Sew Busy

   Since I'm busy designing 4 count them 4 new patterns and can't really show you much about those I will happily share with you this lovely table topper that I've just recently pulled out of the basket to begin sewing down its applique'.

 I'm choosing to do it primitive style, using raw edge wool and black YLI thread with a whip stitch.

 It has been so long since I have done applique' like this I'm really enjoying this method.

 Of course that's before I have to do this flower basket design on all four sides.

 Blending finished edged fabric stems and berries with the raw edge wool applique' blends two of my favorite techniques.

 The applique' is so tightly crammed onto this border strip that I had to sew all four sides on in order to insure getting it just right.

 This design is from one of my favorite books "Simple Comforts" by Kim Diehl.

There are so many wonderful projects included in this book, if you don't have it in your quilt book library I highly recommend it.  Have a great and peace filled week.  Laural

Stitch Tips #2

   I use a few pens that I just love for transferring my designs onto fabric.  Here are some of my most recent favorites.

From top to bottom:  the sewline pencil gives me such a clean thin pencil line, I use it on the most rarest occasions but it certainly does the job.  Fons and Porter White pencil with eraser.  It has taken years to find a pencil that writes smoothly onto dark fabric, this is that pencil, but I wish I could learn how to load new lead.  Micron 05 permanent fine line marker.  Often I draw eyes on animals for applique' with a permanent marker that I can then cover with a satin stitch embroidery.  The Mark be Gone which I have been using for years.  It is a wash away and often I use the tea bath stage of my stitching to rinse away my blue lines.  Lastly is the newest Frixion heat erasing pen.  I have started to list this on the back of my patterns as my new favorite to transfer embroidery and quilting designs.  It is a  magical moment when you touch the hot iron to it and everything disappears (FYI if you leave it in a hot car it will also disappear).   Well those are my tools of the trade.  Oh yeah if you have office supplies like pens and such you must get a hot pink high heel shoe tape dispenser, available at Staples.

Spike loves shoes!

Have a great weekend everyone.  

Post #100!!

   How appropriate for my 100th blog post to land on a WWW day.   If you have been reading these since post #1 well than you deserve a huge thank you.  Thanks for sticking with me as I've learned to navigate this blogging world.  OK, lets talk quilts...
   With the Road to California show ending this past weekend we are still getting a huge amount of "Road" warriors into the shop.  The week started with a class being held at the Coop taught by non other than Lisa Bongean from Primitive Gatherings.  One of the 2 dozen students in the class shared what I thought was just a spectacular quilt.

 What I love about Tina's quilt (entitled "Postage Due"), is that she's crazy!  Can you imagine that many teeny tiny little squares, and when I asked her how long it took her? she said "oh, like a month".  But seriously so impressed with the fact that someone as young as Tina is so passionate about quilting as to tackle this magnificent quilt.

   Let's see what else happened this week...Oh, I remember Elvia brought in David Taylor!!!  Now being the applique' geek that I am you must know that for me this was like meeting the King of all things Applique'.

Thank you Elvia totally made my day.

Since it is Wednesday then I will be workin on some quilting.  I have this little quilt of mine that needs some outer border stitching done.  Too bad I can't think of a design that will complement those grandmother flower gardens.

I'll have to hit the books and look for something that sparks my creative juices.  So that's Wednesday and again I can't thank you enough for following me.    Best Wishes, Laural

Road Trip part II

   As promised here are some of the quilts that made an impression on me.  The girls and I spent as much time taking in the beauty of the quilts as we did shopping the vendors.  I'm glad we did.

     Owls are always a hoot.

 Can you imagine the woman hours it took to complete this?

"Come September" by our sewing sister Barbara Cascelli.  This is her Golden anniversary quilt.

"Dresden's Dilemma" by Deborah Poole and Sharon Del Pino.  Deborah finished a quilt her Aunt Sharon started, they both did a fabulous job.

 "The Loading Dock" made and quilted by Mary S. Buvia from Greenwood Indiana.  This quilt touched my heart because Mary stitched so much of it during her late husband's chemo treatments.  How many of us have stitched quilts to the beep, beep, beep of hospital monitors?

 "Turkish Delight"  made and quilted by Mrs. Helen W. Butler from Alpine Utah.  Truly amazing.

Mr. David Taylor entered and won first place for "Marmalade's First Snow".  

