WOW: Oma's Blues WOW

 WOW=WIPs On Wednesdays

Oma's Blues is coming together, I'll have my entire top done this week. Talk about a WOW! I'm really keen to get this quilt finished as I knew that if I didn't get it done now... I wouldn't find any time later this year or in 2016. It's so satisfying to be going back and forth to my ironing board as I stitch down my borders...

I'm really looking forward to showing you my entire top and of course, to having another quilt DONE! Well, almost done. I'm still deciding whether I will quilt this quilt or keep it as a quilt top only (easier to transport and show at workshops). I had thought very seriously about making tops only, but I think that with Oma, it needs to go up on my walls and give my other quilts a rest. 

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

Oma's Blues: My Centre Plate

I suddenly realized as I photographed my centre, that I inversed my diamond plate edge. 

The white area should be dark and vice versa! How did I get that the wrong way around?!

I do think a dark plate edge would be more effective, but I've already decided that I'm not going to re-do it, so I will think about outlining it with a dark blue stitch - possibly. When I get the borders on, I'll look at it for a while and decide on the overall feel. Right now, I can't get over it, and my eyes are glued to the ring of white which should be blue. What a strange oversight. I just don't know what to say...

Even so, I am so in love with Oma's Blues that this error doesn't bother me as much as it possibly should! My Delft inspired quilt is really taking shape now and I can't wait to finish and show you my quilt top!

Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.

Oma's Blues: Making the Decorative Flourishes

Although these plate flourishes were in Part 1 of the pattern, I took much longer to finally get mine done! Here is the finished flourish, I opted for fussy cutting and contrasting blues. Later I'll hand embroider the swirls that you can see peeking through the background fabric. 

 You can see my fusible method here, with my pieces ready and prepped 

often I use a light box to layer my applique shapes, but this pattern is simple so I just layered it visually by referring to the pattern sheet

 I use basting glue to keep my completed applique shape in position on the background fabric until I'm ready to sew it down

  I use 'just enough' glue to firmly keep my applique in position

even so, I sometimes find that 'lumps' can occur, so I have a trusty little quilting hammer which I use to bash unruly fabric soft again. My banging has sent my poor DH to answer to door quite a few times whilst hammering tough applique so I think I must get quite carried away at the end of a hard days applique-ing!

Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.

Oma's Blues: My Corner Plates

I am in love with this block!

Here are 4 of the blocks, I've put them together here to show my fussy cutting pattern as a visual, however in the quilt they are not put together in this way. Even so, I'm very keen on this layout idea on its own - so much so that if I had enough left over fabric, I would make 4x extra blocks to create an Oma's Blues cushion. I think cushions are currently out of trend at the moment, but I always have space for them, especially when they match my quilts (which I hang up at home). I hadn't thought of that when I created Oma, but now I wish I had, it would go so well!

Here's what each block looks like

you will make 12 x in Part 10 (which is released October 15th)

And here I am, toiling away at my fussy cut corner block production line. It's funny to look back at my working images like this one and think that at some stage, all my quilts live in pieces, in envelopes! I am just so happy with the fusible method at the moment, it's really allowing me to work as quickly as possible and it's allowed me to really speed up my process. I don't think I could be without it now!

 Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.

Oma's Blues: Fussy Cutting the Corner Plates

I've been savoring this moment: it's time for some serious fussy cutting!

I love these corner plates. When I first designed Oma's Blues, I wanted to introduce ornate plates somewhere but after the charm plates, nothing felt right until I drew up these corner pieces. Then it all just fell into place for me and I knew right then at the design stage that these plates were the ideal spot for some fussy cutting!

 I like to cut out 'audition templates' and just 'browse' my way through the fabric options...

charming

so much potential

I just knew this range of fabic was 'it' when I set my eyes on it, the 'Dutch Cottage' range couldn't have come at a better time for me, it's custom made for Oma's Blues!

 There's really so many options and stylistic elements to draw from

I'm spoilt for choice

I'm really excited to show you what I created from these fabrics, but first I'll show you what I left behind! Pop back to see my completed block tomorrow..

I'm working on the corner plates which join in to create Border 7, which according to the Free BOM Release schedule, is Part 10 (and will be released Oct 15th). As I started this quilt late, I'm making my own Oma's Blues out of 'schedule'. This BOM is still available for Free over in my Yahoo BOM Group, so if you've been thinking of joining in - do!

Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.

Oma's Blues: Preparing Blocks for Border 4

This post relates to Part 9 of Oma's Blues

Released Sept 15th 

Before joining up your blocks to create Border 4, you will need to accurately trim them down to size. This is doubly important for Oma's Blues because connecting 72x blocks means accuracy must be key. Even just a few mms will make a problematic difference that will have to be corrected. It all adds up and with blocks like this, you need to know and have your eye on the measure.

 Each border 4 block must measure 6.5 x 6.5 inches precisely (6 inches is the finished block size)

 I've stacked my ironed blocks, ready for trimming

I'm using a turning cutting matt - it's like a lazy susan, it simply turns as I cut. In fact, it's so easy to use I have to take care that I don't cut myself with the rotary cutter! It takes pressure off my wrists and it speeds up the process, I love it.

Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.

WOW: Trimming Oma

WOW=WIPs On Wednesday

I'm trimming my blocks to connect them to create my border for Oma's Blues. I'm finally a bit ahead of the BOM Schedule ( I need a drum roll I think), so this will be happening in Part 9 which is released Sept 15th.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

Oma's Blues: Bird & Bouquet

With the vase done, it's time to think about my flower arrangement.

As always, I've prepped the many hundreds of pieces in different envelopes for use later. This really works for me as I find that when I'm in the mood to trace and cut fusible, it's better for me to do a lot of it in one sitting, pack it away by stage of quilt and then return to it later when needed. 

The bird fabric was an instant choice

 and I love the fussy cut eye detail

With the rest of the flowers, its a case of trial and error. Some fabrics that I loved in blues just didn't work when grouped together

Here I'm playing with several different flower heads. When I cut my fusible, I usually cut multiples when it comes to flowers as I know I will always umm and ahhh over these. I have a whole box of LE and LE2 flowers that are beautiful but didn't fit the quilt for whatever reason and I pop these left over pieces in a box. One day, I will simply iron them all down and create a wall hanging of wild flowers from my many quilt applique leftovers. So you see, I don't mind making extra. It's all part of the fun.

 and I'm still working on the finishing details...

The next time you see this centre, it will be completed and the charm plates will be stitched into position all the way around.

Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.

Oma's Roses

 Lucky I have a daylight lamp, otherwise I wouldn't be able to work in the current wintery gloom!

I make my Oma's Roses exactly as I recommend in the pattern, in numbered pieces and once again using wash away fusible that makes the whole process quicker and easier than ever before.

 Just another creative mess. This is actually my kitchen table!

 My finished lovely Delfty rose

 Remember that two face right and two face left!

 And you'll see these again once I join my Oma's Blues border

Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.