Points….and a new label for an old quilt!

Posted in Hand-Applique Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Have you ever wondered how I tackle those pesky points that stick out of my prepped pieces? Well, go make a cup of tea or coffee because there are lots (I mean lots!) of photos. Hopefully you can stay awake! Oh! Before, I forget, almost all of the products I use are available for purchase on my website!

I am going to start right at the beginning. I use two layers of freezer paper to make my templates. I iron the template on to the wrong side of the fabric and cut the template out, leaving 1/4″ seam allowance. Next, I use starch and a paintbrush to apply starch to the seam allowance.

Then I use my Petite Press Mini Iron and my Stiletto and press the seam allowance over the freezer paper. Once the whole shape is prepped, I pop the freezer paper out.

These are the pesky points I am talking about!

Next, I use just a few dots of Roxanne’s Glue and place the prepped piece on the background that I have marked with a Clover Water Soluble Marker. Sometimes, I place all the pieces on the background and then start stitching. Other times I just place a few and stitch. If it is a really complicated design with lots of layered pieces, I just do a few at a time.

I thread my applique needle with matching thread. I use 60 weight Mettler thread. It is the one with the green lettering on the spool.

Still awake? Good! Ok, next I scrunch the background in my left hand and start stitching. The very first stitch I take is in the very tip of the point. Notice the pesky point is at the bottom, and I am stitching on top of the piece.

I start stitching, from right to left, until I get to the other point. I take my last stitch in the very tip of that point.

So now we are going to trim that point a little. I hold my scissors parallel to the folded edge and trim off just a tiny bit. Keep your thread out of the way!

Then I turn the angle of my scissors and trim off that other little point. The tip of the scissors should be underneath the piece.

It should look something like this!

Next, I take my Perfect Scissors and tuck the trimmed point under the piece. These scissors work perfectly for this because they are blunt at the end.

So, I just continue on my merry way, until I get to the point at the other end.

I trim the point and tuck the point under in the same way as before.

Finally, I just stitch to the end. Voila!

Today is my daughters 27th birthday. Yikes! Where did the time go? I made this quilt for her and gave it to her on her 10th birthday. The inspiration for the appliqued circles on the border came from the opening credits of my favorite TV show, “3rd Rock from the Sun”!

For some reason, I still have the quilt, but I think it’s time to give it back to her. I noticed the writing on the old label has faded over time.

So, I had a new label made for the back of the quilt. Happy Birthday, Kelly!

Til next time…

Kerry

18Sep2013

Stunning!

Posted in Civil War Bride Quilt, Hand-Applique Techniques, Sunday Afternoon Applique Group, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I love getting together with my Sunday Afternoon Applique group! We stitch, we chat, we eat, but most of all, we inspire each other! This past Sunday was no exception. Brenda did more than her fair share of inspiring. She brought her “Aunt Millie’s Garden” in for us to drool over! Take a close look at the sashing. Brenda designed a different sashing than what the original pattern had. Awesome! This beautiful quilt was machine quilted by Elite Quilting

I have started working away on the border of Civil War Bride. First I made the bias stems and glued them in place.

I had so much fun making fussy-cut butterflies for the blocks, I decided to continue on the borders. Would you think this fabric would make a pretty cool butterfly?

Check out the butterfly on the left!

Next, I added a pretty blue bird and a purple posy. It’s a good start!

Some of you have contacted me asking about the pattern for the tulip quilt in my last blog post. The pattern is from an old “Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine”. There is a pattern for the block on my website that you can download. The best part is, it is a free download! Here is what you do…click on the button in the top right hand corner of my blog that says “Check out my new website.” Then, click on On-Line Store. Then, click on Part 1 and Part 2 of Circle of Tulips. Easy peasy! While you are there, you can also check out the first of my Hand- Applique Tutorials.

Til next time…

Kerry

18Aug2013

A Sharply Dressed Elephant!

Posted in Civil War Bride Quilt, Hand-Applique Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Once I finished both of the horses (and a nice little trough) I was ready to start the elephant. I searched through my stash for some gray fabric. I didn’t want just any gray fabric, I wanted something an elephant would be proud of! Sadly, the only gray fabric I own is a tone-on-tone that just says “blah”. So, I went shopping. And this is what I found! I am not exactly sure if it is even gray…maybe more of a brownish-gray-taupe kind of colour. The moment I laid eyes on it, though, I knew it’s destiny!

So…I did the same thing with the elephant legs that I did with the horses legs. I cut the templates into easier to manage pieces.

Next, I prepped the legs, tail and tusks.

