Project Complete...

Evey once in a while, I'm so taken with a pattern or design, I abandon what I'm working on and jump immediately into a new project. Necessity was also a reason to jump here, because, I needed a new purse!

Quilter/sewer that I am, I got excited by this pattern in the Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine. It's rich with ideas and patterns in a style that's both whimsical and country-just beautiful...smile..

If you want a challenge, try this hexagon constructed purse.

I used Pellon Craft weight fusible interfacing on both sides of the front, back and lining. I like using this product when I embroidery, because you don't have to stretch the fabric and you get no puckers when after you are done.

Birds and Embroidery...smile...

It's amazing how bird seed manufacturers target specific types of birds and delivers said birds. After purchasing mega quantities of bird seed from Costco and setting it out on my deck, we've been visited by a whole host of birds and critters.

Until the Lord of the Backyard is heard in the distance-that's what I call the hawk and his/her family that is supported by our small valley at the bottom of the hill. RUNAWAY!....RUNAWAY!






Here's my progress on my purse:

Planet Earth

Planet Earth Video and Handwork

Has everyone been watching the Planet Earth program on TV? The one Oprah loves? It is TV at it's best-except for the abundance of commercials. Never have I seen more nature and Volvos all at the same time...GEEESHHHH! Let us enjoy the program with only a few commercials and the products will be appreciated so much more!

Great TV means you have to have a great handwork project. Here's progress on mine. I've flipped one of the hexagons over to show the fusible interfacing on the back, which helps avoid the puckering you sometimes get when doing an embroidery project.
Embroidery Tip: If you're like me and you have more than a few projects going at once, get a separate container to hold your pattern, material, scissors, etc. It makes for easy transporting from handwork areas and organization.

Hand work Projects

Alongside quilting, I enjoy working on an embroidery project. The one I am currently working on is an embroidered purse from a magazine pattern. The construction uses embroidered hexagons and I've adhered craft weight fusible interfacing to the back of the Osnaburg fabric.

This pattern calls for linen and I've chosen to us a type of material, Osnaburg, which is an inexpensive substitute for linen. This material has a very loose weave. Fusible interfacing will also help hold the fibers tighter so your stitches lay nice and flat without stretching the fabric.

Embroidery Tip: I use Pellon Craft weight fusible interfacing on the back of my embroidery. If you are transferring a design onto fabric, the interfacing makes it easier to draw on. Using a stabilizer also allows you to forgo the use of a hoop and makes the stitches lay flat, without stretching the material. All you crazy quilter's out there might like to try this product. Besides not stretching your silks or satins, crazy quilting fabrics are generally very fragile fabrics and over time, wear out before others. The use of this fusible stabilizer my help hold the fabric together over a longer period of time.

My next big project...

My next big project will be making my oldest daughter's wedding dress. It really doesn't pay to sew as much as it used to. You can't compete with third world country labor costs, those being so much less than our own time. But, I think there are still a few areas where you can save money and making a bridal dress may be one. I say may be, because we'll see if she likes the finished product. You know, all this work could be for not, but, here goes, my journey of making a wedding gown...I hope she likes it....yikes!

A Quilt Grows...

It's no wonder quilters like gardening. Quilts are similar to flowers in that they grow. Occasionally, I have made a quilt from a pattern and follow it strictly. The longer I have been making quilts the more the pattern has become a jumping off point for size, as well as design. I love when I find a pattern I like and am challenged to make modifications. Such is the case with the quilt I am currently working on, this being a nine patch/hour glass quilt with and applique border

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I walked into my fun house closet full of all kinds of fabric and thread and buttons and all that is good in the quilt world. And asked myself, "okay, whose turn is it next to be made into a quilt?" Some bright batiks were screaming "take me, take me" in a language I could barely understand. The Civil War prints were very traditionally requesting their turn next but, were weary with age, besides, I have a Dear Jane that is their peace time destination. The Japanese prints were posing their best Sumo for attention and certainly I couldn't make out what they were saying...probably poking fun at me in Japanese.

Anyway, in an effort to reduce my stash, I ignored all the cries for attention and chose one of the larger pieces of material, approximately 7.5 yards. This was my beginning inspiration. I figured it had many different colors in it and that would help make it tie all the other fabrics together.

Matching this fabric with my large amount of white on white fabric, I had my hour glass complete. Next, since I had many color choices to choose from, I went with pink and brown. I'd been hoarding/collecting these fabrics for a long time, knowing I did want to make a pink and brown quilt, but, had no idea what kind to make...HA! Stash busting is such a good thing....smile.

Anyway, this quilt pattern combines my favorite style of quilting, that being combining the techniques of applique and piecing. So once I've grown the top nine patch/hour glass blocks for the top, next I will work on the applique border all this to cover my big beg! What fun and therapy quilting is.