Memories of The Academy of Applique 2018

Posted in Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

It’s hard to believe The Academy of Applique has come and gone:( For me, it’s a little like Christmas, I spend the whole year preparing and looking forward to this wonderful event, and then poof!….it over very quickly. Without a word of a lie, I had the best students…eager to learn, easy to teach and just super nice and friendly people, which can be said about everyone who attended this past Academy. The fact that everyone loves to applique as much as I do is a bonus!

Here are some pictures from both classes. I would have taken more pictures in the second class, but I was laughing so hard most of the time:) We had a blast!

First, it is just a lovely time of year for us Canadians to get an early taste of Spring. This was the view outside my room.

The food is awesome, and if you follow me on Instagram @simplebirdstudio you will know what I am talking about. I posted more photos of food than quilts. The desserts….amazing!

At the beginning of my class, I tell my students that with a bit of practice their work can look just like mine. And the work that both classes accomplished did not prove me wrong (yes that is another way of saying I was right…their pieces looked just like mine). That is what I love so much about Prepared Edge Applique.

Is it mine or is it a student’s flower? It’s a student’s!! After just one lesson!Scrumptious!!Almost finished!

Although I offer kits for the classes, I am always happy to see the project in another colorway. So inspiring!

Nice big classroom and plenty of room to spread out.

I mean…really spread out! This class was smaller, so everyone had a table to themselves.

Me…taking a bit of a coffee break:)

Til next time….

Kerry

23Feb2018

It’s really happening!

Posted in Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Yes, finally, I am off to Williamsburg to teach at the Academy of Applique. This will be my second year teaching after having attended as a student. The kits are cut…the patterns are ready…but I haven’t packed any clothes yet. That can wait til tonight

Our very first Applique Retreat is approaching very quickly. The first Retreat filled up very quickly so I have booked another Retreat. I have a few spots left and would love to have you join us for some stitching, eating and some much needed time just to relax…hopefully! I can hardly wait!

Here are the details of the second Retreat. If you are interest, please contact me right away….. Thanks to everyone who signed up for my first Applique Retreat which will be held in March at Fireside Retreat in Orillia. The response was so positive that I have booked a second Retreat! The dates for the second Retreat are April 20-22 (Friday-Sunday). All meals will be included, starting with dinner on Friday night. This Retreat is a perfect opportunity to learn the method I use for all of my applique projects. It is also a perfect time to catch up on your own applique projects and to be inspired by other students. Your fee of $400.00 includes your accommodation, all meals, your project kit and pattern. I am limiting this class to 7, so if you are interested please contact me at burke.kerry@ymail.com

As part of your fee, you will receive the pattern and fabric for this lovely block, which I will be teaching at both Retreats, although there will also be time for you to work on your own projects. This block is the first in a series I am having designed by Marilyn at MT Designs that will depict Canadian birds and flowers. I must confess, I love this block!

New Brunswick

That’s all for now…I really must go an pack some clothes…and my toothbrush:)

Til next time…

Kerry

5Feb2018

Hugs and Kisses – Block 2

Posted in Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

It may look like there is a lot going on in Block 2 of Hugs and Kisses, a delightful quilt designed by Sue Garman. But, really it is quite a simple block. Trust me:)

First I added the brown stems. As I mentioned in my last post, I am not marking the background. Instead, I am gluing all the pieces in place in one shot! Remember…when gluing stems, it is so much easier to place the dots of glue on the background and not the stem.

Next I added the large circles for the flowers. Whenever I use a fabric with a directional print on it, I like to have all the prints going the same way. Not sure why, I just do:)

I love to share this next tip whenever I can. This step saves so much time and freezer paper. I also mentioned that instead of tracing my templates, I am simply photocopying sections of the pattern onto freezer paper.

So I started with the outer circle and prepped it. I removed the template and I cut off that part of the template. (Pictures below.) Then I was left with the next shape (the flower). I prepped the flower and then cut it off and prepped the next shape (the medium circle). I constructed all 4 flowers with just this one template. Magical!

Next, I added the pretty brown flowers and the pink leaves. Scrumptious!

Of course, I am doing my quilt this time in a different colourway. Here is the block with the original fabric:) If you are part of the Block of the Month doing this quilt, you will receive a Fabric Key in your kit so you will know which fabric goes where.

