Starting…..as opposed to finishing!!

Posted in Bouquet For a New Day, Grandmothers Choice, Hand-Applique Techniques, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Just when I thought I could not squeeze another project into my already crammed quilting schedule, something exciting came along and grabbed my attention!

While I was checking out Barbara Brackman’s Material Culture, a little button caught my eye. The button reads as follows: September 1st I’ll start a new blog with a free pattern Block of the Week. The topic: The Fight for Women’s Rights. Click on the button to see it.

How could I not click on the button??

So naturally, my life came to a complete halt! Out came the cutting mat and the rotary cutter and the ruler and the sewing machine…oh…and some fabric and away I went! I cut out one block….then said to myself…”If you are going to make one block, you might as well make three!”.

So…here are my blocks for Week 1. (Technically, this is Week 2 and I am already behind!) Wish me luck!

I am making steady progress on Sue Garman’s “Bouquets for a New Day”.

Once the stems were stitched in place, I added the flowers.

I have had the brown fabric I used for the vase for about 10 years. I always knew I would get around to using it!

And here is the finished block!

Til next time…….

Kerry

5Sep2012

It was a rainy day…..

Posted in Bouquet For a New Day, Hand-Applique Techniques, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

There is something about a a rainy day that makes me want to put on a pot of coffee and stay indoors and stitch! And that it exactly what I did!

I wanted to finish the 9th block from Sue Garman’s “Bouquets for a New Day”. So I chose fabrics for the vase and stitched them in place.

I love the touch of embroidery on this block! The sprigs of Baby’s Breath consists of many, many Colonial knots.

Here is the finished block!

Since I was on a bit of a roll (and it was still raining), I decided to start the next block!

First I stitched the star in place.

The leaves and vine pieces are one unit and a little tricky to prep. I ironed the freezer paper to the wrong side of the leaf fabric.

Then I cut around each unit leaving a scant 1/4″ seam allowance.

Using starch and a mini iron, I pressed the seam allowance in place. The deep curves are a little challenging…but still doable! (See below.)

I removed the freezer paper then glued all the pieces in place on the background. They are now ready to stitch in place!

Even though I am not finished all 12 blocks, I started sewing the quilt top together. As usual, Bruin had other plans for the blocks!

doable/ˈdo͞oəbəl/

Within one’s powers; feasible: “none of the jobs were fun, but they were doable”.

Til next time……

Kerry

28Aug2012

Officially Finished…with a few days to spare!

Posted in Amy's Quilt, Bouquet For a New Day, Hand-Applique Techniques, Quilt Labels, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I am “Officially Finished” Amy and Bruce’s wedding quilt! The quilt has a binding, a hanging sleeve…..

…and a label!!

The thing that surprised me the most was how much I loved having a hand-quilting project to work on. I knew I would miss having something to stitch on in the evenings. I kept thinking about my unfinished blocks of “Bouquets for a New Day”. I only have 4 blocks left to finish…. and a sawtooth border that is not going to make itself!! Hopefully, I can get it finished in the near future so I do not suffer too long from “Hand-Quilting Withdrawal”!

I worked on this block today. I am auditioning my fabrics for something that says “vase” to me.

I love this bit of detail. It is ” reverse appliqued” so the background shows from underneath the leaf!

Til next time…..

Kerry

26Aug2012

No surprises!

Posted in Amy's Quilt, Bouquet For a New Day, Civil War Bride Quilt, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Four years ago, I fell in love with this pattern! It is Sue Garman’s “Bouquets for a New Day”.

I finished eight of the 12 blocks and set them aside. Other projects called my name!

Do you recognize this blue fabric? It is one of the fabrics I used in Amy’s quilt.

I also have it in brown…and red…and green!

Anyway, I started thinking about these blocks and how much I would love to finish this quilt…soon!

But, I had a tiny problem. I was not in the habit of pre-washing my fabric four years ago. If I was going to have any surprises with colors running, I wanted it to be now and not later when the blocks were stitched into a quilt. So I decided to wash the finished blocks in Synthrapol. I am so glad I did! The excess dyes came out of the fabric…and down the drain!