Progress feels good!

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

I am finally seeing some progress on a few of the quilts I am working on. As you can tell, I like to hand-applique and hand-quilt. As we all are very aware, both are time consuming, and it can be a long time before any results can be seen. So when I get close to finishing anything, I get really excited

First, I woke up yesterday with one thing on my mind. Finishing the hand-quilting on Circle of Tulips! I am sooooo close! I must admit, though, I have been in my pre-mourning stage for a week or two. I start to miss the quilt before it’s even finished and I wonder what I will do to fill the void. Sad, but true!!

So, after a couple of hours of stitching and watching re-runs of Downton Abbey, I am finished! Yippee!!

Now, I just have to bind it! The pattern for this block is available as a free download on my website.

I have also been making some progress on the second border of Sue Garman’s “Friends of Baltimore”. This is the left side of the vase almost finished.

So, now it’s time to start the right side of the vase! I added the fern and a few roses and buds.

These borders have lots (I mean lots!) of bias stems on it. So I end up with lots of short pieces. This is how I use up those tiny pieces…

I find a spot on the pattern where I can inconspicuously hide the joins. Now you see the joins….

DSCN5703

…and now you don’t!!

To keep my (extremely unorganized) self from losing track of all those leaves and flowers, I prep them in my usual way and then I glue the pieces to the paper pattern. Also, when I cut the freezer paper shapes out, I place them on the paper pattern in the spot they will eventually be glued and stitched, just to keep everything nice and organized.

So, now I just pick up each piece and place it on the background. Easy peasy!

So…here is the right side of the border!

And, finally, the border is (almost!) finished…I just have a bit of stitching to do!

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

30Mar2014

No one, but TWO finishes!!

Posted in "To Everything There is a Season", Civil War Bride Quilt, Hand-Quilting Techniques, Owen's Quilt, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Oh my! I am so excited! Here it is just the end of March, and I already have two finishes! First, Owen’s quilt. Beautifully quilted by Colleen at Elite Quilting.

And, here is the back.

For the lettering, I just printed “Owen’s quilt” in Illustrator and prepped the pieces just like I would prep any other shape. Remember this?

And here is my Civil War Bride quilt breathtakingly machine quilted by Rose at Elite Quilting. I wish you could see this in person!!

Whenever I ask Colleen to machine quilt a quilt for me, she always asks me what design I have in mind. This is the look I give her….

…and then I say, “I don’t know…whatever you think”. As you can see, my input is not needed at all!

Here are some more pics…

This is the backing I chose…I found it on sale for $6 a yard. I bought the whole bolt!!

I am also very excited to announce I am just putting the finishing touches on the first block of my first Block-of-the-Month called “To Everything There is a Season”. It is a quilt designed by MT Designs exclusively for Simple Bird Studio. Would you like a hint or two? Well, the quilt consists of twelve 18″ blocks. And a center medallion. There is a cardinal, a squirrel, a hummingbird, a basket of poinsettias and a wreath of roses…among other delights. Look for it next week!

Til next time…

Kerry

24Mar2014

Inking a Goose…

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

Just when I thought I was almost finished the first border of Sue Garman’s “Friends of Baltimore”, I realized I still had some circles to do and a bit of embroidery. A couple of years ago, I took a class from Pearl Pereira, and I learned this nifty way of making circles is that class.

First, I ironed 3 sheets of freezer paper together. Next, I used a 1/2″ punch used for scrapbooking.

I cut out out a bunch of perfectly shaped circles in no time! Then, I prepped them just like I would prep any other piece.

Slick!

So, once I stitched all the circles in place, I embroidered the stems using 2 strands of embroidery floss. Sweet!

I finally worked up enough courage to do the inking on the goose. This is the block I worked on in Rita’s class at TESAA. One of the many skills that Rita teaches is how to ink fine details with a Micron pen and then smudge the lines with a Clover eraser pen. Here is a pic of the goose before inking…

and after!

Til next time….

Kerry

15Feb2014

I know I should be packing…

Posted in Circle of Tulips, Hand-Quilting Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

It’s the day before I fly to Williamsburg to attend The Elly Sienkiewicz Applique Academy and I should be packed by now, but I am not. I am too busy working out the rest of the border on Circle of Tulips and I want to get it figured out before I go….so I can relax!

So, in my last post I figured out how to center the swags and how to fill in the space between the swags.

My next step was to decide how curvy I wanted the scalloped edge to be. (Not terribly curvy, I thought, because I have to bind the curve.) So this is what I did…

I took a piece of upholstery vinyl and placed it on the already marked swag. Next, I marked some placement lines with a Sharpie marker. The vinyl is clear, but it really is there!

Next, I drew a curved line 3 1/2″ away from the bottom edge of the swag. Then I cut the upholstery vinyl on the curve, making sure that the Sharpie line was on the template, so I could see it.

Now I can line up the template and draw a consistent curve…..with a water soluble marker…not a Sharpie!!

My plan is to stop stitching at the drawn line, so that when I cut the excess fabric and batting off I am not cutting through the stitching.

Splendid!! Now I really must go and pack!!

Til next time….

Kerry

13Feb2014

So many blocks!

Posted in Bouquet For a New Day, Circle of Tulips, Hand-Quilting Techniques, Owen's Quilt, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Finally! Owen’s quilt top finished. Notice the stars in the border actually look like stars? Yipee! These 16 blocks came from last year’s Barbara Brackman’s block-of-the-week, Grandmother’s Choice. I actually made 3 blocks every week, so let’s do the math…3 blocks for 52 weeks is 156 blocks…that’s a lot of blocks! I see a few more quilts on the horizon made from the remaining blocks.

