WOW: Influenza Break

  WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays  

I've got a bad case of influenza so today I'm doing absolutely nothing. Not a thing. Just rest, bone broth and plenty of fresh air. With a WIP pile resembling a mountain in my sewing room, I hope to be better real soon.

Until then, happy wipping everyone, I'm going back to bed..

 What's Your WOW? 

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Gorgeous Gracie

Good morning Saturday! I've woken up today with several emails asking after this gorgeous quilt Gracie. Apparently it's been shown somewhere which has spiked interest and I'm over the moon about it. Here's the pattern!

Gracie is one of those quilts that has so much going for it - it can be a sweet girly quilt, or a modern folk style quilt - all on the whim of the fabric you choose. I am head over heels with this design, all you have to decide is, which hue suits you?

Finished Size: 68 x 68 inches

Gracie

Complete Digital pattern

$12.95 USD

Gracie is available as a digital pattern, in PDF format for easy home printing in A4. Once payment through Paypal has processed, your download is instantly sent to your email in-box. (Be sure to check your spam and junk folders if it doesn't arrive within 3 minutes.)

WOW: Yarn Bombed!

  WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays  

Do you ever buy things and then promptly forget you've purchased them? I went online to buy some yarn in colours to finish off my existing stash supplies so I could (in theory) complete some projects this winter. Although I am living under a quilt WIP mountain, I do still like to knit or crochet in the evenings when it's really cold and this year has been an especially long and cold winter down my way. So I thought I better be ready stocked with yarn supplies.

Well then I got influenza and forgot all about my evening knit plans.. until this box arrived. Is it just me, or is it normal for yarn to arrive so tumbled?! This is the view right after I tore back the lid. I was really surprised that the yarn looked like it had been plucked off the shelf and literally thrown in the box - because each colour has multiples of 10 x, I expected it to arrive in 'lot' bags which is usually what happens. So now I have to think of a way to safely store these balls safely from the clutches of the months which have invaded this winter.

I really wonder why I keep making so much work for myself?! My shelves are groaning with fabric, so there's definitely no room there. I have seen some suitcases over on pinterest put to good use for storing yarn, so I might have to do that.

But maybe after my influenza nap. Just the idea of doing any of that has left me exhausted. It's back to bed with me..

  What's YOUR WOW?  

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Time For Some Blooming Therapy!

What a week! If I've ever been in need of some blooming therapy, it's now!

I've been struggling with a very nasty strain of influenza that has zapped all the colour from my days.Today's the first day I've been back on my feet and I've been thinking about my On My Window Flowers Bloom wall hanging pictured here. I love the idea of a bright shelf of flowers, always in perfect bloom, shining from any wall, any time I feel like it.

I think it's about time I finished this gorgeous wall hanging to cheer me up on days like today. And you know what they say - every cloud has a silver lining- so here's my contribution to some sunshine indoors; if you'd like to make your very own On My Window Flowers Bloom, go ahead and do it!

On My Window Flowers Bloom

An applique wall hanging, finished size 38 x 48 inches

Complete Digital Pattern

$19.95 USD

This pattern is being sold as an instant digital download. The moment payment is processed by PayPal, you will be redirected to a download page. You will also be sent an email with download details so you can download this pattern instantly. 

WOW: Collar On !

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I was thrilled to find this cardigan in this gorgeous hot pink colour. It's pure wool and beautifully made. But you know me, I had to embellish it somehow! I picked this lovely Bari J fabric and added this fabric collar just for the sake of it. I started last week and got as far as cutting out the pattern when I went down with a nasty bout of Influenza last Thursday. Although I'm still struggling a bit, I am glad to report that this particular WIP is done!

Today, I'm taking it easy with plenty of bed rest. The flu is no joke and I've really suffered from some nasty strains in the past 2 years. I get so annoyed when I see sick people out and about, spreading viruses, especially at this time of year. If you're sick, STAY HOME and stop spreading it.

My WIP today is all about getting better; I'm a terrible patient and just hate being sick, especially when I have so many other more exciting things I'd rather get on with.

 What's Your WOW? 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Juliette for July

Have you met my gorgeous quilt Juliette yet? I love this quilt to bits; from the large cheerful flower heads (or sunshine rays, you decide) to the baskets in the border, this quilt is just screaming out for your favorite fabrics to come together in this bright, modern design. There's even some squares between the flowerheads to let you show off those fabrics you can't bear to cut up!

 What do you think? Do you love it yet?

Of course you already know I love it and it's been a whole year since Juliette was launched. In that year, there's been a lot of new quilts - what can I say? I'm a productive designer! But I really do think Juliette deserves a bit more time in the spotlight.. and I know the best way to do that s to encourage absolutely everyone who loves Juliette the best opportunity to make her:

 Juliette is 77 x 77 inches finished size.

Juliette

Complete Digital Pattern

$19.95 USD

This pattern is being sold as an instant digital download. The moment payment is processed by PayPal, you will be redirected to a download page. You will also be sent an email with download details so you can download this pattern instantly. 

