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.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Ladies this is a test post from me.  I was sent a new link to post to the blog and when I opened it Blogger said the link was no longer valid.  Then I opened the blog and noticed that I had the new post option on the top bar.  So maybe I'm back in after all.  Everyone except Genevieve should have a Washington Poppy block from me by now!

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Hello....Goodbye

I just wanted to let everyone know that Sally Burrup needs to drop out of the group due to time constraints.  We are sorry to have her leave the group but know that she is super busy and is juggling many hats right now.

I wanted to welcome Genevieve Spradlin to our group.  She is Sherri T.'s daughter.  We are so excited to have you!  Hopefully we can all take a few extra days this month to get everyone all caught up. 

I will be sending out a new mailing address and making a couple of changes to our monthly assignments. 

Sherri D. I think I have fixed the problem for you on not being able to post to the blog.  I have sent you a new invitation that should make all things good!

Happy Quilting!!!!!