I also wanted to mention that some of these blocks, like Block 2, have many layers. The large flowers on this block consists of 5 layers (including the background). Since I am planning on hand-quilting this quilt, I have very carefully trimmed away some of the layers. I am not a huge fan of doing this, but I am less a huge fan of trying to quilt through 5 layers of fabric! You can see I didn’t trim out the back of the smaller flowers, just the larger flowers.

Til next time….

Kerry

26Jan2018

Hugs and Kisses Block 1 and other fun stuff!

Posted in Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

For those of you that signed up for Hugs and Kisses, you should be receiving Block 1 any day now. The pattern that you will be getting shows the quilt in blues and yellows, but we will be doing ours in some sunny yellows, oranges and reds, and, of course, a couple of lush greens. Here is what your Block will look like. Included in your pattern will be a Fabric Guide, so you will know which fabric goes where.

And here is a picture of the (almost) finished quilt. I just haven’t finished stitching all of the swags. I will be saving that stitching for our upcoming Applique Retreat (more on that later). I am looking so forward to hand-quilting this gem.

Each month I will do a post showing how I prepped each block. Block 1 is a very easy block so it won’t take you too long….hopefully:) Each leaf is exactly the same, so you will be able to practice those perfect points. I will be doing this quilt in a completely different colorway…warm browns and yummy pinks and rich burgundies, but no green. If you would like to stitch along with us and use your own fabrics, I now have complete sets of the pattern on my website.

So let’s begin. I didn’t trace the pattern onto the background (like I usually do) because there just aren’t that many pieces. So, instead, I placed the background on the pattern and simply glued the pieces in place. You can glue all the pieces in place and then start stitching.

Whenever I am gluing bias strips in place, I always put the dots of glue on the background (rather than the stem). It is so much easier (and less messy) to handle the strip when it doesn’t have any glue on it.

Notice when I clip the inner curves of this flower, I don’t clip all the way to the freeze paper.

Once I remove the freezer paper, I like to put a tiny dot of glue on each petal and always ON the seam allowance.

And here is the finished block.

Hey…I just noticed the white polka dots on the brown fabric…and I managed to get a polka dot in each leaf. I wish I could take the credit, but it was A Total Fluke!

Last week I picked up my Friends of Baltimore/Baltimore Squared quilt from Rose Bell of Fancy Feathers. I was blown away (I mean really, really blown away!). I think you will agree that Rose did an exceptionally amazing job of machine quilting.

Earlier in this post I mentioned our 2 Applique Retreats that we have planned for the Spring. The first Retreat is full and there is still room in the second Retreat. We would love to have you join us:) The dates for the second Retreat are April 20-22 (Friday-Sunday). All meals will be included, starting with dinner on Friday night. This Retreat is a perfect opportunity to learn the method I use for all of my applique projects. It is also a perfect time to catch up on your own applique projects and to be inspired by other students. Your fee of $400.00 includes your accommodation, all meals, your project kit and pattern and class notes. What is the project you ask? I am having a block designed specifically for this Retreat and it is still in the works:) I know you will love it! I am limiting this class to 6, so if you are interested please contact me at burke.kerry@ymail.com

Til next time….

Kerry

11Jan2018

Hugs and Kisses…Adding the Borders

Posted in Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

It is true what Sue Garman says in the instructions for the borders of Hugs and Kisses. “Once you start to add the borders, it will start to look like a quilt”. So true! I like the way this particular quilt is constructed….the borders are added and then the applique is completed. What an amazing way to make sure the borders are totally accurate.

I am choosing to applique one border at a time. First I prepped all of the swags and the small flowers (where the swags meet). The directions are very precise…the middle of the flower should measure 1 5/8″ below the seam line. I measured (twice…maybe three times) before I glued everything in place. And then I measured everything again:)

Stitching the swags were a breeze, considering I had the entire quilt on my lap.

One border down…three more to go!

For those of you who have ordered Hugs and Kisses (as a Block of the Month) I will be shipping Block 1 early next week, along with your package of co-ordinating Mettler 60 weight thread. You will get an email notification when I ship the blocks.

If you would like to order this 12 month Block of the Month, you still have time. I have 3 spots available! This quilt is perfect for a beginner. Even a fairly experienced appliquer will enjoy this easy project. Also, for those that requested, the full set of patterns is also available. You can check the details on the website.

