Today, the 4th of July, we honor the birthday of the United States and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. I hope you are spending time with family and friends, enjoying this Independence Day.
I have been working on this quilt for about a week...the piecing was done on day one, but I have been doing machine quilting to embellish it for several days. This is a "Quartered Nines" quilt...meaning you make nine-patch blocks, then cut them in quarters to make new blocks. It is a very fun and easy quilt to piece and put together. My finished quilt is 36" x 36" - but "Quartered Nines" works well for just about any size you can imagine. I used my AccuQuilt GO! to cut the quilt top - utilizing the 5" Square Die, the 1 1/2" Strip Cutter Die, the 2" Strip Cutter Die, and the 3 1/2" Strip Cutter Die...but obviously, if you haven't acquired a GO!, you could easily rotary cut this project. I wanted to work on a small quilt for the upcoming 4th of July holiday and this fabric worked perfectly - it is a fabric line from a year or two ago called "Wiscasset" by Minick & Simpson for Moda. After the piecing and pin basting was completed, I started machine quilting by stitching in the ditch. Next, for the sixteen full squares, I printed a floral pattern on a piece of paper...pinned it to the center block...and then quilted directly on the lines....once I was done, I just removed the paper - this works really well if you are like me and can only dream of the day you have a longarm machine. A couple tips, if you try this quilting method - use a recyclable or thinner (cheaper) paper, that is easier to tear - I use paper that is made for paper pieced quilting...and the smaller your stitches are, the easier it is to remove the paper (I like a larger quilting stitch, so it takes me quite a while to tear away all the paper). I still want to machine quilt a complimenting pattern in the borders (I'm thinking stars), as well....but for now, I am pretty happy with the results and I will be able to use it on my table for the holiday.
Yesterday was the most glorious day - I got to spend several hours with my dear friends Kimber and Merry...we got together for some girl time...a lovely tea party and lunch...which I am referring to as the pink paisley party, as Kimber had the most adorable table set for us with a pink and green paisley tablecloth and matching napkins. I wish I had a photo that did her decorating justice - the table setting was incredible (I took a TON of photos, but none of them look as inviting and exciting as it did in person). Our spring tea was held at Kimber's amazing home, a cozy 1885 farmhouse, which she lovingly refers to as Ashton House. As always, the three of us had a marvelous time! We started by having hot tea and some of the delicious treats Kimber had ready for us...seriously, look at the photos below of the table and my plate...oh my goodness! Kimber had various vintage cake plates spread across the table with all sorts of goodies, antique bowls filled with nuts and treats, a huge assortment of teas, and delicious little sandwiches. We sipped our tea, chatted, laughed, and just enjoyed each others company.
I had so much fun making these special little button bags yesterday afternoon. They were actually made for my dear friends Merry and Kimber, as we are getting together later this morning for some girl time, tea, and lunch. We have been planning this time together for several months...and as always, the three of us have been looking forward to spending a morning/afternoon sharing. laughing, and (of course) eating. We have a habit of making and bringing little gifts for one another...and I had been planning these sweet little bags for some time. I didn't use a pattern...I just had the idea and ran with it. I had found this wonderful button fabric months ago...and used my sewing machine to do the ribbon casings - and my serger to do the rolled hem edge and piecing. I added a couple fun wool/fabric/button flowers to the front and satin ribbons for closure...then filled them with handfuls of buttons (some new, some vintage, some novelty). I was just tickled with how they turned out and have made a few more for future gifts...I may even keep one for myself! I think these will be perfect for our get together today - speaking of which, I am running a little late, so I will cut this short...but I am sure I will be back later with photos of the festivities....
The July/August issue of Just CrossStitch Magazine is currently arriving in mailboxes, at needlework shops, and on newsstands. I am happy to tell you, this issue features an ornament by Blue Ribbon Designs...in fact, my ornament made the cover! It is called "Christmas Cottage" and is located middle right in the photo...it features a little red cottage with pine branches and red birds. This ornament is stitched on Weeks Dye Works Mocha linen with Weeks Dye Works cotton floss (DMC conversions are provided). Even more fun...there will be another ornament that coordinates with this one in the Just CrossStitch Ornament Issue due out later this fall...and a little hint (shhh)...it has an adorable snowman. It is the perfect time to get a jump start on your holiday stitching...so, if you are not a subscriber, be sure to pick up this holiday issue at your favorite needlework shop!
Have you seen the cover of the new Just CrossStitch Halloween Collection Book? This fun new Halloween soft cover book is due out later this fall...and I have received several questions about it, so I thought I would share what I know with you. First of all, this is NOT replacing the Just CrossStitch Halloween Ornament Issue - there will still be an annual Halloween issue...how do I know??...because I designed an ornament for it...so look for that special magazine issue later this year, as well. The soft cover book is a separate release - it is 100 pages...and has over 50 Halloween designs (40 of them brand new - including an ornament from Blue Ribbon Designs). This special Halloween Collection Book has a tentative release date of 09/01/11, so be sure to pre-order one from your favorite needlework shop! And if the ornament in lower left-hand corner looks familiar, you are right, it is a Blue Ribbon Design...yep, I was thrilled to see my ornament made the cover of this whimsical Halloween book...it's a cat on top of a jack-o-lantern with a bat flying overhead. I hope this post clarifies a few of the questions floating around...and I hope the Halloween stitchers out there are excited to add these new designs to their stitching collection....
I made a little time this week to work on a lovely machine embroidery project - I found the project pattern (Pin Cushions by Smith Street Designs) on a recent trip to Quilts & Other Notions and couldn't wait to create each one. This project is a collection of four pincushion machine embroidery designs - each pin cushion measuring about 4 1/2" in diameter after stuffing. Smith Street Designs are always perfectly digitized and the instructions are top notch - if you are new to machine embroidery, be sure to check them out (no affiliation, just a happy customer)! I had TONS of fun choosing fabrics for each from my stash...and one is even made from wool (Woolie Pincushion - pictured back center) . I worked on the Victorian Pincushion last, as I thought it would be my least favorite - but I was amazed with the results - the pattern calls for silk, but I used cottons and specialty cottons...and I love how it turned out - the detailed "fancy" stitches worked up extremely nice. Each one makes me happy - so much so, that I can't choose a favorite.
If you are a fan of Blue Ribbon Designs, then you have probably read I will be teaching a workshop for Elegant Stitch in Modesto, CA this coming October. I am so super excited - I have always wanted to visit Lois's shop...plus, it will be my first ever trip to California...I seriously can't wait! Many of you know I have been working on finishing up the project - and I actually got it done earlier this week (it took WAY longer than anticipated) - I wanted to wait to share it here until Lois had a chance to update her website with photos and details. So here is is - "Harvest Huswif" - a special stitching case with fun-shaped wool pockets inside and a matching scissor fob. This project is stitched on Weeks Dye Works linen with Gloriana Silk Threads...the wool fabric is from Moda and WDW...and the gorgeous hand-dyed ribbons are also from Gloriana. Inside: the wool pumpkin is for needles and pins, the upper acorn will hold a thimble or needle threader, the left leaf holds scissors, and the right leaf holds a 3" ruler...plus you have the large stitched pocket across the bottom. I really enjoyed designing this piece and can't wait until October to share it with the attendees! For more information and details on this workshop, please visit http://www.elegantstitch.com.