I am busy getting the backing ready for Owen’s quilt so I can take it to Colleen at Elite Quilting before I leave on Sunday for TESAA. 3 more sleeps!! I have appliqued something special on the back, but you will have to wait patiently until the quilt is back from Colleen’s to see it. Just a hint…

As I was standing in line at the grocery store, I finally figured out how to tackle the border on my Circle of Tulips quilt. (I should mention that I am always thinking about quilting. Every waking moment.) I purchased a stencil a while back and wanted to use it on the borders.

My only problem was that the stencil did not fit the length of the border evenly and I didn’t want to fudge it, like I fudged the border of “Bouquet for a New Day”. You can see that here. So I had a bit of problem solving to do. First, I thought about how I wanted the finished border to look like. I wanted the swags to fit directly under each wreath of tulips, so I drew a line that extended from the seam into the border. That gave me a visual idea of the space I had to work with. I am using a Clover water soluble marker, so these marks will wash out!

Next, I centred the swag between the lines. As you can see, I have some space to fill. Hmmmm…

The heart in the stencil seemed to suit the space. It was a tiny bit narrow, so I made a template to round out the design. So far, so good!

Next, I decided that I would like some quilted lines to fill the space above and below the swags. Since I am a sucker for punishment, I spaced them 1/2″ apart. I must admit, it looks smashing!

So, before I mark the whole entire border, I am quilting a small section just to see if I like it. What’s not to like??

Here is the first block of Barbara Brackman’s new block-of-the-month, Threads of Memory. I am using a line of fabrics designed by Jo Morton called Amelia. Lovely!

Til next time….

Kerry

4Jan2014

I am no sailor!

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

Although I spent 2 weeks last January on a sailboat, I do not consider myself a sailor! Almost every afternoon, our Captain and his wife would quiz us about the parts of the sailboat. We learned what the pulpit is, what the head is used for and what to do when someone yells “Grab the painter!” So, I was pleasantly surprised when I actually remembered the parts of the sailboat as I stitched the first block of Sue Garman’s “Ladies of the Sea”. For those of you who are not familiar with the basic parts of a sailboat, this should help!The sailboat on the first block is Canada’s own “Bluenose”, surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. (Makes me proud to be a Canadian!) Although I prefer the starch and freezer paper method, I decided to do needleturn for the leaves.

Once the wreath was finished, I added the crown.

Now, on to the parts of the sailboat…the masts and boom are really skinny!

So, here is the mast, mainsail, the boom and the jib…

…and all the rest of the parts! I have only marked the rope lines with a Frixion marker. I am not sure if I will use 1 or two strands of embroidery floss to stitch them. I will figure that out tomorrow!

Til next time…

Kerry

16Dec2013

Moving Right Along!

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

I was very excited to start working on this block. First, I started on the right side of the wreath with a few flowers, leaves and buds.

Next, I added the left side.

And, finally, the bluebird!

I have been steadily hand-quilting on Circle of Tupils. I am pleased because it has that antique look I was going for. I love it when a plan comes together! The stencil that I have chosen for the border has me intrigued, so I am anxious to start it!

Til next time…..

Kerry

5Nov2013

Prepare to be Dazzled!

Posted in Circle of Tulips, Civil War Bride Quilt, Hand-Quilting Techniques, Sunday Afternoon Applique Group by Simple Bird Applique

Last Sunday, our Sunday Afternoon Applique Group met (and once again!) Lynn dazzled and inspired us with her Aunt Millie’s Garden. Ruth Quinn from Stitching Impressions did an awesome job of machine quilting this masterpiece. You can see more of Lynn’s quilt here. Take a look!

I have been hand-quilting “Circle of Tulips” in my frame and beginning to get the hang of it. I am using two different stencils for the wreaths.

I am using the smaller stencil in the centre of the wreath of tulips……

..and the larger stencil where the secondary design magically appears.

Don’t know if you noticed, but I tilted the larger stencil on a 45 degree angle. I did this so I would not have to stitch parallel to the seam lines. So far I am liking it!

This is the stencil I have chosen for the outer border. I have my heart set on this quilt having a scalloped border. I may have to do a little bit of math to get the stencil to work out. I will worry about that when the time comes!

I love when stuff like this happens. Makes me feel really humble! I was stitching along and noticed the bias strip look a little….well…..weird. I glued it in the right place, just upside down! Oops!

Once I stopped giggling, I took it off…..

flipped it over….and now we are good!!

Til next time….

Kerry

22Oct2013

Life Is Good!

Posted in Circle of Tulips, Civil War Bride Quilt, Hand-Applique Techniques, Hand-Quilting Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

My Hubby and I are going on a little holiday. We are leaving for Florida on Thursday, and, of course, I am busy packing! But, I am even busier prepping the final borders of my Civil War Bride quilt. I like to take my stitching with me wherever I go. Heaven forbid I be on vacation with nothing to do!

So here is the bottom border.

Next I started on the top (and final!) border. First I glued all the bias stems in place.

Then I glued all the leaves in place. My bias strips were not long enough to do the whole vine, so I overlapped them and placed a leaf on top to hide the join.

Next I added the flowers, flower centers and a couple of love birds.

I wasn’t really happy with the leaves that covered the joins of the bias strips. I thought it looked like I was trying to cover something up…..hmmm….I was trying to cover something up! So I decided to add a couple of butterflies instead! Now I am ready for a vacation!

Believe it or not, I think I might just be getting the hang of hand-quilting on a frame. I no longer want to pick the frame up and heave it across the room! Life is good!