Monthly Archives: May 2013

Project Overload

Okay … Here is a list of my current projects:

Main Streets and Back Roads – A twelve month Block of the Month designed by Antoinette which, if the previous months’ block is finished, is free each month. This is the first month, so I am all set for my free block 2.

Aunt Lucy – A 16 month block of the month quilt in reproduction fabrics with 5 months completed!

Peggy Anne’s Quilting and Sewing Company projects:

In the Meadow was the 2012 block of the month. I started the background a a few of the blocks, but never finished because I was too focused on the Bird Quilt, but I am really going to try to find some time for this now!

Chicken and Stars is a 9 month BOM. I already have two months and I need to get started on this one before it ends up like the In the Meadow quilt!

Seven Sisters – This is the same pattern as the Star Quilt, but I am going to do this as a Seven Sisters quilt, with the 7 stars in the middle in blue and the others in purple.

Christmas Quilt – Peggy Anne has asked me to get a Christmas Quilt ready by June for her store. I have a pattern ready for this and will be getting the top done this month!!!

And … there is a an entire basket of quilt kits …. someday!!!!

Modern Jane

Despite all of the projects I am working on, I could not resist signing up for the Jane Stickle quilt group at Quilter’s Common. I started a Jane quilt a few years ago using reproduction fabrics but I only got four blocks done before I gave up on the idea.

This time around I am feeling more confidant with a few more years of piecing experience and a sewing machine (Bernina 830) that makes it a lot easier to be precise … which is absolutely necessary with these small 4 1/2″ blocks . I have decided to go with modern fabrics this time and I am using a pale gray fabric for the background.

I have a collection of Kaffe Fassett fabrics and also just purchased three sets of 6 1/2″ squares of Kaffe and Philip Jacobs fabrics. I think the 6 1/2″ squares will be perfect for the Dear Jane blocks … 5″ squares would be too small for the blocks that require 2 or more 2 3/4″ square pieces from the same fabric.

I am already ahead of my first attempt attempt at Dear Jane. I have finished four squares and a triangle. I make no promises about keeping up with the pace and I don’t plan to make this a Dear Jane Blog … but, I will post updates as I go along!

Through the Needle Article

Yes, I have been published!!

I sent the editor, Jo Leichte, a copy of the tutorial featured in my Bird Applique Quilt article … and now it is published in the latest issue of Bernina’s on line magazine Through the Needle!

The article provides all the instructions for programming your embroidery machine to sew around each little applique piece when using raw edge applique for a project. The article features my Gold Finch applique pattern which is in my Bird Applique Quilt, along with my Blue Jay.

I also made a pillow with my Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal pattern.

Please visit my Craftsy Shop if you would like to buy these patterns … and finish the applique any way you want! My method, your method … but do try applique … it is like paint by numbers combined with a jig saw puzzle and does anyone else remember colorforms???

But wait, please read on! … I must give this fabulous applique designer credit …. the majority of the patterns in the Bird Applique Quilt were designed by Peggy Anne Klinker. These were made available for her 2011 Block of the Month quilt. You can still get some kits for a few of the birds in that quilt, as well as some from her 2012 BOM quilt. And now Peggy Anne has a new BOM featuring Hens and Chicks … very cute, so do check it out. Sign up!

For a closer look at the applique embroidering click on these thumbnails of the Gold Finch and Blue Jay:

Here is a PDF of my tutorial: embroidering-raw-edge-applique