Cool Trick: Buttonhole Applique

This was posted on the Quilter's Renegade FB group, and I thought it such a neat idea.

Instead of guesstimating or using Tiger Tape, mark your finger and use it as a guide when doing buttonhole applique by hand. How cool is this?

This Heart Roped Me In! (TSS 001)

Full confession time: With such a full plate this year I had intended to be a voyeur during The Splendid Sampler quilt-along, I planned to save the patterns but just watch the beautiful blocks fill my screen on Facebook. But the first two blocks were too fabulous to pass up! So, here I go - feet first. I may not make all of them but will create the ones I enjoy.

Here's my first one - I haven't appliquéd in years! But it was very enjoyable (yes, Chooky, I admit it! It was as relaxing as you promised!). Luckily it was quite easy to step back into the world with my applique kit and notecard readily at hand).

Mine will be a scrap quilt and, gasp! I intend to cut into my precious charm packs! I'm at the age where I realize life is too short to save the good stuff!

Looking forward to this journey.

Tip: The Ease of Adding a Label

I'm so geeked - so close to finishing my sister's quilt!  But I wanted to make sure I didn't rush the ending of it so today I focused on the label.  I've discussed tricks to creating decorative labels in the past, but, since the rest of the quilt is pretty "busy", I wanted something simple and sweet.

Here's my method for adding a label to the quilt. I perform these steps after quilting & trimming the top but before adding the binding.

1. Using leftover fabric from your backing (I normally used the strips leftover when I trim my quilt after quilting), sew 1" strips to each side of your label.

2. Using the edge of your white fabric as a guide, press the top and left edges of your backing fabric to the back of the label.  These will be your applique edges.

3. Align your label to the lower, right corner of the quilt back.  Pin in place.  Hand-applique the upper and left edges of the label to the back of the quilt.

4. Perform your normal steps for adding the binding to the quilt, catching the right and lower edges of the label in your machine stitching.  When you sew the binding down in the back, it will cover the raw edges of the label.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

This method has several advantages:

• Because you border all sides with coordinating backing pieces, the applique stitches blend in beautifully into backing.
• Also, since I'm not appliqueing the white square directly to the background, the seam won't "shadow through" to the front of the label.
• For those that don't enjoy appliqueing, you only have 2 sides to stitch down.
• The other two sides are secured in the binding. 

A Good Book to Read

Still plugging away at my Some Kind of Wonderful! A block a month!

 

Life is too Short to wait for an Iron

I completed this SKoW block a week ago, but I haven't had a chance to pull out the iron. Plus, it's winter so no good lighting. I finally decided to post as is.

This is my favorite block, so far. Hard to believe I was a newbie at appliqué last year. What fun!

Happy Monday!

 

My House is a Home

Finished another block! Woot!

Kinda re-thinking the yellow door, though...

Happy Saturday!

Elisa

 

Another One to Check Off

A girlfriend (Hi, Lisa!) once told me that she never makes New Year's resolutions. Because once you fail, you think, "There's always next year." Instead, she makes monthly or weekly resolutions.

So, instead of stressing over my pile of incomplete blocks, I'm celebrating my little victories. Hope to have another to share tomorrow or Thursday.

Happy stitching,

Elisa

Whole Lotta Stitching Going On

Chooky (from my Some Kind of Wonderful stitch-along) has cracked the whip for our upcoming deadline. Although I will not make it (it's been a complicated summer), I am in full stitch mode. If I really push things I may get the top done by deadline, but I've decided I want this one "done right" and not "done quick". I just hope I don't get booted in the next round.

Now that I'm able to focus on my SAL, I've been working on all my blocks simultaneously - LOL. All my blocks are in different stages of undress.... er.. completion! Many are complete (I've shared those already). Some are appliquéd and half stitched. Some are appliquéd and marked for stitching. Some are cut out. Some just have their selected fabrics next to the pattern

Can't wait to share!

Happy stitching,

Elisa

 

I <HEART> Family

Today was a day of joy and sadness in the family. It seems fitting that I finished this block today.

For the privacy of others, I cannot say more. But... Take a moment to hug your loved ones.

Elisa

 

Needle Has Been Busy

See? I told you I've been working on my blocks! I've been working on the appliqué all week - the embroidery shouldn't take long. Pretty cool, eh?

Though, I have to admit, I'd probably get more done if I wasn't distracted by this!

The family went caching at Willow Metropark - working on our MGA12 puzzle.

Will share block close ups when the stitching is done!

Happy stitching!

Elisa

 

Inside | Out Art and Cracking the Whip

It's that time of year again!

The Detroit Institute of Arts has taken up residence in our local communities! Thirteen towns in Southeast Michigan are hosting the DIA's Inside | Out Exhibit. Approximately a half dozen reproduced Masterpieces dot each town - hung outside coffee shops, libraries, boutiques. It's a fabulous way to introduce everyone to the original gems housed downtown and gives us an excuse to explore small towns.

So far this season, Lorna and I have explored Canton, Northville, Ferndale, and Troy.

We've discovered that Canton has some wonderful outdoor art made by local artists (loved the glass and iron sculpture outside the library).

Downtown Northville has great Angus burgers at a bar with outdoor seating.

Ferndale's works are TOO close to a great new taqueria called The Imperial.

Troy's art is located in it's historic village (of which, neither of us knew existed!).

I believe we may be visiting Waterford and Clawson next. Alongside the art, the Michigan Geocaching Organization has hid a corresponding Geocache at each location. We love a good puzzle!

