Not that I need another project!!

Posted in Civil War Bride Quilt, Friends of Baltimore, Hand-Applique Techniques, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Oh!!! It finally arrived!! Talk about speedy delivery!!

A couple of years ago when I was at The Ellie Sienkiewicz Applique Academy, a student showed her stunning version of The Civil War Bride Quilt at Show and Tell. You can imagine the ooohhs and aahhhs from the audience! It has been on my radar ever since I saw it. Thank goodness for the internet! I happened upon the pattern on Threadbare’s website. Needless to say, the check was in the mail and I have been (im)patiently waiting by the mailbox.

Now the fun begins!! I am now auditioning fabrics and backgrounds!! This is such a good way to spend an afternoon!

Of course, I am still stitching away on Friends of Baltimore.

It’s amazes me how much I get done when I actually sit down and stitch. Sometimes I can’t sit down because my chair is occupied!!

Til next time……..

Kerry

20Jun2012

Steady progress….

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

I have never considered myself a stalker! Well, that is, until I discovered Sue Garman and her amazing, amazing quilts!

I had heard of Sue Garman, but it was not until I saw an ad in a quilt magazine for her Block- of- the- Month, “Ladies of the Sea”, that my jaw hit the floor! I was awestruck. I had to meet her! I emailed her and asked her how she stays motivated. She gave me the best advice….only work on quilts that you absolutely love, not sort of love, not kind of love….just absolutely love!

I absolutely love Friends of Baltimore (another one of Sue’s BOMs) so it is easy to stay motivated!

I was lucky enough to meet Sue Garman a couple of years later at Quilt Market. I told her I was her biggest fan and she giggled! I wonder if she knows how much of an inspiration she is?

The fuchsias on this block are actually dimensional which makes the block interesting.

Here is how you make them..

Make 2 circles using the 1 1/4″ Perfect Circle. Use a light and dark fabric and make sure you use matching thread.

Fold one of the circles in towards you and pinch with your fingers.

Take the second circle and fold it around the first circle.

Take a few stitches to hold the petals in place.

Thread an embroidery needle with a couple strands of embroidery floss. I used yellow. Knot the thread and stitch through the back to the opening at the top of the flower. The knots will be on the back of this unit. Cut the thread an inch or two from the flower. Repeat this step a couple of times.

I used the starch method on the calyxes, so that means the seam allowance is already turned over.

Now I can just glue it in place at the base.

Lift up the opening and tuck the flower under the calyx and glue in place. Easy peasy!

Til next time…..

Kerry

5Jun2012

An honest day’s work!

Posted in Feathered Star Quilt, Friends of Baltimore, Hand-Applique Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

It was going to be a great day!! Our new counter tops were being installed by a company that required someone over the age of 18 be home…for the whole day!! An entire day devoted to applique! I thought it would be a good opportunity to work on block 5 of Sue Garman’s “Friends of Baltimore”. I had already stitched a few of the grapes in place and I was looking forward to sewing on the bird’s tail feathers. Well! Little did I know that before all the tail feathers could be stitched in place, the grapevine needed to be stitched down. And before the grapevine could be stitched down, the stems and leaves needed to be stitched in place! A lot of stitching needed to be done before I could get to the tail feathers!

Here are a few pictures of the very slow (but extremely rewarding) progress I made today!! I know it doesn’t look like I accomplished much….but really I did!!

I stitched a few skinny stems down so I could add some leaves.

Then I started to add the tail feathers, one by one.

Before I could add the under-body of the bird, I needed to add some brown grapevines.

Then I could finally stitch the bird’s under-body and the very last tail feather!!

I am still working away on my Feathered Star. I must confess, these blocks didn’t excite me too much when I made them 3 years ago….which is why they probably ended up somewhere in my closet. Now that I have sewn the blocks together and added a sashing, I am delighted! I thought I would add some appliqued flowers in the white spaces. I am not sure about that now. I think it looks fine without it. What this quilt really needs is an appliqued border. It’s a toss-up between formal swags cut from the feature fabric or a nice curvey vine with some flowers. (I am waiting for the quilt to tell me what it needs!!)