Treasure, Aye Matey!

I found a locked box at a garage sale and had to open it up and find out what was inside.

Once I did, I clutched the box and couldn't wait to bring it home. 

Can I just say I love wooden spools? I'm not sure where my fascination came from but they're so much cooler than plastic. It's so nice to add a few to my little stash. 

Thimbles?? Seriously...is there such a thing as too many? 

I love all sizes, ones I'll never use, metal, plastic, themed or not. 

The new additions have me completely giddy.

Vintage needle cases, too?? A box of goodness on a slow sewing week is just the boost I need to get back to my projects. 

 Now if only I'd have purchased her iron collection.... 

Hexi Love

Long before I started blogging, there were a couple projects that I started. 

I even finished a couple....but not my favorite one.

Sorting this weekend found me nostalgic for my very first pieced project, 

a grandmother's flower garden.

It could have a bit to do with the 

HEXALONG at Lily's Quilts

{or, it could just be that I am trying to avoid my Jane}.

Ok. Maybe both.

piece.

Heather

Modern FWQAL

I've been having a blast with the modern selections from Sew Fresh Fabrics. 

I have Kaffe fabrics selected, too....wishing there were more hours in the day.

piece.

Heather

colors abound

The tall white liatris, magenta phlox,
orange tiger lilies & soft pink poppies are in bloom.

They join the 'blue' hostas sprouting their later season white bells,
 the multi-colored, ruffled daylilies,
dark purple pansies and hot pink petunias.

One single tomato is just beginning to turn orange.

The last of the bright green sweet basil has been picked.

Swimming in sparkling, aqua water is a welcome
relief on the warmest of summer days.

Colors abound as this week's FWQAL blocks are completed.

Heather

play time

I think I'll have a hard time hanging on to this little block.

Halfway through, 

little Miss decided she 

NEEDS it. 

....then she saw the 

tiny pink hedgehog. 

*SO HERS*

Mama can always make more!

Happy Stitching,

Heather

APPLIQUE VIDEO has posted!

Basic Applique, Part 2 just posted to YouTube.

You'll find freezer paper method & fusible options for

basket handles and vine work, utilizing bias.

Hand applique is discussed, as is machine applique

{zig zag top stitched, settings included} for 4-6" basket blocks.

VIDEO part one can be found here. Simplified needle turn & back basting
are demonstrated, as are some basic hand applique techniques.

For supplemental photo tutorials and to find the videos in the future, click on the right hand side link: APPLIQUE TUTORIALS.

If you have any questions or would like more information on

additional topics, please send an

email to HeatherL02 [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Thank you!

Happy Applique,

Heather



Fun Mail Goes MODERN!

    

  

Thanks to Lily's Quilts & Sew Fresh Fabrics. I'm in fabric heaven. I think a few of these may have to join the stash for the FWQAL blocks...though my mind is swimming with possibilities that these beautiful stacks hold See any must haves? {or in my case, must have more!} psst! 

Have you heard the news?? Lily's quilts is hosting a HEXALONG! I might have to dust off the 'ol hexagon project and get it going again, slowly but surely. 

Thank you to Lynne at Lily's Quilts and Becca & Peg at Sew Fresh Fabrics!! I planned to work in the yard today but fun mail has changed all that. Off to play!

Happy Stitching,

Heather

One Little Block

One quick block completed.

It's sunny and warm.

There are play dates and swimming lessons, soccer practices, too.

Tomato & Basil plants have been tended
{though weeds still outnumber the lettuce starts}....

ah, the laid back days of summer break.

I'm pleased with just one this week.

piece.

Heather

=)

Farmer's Wife Update

          

I'm still having fun with the Kaffe stash but have a busy week coming up, so thought I'd 

catch up & add an extra towards next week's sewing {just in case}.

It will be so nice just doing just 2 a week...maybe I'll have a little time to spend on other pending projects. Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Stitching, Heather

 



Quilt Along Week 3

                                         

I had a bit of time to myself this afternoon, so I happily pieced a few blocks for the Farmer's Wife Quilt-A-Long. 

My Kona project is coming along nicely. There's been a debate in the household about embellishments, but I think we have come to an agreement. Don't you just love sewing for family members?

Have a wonderful weekend,
Heather                                                       

Farmer's Wife QAL

My second set of  blocks for the Farmer's Wife QAL are done...

I have to get moving on that Kona Cotton stack of deliciousness 

{before I get completely swept away by this one}.

Mr. Fabulous has a lot on his plate this week but we'll get back to basic applique shortly.

Happy Quilting,
Heather



We have VIDEO!

Simplified Needle Turn is helpful for basket handles or vines when you're new to applique, especially for smaller blocks. Your concave line of sewing can be done by machine or by hand, since it won't show...it's just personal preference. 

Once you complete your sewing near the raw edge of the bias, you'll flip and press the bias tape (or bias strip) over the completed line of sewing towards the convex (outer) line of sewing {where you'll hand applique}.

