Apple Core Cutey

I've started referring to the two apple core baby quilts as 'cutey' because they just are. And it's so satisfying to see my gorgeous pink stash put to work. I'm using an apple core template. I stacked the fabrics and let the women choose which ones they liked. At first, I wasn't really in love with their selection, but I've completely changed my mind now. I think its adorable! 

We chose the 7.5 inch template because I felt the smallest one at 3.5 inches was too much for a beginner's group to tackle. I think each of the apple cores would be utterly gorgeous and each size has its own charm but I am so relieved that I didn't persuade them to go smaller because I'd forgotten how finicky sewing concaves and convexes is! I showed them how and to get the lines really neat, they had to use pins all along the seams and it took longer than I expected. Another thing I'd forgotten about was how to logically stack the 'rows' so you can sit down and sew them in the right order. We talked a lot about puzzling the fabrics into the right order when it was up on the design board and naturally, we want to keep the right arrangement when sewing it all together. There is no magic formula, you really have to concentrate and stay focused. I know this because I did it wrong twice! I didn't realise how much my mind wanders when I sew....but it really does!

Now that I'm at home, I'm working on the second one which I'm making for myself. I thought it would be good to make one alongside my group as I taught them because I know I'll never get time to do it otherwise. I didn't think I'd have the time, but I find that if I tackle the progress as soon as I get home, I manage it. This one is nearly done now and after our next class I think it will be ready for some quilting. Afterwards, I'm hoping to sell it in my Etsy shop.

I quite like hexis, patches and HSTs so the apple core isn't something I would have chosen, but I am in love with it now and I love the overall look of the fabrics slotting in together. It really is so versatile, it suits both modern prints and traditional colour ways.

For the border and background, I've gone with the rose fabric which is different from my ladies who opted for a leaf green border. They went with green to match some other baby things they're making and whilst I think green and pink are a perfect compliment, I'm hopelessly romantic and have opted to keep my baby quilt all pink and roses. I love this fabric. The water colour roses are just the thing and I can't help it. I can't do unisex quilts. This baby quilt is going to be all unapologetically -girl-.

WOW: Oma's Little Circles

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Today I'm making those round little circles for Oma's Blues centre plate edge. Progress is slow, but I'm getting there. Visually, I think they are a smidge too big, but when I compare them to the pattern, they are exactly right, so it might be a blue on white illusion on my eyes!

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

Broderie Perse Musings

I'm having musings about creating a broderie perse style applique wall hanging. I just adore the Tree of Life panel and it's really popular at the moment. I purchased it to use as a wall hanging - I was going to simply add batting and put it up on the wall. But then, I decided that just wasn't me. I think I'm going to do things quite differently with the panel.

 Like fuse and cut out these birds

 I can use these border scenes on a matching cushion or table runner when I change the room decor around (I'm thinking of a Tree of Life room theme for my lounge room).

 This is what the panel looks like when it is hung. You can get an idea of the size here

My plan is to fuse and cut up the tree too

 and broderie perse some of the branches into a new kind of (abstract?) tree

 I was thinking of appliqueing my chosen cut out shapes onto a new background and had thought about using this one, but it looks a bit dull and I don't think it will work

I had considered appliqueing my new design onto a black background, but I don't like the idea of living with a large black wall hanging in my lounge room - especially as these colours are quite rich and will sink in rather than stand out against such a backdrop. I think I will go with a warm woody tone or maybe even an unexpected blue.

Do I have the time? No. But I've discovered that if I only did the things I had time for, I wouldn't get anything done. So, I'll just do what I can as the opportunity arises. This is one of those projects I've been brewing in the back of my mind for over a year, well before I even purchased the panel. When I have a full free day, I'm just going to dive in and get it done on a whim, When I do, I'll share the results here and consider this my "before" post. 

Wish me luck !

Nifty Sewing Machine Tool

I don't actually know what this nifty little tool is called, but it is a great help to many sewers so I thought I would share it here. Whenever its spotted at workshops, everyone always wants one! Well, it's cheap at about $6 when I purchased mine and I found it in Spotlight.

It has a magnet on the back and you use it alongside your sewing foot to jut the fabric along evenly at the spacing you desire. This is especially helpful for new sewers.

So you just pop it into position and as you sew, you know that you fabric is allocated the same margin as you feed it under the foot.

Nifty, isn't it? I have many sewing machines and not one came with a tool like this, which really makes me wonder why not?

WOW: Apple Core Quilt Progress

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

How sweetly is this little quilt coming along? I love the apple core pattern! The fabrics are gorgeous. I didn't know when they selected these fabrics if they would work, according to my own taste. But I've changed my mind. In fact, I'm really glad I'm making 2x at once. The real one with them in class and an extra one for myself. I think its perfectly charming so far and I'm looking forward to calling it finished in the next 3 weeks. 

Have you made an apple core quilt yourself? This is my first and I'm really taken by the charm of it.

What's Your WOW? 

An InLinkz Link-up

Oma's Blues: Creating the Centre Plate

There's really no question about it now: the members of my Yahoo BOM Group know my patterns better than I do. When I planned, suggested and released Oma's Blues, I had every intention that I would applique the centre round plate. Of course I would! It is, after all, an applique quilt.

But my Group Members? They knew better. 

They ignored my instructions and started piecing the centre plate. As I watched their perfectly formed plates emerge, I realized that they were right. And so smart. And so generous to share their logic with everyone else. Naturally I too realized that piecing the centre plate was the way to go. Of course you CAN applique it, but now I don't want to as I can see this as a faster and dare I admit it, easier way to get the beautiful round shape with accuracy.

And so here I am, sat at my machine and sewing as I go. What was I thinking when I planned on appliqueing all those points? I think I was in LE overdrive! I thought millions of applique shapes was some kind of normal.

 Pinning and stitching...

Looking good

Lovely...

Oma's Blues: Making A Start

 Of course I just discovered that I promptly packed away my original designs sheets and just as  promptly archived them before I'd even made the quilt! It's such a hassle to unpack my design packages once I've set them, that it's just easier for me to print out the pattern like everyone else!

My Toshiba copier is officially finished. It died and its much too expensive to fix. I'm really annoyed about it as it was a professional grade copier and I got so used to having it around. The downside was the expense of the thing - which was huge. But the fact is, it was a serious part of my creative process. The other problem I have is that I had taught myself to create my patterns according to its processes - I had a system that made sense to me. Now I have to find a way to do the same thing on two different machines and via software which is all too much and so time consuming. I'm so glad I finished Oma's Blues 6 months ago because I really wouldn't have finished it if the Toshiba had died back then. I feel that I am too old to learn new ways on technology. I just don't know what to do about it. I'm still thinking about whether to get it replaced ....? Or not. I don't know at the moment. 

Anyway, this also means that  I have to construct the pattern like everyone else and just get on with the job. I'm so glad I added a reverse option to the pattern because I can no longer simply reverse on my copier and going out to do it would be such a hassle. I must admit, I am somewhat set in my ways and change irritates me!

Unfortunately, my little domestic printer print the pattern wrong and set the print paper to 'letter', which I only noticed after 20 minutes of cutting out and gluing. So I forgot to take my own advice and had to re-print the whole thing in A4 and no re-sizing!

Finally, I'm making a start!