What else am I working on? Well, I am having a blast making 2 Smitten quilts. I am handpieceing the blocks (which I am loving!). My intention is to make two I Spy type quilts for a couple of special little girls:)

Til next time….

Kerry

21Dec2017

Hugs and Kisses Almost Finished:)

Posted in Hand-Quilting Techniques, Hugs and Kisses, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Yesterday I had some time on my hands so I went into my sewing room and shut the door. I was on a mission:)

You may recall in my last post I explained how I wash my finished blocks. Once that step is complete, and the blocks are dry, it is time to trim the blocks to the correct size. Since these blocks finish at 12″ x 12″, I simply used my 12 1/2″ square ruler. I placed the ruler on top of the block and centered it. Take your time with this step. You don’t want to mess it up:)

Next, I carefully trimmed the excess fabric away. Easy Peasy!

The pattern calls for 20 appliqued cornerstones, which didn’t take nearly as long as I thought it would. I cut my sashings and away I went!

So far, so good!

Right now the quilt measures 52″ x 68″. Once the appliqued borders are on, it will measure 71″ x 87″. I am intending to hand quilt this beauty and I am excited to get started! So scrumptious…

“Hugs and Kisses” is a Block-of-the-Month that will begin in January 2018…that is just next month! Each month you will receive the pattern and fabric (same fabric as shown) so that you can complete one block a month. Also, as a bonus, I am including (free of charge) 5 spools of Mettler 60 weight to match the fabrics. You have until the end of December to sign up on the website. Also, for those that have asked, you are able to purchase a full set of patterns to stitch along with us, using your own fabrics. I am wondering what this quilt would took like in Civil War fabrics. Or browns and pinks. Or totally scrappy. I could go on and on!

Til next time…

Kerry

6Dec2017

Washing my Hugs and Kisses blocks

Posted in Hand-Applique Techniques, Hugs and Kisses, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

My goal was to have this quilt, Hugs and Kisses, finished by the end of the year. I am trying my best, really I am. I have finished stitching all 12 blocks. Yipee! Now it’s time to wash my blocks. For those of you who have been following my blog, you will already know the routine. For those of you who are new to the blog, this post is for you. After I finish each block, I toss it into a sink filled with hot water and a bit of soap. This step will remove the glue, the blue marking pencil and anything else that might be on your block. Cat hair, maybe? You will be amazed at how yucky the water looks once your block has soaked for a while. But before you toss your block into the sink, take a really good look at it and make sure every itty bitty piece is stitched in place. Trust me, this is an important step:)

Once the blocks have soaked for about half an hour, it’s time to rinse them under the tap to remove the suds. Then gently squeeze the block to remove the excess water. Your block should be fairly wet, but not dripping.

Next, lay the block out on a thick towel to air dry. Easy Peasy!

Hugs and Kisses (designed by Sue Garman) is a Block of the Month that will start in January. The blocks are fairly simple so this is a good quilt for a beginner. I think this quilt is an excellent example of a quilt made up of simple blocks, but looks rather stunning when all the blocks are assembled. Mind you, there are appliqued cornerstones and a swag border to follow. Yes, stunning is a good word to describe this quilt.

Til next time….

Kerry

27Nov2017

Block 1 of Friends of Baltimore/Baltimore Squared

Posted in Friends of Baltimore/Baltimore Squared, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

For those of you who are participating in the Friends of Baltimore/Baltimore Squared BOM, you should have received your first block by now. So, as promised, here is how I constructed the basket for Block 1. In a couple of days, I will do another post to show you how I finished the block.

OK…here we go….First I started by taping the pattern together. You can make a personal photocopy (for your use only) so that you have a master copy. You never know, you want to make these blocks more than once. Next, I traced the pattern onto the background with a clover Water Soluble Marker (the thick one). Take note that I only trace the outlines of a design and I don’t trace the inside detail. Once you place the first unit on the background, you will cover up the inside markings. And you will say to yourself… “Well, I just wasted my time tracing things that didn’t need to be traced”. Trust me.

So I was laying in bed the other night thinking about baskets. Specifically, baskets that are made from strips of bias. And the fact that they are usually appliqued right onto the background. And I wondered…”Where are the stems? If the basket shows the background, shouldn’t I see green stems from the flowers?” So then I thought…”I wonder what it would look like if I added a layer of light blue fabric to the background, and then applique the bias strips on top of that. And then the stems would be “in” the basket”. So that is what I did. Which is why I did not trace the stems onto the background (just in case you were wondering haha!).

