Little Boy Blue...........................

Little Boy Blue

Come blow your horn

The sheep’s in the meadow

The cows in the corn…….

How can you not like nursery rhymes?  This is another block that goes with the Mother Goose quilt.  I bring each block to work and show my friends and they just loved this one. 

Again this block is just made out of scraps and everyone has a stash that they’d like to use up.  So try it!  Even if you don’t have a grandchild, don’t want to make all the blocks, use it in the center and create other blocks to go with it.  Use your imagination.

Watch for the next block. 

Keep on stitchin’

Connie

Time for everything...................

There is a time for everything,

A season for all things under heaven.

A time to be born, a time to die.

A time to plant, a time to harvest…

A time to grieve, a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones, a time to gather stones.

A purpose for all things under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2, 4-5

This is one of my favorite versus out of the Bible. There’s always time, you just have to make time.  Life is very short sometimes so let’s make the best of things now and make time for things we love to do besides being with family. 

I know one of the things I love to do is sew.  I will make time for sewing because it is a stress reliever for me even if I have to resew something.  During my childhood I joined 4H and learned to sew.  I didn’t like sewing because I seem to have to rip a bunch because my body wasn’t perfect.  Ha Ha  I sewed off and on during high school but after high school sewed very little.  Then I found a wall hanging I wanted to try for Christmas.  That’s when I fell in love with quilting.  I’ve been quilting ever since.

This wall hanging is made with scraps of dark and medium fabrics that I had in my stash.  Then I sent it to my quilter and let her stipple all over it.  Really liked the way it turned out.  I’ve also made a few extras and handed them out when I needed a quick gift.  Using scraps the only expense you have is the panel and quilter if you decide to take it to a quilter. 

So don’t just walk by the panels in your quilt store.  Check them out and do a log cabin design around the outside.  Quick and easy.

Keep Stitchin’

Connie

"The Owl and Pussycat" block..........................

Well we’ve had our first snow in this area (Kansas, USA).  They say the day the first snow falls is how many snows you’ll get in the coming winter.  Hope that’s not true cause if it is we can look to have 18 snows this winter.  That’s a lot of snows and a lot of shoveling.  When the snow falls I fill like its time to get out the Crockpot and make soup.  Guess I better be finding some new recipes for soups if I’m making 18 this winter.  

The Owl and Pussycat is such a cute block that goes with the “Mother Goose” quilt.  Again it’s made with scraps out of your own stash.  You pick and choose what goes where.  I basically did it the same way as I did on the other blocks.  On the Pussycat’s face I embroidered the nose with 2 strands of black floss verses blanket stitching a black nose on it.  This would be up to you how you’d like to do it because I do it both ways. For the eyes again I used black glass beads (used in jewelry making).  I like the look of it but you can use tiny buttons. 

Looking at this block doesn’t it make you feel like you’re in the boat? The waves to me create that feel. They’re so happy.

Be sure to check back while I continue on with the next block.  

Oh and if you have a good soup recipe send it my way.

So keep on stitchin,

Connie

Little Bo Peep

This has really been a fun project to work on.  I come home from work, make supper and then try and go to my sewing room even if its for a few minutes.  Just sit at the machine and listen to it hum around each piece. 

Little Bo Peep is another block that goes in the Mother Goose Nursery Quilt along with the Humpty Dumpty post I did on my blog.

This is another block where you can use any scraps that you might have stashed away. Put fabrics together that you wouldn't even consider putting together and see how it comes to life.

Background is 14 1/2" x 14 1/2" with 2 1/2" strips for borders.  Trace pieces of block unto fusible web.  Then cut out the pieces leaving a 1/4" inch around each piece. Match pieces to color of scraps that you would like to use for that piece.  Blanket stitch with sewing machine or by hand using the color of your choice for that particular piece.

Attach black buttons, I used glass beads used in jewelry making, for eyes on Bo Peep and her sheep.

Blush cheeks using makeup or pencil (which on this picture I forgot to do).

Then embroider using how many strands of thread you want, I chose 2 strands of black, the words "Little Bo Peep."

I think the next block will be "Owl and Pussycat."  Check back and see how this quilt comes to life with each block.  I'm doing all 9 blocks!

