Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Beautiful butterflies for my mom

Hello wonderful ladies. Here is a picture of the butterflies I have gotten so far. Aren't they great?!! (sorry for the sideways picture.) So I have gotten butterflies from V., Jennifer, Llewellyn and two from Mardie. I know the holidays are so crazy, but if y'all could find some time in the near future to finish your butterfly I would really appreciate it. Our grandma is coming into town in a couple of weeks and we are hoping to finish the quilt with her. So please, please please send them soon. Muchas gracias everybody!!!(and lots of hugs)


Sunday, October 27, 2013

Time for Mardie's Double Hour Glass!

I LOVE THIS QUILT! 
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS!


The border and the binding is Cloe's Closet "30's Playtime" for Moda.
I saw the ric rac idea on Pintrest and thought it would be perfect here. 

The back is also "30's Playtime". 

THEN...
I saw these fabrics at the Stitch'in Post. LOVED them too! Made a bed throw for Halloween. Monsters and spiders and spots... oh my! It was so simple and I love it! 
Now I want one for every season and holiday!
The Fabric is "The Boo Crew" by Sweetwater for Moda


THE CAPTION SAYS IT ALL!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN, GIRLS!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Need addresses. Marnita or somebody, can you help me???

I have been looking for my list of addresses for everybody and can not find them! I need some one to send them my way.... please!!!!
Maria Mae

Brazilian Sue

Can't wait to see these together!
Mardie

Saturday, October 12, 2013

SEPTEMBER BLOCK FOR MARIA MAE




Here is my inspiration for my quilt. It comes from nerospostandpatch.wordpress.com. This quilt is going to be for my mom.... who LOVES butterflies. She is having a difficult time right now, and this would be the most perfect thing to give her some extra comfort.





So, I am sending everyone pattern pieces. There are 2. A and B.  The "A"pieces are the wing pieces and "B" is the middle piece of the butterfly.

 First of all I really want happy and bright colors.... no black or gray please. The "wings" will be all the same material and piece B that goes in the middle will be a coordinating fabric. Step 1: Trace the pattern pieces on the back of your fabric. You will need to trace piece A four times. Step 2: You will also need Kona white to sew the pieces on. The Kona square needs to measure 11 1/2". 




Step 3: Arrange your pieces. Center them the best you can. Leave around 3 1/2" on top. (That's so I can so antenna on each butterfly.) I used some heat n bond to secure the pieces. Then sew the pieces and viola! Allrighty! Hopefully this will be easy peasy cheesy! Thanks everyone!!!!!


I obviously made some oopsies, but I know everyone will do a much better job than I did!!!:)

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Switzerland Sue


Here is your Swiss Miss, Llewellyn.  She even knows how to yodel!

emily

Saturday, September 28, 2013

International Sue's: Austria & Italy

 
 
Austria and Italy

Llewellyn- Mom and I switched Sue's.  I took Austria (the one holding the music.)  Mom took Italy.  She modeled her fabric after the picture you sent with the pattern.  I think the Red and White stripes speak Italy, don't you?  I've gone back and forth about adding something to either of the blocks.  I think if anything, maybe some cute sparkles on the ice cream would be appropriate.  Feel free to add to the block(s) if you envision something more.

A deal broke out between Mom and I.  She cut and ironed down all the pieces, and I appliqued them down.   I hope you like them both.  I can't wait to see your Sue's altogether!

 
 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Hey everybody. Just to let you know, September's square IS coming. I just have to figure a few things out. We will be making a butterfly blanket for my mom. I'm really excited about it. It should be really easy to put together. Here is a photo for my inspiration. I will have instruction and all that good stuff soon. Thanks y'all! Maria Mae

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

For my Sister, Sherrie!

 
 P.S.  I discovered while doing this block that I needed to change out my needle.  Why, you ask?  It was pulling and pushing threads through the fabric.  It also appeared to have a tension problem.  All was rectified with switching out my needle.  I'm curious.  How often do you switch out your needle???

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Cherries for Elizabeth's Birthday!


I have been working on this on and off... more off... for more than a year. I finished it this morning. Elizabeth's girls and I counted all of the squares with cherries in them... there are at least 51!! 
I think that should satisfy Elizabeth's love of cherries (and Mary Engelbreit).

Happy Birthday! To my best oldest daughter. Cheerio!



Love, Mom

V's square

Here is your square V. Sorry it's late.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

V's cabin

Hey Vanitta,

Here's your blue & yellow log cabin...


Enjoy!
emily

International Sun Bonnet Sue Quilt Block Tutorial

Posted for Llewellyn W.

Ready For A Challenge
 
 
     Okay ladies here you go---First of all I apologize for the lateness of my quilt pattern.  I had surgery in April and afterwards had 2 months of physical therapy. I never remembered that my month was in June.  It is all good and I'm back in the swing of things again.
 
