WIZARD OF OZ FABRIC

I recently was offered some good deals on Wizard of Oz flatfolds.  I put a set of fabric on ebay giving the benefit of my savings to the buyer.  Below are pictures of the start of a quilt I did yesterday and pictures of the fabric as well.  If you are interested go see my auction at
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190875805705?sPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

or look for seller Littlenootsworkshop.  Thanks for Looking, Sherrill

Clashy Bright Mosaic Contest

I found this mosaic contest over at the blog Stitched in Color:

http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2013/07/clashy-bright-mosaic-contest.html

Pick 12 fabrics from Marmalade Fabrics and make a mosaic -- this is so much fun.  Below are my two submissions.  I made a lot more, but I these are the two i like the best.  

I don't have any explanation for these choices except that I like the way they look together.  When I was putting them together, I was thinking of whether I could use them all in combination to make a quilt.  I think so for both combinations.  I like wild and bold -- not so much nuance, more like a bull in a china shop rather than something more subtle.  And besides, the title has the word "clash' in it doesn't it.  

Here's hoping I get it right when I submit it -- I am finding that despite my long history with computers, this blogging thing requires me to learn even more and I am doing lots of things for the first time.  Crossed fingers.  

Be seeing You,  Sherrill 

Today is PIM Day

A PIM is a Project In My Mind. 

Its not a WIP -- work in progress -- because I have not gotten that far.  Its a PIM because I am still mulling it over and thinking of fabrics and format.

This is what I did over the weekend when I wasn't doing party weekend type things.

I made iron on appliques over the weekend.  I have an unformed project in mind for these.  I wanted to see what they looked like, so I put them out and took a picture.  I just know one thing from this exercise, I will not be using them on a white background, its too bland.  The fabric underneath is a piece of wide quilt back material.  I still have lot of thought to go on this project.  But, now I think of it, I know one other thing also, I am going to make more of these appliques before I decide how to use them. 

Sherrill 

The Talk on the Block

After the Rocky and Bullwinkle debacle, I decided a I needed to do something that I know works for me. And because of the Rocky and Bullwinkle debacle, I started a blog called Save This Quilt  -- go over and give me some constructive suggestions.  http://savethisquilt.blogspot.com/  Feel free to post your own debacles, come on you know you have one stashed away somewhere, Right?

I made a few of my favorite blocks from some fabric that I have been wanting to use since the Fall.   These are made from 2.5 inch strips cut on the Accuquilt.  

This is one of my favorite blocks to make.  It is time consuming, but the result is spectacular and as you can see from the pictures below, you can do a lot with it.   

The block above is big and is intended to be the centerpiece of another Hello Kitty quilt.  It will be accompanied by another one that size and with some of these:

This is a far as I have gotten with the planning.    Got some different fabric coming to use with it.  We'll see how it goes.

  Ever heard of Skelanimals?  See below.

See the little skeleton faces, they are called Skelanimals.  These are going on this for a kid I know.

This block is really versatile.  I had some strips left over from another project and I made these that will eventually go somewhere.  Maybe with sashing and maybe not, don't know yet. 

The two below are pretty big -- but you can see what you can do with it -- just keep adding the rows and it just gets more and more spectacular and is not difficult.  Just takes time and attention to detail.  I cannot remember where I found this -- I cannot find the original directions I used, but If I do I will post a link, and I am sure this block has a name, but I don't know what it is.   I have it in mind to purchase the Barbara Brackman Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns, but have spent all my discretionary cash on what else -- FABRIC -- so the book is on the wish list. 

If someone knows the name of the pattern, be sure to post a comment.  

Be Well.  Sherrill 

Monday Make It

Continuing my adventures in quilting, I think Monday Make-It Day is good for showing everyone my method for fussy cutting  shapes with the Accuquilt Go diecutter.  I have been fussy cutting from the Windham Rocky and Bullwinkle fabric as part of one of my latest projects.  More on that below, I am not happy with the project but I will explain.   First things first:

Start with the shape you want to fussy cut.  Above are circles.  Gather your supplies.  A sharpy and some cardboard.  Trace the shape of the die on the cardboard and cut it out, like the picture below.

You will see why it should be much the same size.  Run the carboard through the machine and viola, you have made a template and you have also made some reference shapes to go along with your template.  

Be sure to reinforce your template with blue painter's tape from the dollar store.  Gotta love that blue tape, I use it for lots things in my sewing, I am sure it will show up again.  By reinforcing it you can use it over and over again, I recycled a post office box.  

If you will be appliqueing the shapes, prepare your fabric with double sided iron on fusible web.

I use parchment paper to iron on the fusible without the sticky stuff getting on the iron and my ironing board.  I do admit, however, that there is some of that glue on the board, which annoys me, but I try my best to remember to cover both sides before I put the iron on it.  Because you will be cutting it again, there will be uncovered fusible the fabric.  Go cut your shapes.  You will be amazed at how easy it is with the template.  

 Hold the fabric in place with your finger, remove the template, carefully put the cutting mat on the die and crank it through the machine. See? 

Then, peel off the back and iron it on your quilt.

You can use the cardboard shapes to get a feel for what you can get from the fabric.  

Some fussy cuts.  But, and this is a big but, I don't like it.  

I have appliqued shapes and free hand fussy cuts on the project I started last Monday.  I am not happy with the result and am thinking of abandoning it before I put much more time into it.  

Top half of the quilt top made with the strips I cut last week.  Now I want to make Rocky and Bullwinkle the star of this quilt and so I cut and cut and iron and iron and, see below:

All of that is appliqued with tiny blanket stitch.  I am in a quandry, will it get better with more appliques, or will it continue to look too busy and mish-moshy.  My friends are divided on it and I am not liking it.  What do you think?  

This is my fabric.  

Lots of work to be this disappointed.  Too much negative space I think, I wanted it to be whimsical and its too something, but not whimsy.  And I don't think I can fix it by putting more appliques on it.  Oh well.  Its a learning experience in planning, isn't it?   Be seeing you, Sherrill