Saturday, August 31, 2013

A "Quicky" Table Runner

I love this book by Rashida Coleman-Hale called "I Love Patchwork"Every project is really cute. I made this table runner and it was so so fun!!!!
It is really easy to do and requires so little fabric!!!!!! All you need is one fat quarter for the solid it calles for linen but I didn't have any so I choose this neutral solid fat quarter that I had.
Then all you need is 3 colors scraps. Less than a quarter yd would do it. 
Would make a great home warming gift. I really want to make more.
Check out Rashida Coleman- Hale's blog HERE
Also you can get the book at Amazon HERE

I love how few pieces of fabric you need for this project!


If you are a med / or beginner this is a good lesson in practicing your quilting tecnique.
I marked the background using Roxanne Chalk Marking Pencil white. It is really great because the lines lasted long enough then disappeared on it's own. The hardest part for me in making this was marking where the "zig zag" lines went. 
Close up I missed the stitch in the ditch a little bit oh well...
No one is perfect lol!
I really enjoyed making this! It took so little time surprising!!!!!




Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Cute Origami Drawstring Bag

PATTERN HERE


 Adorable drawstring bag to carry art supplies, makeup or anything you want! Could be a great evening bag or sewing supply bag. The fabrics I used are from Art Gallery Fabrics Bazaar Style I love this bag, and it is super soft to the touch because of the Art Gallery Fabrics. This bag is small enough to put in another bag yet holds so much with the outer envelope pockets.




I hope you enjoy this post. Love, Frances

Sunday, August 25, 2013

My Love for Applique This is the Starch and Freezer paper method.

 This is Hand Applique using the freezer paper amd Starch method. I love this book called "Hop To It!" Applique'd Blocks & Projects by Edyta Sitar fo Laundry Basket Quilts.
I am showing you my supplies that I used for the class I took. 

Fabric safe ink pen or pencil (Identi-pen, thin line Sharpie, micron pen, or mechanical pencil; something permanent on paper that won't transfer to fabric if hot or wet. (Regular ball point pen is NOT good.)
Light box
Freezer paper
Small sharp scissors for fabric, and paper scissors
Stencil brush 1/4 inch or paint brush--I use a paintbrush with a base of 1/4 inch
Mini iron with holder ie: Clover
Spray starch and a small container to hold the starch, like a mini jam jar
Roxanne's Glue-baste-it, a small container is fine, but not the teeny tiny one-it's too hard to squeeze
Small ironing surface to press your fabric on, I use an Omnigrid combination cutting and pressing board
Thread to match fabrics (I like DMC 50 weight, silk 100 weight if you already have it, Masterpiece, Bottom Line; the smaller the thread the less it will show)
Emery board
Stiletto or wooden skewer

Needles (I like skinny ones, size 10, 11 or 12; the 12s bend easily tho; I prefer Applique sharps--milliners or straw needles are good, betweens are also OK but they are very short.)
Masking tape to hold pattern and fabric to light box; 

I love Perfect circles templates, you can iron on them they are by Karen Kay Buckley
HERE you can also get the bigger ones HERE


 I used modern fabrics with keeping the same color pallet for all my blocks. I ran out of the rassbery modled fabric and had to find something to match. Boy what a challenge!
 For me the eayiest way to make the stems is simply to cut the fabric on the bias and fold and iron it to make strips then cut the strips to the length you need them. I might have to make a tutorial on this : )
 It takes me an entire day just to starch the block and cut out all the pieces (sans sewing) and glue them in place.

Sewing them down will be done later.
Unfinished block still needs large circle berries.
I am still not great at turning under the flags left on my leaves does anyone have a good trick for this??
What is great about hand applique is you can simply carry all your supplies in a tuperware container and go!

I found a nice tutorial Here

One thing to note, is I used double freezer paper to make my templates a little stronger. You want to iron 2 sheets of frezer paer together smooth out the wrinkles then trace your shapes.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Quilt Yard Saturday...


Today was a very hot day, but I worked all day hanging quilts I have made in the past to take pictures of them. My toddler Jonah, ran around naked in the yard helping me but also tried to steal all the wooden pins!  The backyard had quilts everywhere and it made my husband and I want to make a campout!

Friday, August 16, 2013

Pretty Blocks


This pretty block is PAPER PIECED and can be found HERE
I keep all the paper in and sewed it all together then took all the paper out.
The fabrics are beautiful Art Gallery Fabrics.
I am so excited to have this block made I saw it from the lovely Melanie Dramatic on her website and intagram!
I died over this block and had to have one.
The fabrics are Art Gallery fabrics and HERE IS HOW TO MAKE THIS BLOCK BY MELANIE GO HERE.

Is
This block is APPIQUE Block designed by Amada Murphy And you can find the pattern HERE
I hope you enjoy these. I had fun challenging myself to sew again so I plan to make the third block a little more complicated using the same color pallet.