Bed of Roses – Block 4

Posted in Bed of Roses, Bed of Roses BOM, Hand-Applique Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Block 4 of Sue Garman’s “Bed of Roses” could very well be my favourite block…so far! Do not be intimidated. This block is very simple. Yes…even for a beginner. First, I started with the bias strips.

Next, I added the leaves.

The flowers are sooooo easy! They are really all the same shapes, just different sizes. It is the fabrics that make them come alive!. I have added 3 more fabrics to this block, so there is a good variety of light, medium and dark pink.

I mean, really, could it get any easier?

So once all the flowers were finished….

…..I added the berries.

By the way, I almost never leave the house without my bag of applique. We are going to a friend’s cabin for the day, so I am prepared. Because heaven forbid I sit there with nothing to do!

When I do work at home, Bruin is such a help. He keeps my pieces warm and organized!

And finally, I added a cute little vase!

Here is the finished block! Block 4 (and Blocks 1, 2 and 3) are available on my website Simple Bird Studio.

Til next time…..

Kerry

28Aug2015

You have to see this!

Posted in Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

How do you find the words to describe this kind of talent and workmanship? You tell me! Last night I picked up my “Friends of Baltimore” from Ruth at Stitching Impressions. As I mentioned in my last post, I decided to take out all my hand-quilting stitches and have Ruth machine quilt it. This could very well be one of the best decision I have ever made! Take a look at what Ruth did. I am only going to show you a few blocks at a time, just so you do not get overwhelmed. Ruth wrote a blog post describing her different techniques and terminology. You can check it out here.

If you are thinking about making this quilt I recommend you jump in with both feet. Have fun and enjoy the journey. I did! The pattern is available on my website Simple Bird Studio.

Til next time….

Kerry

23Aug2015

So much creativity! So much fun!

Posted in Bed of Roses, Bed of Roses QAL, Friends of Baltimore, Hand-Applique Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I believe that everyone is capable of creating beautiful things. But how often do we just allow ourselves to be creative, for the sake of being creative?

About 15 years ago, I discovered the quilts of Paula Nadelstern and I haven’t looked at fabric the same way since. This is a quilt I made using her technique and I can’t remember when I felt so creative.

If you look really closely at this section, you will the the centre is made up of polar bear faces. Does it get any better than that?

I also came to appreciate all fabrics, especially ones that are truly symmetrical. There are many fabrics that may look symmetrical, but are not. So don’t be fooled! This is a classic example of a symmetrical fabric brimming with possibilities.

Although beautiful, this is not a symmetrical shape. Symmetrical simply means that you can cut the motif right down the middle and end up with mirror images.

Truly symmetrical fabrics are very rare, and so you should pick them up whenever you find them.

Joan, at Vibes and Scribes (in Ireland!) very graciously sent me two fabulous fabrics that just happen to be truly symmetrical. Let me show you what I did with the first one….

First, I laid it on the table and drooled. Who wouldn’t?

I knew that I wanted to make a vase from this fabric. I found a shape in the fabric which I thought to be very vase-like and traced the shape onto a piece of template plastic. Next, I used that piece of plastic to make a freezer paper template and ironed it onto the back of the fabric and prepped the piece the way I normally do.

Here is the beginning of my vase. I could have easily left off the outside gold trim, but I just love the effect it has.

…and of course, every vase should have a base.

So far, so good!

The creative wheels starting turning and I wondered if I could make a few of the flowers from this same fabric? Of course I can! I cut a few simple shapes and starting playing. I think the key is to keep the shapes simple and let this stunning piece of fabric speak for itself! I added a dark chocolate brown piece which I used in the flower on the far right. I added this fabric to help define the shapes and so that the flowers do not look so smooshy.

Of course, when you are being truly creative, you are in total control of the situation. Just do what you want to and remember…changing your mind is certainly an option.

This piece is made of 3 simple leaf shapes. But look what happens when you flip them around and change the placement just a smidge. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Speaking of changing my mind…..do you remember this picture? And have you noticed there has been no further progress? That is because I changed my mind and decided to have this quilt machine quilted by Ruth at Stitching Impressions. So I spent an afternoon or two ripping out all of my hand-quilting stitches, knowing I was making the right decision. (Anyone who thinks that hand-quilting stitches are not very strong should spend a day or two ripping them out. Yikes!)

Ruth contacted me earlier this week and said my quilt will be ready to pick up next week. Here is a sneak peak. Major goosebumps!!!

And last, but not least, I am working away on Block 4 of Bed of Roses. Scrumptuous!