Then came the trunk.

And the body.

And an ear!

The whole time I was working on all the body parts, I was wondering what fabric I should use for the blanket on his back. This is what I chose! Spiffy!

Til next time…

Kerry

P.S. I just noticed in the photo that the elephant appears to be walking on water! I may have to rethink that!

5Aug2013

So Many Options!

Posted in Civil War Bride Quilt, Hand-Applique Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I am very close to have all the blocks of Civil War Bride Quilt finished. Yipee!

This block went together pretty quickly. As I was working on it, I kept thinking that something was missing. Like stems, leaves and flowers. Not a single one in the entire block!

So I started with a bird and a rooster.

And I added a cat.

There was something that was nagging at me about the combination of fabrics I was using, so I moved onto the butterflies. I did a little bit of fussy-cutting for the butterfly wings. I made a few sets of wings so I could audition them.

These butterflies made the final cut.

These ones didn’t. Although very interesting, all I see is raccoon eyes!

And cat eyes!

So you can see from the finished block, the red calico cat is now black, and the blue bird is red. It is always good to keep your options open!

Speaking of options, the brochure from The Elly Sienkiewicz Applique Academy is now online! So many great teachers and awesome classes! Time to start checking out all the options!

Til next time,

Kerry

1Jul2013

An Intriguing Ostrich!

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

Even in this heat, I am still managing to get some hand-quilting done! Here is another block from Sue Garman’s “Bouquets for a New Day”.

With only 2 blocks left to quilt, I am starting to give some thought to the borders. The half-square triangle inner border has me a little stumped. Not sure how I will quilt all those triangles! The good news is, I found a stencil that I love for the outer border. Not only do I love the cable design, it fits the border perfectly!

Now that I (0nly!) have 5 blocks left of Civil War Bride, I am getting really antsy to finish it! I love this next block! I must say I really don’t know too much about ostriches. But I find them intriguing, just the same! First I started with the stems and some leaves.

Next, I added some pretty pink flowers.

I used Ultra-Suede for the legs and beak.

Next came the fun part! I found this fabric in my stash (of all places)! It is one of those landscape fabrics that looks like tall grass. It has stripes of different colours and shapes of grass, which I think is brilliant.

I turned the fabric upside down and here is what I saw….ostrich feathers!

And here is one very intriguing ostrich!

Til next time…

Kerry

26Jun2013

Setting the Table

Posted in Civil War Bride Quilt, Hand-Applique Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

For some reason, this block seemed to be taking a long time! Finally, it’s finished!

The first thing I did was change the carpet. I wanted the tablecloth to be the focus of this block. The first fabric I used for the carpet fought with the fabric for the tablecloth, so I changed it. Maybe it’s because they both read as “mediums” or maybe it’s because they are both “busy”. Either way, it just wasn’t working! I prefer to audition a few (or more!) fabrics until I find the one that screams “I am the one!”

Out with the old…

…in with the new!

Next, I added the bottom layer of the tablecloth. I did not need to make another template, I just used the one from the original tablecloth. Of course, it didn’t have to be the full size, so I just used what I needed.

Then, I added the vase, some vines and a couple of apple stems. The fabric for the vase is from a line called “Maid of Honor” by Bonnie Sullivan and Maywood Studios. It actually looks like cracked pottery!

Lots of leaves followed, along with a couple of apples. Or are they peaches?

This morning I embroidered the cherry stems…

…and yippee! This block has just had a bubble bath and is resting comfortably!!

Til next time…

Kerry

19Jun2013

I See Table Legs!

Posted in Civil War Bride Quilt, Hand-Applique Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Every quilter looks at fabric differently. Some see color, some see patten and some see possibilities!

When I started thinking about choosing fabrics for the next block of Civil War Bride, I wanted to do something really special for the table legs. I searched high and low through my stash and this is what I found! Do you see the table legs?

First, I measured the width of the stripe I wanted to use.

Then I measured the pattern. Pretty close!

So I cut the freezer paper templates out and placed them very carefully on the wrong side of the fabric.

Since I will be using one of Karen Kay Buckley’s “Perfect Circles” for the round part, I am just cutting straight pieces for the legs.

Here are the legs.

Moving right along to the table cloth! This is how I traced the tablecloth. First I traced just half of the pattern on the freezer paper.

I folded it in half and cut along the line. Call me crazy, but I like when both halves of a pattern are exactly the same!

Next, I ironed the pattern on the back of the fabric making sure that the pattern was centered. I wanted the red stripes to be at each end of the table.