If you choose to try back basting and are fussy cutting your handle or if you're new to working with bias, you'll want to cut your focus fabric large initially, so you have room to line up your print {and/or to keep the bias from stretching until your basting is complete}.

Additional applique tutorials on points & the sweeping motion of traditional applique are available HERE by PDF.

Happy Applique,

Heather

Twitter is All Abuzz!!

If you're new to applique, you're not the only one. Don't let that stop you. I've got a basic intro to applique tutorial on the way. For those of you who know me in real life, you're probably painfully aware that I've been slightly obsessed with learning all I could about the subject for the last year or so. The tutorial is a condensed version of my nerdiness with additional sites mentioned when what's left of my memory managed to hang on to those details. If I left something out, please let me know.

The Twitter hashtag #FWQAL {Farmer's Wife Quilt-A-Long} has quilters in quite a stir. Fabric is flying off the shelf & scores of the Laurie Aaron Hird book are going fast! It's a good 'ol fashioned bee...but modern & online. Join in the fun on Flickr, blog if you're into that kind of thing, tweet to your heart's content and join in the fun. 

I'm freakishly visual and applique is all about movements so showing you is far easier than a photo tutorial. Mr. Fabulous was kind enough to VIDEO an applique tutorial for me...it's downloading to his computer at this very moment. We're new to this technology, so your patience is greatly appreciated. Part I should be available late tonight or early tomorrow. Please check the applique tab under the RF icon at the top of the page.

I'm joining in the fun a little late but it's a laid back, piece at your own pace, friendly atmosphere. To participate, the only requirement is that you pick up a copy of the book.

See 'ya at the bee!

Happy Quilting,

Heather

Yummy KONA Yardage

Robert Kaufman Kona Cottons....perfect for an upcoming project.

 I bought a little extra for the stash...ok, quite a bit but you can never have enough.

Happy Stitching,
Heather

Redrafts, Piecing & Applique Fun

'Soulard' fleur-de-lis variation

My very first applique block for RSVP is done and on it's way to the volunteers. I could not find a pattern that fit the black & white theme but kept coming back to a fleur-de-lis. After seeing a couple versions in the recently purchased Circuit Riders Quilt Book, I simplified the design, widening the ring in the process.

The white is Robert Kaufman Kona cotton and the background is from Blank Quilting, purchased at our local quilt shop in Valparaiso called Needle & Thread.





Spiderweb or Kaleidoscope

Bloggers' Block-A-Palooza #3, Shoefly Geese
Free Pattern available: HERE

Wild Goose Chase Free Pattern at Jinny Beyer's site

Redrafted Fancy Dresden Plate also known as Dresden China Plate, Aster & Friendship Ring

Originally, I saw a 20 petal 'Dresden Plate' pattern in Better Homes and Gardens' 1977 hardcover edition of Patchwork and Quilting. The pattern called for 14 1/2 inch background fabric and I had to get it to 12" finished block to meet the charity quilt criteria, so I eliminated several petals on the redraft.

You may remember I also purchased the Fancy to Frugal Book of 30s Patterns not long ago. 'Fancy Dish' is on the cover but calls for 17" blocks (and 20 petals, also)....I rarely go larger than 12" blocks these days, though I did find the additional petals look really pretty in various colors.

Talking about the variations of the Dresden online recently, I came across a wonderful quilter named Sue whose family was from Kansas. She was kind enough to share family photos from a vintage Fancy Dresden circa 1930s and other quilts made from the 30s to the 50s.

 Isn't this a treasure?
Thank you again, Sue for kindly sharing photos and allowing me to post them here.

Best Wishes & Happy Quilting,
Heather



Finally...a Dear Jane Update

My sweet husband was kind enough to photograph my Over the Rainbow 30s Jane a few days ago.

One of these days I hope to have a pic of the completed top.

Happy Piecing,
Heather

Berries & Blocks

Strawberries are coming in daily & the neighborhood kids find picking them quite entertaining. We've plenty to share {a Pyrex bowl a day now}...though some crepe eating family members may not agree.

A good part of our free time is spent outside these days. As a result, updates have not been posted as often as usual. Not to worry, RF readers...it won't be long and I'll have a few more black and white blocks to post for RSVP's charity block drive. The most recent 12" finished blocks have been slow going simply because the sunshine has been too tempting to miss. I'll be sure to post some free links with the latest blocks, assuming I see the sewing room this week.

Enjoy your weekend.

Best Wishes,

Heather

Greenery & Blooms

 Everything seems to be coming along nicely in the garden these days. Thanks to a cool start to spring, the transplants are doing incredibly well. The veggie & fruit gardens are in full swing, with asparagus & strawberries filling up the rows. I'd have included a photo, but the asparagus looked so delicious yesterday, I picked those for brunch {and yes, they were as tasty as they looked}. Have a wonderful day. Heather