HOYH: Part 7, the Homeward Bound Scene

It's another beautiful month as we create the houses behind the foliage in this scene called Homeward Bound. I set out with an idea in mind when starting on my applique pieces. I had thought that sophisticated grey houses would be stunning.

But like always (and you think I'd know this by now), the quilt decided otherwise. With quilts as epic as this one, the fabrics really do 'speak for themselves' and this combination of tones just came together easily and naturally, even if I did start with other ideas!

I just adore these charming little homes..

You can make yours as simple or fussy as you wish.

and don't forget the tones of your foliage. I've drawn in my berries and stems here, using permanent Indian Ink. I will go over these lines with hand embroidery when the scene is completed.

 And here's my full colour version. On this quilt top, I opted for red houses, because in my imagination, I love them!

Make your houses your own little homes

OK, time for me to get back to my applique prepping board.. 

 'Hold Onto Your Heart' is a paid BOM 

It's a breathtaking quilt full of meaningful symbols and beauty. The floral border is a triumph which offers an additional  pieced option - making it versatile for all skill levels. Perfect for lovers and enthusiasts of applique. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Be sure to visit my Online Quilt Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!

The Joy Of Simple Stitching: Shelly

I never get tired of Shelly; 

this is a clamshell quilt with a touch of something extra! 

I love the easy clamshell shapes that allow you to finally do something with all that fabric without having to over think it. Shelly is perfect 'on-the-go' project that you can hand stitch just about anywhere. Travel, holidays, meetings or just leisurely afternoons in the garden.. let's start scalloping!

Like it? Make it!

'Shelly' finished size 57 x 57 inches

'Shelly' $12.95 USD

Complete PDF pattern

This pattern is being sold as an instant digital download. The moment payment is processed by PayPal, you will be redirected to a download page. You will also be sent an email with download details so you can download this pattern instantly. 

WOW: Whipping Up A Winter Collar

 WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays 

Today I'm whipping up a collar to to make this gorgeous pink even better..  and I can't wait to show it to you..

 What's Your WOW? 

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WOW: Random Fun

  WOW = WIPs On Wednesday  

Look what I picked up! I purchased it cut out like this - it's a Kaffe Fassett panel and I'm sure I saw it once for sale by the metre, but I purchased it cut out like this for $8.

It looks so inviting, doesn't it? I'm going to try some new crayons and paint techniques today and basically 'colour it in' just for fun. Before I commit to a project, there are tens of steps like this one where I play around, pick favourites and decide on what works and what to move forward with. 

By the time I recommend anything, I've already experimented for months beforehand in many little steps. This is just another one of those. 

 What's Your WOW? 

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Stencil This Quilt: Peony Pride

I just love everything about this quilt: it's striking, it's simple and yes.. it's stenciled. When it went on Show, everyone was leaning in as close as possible and debating whether or not it was painted or appliqued. You see, with the right quilting outlining each shape, painted and stenciled shapes really do 'puff' out a bit and look appliqued! Well, I got a real kick out of listening to those conversations, I can tell you.

The reason I decided to exhibit this quilt at all is because I wanted to present an heirloom technique. I felt then - and still feel now, that stenciled quilts are not respected enough in the community. This makes no sense to me. Stenciling is an authentic legacy technique that was practiced by the very first quilters and should be a method as celebrated and common as applique or paper piecing. Yet, we so rarely see this technique championed at all. What a shame.

I made this quilt 11 years ago, yes more than a decade has passed since I felt this way and you know what? Not much has changed. Today, I rarely exhibit my quilts because of the effort, transport theft and costs involved, but whenever I create a stencil quilt, I simply feel that I HAVE to put it out there for others to see. Otherwise, stenciling will never get the love and respect it deserves. And that change will only happen when more and more stencil quilts are actually visible and out there to be seen.

This week I'm promoting stenciling as a technique here on my blog, and I've decided to make all my stencil quilt patterns available to everyone and anyone who's interested in making them. It's the best way I can think of to bring attention to this technique.

So, for the next few days, until the end of the week, the complete digital pattern for this quilt, Peony Pride is available for sale for $4.80 USD. Yes, I'm serious. Let's make some stencil quilts everyone!

I'm really happy to report that I blogged the making process of Peony Pride, so if you'd like to look over those old blog posts, you can find them all in the Peony Pride Archive Page, simply click here to visit that page now!

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Peony Pride

Complete Digital pattern

$4.80 USD

Learn more about this quilt by visiting the Peony Pride archive page: 
simply click here now

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What you need to know:

Payment is securely completed via PayPal

You don't need a PayPal account to pay as PayPal also securely processes Credit Card payments

Pattern downloads are INSTANT and followed up with a live link to your email inbox. Check your email for the follow up email (and check your spam / junk folders if you can't see it)

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You REQUIRE an UPDATED PDF Reader in order to open and print the PDF Pattern

Note:When you receive your download, be sure to SAVE it to your computer.
If you print it directly from the browser download screen, it will not be backed up to your computer. 

Click here to read my tutorial on printing my PDF patterns at home

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Today's THE Day: Learn How To Stencil!

