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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Whole Lot of Crazy Goin' On!

Molly mastered applique without a problem....today we work on needle turn applique!
With her background chosen and her Dresden appliqued to the square....she took off with the embellishing....crazy quilt style!!! 


This was the part she was itching to work on!


Molly loves Embroidery......


And she loves the crazy quilt style....with a little more structure...I think this idea is brilliant!


Today she will appique the center...I can't wait to see the stitches she adds!
mary :) 


Wednesday, June 29, 2011

One Word Wednesday......

ENZO



a gift for my nephew....Enzo
and a little tutorial for this fun pillow....here......

mary :)

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Molly and Her Quilt....

It began with a little easy piecing....a Union Jack pillow in fact...then she decided she liked it and now Molly - my embroidery phenom  - is quilting!


Unbelievable!  She went to work and came home ready to work on her quilt!


The plan is a Dresden Plate but in Crazy Quilt style!!!  Good Golly Miss Molly!


Stayed tuned....
And here is a little sneak peek of something I have been working on...


See you tomorrow!
mary

Monday, June 27, 2011

What Inspires You?

I've been thinking....{scary, I know} about what inspires us to quilt and create...
Is it color?



Is it print or pattern?



Is it shape or form?


Is it found in architecture?



Or in nature?


Do you actively seek out your inspiration or does it just happen?
I am so inspired by many things - extraordinary and mundane....



What inspires you?




Picking up a little inspiration for some Shoo-fly fun!



Happy Monday!

mary 

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Some Things Just Look Better Liberated....

Who doesn't love a traditional block with a quirky twist?  I adore the Shoo-fly block....every little thing about it.
I love the simplicity of the block...and then there is the name....Shoo-fly....how fabulous is that?
But a Shoo-fly block done with abandon is just the bees knees!




Whew!  It has been a busy week....this little bit of block fun was much needed!
Hope you are having a great weekend!
mary

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

More Flowering......

In keeping with the theme of the Flowering Snowball block....I thought I would bring you the real deal!!!

  
This is the Snowball Bush from my front yard....we have had this plant for about 24 years....I look forward to seeing it bloom every summer....


While I am at it here are a few other pretties from my garden...




And now let me introduce you to a new block to me....but one that reminds me a bit of the Flowering Snowball....it is the Alabama Beauty!


It is a lovely block....not sure my templates were all that accurate though....she took a bit of convincing....LOL!

And remember the sweet vintage tablecloths?  Well, I tore into one today....and used a section for a kitchen towel....


I added a Dresden....and rik-rak {that was a perfect match}.....and now it is hanging from my oven door...


Hope your day has been full of flowers and good things :)
mary

Monday, June 20, 2011

Flowering Snowball....

I have received many requests for the templates to the Flowering Snowball block....sooo after many incredibly frustrating hours of trying to figure out how to get them onto my page....I think I have it figured out....sort of.....


I really enjoyed myself last night playing with this block...there are so many possibilities!  So I will first post a quick tutorial and then a few variations....

Flowering Snowball

You will need to copy the templates to quilter's template plastic or cardboard. You can  increase or decrease the size of the templates on your printer.  My finished block size was 12 inches....***Please note...You will need to fiddle with the template to get the size block you wish to piece.  This was not intended to be the actual block size just a template to change as you wish.  Just be sure that your center square is the same size square as the center edge of the petals.   


This is the center square....you will need to cut one of these per block....


I will call this the petal....you will need 4 of these per block....


Then the outside of the block....you will need 4 of these per block....


First I joined two outside sections to a center square....press seams toward the center square....


Then we get to have fun with curves!  But these are gentle curves...so don't be frightened!
I added two petals to an outside section.....begin by pinning the ends of the curve to the ends of the outside section.  It is easier to work curves if you have the concave piece on top.  Once the ends are pinned, I pin in between easing in the fullness {similar to adding a sleeve - but not nearly as scary }  Press the seams toward the petals.  You will need two of these units per block....


Now you are ready to add the petal units to the center and outside sections....this is a longer curve.  I pin the center section first so those seams meet nicely....then pin the ends and then the fullness in between.


Now you have one block!

I just wanted to share with you some of the ways you can change the look of this block....in some of the photos I have just placed pieces on top of pieces without sewing just to demonstrate the look....


If you set them on point - this is the look you get - obviously I have only finished 2 1/2 blocks...but you get the idea....I actually like this very much!


This is still on point - but I think you can see where I am going - making the petals stand out....very pretty too!


Here we are adding the blocks horizontally...with this big center section sort of reminds me of a wedding ring....lovely!


Then what if you wanted the large center section all white?


Or if you want the connecting outside sections in white....sort of reminds me of some kind of science experiment....hmmmm......

I have a different block waiting for me to try out...I can't wait to see what it looks like...
but to the grocery first...
Hope you are having a great Monday!
mary