Maybe you have never made bias strips before. You probably think it is really difficult. Well, I am here to show you how easy it really is. First, you lay your ruler on the edge of the fabric so that the 45 degree line is lined up with the edge of the fabric. It should look like this. Here is a post you can read about how I make my bias stems.

By the way, we are cutting our bias strips on a 45 degree angle. Each one of those lines on your ruler represents a different angle, so make sure you are using the correct line.

When I cut my freezer paper template for the light blue piece that sits under the dark blue bias strips, I did not include any seam allowance along the sides, but I did include it on the top and bottom.

Next, I removed the freezer paper template and traced the stem lines from the paper pattern onto the light blue fabric.

Then I glued the light blue piece in place making sure the top and bottom were lined up properly.

Now I am ready to glue the strips in place. You will notice that there is a bit of “over and under” going on with the stems so you’ll have to pay attention. Clearly I wasn’t paying attention, so I had to loosen the glue a little, but now it’s all good!!

Yes…..it’s all good!

Til next time….

Kerry

14Nov2017

Another Block Almost Finished!

Posted in Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I have making very steady progress on my “Hugs and Kisses”, a quilt designed by Sue Garman. I have chosen this quilt because it is a good example of a quilt made of very simple shapes, yet appears more difficult than it really is. Trust me!

All of the shapes are symmetrical, so that means I don’t have to trace a thing. I am simply photocopying the pattern onto freezer paper to make my templates. It is that easy.

Also, I am not tracing the pattern onto the background. I am placing the background on top of the pattern and gluing all the shapes onto it before I take a single stitch. Very efficient.

First, I started with the stems that I made using a 1/4″ bias maker.

Next, I added some leaves.

Then I prepped the large and small flowers. This fabric is directional so I made sure the grids are all going the same way. It’s all about the details!

Next I prepped the yellow flower centers and glued them in place. As you can see, I don’t clip right to the freezer paper. And I only clipped once in each curve and never on an outer curve.

I prepped these pieces and glued them in place.

Sweet!

Freezer paper templates can be re-used many times. So when I am doing units that have more than one layer, I trim away the outer layer (in this case, the orange circle) and use the template again (in this case, the yellow flower). Saves time and freezer paper:)

So here is the (almost) finished block. Now I can go make a pot of tea and stitch the day away. “Hugs and Kisses” is a Block of the Month that will start in January. Each month for 12 months you will receive the pattern and fabrics to create all 12 super-simple blocks and the swag border. Details are on the website.

Speaking of stitching the day away, I have become addicted to hand stitching these 60 degree diamonds together. I am not sure what I am going to do with them, but does that matter?

Til next time…

Kerry

31Oct2017

Dates for Second Applique Retreat!

Posted in Friends of Baltimore/Baltimore Squared, Hand-Applique Techniques, Hand-Piecing, Inklingo, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Thanks to everyone who signed up for my first Applique Retreat which will be held in March at Fireside Retreat in Orillia. The response was so positive that I have booked a second Retreat! The dates for the second Retreat are April 20-22 (Friday-Sunday). All meals will be included, starting with dinner on Friday night. This Retreat is a perfect opportunity to learn the method I use for all of my applique projects. It is also a perfect time to catch up on your own applique projects and to be inspired by other students. Your fee of $400.00 includes your accommodation, all meals, your project kit and pattern and class notes. What is the project you ask? I am having a block designed specifically for this Retreat and it is still in the works:) I know you will love it! I am limiting this class to 6, so if you are interested please contact me at burke.kerry@ymail.com

Today is the last day to sign up for Friends of Baltimore/Baltimore Squared. If this quilt is on your To-Do List, then it’s time to get started. Details are on the website.

I have been stitching away on my 60 degree diamonds (and loving every minute)! There is something so addictive about hand-piecing, isn’t there? If you haven’t tried Inklingo yet, give it a go. You will be impressed. In a nutshell, Inklingo allows you to print the cutting lines and the stitching lines on the back of the fabric. Easy Peasy!

Too much fun!

I am making really good progress on Hugs and Kisses, a new BOM designed by Sue Garman that I am launching in January. My goal is to have my quilt top finished by January. I love a challenge:) I have 5 and a half blocks finished. Sweet! The details are on the website.