About every year or so, I get lots of queries about stenciling on fabric for quilts. I don't know what sparks this mostly mid year craving for art, but whatever the trigger is, I wholeheartedly approve!

Stenciling is a real love of mine; I love that it's actually one of the most authentic and historic quilting techniques out there.. even though most quilters think it's a modern thing and mostly ignore it. Nope, it's authentic, timeless and proof that the earliest quilters were innovative, experimental and lovers of adapting techniques. 

So, to honor the early quilters and satisfy all the queries, I've decided to make all this week all about the pleasure and technique of stenciling.  

Are you ready to try something new? 

Today I offer a perfect little taste of what it means to stencil with this simple but effective Tulip Stencil. Print out your free Tulip pattern, follow the instructions below and give stenciling a go. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. 

Let's Stencil: The Tulip

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Materials:
Cutting matt
Tracing pencil
Permanent fine marker
Craft cutting knife or scalpel
Sharp scissors
Paper towels
Stubby paint brushes for stenciling: I like using round brushes, size 8 & 10
Small containers for mixing up colours
Freezer Paper ( I use Reynolds Brand)
Acrylic or textile paints (textile medium if applicable)
Extra fabric for experimenting
Plain background to be stenciled, approx a 12 ½inch block, however the size isn't as important as this workshop is focusing on technique.
Whichever acrylic paint you choose, ensure that you use Textile Medium unless specified otherwise by the paint manufacturer. 
Textile Medium helps paint adhere to fabric—for better setting, and is always recommended.

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A stencil pattern is what you create when you cut out selected segments (holes) from a design according to a line drawing. Starting with the line drawing that you want to turn into a stencil, trace this line drawing onto freezer paper (use a light box if required)

  

Position freezer paper on cutting mat 

Then carefully cut out the design with a craft knife

It will look like this when complete

When cutting out your design, allow plenty of time. I find working with a scalpel best, however some people prefer sharp thin bladed decoupage scissors—use whatever method you are most comfortable with. You do not want to rush the cutting out as the lines will show up in your stenciling—jagged edging shows. If your work is neat, keep all the ‘cut outs’ separately for use later.

You want to keep the bottom half of the leaves for shading, so don't discard them

Iron your fabric and position your freezer paper stencil. On a mid heat, iron down the freezer paper. Do this carefully and ensure that all the lines are firmly ironed down as you do not want edges coming loose and lifting up when stenciling!

Set up your paints and pre-mix the colours you want to use. For this workshop, I used green and red and to create a darker green for shading, I simply blended the two together. Use a new brush for each color. There will be no need to rinse your brushes during stenciling.

Have plenty of paper toweling ready for blotting off excess paint from your brush. I can't stress this enough. Stenciling is not about 'painting' fabric, it is about building up layers of almost dry paint stippled into position - and these are very different things. 

Apply some paint to your blotting tissue. Now blot off any excess paint. It is important that your brush remain somewhat dry. Remember that you are building up color. When applying paint to your stencil, buff the color in with quick circular movements—with stenciling you are building up color, almost as if you were dry painting. DO NOT SATURATE THE STENCIL.

Colour is blotted into the fabric with a dry brush. This allows you to go over areas and build up stronger color where desired, creating shading effects. If you saturate your brush, or if you did not iron down completely, parts of the freezer paper will lift—and this will lead to color seeping through and smearing. THIS IS TO BE AVOIDED. As below.

When you reach an edge of color, such as red meeting green—use a plastic template as a barrier to keep colors separated. 

The stencil is now stenciled

Lift up your fabric. The painted stencil should be dry to touch and NOT leaking through the fabric. Leaking, seeping & blurriness mean too much wet paint! This image below is how your underside should look - essential dry to touch with no bleed through. 

To create 2 color shading effects on a leaf, return to your earlier cut outs and re-position half of the leaf cut out back onto the flower, as shown below. Iron down the freezer paper piece on top of the paint. Iron down both leaf pieces.

Painting the darker hue: Use the same circular dry method of stenciling. You are only covering half the painted leaf—you are covering the half you do NOT want painted a darker hue. 

Now, using a darker green, paint the top of the leaf

The freezer paper acts as a barrier to protect the color beneath

When dry, peel off the added freezer paper leaf pieces  to reveal two tones of color

Leave the stencil until dry to touch

Then carefully peel back the freezer paper stencil as seen below

Allow stencil to dry

Turn over and iron on wrong side of fabric

Turn to right side and iron over stencil to heat set

Cover ironing board with pressed cloth or paper and heat set the paint by ironing on the back of your stencil with a dry iron set on cotton. Ironing on the back of your stencil sets the paint most successfully (3 -4 minutes). I use fine paper over the stencil to protect my iron against staining when ironing the front. 

Now, what's stopping you from trying your hand at stenciling? 

The Tulip
Free Download
$0.00

Simply click on this image to download your free

The Tulip Stencil Pattern 

Instant PDF Download

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Start Stenciling Today PDF Guide

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Buy the full guide to this tutorial post 
for just $1 USD

Instant PDF download