     I have always wanted to do this quilt, but it seemed overwhelming to do by myself - so why not get my friends to help me out.  The different countries that I have selected to do are all meaningful to me or my family.  We have either visited, lived or worked in one of them.  This will not be a quilt to use, but one for the wall.  So, if you need to use embellishments, buttons, bows, or fringe then that would be great.  Use material from your won stash or find some that you think appropriate for the country.  I would like all the ladies to face the right, after being put on the background material that I have furnished.  You can applique the pieces by hand or machine, whichever you choose.  mix your applique techniques if you wish.  As I said earlier you can embellish as much as you want.  The more color and pizazz the better!  I have sent the small picture for ideas.  when you send the finished block back I would like to have the picture back too, so I can save with the original pattern.
 
     The first step in doing the block is tracing the pattern onto some type of wonder under.  The pattern can be traced easier with the use of a light box if you have one.  If you don't have one you can simply use my low budget method:
 
 
 
     Tape your pattern to any window in your home that gets good sunlight.  Remember to turn your pattern over so that the girl faces the left for tracing.  When you get ready for appliqueing to the fabric she will be facing the right!
    
     After you have traced all your pattern pieces to the wonder under, place the patterns on the wrong side of the fabric.
     Remember as you are tracing the pattern pieces that you will have pieces that overlay.  Go ahead and draw out the full pattern (i.e. the full hair, the full dress, etc.) to help make sure you don't get gaps as you are putting this together.
 
     I used the clear pattern as a guide when it was time to place the pieces on the background material.  This helped me center the girl on the background block.
     Once you have your girl centered you can place a pattern piece down, carefully lift the plastic and iron the fabric onto the background.  Remember to start with the bottom most layers, then iron top layers over the connecting pieces.  I hope this makes sense to all.  If you have any questions just give me a call.  This is what your block is going to look like once you get your layered pieces ironed on.
 
     Once you have reached this point you can sew the outlines and embellish or accent pieces.  Once you return the blocks I will be embroidering the name of the country on them so you will not have to worry about this.
 
    I hope you all have fun with this!  Be on the lookout for your packets!



A Field of Poppies For Sherri

Well, maybe not a field but I do have two poppies for Sherri.  One from me and one from Llewellyn.

Marnita's Poppy



Llewellyn's Poppy


Sherri, I am sending mine, Llewellyn's and Connies to you along with Llewellyn's new Around the World Block pattern.  Can't wait to see your field of poppies!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

I'm All Caught Up!

Well, despite all the mishaps with my computer dying, my sewing machine dying, summer with all the kids at home....I have finally caught up. A big thank you to Nikki W. for letting me borrow her awesome sewing machine (I wanted to take it home with me so bad and just keep it...is stealing or coveting really a bad thing?) and Connie T. letting me borrow her computer I can share my squares with you.

Here is Emily's Feather





Vee's Log Cabin



I have Sherri's Poppy completed but I need to take photos.  I will try to upload all of that today.  It feels so good to be caught up!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Friday, August 23, 2013

a poppy for Sherrie

Here ya go, Sherrie!



btw - the tutorial says to cut 9 squares from the bright colored strip, but I didn't have enough.  Fortunately, I only needed 8. phew!

emily

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Washington Island Poppies - August Block



This is a quick tutorial for my Washington Island Poppie Block.  You should all have recieved your kit in the mail by now.  Genevieve (Sally Burrup gave her's to Connie), that one will be yours if you can get it from her if not let me know and I'll send another one.

Each flower will be a different color so my pictures will not match your colored fabric but the assembly is the same.
 

Each of you should have a 3 1/2" colored strip
A 3 1/2" yellow square
A 2" white strip
2 - 7 1/4" white squares

From the colored strip cut 9 - 3 1/2"   "A" squares
From the white strip cut 8 - 2"   "B" squares
Draw a diagonal line across each 7 1/4"  white square and cut along line to make 4  "C" triangles.
 
 
1. Draw a diagonal line across each 2" "B" white square.  Place one B square on top left corner of a colored "A" square and stitch across the diagonal line.  Now add another B square to the bottom left corner of the colored A square and stitch across the diagonal line. 
 
Trim to 1/4" seam outside stitching.
 Fold triangles out, pressing seams toward the color creating a Petal unit.  Repeat step 1 three more times until you have four petal units.
 

 
2.  Lay out 4 Petal squares, 4 Colored "A" squares, and 1 Yellow center square according to picture below.  Join into rows.  Press the seams toward the "A" colored squares.
 
3.  Join the three rows to make one Center Unit.  Press the seams toward the center Yellow square.
 
 

 
4.  Add 1 white "C" triangle to the top and bottom of the Center Unit.  Fold triangles out pressing seams toward the Center Unit.
 
 
 


 5. Sew the remaining two "C" Triangles to the sides of the Center Unit.  Fold triangles out, pressing seams toward the Center Unit.
 
 

     Your block is complete! 
Your  finished block will measure aproximately 13 1/4" square.  Don't square them I will do that when I add the green sashing as I complete the quilt top.
Hope you have fun doing them!
Thanks!
Sherrie D.