In the meantime,
Keep on stitchin'

Connie

Humpty Dumpty..........

What child or even parent doesn’t like Mother Goose Nursery Rhythms! Brings back a lot of memories when your children or grandchildren were growing up doesn’t it?

I want to talk about “Humpty Dumpty” today.  This is the first block of many nursery rhythms and the block finished measures 18” x 28”..  The first thing I did on this block was embroidered the “Humpty Dumpty” in black with 2 strands of embroidering floss.  The pattern called for 4 strands but I choose 2 strands because I didn’t like it that heavy looking so you will have to decide what you like. I also embroidered the mouth using 2 strands of thread.  Using scraps from your stash pick out a scrap for each piece in the pattern.  Trace each pattern piece on fusible web.  Hint:  make sure you transfer pattern on the glue side of your fusible web.  Be sure to leave ¼” around outside of pattern when you are cutting the fusible web out to iron onto material.  Iron onto the wrong side of the scrap that you have picked out for that pattern piece.  Now cut out each piece on the tracing line. Cutting on the tracing line will seal your threads and help with fraying edges.  Now remove the paper backing on your fusible web.  The next step is like putting a puzzle together.  Lay all your pieces out like pattern shows on your background fabric.  Remember dotted lines indicate where one shape overlaps another.  Iron in position when you are happy with layout.  Here you can iron the whole appliqué or iron piece by piece.  This is depending how you are going to blanket stitch your appliqué.  I choose to do it piece by piece with the blanket stitch on my machine.  I also try to use the same color thread to match the color of the material I am sewing on.  Sometimes I will just use white for a contrast so it’s up to you what colors to use.  They suggest you use color threads to match to appliqué shapes for a classic look or a darker shade of thread for a more dramatic look.  Attach buttons for eyes.

Doesn’t that look like a fun “Humpty Dumpty” that any kid would enjoy having for a quilt or wall hanging in his/her room? 

Check back and watch for more blocks from this series.

Keep stitchin……

Connie

Rag-Edge Applique

Today I want to talk about a different way to do edging in quilting. Most people will do appliquéing by needle turn, satin stitch, or blanket stitch but this one is called rag-edge appliqué.  This pattern is called “French Roses” by Heather French.  This is a fun project for everyone to try regardless how much you’ve quilted.  The rag-edge appliqué is done with each rose and gives it a nice soft edge around the petals.  After washing and drying (the more you wash the more it frays out) you will be amazed at how it looks, so soft and comes to life.

This type of appliquéing doesn’t have to stop with just flowers.  You can apply this to any quilt that has circles, another type of flower, anything that can be appliquéd.  Lynne Hagmeier, owner of Kansas Troubles uses this technique in her quilts.  She is a well known fabric designer for Moda fabrics, books and lots of patterns and is from the Bennington, Kansas area.  Check her out at http://www.ktquilts.com/ or http://kansastroublesquilters-lynne.blogspot.com/.  She has some fun things going on!

So here's a different way to applique.  Give it a try and see what you think.

So for now keep that sewing machine a stitchin,

Until next time,

Connie

Celebrate Christmas with Santas' Special Reindeer

Christmas in July!  Already here and only 4 months till Christmas.  Wow! Where does the time go?
So have you decided you're going to quilt something for your granddaughter, grandson or maybe just to give it to someone special?  You need to start thinking about what colors, design you would like to use and get started.  I'm making 3 quilts for grandsons and have 2 out of 3 done and ready for the quilter so I feel pretty good.

I'm going to call this a wallhanging and I think its so cute.  The size is 40 1/4" x 50 3/4" and could also be called a crib size.  How can you not like Rudolph?  This particular quilt was in "Quiltmaker" magazine, Nov/Dec 2012 called "Jingle Patch" on page 42.  This is from a Patch Pal's collection and is the last one of the series.  To see all the collections go to quiltmaker.com/patchpals. 

You can use a lot of your scraps on this quilt especially the green background.  The trees wouldn't have to be made out of the same fabric and there again you could use your stash.  It's just a lot of fun to mix and match with you're fabric.

So get in the Christmas spirit and start thinking about what you'd like to sew.  Hope you enjoyed the Reindeer quilt as much as I had fun sewing it.

Keep Stitchin,
Connie