Til next time…

Kerry

2Aug2015

Bed of Roses…continued

Posted in Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Oh I hate when that happens! I pushed the Publish button a little too quickly! The patterns are not on the website yet. The patterns will be on the website this afternoon…I promise. So sorry for the confusion:)

Kerry

2Aug2015

Bed of Roses – Block 3

Posted in Bed of Roses, Bed of Roses BOM, Hand-Applique Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

When I begin a new quilting project, I soon form an impression or a feeling about the quilt. The impression I have about Sue Garman’s “Bed of Roses” is that it is a perfect example of the quote by Aristotle: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. The part (or pieces) of this quilt are actually quite simple….bias strips, circles and very simple shapes. Put them altogether and you end up with an awesome and very complex looking block. This block (and Blocks 1 & 2) are available on my website Simple Bird Studio. You can order just the patterns, or you can order each pattern with the same fabrics I am using.

If you would like a few simple tips on how to make bias strips, circles and other common shapes, you can watch my youtube videos. Always entertaining!

So, let’s start with the bias. These pieces get glued in place first because they will go under the next piece. Notice that I have trimmed these bias strips on an angle where they meet and will be covered.

Next, I added the flowers, which are made up some very simple pieces.

The next shape is very unassuming (and not very exciting!). But just you wait!

Add some more simple pieces and look what you end up with. I can’t be the only one getting goosebumps!

Now this next piece might look a little overwhelming, but just clip the curves and away you go!

Believe it or not, it just gets easier from here! Add some leaves….

…and some circles……

…and you have just completed a very easy (but most complex looking!) block!! How easy was that?

Til next time…

Kerry

26Jul2015

A Very Busy Summer!

Posted in Ladies of the Sea, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

It’s been a very busy summer for us this year. We arrived home from Ottawa late last night where we proudly watched my step-daughter, Alanna, perform on Parliament Hill as part of the Ceremonial Guard. (She is the one in the red jacket and black furry hat!!)

Everyday the band congregates at Drill Hall and marches on to Parliament Hill to perform during the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at 10 am sharp!

Alanna plays alto sax and is living proof that music programs in high school really are extremely important! Here she is with her very proud dad.

As we waited for the band to start marching, I noticed that the Drill Hall has some pretty cute quilty details!

Today, we are off to an all day barbecue and pool party for my niece, Olivia, who is going to school in Italy for 6 months. Oh! To be young again. So, I woke up early this morning so I get get some serious prepping time in.

I am thoroughly enjoying working on the first border of Sue Garman’s “Ladies of the Sea”, a quilt I am making for my son Chad. The pattern for this quilt (and a few others!) are available in my website, Simple Bird Studio.

The pieces are a little larger than Friends of Baltimore, so it doesn’t take that long to feel a real sense of accomplishment. As soon as we get back from the barbecue, I will stitch what I have spent the morning prepping!

First, I started with a few bias strips.

Next, I added some leaves and what I believe to be plums…

Next, I added various leaves, flowers, stars and berries.

Not to mention some delightful Lily of the Valley. Dainty!

So far, so good!

Til next time…

Kerry

11Jul2015

Steady Progress!

Posted in Ladies of the Sea, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I have been making pretty steady progress on the first border of my “Ladies of the Sea”. This quilt is intended for my son, so I am trying to keep the colours “manly”.

I love making bunches of grapes! I used 3 shades of purple. First I started with the dark grapes….

…then the medium grapes (although in the picture they look pretty dark!)…

…and next, the light grapes. Aren’t those little red stars adorable! I haven’t stitched them yet, so those pesky points are still sticking out. I think they look like little sea creatures. You can read about how I handle those pesky points here.

Next, I added a few more leaves and vines. I am not sure if you can tell from the picture, but some of my shapes are stitched in place, and some are not. That is how I work. I like to prep for a while (maybe an hour or so) and then I stitch for a while, usually in the evening in front of the TV.

So when it came time to stitch the maple leaves in the border, I decided to do needleturn. Yes, needleturn! When I made the first block of this quilt, I prepped all the pieces in the usual way, but decided to needleturn the maple leaves. You can see that post here.

Like most quilters, I have a scrap collection that just keeps growing. I decided to go through all my scraps and make as many diamonds as I can. I am using the 45 degree diamond from the Free Shape Collection from Inklingo.

Because I am using all different shapes and sizes of scraps, I am ending up with different amount of diamonds, so in order to stay super-organized, I drew some lines at 45 degree angles to give me a “map” of what my diamonds would look like once stitched together. So now, I can count up exactly how many diamonds of each fabric I need for a complete star. Oh! I almost forgot…I drew the lines to include the seam allowance. And, I used double sided tape to hold the diamonds on the paper, so they don’t fall off.

It is Saturday morning and I am still in my jammies, sipping my coffee and hand stitching my diamonds together. Can life get any better?? I think not!

Love it!

Til next time….

Kerry

20Jun2015

First border of Ladies of the Sea

Posted in Hand-Piecing, Hexagons, Inklingo, Ladies of the Sea, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I don’t think I am that different than anyone else when it comes to finding time to quilt. Lately, we have had our fair share of family barbecues, a couple of baptisms, weekends away and on and on and on!! I am trying my very best to squeeze in a few stolen moments here and there to work on my quilts. Here is what I have been working on….