I saw him speak at the Fallbrook quilt guild once and I thoroughly enjoyed it, although he didn't give away any of his wonderful applique' secrets.  Have a peace filled week.  Laural 

Road Trip

   Road trip to Road!  We wait all year for this quilt show and it never disappoints. Lets start with the vendors.  Love, love love Heart to Hand.

This new wool project was one of our favorites.  

 Now I added this because someday I'll make a fairy frost quilt and add some sparkle.  It would be fun and it seems to be the trend.

 Stars and Scraps quilt shop, you could hardly get in this booth.

I'm hoping that the reason they were so busy is because they had my pattern "God Shed" kitted up.

 In the main hall was Quilter's Coop.  The girls did such a great job of displaying all the quilts they have been so frantically working on.  Isle 200 if you are heading to the show this weekend.

I really came by the booth to see Carolyn Evan's sample.  She does beautiful work and this museum piece was stunning.  Great job ladies.

 Are you ready?  Because I am going to share with you the hottest item of the show...

That's right sparkling crystal lanyard!  I bought a pale pink one to match my cupcake earrings and you couldn't walk down an isle without seeing these everywhere.  That's it for today, stay tuned for Sunday's post when I will share a few of my favorite quilts from the show.  Have a great weekend.

WWW

   Well this Wednesday post won't be so much about "what" I'll be working on but "where" I'll be working at.  I'm taking a shift at the store today.  But we have fun there too.  Like when the friendship groups meet and share their projects with us.

 Marvel Dorf had this "Tea Ceremony Geisha" by Lonni Rossi for Andover.  Amazing applique' job being done by Marvel.

 And Stacy (my co-worker) brings in her sample from a Buggy Barn book "Still Crazy"

 She must have really liked that book because she also made this tea pot quilt sample from the same book.

 Oh yeah, and then Jo Morton stopped by the shop on her way to teach at Road to California and we only slightly embarrassed ourselves asking for a photo.

I'm thinking Jo is much more experienced in the photo taking than either Stacy or I.  So that's where I'll be working this Wednesday.  Enjoy the rest of your week.

Tutorial-Tea Staining

   It seems like a simple thing to do, but I've heard so many people ask how to tea stain that I thought I'd show you how I do it.  Gather up a bowl, instant tea (no sugar no lemon) and your project.

 Run some cold water into the bowl.  Just enough to cover project.

 Dampen your project at the same time.

 Add tea to the water.  How much is subjective.  Heavy staining requires a dark, dense tea water, so adjust accordingly.  

 Now add your project to the tea bath.

 Hold it down and make sure it is thoroughly soaked.

 Check it often.  When desired stain is achieved ring it out as you remove it from the bath.  I left this in about an hour or so.

 Oh wait, did I tell you you will need a sunny day?  

Hanging it outside gives an over all tea stain.  Laying it flat and scrunching it up, makes it very inconsistent and gives a "burned" look.  Both are appealing and you will need to decide which you prefer.  I'm not sure this one is dark enough for me so I may dunk again as soon as the sun comes back out.

Let's Share

    I'm going to admit, today I need a mental health day.  So while I decompress I'd like to share with you this beautifully made sewing kit.

 Hand applique' and embroidery, this tri-fold little carry all has so many details that without being able to study it at length you would miss them.

 You can tell that Beckie put her heart into her gift.

 And this will become something Carol will always treasure. 

Beckie is recovering from surgery and we all wish her a big get well soon. 

Carol, Marvel and Beckie

 Have a peace filled weekend.  Laural

WWW

   Wednesday already?   I'm dusting off an old pattern.  First it was a pillow, then it became a little stitchery and now I think it needs a facelift.  Its a little Valentine that can stay out all year long.  I'll start with a muslin background but I want to layer some of that new Lecien that I just bought.

 And of course I have to add rick rack, after all the original had it and this way if I just stitch all three layers together than I don't have to piece anything.

 Using a zig zag stitch makes sure you catch most of the rick rack.

 Transfer the three little hearts onto fusible web, then select three different fabrics.

 Fuse them in place and trim around, no need for seam allowance.

 Add the saying and fuse the hearts into place.  

 Time to stitch!  I double up the pearl cotton so the lettering shows up really well.

 After a tea dye bath and three little buttons this little bitty is ready for framing. 

Now that didn't take long at all.  I better go grab something else from the stack and get busy on it.