January Blues

No time for January blues this year! A new year and so much to do. As I visit blogs, I see many quilters trying to finish up last years projects. Others, will have it no other way, than to begin the year with a new one. And, lots of resolutions being made. Some even saying they are not going to purchase any fabric this year. Can you imagine? Those crazy quilter's! What a sense of humor! Don't they know.....

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. ~Author Unknown

And, how about the free BOM's? Country Calender , Once Upon a Time , A Tisket, A Tasket 12 Months of Baskets , Red Delicious and A Christmas Wish and challenges like, One Project a Month , This Quilter is Going Green and Project Improv.

My Dear Jane and Quilted Diamond journey continues, but I will have to begin my Polka-Dot Girls again. Yesterday I pressed My Friends, from the back, and when I flipped it over it was covered in tiny bubbles. Just like when you hang wallpaper and if gets bubbles behind it. If you look closely at the photo (fence area shows it best) you will see the bubbles I am talking about.It appears the fabric and Pellon separated during pressing. I tried to press down the tiny bubbles with my mini iron, but it didn't work. My stitchery is ruined. On the bright side, I had only completed two and I had not yet ironed the Pellon onto the back of the rest of the stitchery blocks. Why I used a fusible in the first place, I don't know. How could that be any different then paper glued to paper. It gets wavy and in time, discolours and comes apart. I should have enough fabric left to recut the first couple of blocks. Now, how to back my stitchery?? Most likely, I will use a thin muslin. I have heard only good things about muslin. Another option is a thin batting. May Britt uses both polyester and cotton batting. Cotton being a little harder to work with. I read on the Internet, when using cotton, if you don't use a hoop, your stitchery will have a quilted look. That would be nice, on the right project. Oh well. Live and learn. No hurry I say.....

The only thing that has to be finished by next Tuesday is next Monday. ~Jennifer Yane

Before Christmas, I went through my stash, in search of red fabric. It was time to prepare for Red Delicious. How disappointing! What a sad collection of red fabric. But, Santa brought me a wonderful collection. Have you seen Quaker Quilts by Judie Rothermel for Marcus Fabric? This is what I will be using for Red Delicious and my background fabric will be a very bright yellow. Put your sunglasses on!

Started and finished appliqueing my Cherry Butterfly block this past week. My Dad selected all the fabric and I think it's just beautiful! The pattern is from a wonderful book called Circles of The East, by Kumiko Sudo. Now, I need to decide what to turn it into. Any ideas?

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

Mission Accomplished

My goal last week was to complete my Japanese Lanterns and Homespun Cupcakes and see how far I could get on Waste Not, Want Not. I am happy to report, I finished all three.

 

 

First up, the Japanese Lanterns. I purchased the fabric at one of the booths at the International Quilt Festival, in Chicago, last year. That was a fun trip. My sister went through my stash and decided on this fabric for the lanterns. I think it was the perfect choice. The lanterns were pieced back in early June, so it is about time I finished them.

 
When I pieced together my Amish Bars, which I have yet to decide how I am going to quilt it, I had some strips left, so I pieced them together and made Waste Not, Want Not, a colourful table topper. You would have to enlarge the photo (if you can) to see the multi coloured thread I used to stitch in the ditch . I was pleasantly surprised with the results.

Last up, Homespun Cupcakes. The finished quilt measures 16.5 x 16.5 inches and the cupcakes are 2.5 inches tall. I hand appliqued the cupcakes. These tasty treats seem to have gained some popularity, in the quilting world.

Saturday was off to the quilt shop for the summer clearance sale. I managed to come home with a few things. Charm squares of Shangri-la by 3 Sisters for Moda, charm squares of At Water's Edge by Blackbird Design for Moda, lots of fat quarters of At Water's Edge and Dandelion Girl by Joanna Figueroa Fig Tree Quilts for Moda, some 1930's fabric and a piece of orange batik.

Have you downloaded this weeks Stitchers' Angel project yet? Natalie from Cinderberry Stitches designed a cute mini tote called, Blue Wren's Nest.

 

 

Tasha Tudor

August 28, 1915 - June 18, 2008

Celebrate Tasha Tudor Day August 28. To learn more about Tasha, go to Tasha Tudor and Family. Tasha was renowned for her Afternoon Tea parties, so what better way to celebrate her life, then with a tea party.

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen