Back to the border…

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.

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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.)

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

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Then I added the base.

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Next came the second layer of the vase.

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

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Well, except for all those circles!  Sweet!

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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

Put the hexies down and walk away!!

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.

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

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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!

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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??

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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

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

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Til next time….

Kerry

 

 

To Everything There Is A Season…Block 2

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.

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My Sunday Afternoon Applique Group is graciously testing these blocks for me.  Here is Kathy F.’s version of the hummingbird.  Stunning!

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Til next time….

Kerry

To Everything There Is A Season…Block 1

I am so thrilled to show you the first block of “To Everything There Is A Season”.  I have chosen to start with the “Spring Urn” because I am so sure that spring is just around the corner!

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“To Everything There Is A Season” is a full sized quilt designed by MTDesigns exclusively for Simple Bird Studio.  The quilt consists of twelve 18″ blocks and a center medallion that measures 36″.  The outer borders have not yet been designed, but I promise, they will be spectacular!

Here is how it works….For the next 12 months, I will be presenting a new block on the first day of the month.  The center medallion and outer borders will be available after all 12 blocks are available.  The cost is $7.00 per pattern.  The pattern for “Spring Urn” is now available on my website Simple Bird Studio.  Just click on “patterns”.

The good news is…you can start at anytime.  And, you don’t have to purchase all of the patterns (but I would love it if you did!).  Perhaps you would like to stitch a seasonal wallhanging…or two!  The choice is yours!

When you purchase a pattern, you will receive an email with the pattern attached, along with a colour picture of the block.  The pattern can then be printed and tiled.  Spiffy!

Til next time…

Kerry

No one, but TWO finishes!!

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.

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And, here is the back.

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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?

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

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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….

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…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…

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

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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