now you can start adding some leaves and more purple flowers.

Notice that the purple flower sits on top of the stem of the pink rosebud.

And this purple flower sits on top of the pink rose and part of the leaf.

So you can see I have completed the outer edge and now I can start filling in the rest of the flowers and leaves.

It’s time to add some stems.

There are so many pieces in this block that look the same. To keep myself organized, as I placed each piece on the background, I kept track by scribbling on each piece on the paper pattern. The little red dot means that I made the freezer paper template and the check mark means I prepared the piece. Just trying to stay organized!

Didn’t I say there was lots of layering?

So far, so good!!

Next, I started gluing the stems in place.

Once all the stems were in place, I added a few more leaves and the ribbon. The ribbon is easy to do, just really skinny.

As I was placing the ribbon on, I noticed something didn’t look quite right. I used the wrong green for one of the leaves. So much for trying to be organized!