Update on Some Recent Applique

Finding time lately to quilt has been a challenge.. and finding time to blog about it has been even more of a challenge.  I guess it is just that time of year.  We have had some family visits, weekends away, and time spent getting our beach condo ready for the rental season.  The condo is now ready for our first guests which arrived yesterday, so now we can relax a bit.  This time of year, with the warmer weather upon us,  is a time to slow down, get out of my studio, and get back to some slow stitching. 

Do you remember this?  If you don't, you shouldn't feel bad because I am not even sure I ever posted the start of this block.  I can't find any reference to it, but I am guessing it was close to a year ago that I started this block from the A Bountiful Life quilt.  Where does the time go???

I finally picked it up again a few weeks ago.  I think I know what was stopping me...  those darn bird feet!  I love all the birds in this quilt, but those feet sure are challenging!

 Four feet... I just needed to get them done so I could move on with this block.  I label the freezer paper patterns so I remember where they belong on the block.

Once I got them done, I could add the Red Winged Blackbirds to the block. Will anyone notice I changed the fabric for the bird feet?  I knew that a batik would fray a lot less than a regular cotton fabric.  And it was easier... but still challenging.  I also changed the beaks, making them closed rather than the open beaks in the pattern.  Much easier!

After a dip in the spa, my block was clean and ready to be pressed. Oh it felt so good to get this one finally done!! 

I wanted to keep this momentum going and moved right on to the next block, The Peacock.  I always start with the stems and baste down the leaves.  You can see the blue marking pen I use to mark the pattern on my fabric.  There is a lot going on in these blocks and it is easy to not have everything fit together. 

Here are some of the fabrics I have chosen from my stash for the peacock and the roses.

And, of course, I will have more bird feet to deal with.  I need to change them a bit to make them easier to applique.. besides they look a little strange to me. :-)

Also completed awhile ago is this block from My Enchanted Garden.  Funny that I am working on both of these quilts and they are both based on the Bird of Paradise quilt. 

Love the wool and cotton combination.

And the addition of the beads. 

But my favorite part of this block is the bunny. So sweet. 

I'm linking up at Kathy's Quilts Slow Sunday Stitching.  Hopefully I can get some stitching done today!

Happy Stitching!

Happy Father's Day to everyone.  If you are lucky enough to still have your Dad with you, give him a big hug if you can!!

Deb

Garden Update and Quilters are the NICEST People!

Hope everyone had a wonderful and joyous Easter!  The sun was shining most of the day here and we are finally without any trace of snow!  

I did some work on the My Enchanted Garden quilt.  This is block number 6 - Bountiful Tree.  I wanted to work on this rabbit; thought it was appropriate for the day!  I made one small, but important change.

You can see here that the rabbit in the pattern doesn't have a tail...  ???  How can that be?

I felt that this poor little bunny just had to have a tail.  You can see I added a nice tan tuft on his back end. LOL

I am adding the grapes and berries... and some embroidery details to some of the leaves.

 

Now for the Quilters are the nicest people part.... but you already knew that, right?

I received in the mail on Saturday an envelope from Diane at Butterfly Threads Quilting.  If you remember, Diane was the winner of my National Quilting Day giveaway. 

She was so appreciative and happy with her prize, she sent me three of her patterns as a Thank You!  Is that not the nicest thing!!!???

Thank you Diane!!!  I love the patterns!

 

You can see these and more of Diane's patterns by clicking here.

 

Happy Stitching!

 

Deb

 

My Enchanted Garden - Another Block Completed

I have been wanting to post an update on the My Enchanted Garden quilt.  I have finished the Delicious Berries block.

The finishing step to each block is the beading.  Which I really enjoy if I can sit down long enough to do it! LOL

Some detail of the bird.....

and the flowers.

On to the next block....

I skipped forward to block 6 "Bountiful Tree".  I liked the rabbit in this one and thought it would help me feel more like it was Spring.  

I have made some nice progress on this one, which I will have to show you next time. :-)  Right now I am just going to enjoy working on this one today.

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Linking up at Slow Sunday Stitching! 

Slow Sunday Stitching - Waiting for More Snow

Another snow storm is on it's way to Northwest New Jersey.  Seems to be the pattern this year of snow on Sunday into Monday.  That's okay - the perfect excuse to stay in my studio today and sew.

Today I plan on continuing to work on the Delicous Berries block from My Enchanted Garden.  Here is the progress as of today.  Still some pieces to be added.