Ladies of the Sea, a pattern by Sue Garman, caught my eye a while ago and I started working on the blocks last year. I decided to start one of the borders before I continued on with any more blocks, just to switch things up a bit!

I use the starch, stiletto and mini-iron method. This involves flipping the pattern over on to my light box and tracing the shapes. I don’t have the attention span to do all of my tracing at once, so I am constantly flipping my pattern over which is kind of annoying (and not an efficient way to work!). So I thought…Why can’t I just flip my freezer paper over instead of the pattern? So I traced the shapes onto the shiny side of the freezer paper using a Sharpie marker. (A Sharpie is the only thing I found that would leave a permanent mark and not smudge.)

Since I use 2 layers of freezer paper ironed together, I experimented and found if you place the shiny side with the markings on it on top of another sheet of freezer paper (paper side up, not shiny side up) the liquid starch will not make the Sharpie marks bleed all over your fabric! The traced lines are actually “captured” between 2 layers of freezer paper. Sweet!

Anyway, here is what I have accomplished so far. This pattern is available on my website Simple Bird Studio.

Last year, I discovered the joys of hand piecing using Inklingo. This is a hexie quilt I made earlier this year using Inklingo…

…and these are the leftover scraps, which I stitched into some log cabins blocks that will become part of the backing. I cut just cut and stitched, not worrying at all about matching colours or even the width of the strips. Very therapeutic!

I love entire Inklingo process and spent a couple of hours yesterday printing the 45 degree diamonds from the free collection. Lots and lots of them.

I have a quilt in mind and will show more when I have a bit more to show!

Til next time….

Kerry

27May2015

Bed of Roses…..Part 2!

Posted in Bed of Roses, Bed of Roses BOM, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Thanks to everyone for the overwhelming response to the first block of Bed of Roses!! I quickly sold out of patterns and BOM kits, but don’t worry, I quickly placed another order for patterns and they are on the way.

So, here are a few details about the Bed of Roses BOM. If you ordered Block 1 (pattern and fabric) I assume you are going to want all 12 blocks. I have put aside a complete set of patterns (and fabric) with your name on it. The fabric that you will receive in your kit is the exact same fabric as in mine! At the beginning of each month, I will write a blog post outlining how I prepped and stitched each block. That block will then be added to the website and you can order it at that time. Note: If for some reason (like maybe you are on vacation and quilting is the last thing on your mind!) you don’t order it at that time, that’s ok!! I will ship your block to you whenever you order it.

Bed of Roses is broken down into 12 patterns, so I will do one a month. However, you can start whenever you want. If you want to wait for a couple of months to see more of the finished blocks, you can order at that time. Really, I just want to keep it simple!!

Speaking of “keeping it simple”, I just finished the second part of Block 1. The first pattern consists of one block (which I showed in my last post) and 2 corner triangles. If you check closely you can see that I modified the flower centers a little. Feel free to do the same, or you can do the centers the way they are in the pattern. Again….just trying to keep it simple!

So, I stitched both corner triangles at the same time on a background square (rather than cutting 2 triangles and stretching the bias edges), a tip provided by Sue in the directions. You can see the diagonal centre crease.

Next, I added the pretty pink flowers.

Then I added the yellow centers and the green thingies.

Pretty simple, eh?

Til next time…

Kerry

18May2015

A Happy Quilt!

Posted in Hexagons, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

How much time and energy do you put into a quilt? Well, this past week I was absolutely consumed by my hexie quilt. I hit a bit of a snag…I ran out of background fabric and didn’t have enough fabric to fill in the top corner. What to do…..what to do?

Like most quilters, I have a stash that I am trying to work through. So when I first started my hexie quilt I challenged myself to use up every inch of the beige background (about 4.5 meters) I purchased long ago. I started in the middle and worked my way to the top half of the quilt. I wanted the bottom half of the quilt to be an exact mirror image of the top half. Notice there are 3 complete rows of hexies at the very top of the quilt.

When I started to work the exact same design on the bottom half of the quilt, I started to get this nagging feeling that I didn’t have enough background fabric to finish it. So instead of adding those three rows of hexies to the bottom, I decided to add some rosettes, so that would free up quite a few biege hexies. (I still had a lot of filling in to do.)

However, I still ran out of fabric (I was so darn close!) So I started looking at those top three rows of hexies and went to find my stitch ripper. Yes, I could have just ripped off one complete row and filled in the corner, but I had another idea! (And to be perfectly honest, it was not sitting well with me that the top and bottom were different. I didn’t think it looked balanced.) I ripped out the hexies in the shape of a rosette and reinforced some of the stitching that had come undone in this process.