Did I say 2? 3!

Last night I added another block to the completed pile. Tour de France went so quickly it was unbelieveable. I think I'm taking a liking to applique. It's comforting like hand quilting for me. I even did a bit by freezer paper method to give it a shot.

The Clover mini iron is essential to freezer paper method. If you don't have one, add it to the must haves. I'm sure as I go along I'll find other notions that help the process but I've not been using the special pins at all. That was an essential from all the advice I received....I am just using my flower head pin (usually one per shape) and back basting or using freezer paper. It's the inexpensive giant grocery store type because...well, my frugality cheap runs deep! LOL.

I am still more comfortable with basting for the take along projects...there's very little mess---just a few threads and a bit of trimming to watch for. You can also remove any pins from your project once it's basted so it's perfect around little people.

When I'm home and can immediately begin a project, freezer paper RULES! I must have tried it with my regular iron the first attempt because the mini iron shape makes the edge just pop right on to the paper. If you haven't given it a try, take a moment to save yourself some serious time down the road.

Happy APPLIQUE!

2 More Done!!

Happy Superbowl Sunday AKA Super Sewing Sunday! It went well here---applique and all. I finished Grandpa's Chickens and Decisions, Decisions & made fabric selections for Tour de France and Autumn Aster. I'll get the other 2 done soon and post pix.
Happy Quilting!!

Week 6 Blocks

Would you like to know how to make JANE even more challenging? Use directional fabrics! Many of my 30s prints are directional and I didn't really give it much thought until this week. I may start mirroring if it bothers me later but I don't think it's worth the time & effort to re-do when I'm really happy with the applique & piecing on the upper right hand block. It's hard to believe but I'm almost done with all of February's scheduled blocks. Later this week....more applique! I should have plenty of time to work on midget blocks and charm squares to swap. Hopefully, I'll find some enthusiasm for the hexi project again, too.

Yesterday, I downloaded the Bunny Hill Designs A Tisket A Tasket & will be sure to print them off soon so I have a hard copy available when I am ready for it. *Anne at Bunny Hill let me know that the designs will be up for a limited time...just another week and a half----so be sure to make the time ASAP. *

Bunny Hill Designs' Fabu Redwork/Applique FREE Block of the Month Patterns

I never thought I'd be on the hunt for applique patterns until *JANE* but today I browsed. I'm definitely not putting any money into other projects for now, but it couldn't hurt to look for free patterns to add to the to do list, right? Harmless. I'm thinking with the stash I can pull a few projects out of the sewing room at minimal cost & will occasionally post so you can add them to your lists, too!

Now, for the goodies....Bunny Hill Designs has a new block of the month for 2010----snowmen! It's called "Snowbound". The January block is up AND just in case you missed it, all the blocks from 2009 A Tisket, A Tasket are still available for download.

Happy quilty thoughts.

My FIRST Tute: Selvage Square Tutorial

Selvage Square Tutorial

The above link will take you to Scribd, a file sharing site. If you prefer a quilt related site or PDF download format, please see the same tutorial at The Quilting Board.

The squares can be used for pincushions----I embellished mine with buttons & think it's positively adorable! You can create keepsakes for projects you're passing along to someone else, gifts for quilty friends or you can save your completed squares for a quilt top. Please see Karen Griska's Blogger site called The Selvage Blog for some fantastic ideas and pure inspiration. A reader sent me her information after my tute was published on the Quilting Board.

These are so much fun to do and a great use of fabric that is normally discarded by most quilters. If you haven't been saving them, there's no time like the present.

Happy Quilting =)