Simple Applique

Yesterday I made this simple appliqued wall hanging that will be used for a class.  I had batiks that were given to me from 2 dear friends and I used them all in this whimsical project.  I hung it in the dining  room and fell in love with it!

I usually use Wonder Under for my fusing material for the applique parts but I tried Pellon Steam a Seam II so that we could use it in class.  It offers more ease in placing the parts on the background but I did find it to be a little fiddly to work with. However you do not need to use a Teflon sheet for placement which is an advantage in class.

It is hard to tell from this pic but I used the blanket stitch for the leaves and stems and the satin stitch for the flower petals; this will allow students to practice both.  I honestly want to stipple quilt the background fabric but never got to it yet.

Hubby's Monopoly Quilt

Hubby's birthday was yesterday and I made him his own quilt. I wanted something masculine looking, or at least not floral, and I saw this monopoly fabric and just had to buy it. Since he loves our doxie I made the center block out of dachshund fabric I had picked up in Harrisburg a few years back. Since I did not want him to see it I actually quilted it at work on the Pfaff sit down quilter. It went pretty fast but I also decided to use a template ruler for the border and that did not turn out too well. Apparently one needs to practice with those rulers for awhile - anyhoo my hubby does not seem to notice my irregular quilting on the borders!

 

 

 

Visiting Darling Daughter

Hubby and I are visiting our daughter for a few days.  She is getting ready for her annual St. Patty's Day party so we are previewing some of her props. Apparently she and her cat will be wearing only the latest fashion in head coverings!

My Class Finished Their Doll Clothes

I had 5 attendees for the 18 inch doll clothes class and they did not disappoint me.  Everyone had a different taste in fabric so we got quite a variety in the finished product. In the class we learned how to do French seams, use decorative stiches for adornment, make a casing with a zigzag stitch and how to finish with a double needle. Additionally, we used elastic thread in the bobbin to do shirring. Here are some of the clothes they made. You can go back to my previous posts http://juliannasjourney.blogspot.com/2014/02/more-doll-clothes.html to see what I started out with.

Weeks 4 and 5 of the McCall's Quilt Along - And So it Continues

Well I am into week 5 of this online quilt.  I am learning many new blocks; more than I had anticipated. Last week, week 4, was the diamond block. 12 diamond blocks made from 8 half rectangle triangles. So I have them done but many, many points were sacrificed in the making of them. Working with triangles is a bit tricky because they are all cut on the bias and bias stretches. The center points met up but not too good at corners. I am thinking I can fudge when they get sewn into the design of the quilt.

This week's is the sawtooth star which I have never made. I have half of them made and this block is so very pretty. Don't you think so?

Ruby Loves the New Quilt

 

 

Well I finally finished quilting the Rail Fence quilt.  I did a stipple design all over it and stars on the border. I am practicing leaves but this just wasn't the right quilt blocks for them. Hubby is quite happy that he can use this quilt since most of them are given as gifts or hanging on display.