I decided to make the wings of this bird two different shades of wool, just to add some interest.  Or was it because I couldn't make up my mind...  Hmm.. don't remember. :-)

This pretty blue flower still needs some circles added to it.  Need to do that today!

And what is this?  What would the week be without something new??? :-0

I decided to jump into the Stars In A Time Warp quilt along on Barbara Brackman's blog - Civil War Quilts.  Anyone who knows Barbara's work knows she is an incredible CWR fabric designer and fabric historian.

This quilt along is a little different than most.  First of all it is weekly; second Barbara shares a history lesson on each style of fabric chosen each week.  Along with history on the dyes and manufacturing of fabrics  and even setting options for your blocks.  So interesting to learn the history of some of the fabrics we use!

So I had some catching up to do.  Here is my first block featuring Turkey Red fabric.  

Week 2 was Prussian Blue.  The blocks are the same each week: Evening Star block.

Shirting Prints came next, used in the background of my block.  The blocks measure 6".

For week 4 the color was Chrome Orange or Cheddar.  This is a color I have come to really like in my reproduction quilts.  It adds an unexpected spark among some of the duller colors.  

Overdyed Green Solids was a challenging fabric for me.  Barbara describes it as a grassy or lime green.

Double Pink has always been one of my favorites.  Again, love the spark of color!

I  have one more block to go to get caught up.  Need to understand what Madder-style prints are! :-)  I am getting an education along with making these wonderful star blocks!  

Thanks to Barb over at Fun with Barb for inspiring me to join the quilt along!  

Of course I will keep you posted... or you can join too!!!

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Linking up at Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts and Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River.

My Enchantment Continues

Work on the My Enchanted Garden quilt continued this long weekend.  I was finally able to get the stitching and beading done on block number 2 - Happy Bouquet. 

Here is the finished block, pressed and trimmed down to the final size - 12 1/2" x 16 1/2"

Some detail on the lovely flowers in this bouquet

And of course, the beading.  Which I finished on Sunday. :-)

Love all the detail in this quilt.  See the petals on the sunflower top layer are not sewn down.  Nice dimension.

I have even moved onto block number 3 - Delicious Berries.  Here is the photo from the book and part of my color palette in cotton and wool.

I start with the embroidered stems, using a size 8 Valdani Perle cotton.  Next are the leaves in cotton and wool, and that wonderful bird. 

My sewing room is feeling a little out of control these days.  Can you imagine that I might feel a little overwhelmed?   I need to learn to focus.. More on that later. :-)

 

Happy Stitching!

 

Deb

Slow Sunday Stitching... Beading and Wool Work

What are you working on today?  Such a common question among quilters... and so much variety out there!

I'm made some nice progress on the My Enchanted Garden blocks this week.  One is completely done and one is close to being finshed.

Earlier this morning I took out my beads and did the finishing touches on the first block, known as Zen Bird.  All the colors of those beads were a feast for the eyes.  What can turn a gal's head better than something colorful and sparkly. :-)

I added glass seed beads around some of the flowers and on some of the leaves.  I really liked how the tiny seed beads sunk into the wool.  The wool was a good foundation for the beads, which are stitched on snuggly.

I use Nymo nylon thread for my beading.  It is pre-waxed for ease of use and twisted for strength. 

I have not beaded in quite awhile.  It is very relaxing... like hand quilting.

I will be working on the second block, Beautiful Bouquet today.  Doing some slow stitching with cotton and wool and hoping to get the applique done on this block.

You can see I have added more flowers from what it looked like earlier in the week. 

I hope you get some time to stitch today.  I am linking up at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching... and waiting for more snow. :-(

Happy Stitching!

Deb

WIP Wednesday - Or, What have a done so far this week?

There was no time in my studio this past weekend. :-(  But the foyer has a nice, clean, fresh coat of paint on it!  

One of my goals this year it try to post to my blog more often.  It does take time, so we'll see how that goes!

However, I have moved onto the second block of the My Enchanted Garden quilt.  This is how it looked at the end of last week.

The book is great with really clear instructions and wonderful color photos.  You can see that I changed the color of the vase to a blue and white print.  Since I have a small collection of Blue Willow and Flow blue dishes, I thought it was more appropriate!

The book also has full size downloadable patterns.. so nice!  No playing around with enlarging on the copy machine, although I think that option is available also.  But mine never seem to line up when I do that!

This is my progress on this block as of today.

I still need to do the beading on the first block.  I will try to show that finished block next.

Happy Stitching!

Deb