Never fear, though. Ginger has been hovering on my armrest all night making sure I meet my appliqué goals for my SKoW. Who knew that I'd grow to actually enjoy the "A" word! I'm also pleased that I've learned not to stress over the "perfect block" and am having fun! I'll share some pics once the embroidery is complete.

Hope you have an outstanding weekend!

Elisa

 

A Little Applique... Some Cars... and a Giraffe

My dear friend, Lauri, has reminded me it’s been a week since I posted.  I was waiting until I had some completed blocks to show you (I have 5 in their final stages), but I guess she misses me.

My five blocks are part of the Something Kind of Wonderful International stitching group.  It’s a large quilt using needle-turn applique and embroidery.  Have I mentioned I didn’t know how to applique?  Nothing like diving in with both feet!  I’m terribly behind because summer (and all its distractions) is in full swing!

I’m using the freezer-paper beneath/Roxanne glue method so I can focus on my stitches rather than holding the pieces in place.  I’ve tried the glue stick method – I guess I’m too heavy-handed as I keep shredding the fabric.  I’ve used small applique pins -  jammed one right under my thumb nail.  I’ve tried basting the pieces to the fabric – it was so time consuming and those little pieces are a bear. 

There are several things I’ve learned from the freezer paper/Roxanne method:

·        Buy freezer paper in bulk – you go through more than you expect.

·        I mark the applique shape to the shiny part of the freezer paper and then fuse several pieces together.  This guarantees a mirror image when you adhere the freezer paper to the wrong side of the fabric.

·        Make sure everything is cool before you start cutting/shifting.

·        SKIMP on the glue!  It’s amazing how little it takes to hold everything in place.

·        Watch the YouTube video on cleaning the glue applicator if you ever intend to use that bottle again.    

Speaking of summer distractions, my brother, David, was in town for another brother’s 50^th Birthday party (Happy Birthday, Jeff!).  David had never been to the Woodward Dream Cruise (he moved just before the first one. 

I took this picture while sipping free Fay-go (yum!).

Another of my Dad with the Fay-go truck (with my sister photo-bombing him!)

We also went to the Detroit Zoo the next day.  As usual, we found all sorts of trouble to get into!

But that's OK.  The giraffes still loved us!

Hope to have some pictures of my blocks soon!
Elisa



Showing Some Progress

Abut a week ago, I showed you this:

And, except for that DARN suitcase, it now looks like this:

I'm really enjoying these blocks!  For those of you who aren't "in the know", Sanders is a Detroit institution for chocolate!

Still working on that applique thing.... these kinda looked like they were out in the heat a little too long! LOL

Have a great weekend!  Out planting trees in Detroit tomorrow!

Elisa

Some Kind of Wonderful - Vernors

Alright! Another finish! Seems like a small one, but they're adding up!

This was supposed to be a hot cocoa cup, but I LOVE Vernors (the Original Ginger Soda!) The stuff coming out of the top is all the bubbles that spray you if you drink it too quickly.

Hopefully, by tomorrow, I'll have another one to share!

Happy stitches!

Elisa

 

Some Kind of Wonderful - Ice Cream Cone

Okay, here's my next one.  My favorite ice cream (well, I love them all, but this one reminds me of my Mother) is butter pecan.  So, here it is!



To have a nice variety of fabrics, I bought several charm packs for this project.  The "cone" is one of them.  However, when I went to use it, I realized the pattern piece wouldn't fit the traditional up-and-down way so I layed it sideways across the charm square.  Didn't it make an awesome weave pattern?  MUCH better than originally planned!

Tomorrow (hopefully) will be completed block #3.

Have a great day!
Elisa

Some Kind of Wonderful - Daisy

Slowly but surely I'm making headway! I'm almost done with the embroidery on my SKoW blocks!  I hoped if I posted them when completed it'll continue to motivate me to work on these each night.

Here's my daisy:

It measures 18 1/2" long and was a little hard to embroider without warping.  I really enjoyed appliqueing this one!

Now, off to my ice cream cone!

Elisa



Applique is Done!

Just finished appliqueing 5 more blocks for the Some Kind of Wonderful group.  Hope to spend the next week completing the embroidery!

These are SO much easier when you prep a bunch at a time.  Now I get to spend the next week embroidering away!

Happy Stitching!
Elisa

p.s. Used the new camera my family gave me for my birthday - takes great indoor pictures!

Good Thing About Winter in Michigan...

... It's too cold outside....

So I've been inside prepping my NEXT 5 SKOW BLOCKS! Woot! So excited!

Stay in, stay warm, stay happy!

Elisa

P.s. Like the pic? Took it on Belle Isle using my Hipstamatic app on my iPhone!

My Cup Of Tea

Not to get cocky, but I think I'm getting the hang of this appliqué thing!

This block went together quite easily, and it's my favorite so far. I realized afterwards I must've chosen this specific fabric because my favorite tea is green!

I did notice there's a marked difference in my stitching depending on the light. Unfortunately, my house isn't very well lit, winter in Michigan is overcast, and I have those new fluorescent (yellow) bulbs in. So I spent a bit of time yesterday pulling out my Ott light and rearranging my living room to accommodate it. Are you having the same issue?

One more block to go and I've caught up for December! <grin> I'm not too worried, though, as I have more free time on the near horizon.

 

Happy Stitching!

Elisa

 

P.s. LOVE Roxanne Glue Baste-it! World of difference! Thank you, everyone, for your advice!

Sorry... Too Busy To Chat...

Finally got back to my Some Kind of Wonderful. Must stitch while the fire is hot!

Anyone ever use Roxanne Glue Baste-it? Pros? Cons? Tips? Warnings?

Happy Stitching!

Elisa