One Piece at a Time

Introducing the 2011 Block of the Month: My Tweets

I know I know, it’s still August and I’m already talking about next year’s BOM. I just wanted to give people a head’s up so they could plan, if they happen to be the planning type. Also, since questions about color and fabric are my most asked questions,  I wanted to tell people about the fabric that I will be using so they can order it if they are interested.

So, here’s the scoop.

I will be offering an appliqué BOM next year starting in January. I’m calling it “My Tweets” and each block will have a cute bird theme. The small blocks will all be free on my blog and there will be instructions for completing the quilt with the 12 small blocks plus an appliqué border. If people want to make the medallion setting (the one shown above) I’m asking that they purchase the pattern for the center. This helps me keep this blog going.

I wanted to find a fabric line to use for this that was bright and cheery but not exactly like Florabunda. I absolutely love the “Happy” fabric line by Me and My Sister and Moda. Seriously, how can you not love a line of fabric called “Happy”? You can see pictures of it by going here or here.

Kimberly from Fat Quarter Shop has graciously sent me a Fat Quarter Bundle and I am busily working on finishing the center block in “Happy” fabric for you all to see. I am also planning on designing some fun free projects using that fat quarters from the bundle that don’t make it into the quilt so none go to waste. If you don’t know about Fat Quarter Shop, please go check them out right away. I’ve added them to “My Favorite Websites” section. They are my absolutely favorite for online fabric ordering. Every time I have ordered from them they have gotten the fabric to me within a few days. They have a very accurate estimation of how much fabric they have (none of this backordering and waiting 3 weeks only to find out your fabric isn’t coming kind of thing) and wonderful customer service. So go visit them and order a bundle or two (you know you want to).

For the background blocks I am using Bella Solids Bleached White and you can order it from Fat Quarter Shop by clicking here. You will need 8 yards. For the small squares in the sashing and the binding you will need 2.5 yards of a coordinating blue fabric. I am going to use one of the blues from the “Happy” collection. The yardage for this fabric line will be at Fat Quarter Shop in September and I will let you know when it’s in and what other quantities I am ordering.

I am so excited about this I can hardly sit still (maybe that’s from the coffee) and I am drawing birds on everything. So mark your calendars and come quilt (tweet) with me in 2011.

I want to go shopping with these people

I know, I know lots of videos this week

Enjoy

Some New Links

This week I have been trying to capture some new images of the quilting done on “Bluebird’s Piece O’Cake” so that my friend, Karen Dovala, can put them up on her website. Karen and I met when our kids were really little. They all took piano lessons from the same lady and Karen and I would sit in the waiting area and appliqué (big surprise). Karen has since become a longarm quilter and I use her every time I have a project that is too big for me and my bity machine. I’ve added her website to the side bar and you can visit her at The Quilted Moose. Here are some up close shots of the quilting she did for me.

I’ve also found two really wonderful blogs that I’m totally in love with. The first is Sandra Leichner’s blog (just click on her name in the blogroll) Her appliqué is so inspiring. She is currently doing some very beautiful work with a bird and some flowers that I go visit every day. She also does lovely embroidery with her appliqué designs and has a book coming out on that subject very soon. Go check it out.

The other new blog is Wendy Sheppard’s Ivory Spring. Her machine quilting is stunning. She’s a girl after my own heart. We are both former engineers and she loves Jane Austen and smocking as well as quilting. She has wonderful tips and fun ideas so go check her out too.

Have a nice weekend.

Applique Lesson 1: in Video

So I’m starting a new set of tutorials on appliqué but this time WITH VIDEO. I’m still a relative newbie when it comes to video so hang in there while I work stuff out. Basically I want to show you all the methods I use to make my patterns so, hopefully, between the pictures and video you can make my quilt patterns.

A good pattern to start with if you are just learning to appliqué this way is my Colorado Lily Quilt (shown above). You can download the 9" block  here. I’m going to go through my appliqué and construction process step by step so by the end we should all have a little appliqué quilt. I really like this block for learning it teaches inward and outward points as well as stems and at the end I will add some stuffed circles. Once you complete this you should be able to do the appliqué in any of my patterns.

Here is the first lesson on tracing and cutting out templates.

Just in case you thought my dog was well behaved

I'm getting ready to film an applique tutorial and I found this Rio footage on my camcorder. When Rio heard it he started going nutso for a walk even though we just got back from a 3 mile walk. Right now he is sitting at my feet and begging and barking. Sorry it's a little dark.

Florabunda Block 8, Alternate Colorway

Hi everyone!

Here is Block 8 in the alternate colorway. If you look really close you will see that those petals and leaves aren't sewn down yet, just glue basted. My kiddos started school this past week so I have had very little time with all the running around we seem to do here. So now you know that even though I sometimes schedule my blog posts in advance this blog is very "real" time.

Another Wierd and Totally Random Video

OK, OK it's the weekend and I'm working on my design challenge quilt and for some reason I just thought this was so cute that I would share it with you...or maybe I'm avoiding the 128 leaves I've decided I absolutely NEED in my quilt.

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

It could have been worse, I could have talked about Pioneer Woman's cat and told you all about my childhood cat Eleanor (who was a boy cat).If that last bit is confusing it won't be after you read about Pioneer Woman's cat.

Florabunda Block 8….. Yikes, we are already at Block 8

As promised here is Florabunda Block 8.The pattern has two formats. The first is a full size pattern (12” square you can download here) that you can save to a USB drive and take to a copy place to have printed. The other is a ¼ size drawing (download here) that should print on a regular printer. You can make 4 copies of this one and tape it together for a full size pattern. This pattern is swirly so you will have to align the leaves that are cut off. I couldn’t figure out a nice way around this…sorry.

For all you who like to share pictures you can join our FLICKR group at

http://www.flickr.com/groups/florabuddies

Have Fun and

Happy Friday

A Nicer Sewing Tote

For those of you who would like a nicer sewing tote (as opposed to a swimming noodle hacked in half with a kitchen knife) go on over to Linda Hungerford's blog, Flourishing Palms. In the lower left hand corner she has a really nice portable project tote you can download the f=directions to.

Go Roger

Now why couldn't I do this when I played tennis?