…and here we go! There is still a piece that goes under the tablecloth, I just have to choose a matching fabric!

Til next time….

Kerry

16Jun2013

Another block…another nest!

Posted in Civil War Bride Quilt, Hand-Applique Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Time to start another block of Civil War Bride. I almost(!) have enough blocks to sew another row together!! And you know how excited I get when I can stitch another row together. So here we go…

First I prepped the branches and stitched them in place. I used a brown fabric with shocking pink little flowers on it just to give the block a bit of oomph! (Definition of oomph…An extra push. An ingredient or a factor that will make something better or perfect.)

Next, came the leaves and the nest. Do you recognize the nest? You may have seen it here.

So, keep this tip in mind if you are making this quilt. You can make a couple of nests, audition them both, and use both! Waste not, want not and all that jazz!

Then, I placed a bird in the branches.

I really like to use Ultra-Suede for the feet and the beaks. First, I cut 2 triangles for the beaks. You don’t have to include a seam allowance, except for the part that goes under the body.

I glued half of the beak in place then trimmed a tiny bit of the corner off.

Then I glued the other half of the beak in place. I trimmed a bit of the corner off, also, so that the triangles would not overlap. Ultra-Suede is rather thick! Finally, I put the bird fabric back in place and stitched it in place, stitching right through Ultra-Suede, and into the background.

On to the feet! I ironed the freezer paper templates onto the Ultra-Suede. I am not really sure if there is a wrong side or a right side. They both look good to me!

So I cut the feet out and placed them under the body. At this point, the entire body has not been stitched in place yet. When I stitch the Ultra-Suede in place I try to match the color of the thread as closely as I can. I take just a tiny “bite” of the Ultra Suede and (very important) I don’t pull the thread too tight. If I do, then the Ultra-Suede looks dimpled along the sewn edge.

Since I wanted this to be a male bird, I added a golden brown wing and tail. Very manly!

I wanted the second bird to be female, so I chose a pretty fabric for her body and a nice red feather and tail. I added the eggs to the nest and…Voila!

Til next time…

Kerry

2May2013

A Productive Day!

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

It is not very often that I sit at my sewing machine and stitch the day away, but that is what I did yesterday! I cut out and stitched…get ready….12 blocks from Grandmother’s Choice Block of the Week! My plan is to make 3 quilts using these 8″ blocks, so I am stitching 3 variations of the same block. I love to see how different fabric placement can drastically change the look of the block. Here are the blocks:

This block is called “I Am An Anti”. Honestly, I did not fussy cut the pink squares on purpose. It just happened!

Next on the runway is “Carrie Nation”.

Followed by “Mr. Roosevelt’s Necktie”.

And, last but not least, is “Jack’s Delight”.

Jenny and Bruin like to keep me company when I sew. They are kind of famous! Check out their youtube video here.

This is my latest finished block from “Bouquets For a New Day”. 5 more blocks to go!

The navy blue fabric in the vase is left over from an Irish Chain quilt I made for my Mom.

Most of this block from “Civil War Bride” is stitched in place. I started to think that maybe the table that the vase is sitting on is too dark for the overall look of the block. So I cut out another table piece and auditioned it. I do like it better.

My #1 rule in applique (and life) is this….fix something while it’s in the block stage, rather than finish the whole quilt and kick yourself because you were too busy…or too tired…or too lazy to fix it! I have been guilty of all 3!

Til next time…

Kerry

23Apr2013

Stitching the Night Away

Posted in Bouquet For a New Day, Civil War Bride Quilt, Hand-Applique Techniques, Hand-Quilting Tools, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Most evenings you will find me on the couch, hand-quilting the night away. Once my needle hits the fabric, all the stress and tension of the day just seems to melt away. Here is the latest block of Sue Garman’s “Bouquets For A New Day”. So, now I have 6 blocks quilted, and 6 more to go…oh… and a border. (Heavy Sigh)

I have started working on the next block of Civil War Bride. It can be tricky to figure out what order to place the stems on the background. If the raw edge of “Stem A” is going to be covered with “Stem B”, then “Stem A” needs to be glued in place first. (It’s easier than it sounds!!)

First, I put a few dabs of glue along the traced line, rather than putting glue on the actual stems. This will be “Stem A”. You can see that this stem will be covered by another stem.

Next, I carefully placed the stem on the line. Because the stems are cut on the bias, they are easy to curve along the line.

Then, I used the line that the next bias strip will be placed on as a guide to trim the stem to the correct length. I have added a few dabs of glue to hold the next stem in place.