Wool Applique- Yet Another Obsession

I live in Texas where it is currently over 100 degrees. Anything with wool just sounded silly. I can't recall what drew me to wool applique but I am addicted. I think all kinds of applique are beautiful but I'm not a very patient or exact person. Wool applique is so forgiving- no needleturn, etc. It is so fast and rich looking. My favorite part is the variety of textures you work with as you stitch. Luscious.

My bird piece is kind of leaning but I think I can position it in a frame so it is more balanced. So much fun to do.

This is next in line for stitching. It is a Block of the Week, yes I said week, from Primitive Gatherings. Lisa Bongean is the designer. I think it is ridiculous for me to think I will keep up with it each week so I think of it as a Block of the Month for me. I just love the colors she is picking for us and I've become a proponent of kits and BOM programs. I become weary when I have to drive around looking for just the right fabric or thread.

We are in a drought down here. After months of no rain we got 3 days of showers. My rain lilies finally bloomed. They have been dormant for 2 years. Just a little bit of pretty when there are floods and fires across the country. It is certainly easy to count your blessings when you listen to the news and hear of so many struggling.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Pineapples and Peonies

I finished my Pineapple Block Wallhanging. At last year's Houston Quilt Festival I was amazed at the display of pineapple quilts. When I saw a class using Gyleen Fitzgerald's ruler, I jumped on it.

I was a very bad student. I wasn't careful with my 1/4 inch seam but I held to my principles of using only scraps for this project and "letting it go." The result is far from perfect but lots of fun to make. I just love the pineapple block. Gyleen is coming to my guild next Tuesday. I can't wait to be inspired again.

Above is a snapshot of me sewing the border. I still don't know the best way to mark a quilt. I tried the Pounce with chalk. I couldn't see it after I wrestled the quilt under the machine. I've heard such different stories about marking with pens. A quilt teacher told me they don't come out. I think I need a class.

My fused applique Peonies didn't turn out as I planned. I bought a kit and I'm not thrilled with some of the fabric choices. The flower on the far left is the one I need to somehow fix. I'm thinking if I do some embroidery stitches it might balance the flowers. Still a work in progress.

It's hot outside and great for sewing. I'm off the play with a stack of half-square triangles.

Today is Father's Day. I can't help but think of my dad today and how he enjoyed working on creative projects. He was always learning something new. Such a good model for keeping the brain young and creative.

Coasters

I've been in search of coasters that I felt were worthy of my living room. I say that because I "misplaced" the ones my new husband brought to our relationship. I must have been tired of the ones I owned in the past. So, we have been putting drinks on magazines and living without coasters.

My search for something that matched but wasn't overpriced resulted in nothing. I found a great tutorial at 2 hippos.blogspot.com to make the coaster below. Cheap and easy!





All you need is tiles ( 16 cents at Home Depot), Mod Podge, scrapbook paper (59 cents at Hobby Lobby), varnish, and felt circles.

And here is the final product. This will be a handy gift to have on hand.

Geranium Wall Hanging

I've had this pattern for a while. It's one of Edyta Sitar's for raw edge applique. I love the colors and it fits right into the geraniums on the patio.

I learned how to do raw edge applique from a workshop with Edyta last March. I think applique is beautiful but know that I don't have the patience for needle turn. Edyta showed how to use fusible web and machine applique around the edges. I was sold.

Here is the near finished project auditioning on the mantel. I'd like to frame it but it isn't a standard size. I'm begging the hubby to build me a frame.

Off to stitch it down. There is a slight possibility I will finish a project in less than a year. But let's not get our hopes up...the pressure to perform is too much for me.

Verna Postage Stamp Strips

I've joined the Postage Stamp Quilt Along that psiquilt is doing. She does great tutorials. Very easy to follow. It uses 2 jelly rolls-one print and one solid. I've had a Verna jelly roll and charm pack waiting for just the right project. I fell in love with the fabric so much that I didn't think any project was worthy. I'm not sure this is the perfect way to use my beloved but using what I have from my stash is one of my goals for this year. So, that made it the right project.


The solid I used is Moda Bella Solid White. And let's just say that using a white jelly roll is really lazy. I have the yardage. I could have cut the strips. I'm lazy but I sure enjoyed just unrolling those strips. When I'm brave I'll figure out how much more money a jellyroll costs than cutting it yourself. I think I know how the math will turn out.

My seeds are turning into plants! It is so much fun to check on them every morning when I wake up and every evening when I get home from work. Yes, I'm a nerd. See the tall, proud geraniums...

And the tiny petunias making their way. One kind of petunia didn't germinate. These are tiny little things coming into the world. Fun!

Now I'm off to start some Civil War Project blocks....

New Kitty is resting on the Schnibble. I've decided to hand quilt. It is ready to go. But I'm ready to go to bed.

Tomorrow's decision will be how many quilt alongs I will participate in. psiquilt has a postage stamp quilt along starting. She has clear tutorials. It's just one print jelly roll and one solid. I see some quick strip piecing. That seems doable.

Off to bed with thoughts of perfect hand stitches tomorrow. Or just some done.

Resolutions: Emptying the Bin and Filling Up

My Bin Has Been Too Full of Dangerous Thing
(Of course, I'm the one who filled the Bin!)

My Bin Has Been Full Of....

-Wasted Time: Just that. Not relaxed time but wasted time. There is a difference.

-Wasted Thoughts: I think too much about how I should make people happy. I work with lots of women. I always think what I should have done so they wouldn't be upset. There is no making them happy. Happiness is a choice we all make.

-Wasted Money: Too much Starbucks, magazines, books, fabric, plants, etc. that are just whims.

Out With the Garbage. I'm Filling a Basket With the Things I Love...

Full of Time spent outside

She hasn't been to the park is such a long time. She asks every day. We went today. It was great except for when she lunged and barked aggressively at another dog. But that's about her...these are my resolutions, not hers.

Full of Time spent gardening.

God is in the flowers and the new growth every day. It's such a lesson in life renewing itself...and going on.

Full of Time spent sewing.

I read the blogs showing how much some folks get done. They have busy lives too. Probably busier than mine. They make good choices with their time. I deserve to do that also.

So those are my thoughts for my new year. The pictures are corny but I just learned how to upload from the web. What a year it has been already! I learned something.

Hope your year is off to a good start.