Thursday, January 21, 2016

Good things come in little packages...


I started working on these little six inch hand applique blocks before the move last year.  I made three of each one...for a total of 36!  I am involved in a reproduction block swap with two of my Michigan friends.  

Ola and Mary are fabulous piecers, so I decided to contribute what I do best, hand applique.  I called the project REPRO MADNESS.

I made the enclosed grid of 12 blocks with Picasa...it is fun to see them all together!  They will be blended with the pieced blocks from my friends for a project yet to be determined (we will each come up with our own setting and project).


(I made a cherry block to represent Michigan's fruit farms.)

I was able to prep enough of the little blocks ahead to have a little hand work to do through all the moving crap during the last half of 2015, once my finger allowed me to hold a needle again.


(I made this to represent our friendship...we've been 'partners in crime' for a long time...working at quilt shops together, working on projects together, teaching classes together, going on road trips together, sharing each others' lives...I miss them so much!)

Half of the finished blocks are Lorie Smith's designs and half are my own creation.  She has so many cute six-inch blocks among her many beautiful patterns, so it is easy to be lazy and just use her designs.  As I go forward, I want more of them to be my drawings.


(Well...EVERYBODY likes cake!)


(Just had to come up with something that would use all my yummy purple reproduction fabrics...)


(Again, another block representing Michigan and all the fruit farms...I lived right next to a fabulous apple orchard in Ypsilanti.)


(Ola and I aren't quite the sewing machine collectors that Mary is, but we are still young and breathing...so there is time.)

Enough of the cozy catch-up of completed blocks...I have managed to find enough stash items to prep another six sets of 3 blocks each...another 18 blocks in total.

(These are just glue prepped on overly large backgrounds...there will be embroidery added after hand applique stitching, and then will be cropped to six inches square.)








After these sets, I have individual blocks designed for each of us featuring past beloved pets (a chocolate lab for Ola, a wiener dog for Mary, and my beloved Weasley the cat).  I will only do one of each of those.  Then I may continue making the 6 inch blocks, but no longer in sets of three for the swap.  I have a hard time doing more than one of each block...I get easily bored and distracted with repetition.

Although, I may have to do one more for all of us...19 total blocks is just a weird number to end on!

I have another twelve blocks already designed, ready to be prepped!  I had one creative weekend where I just doodled and doodled, and everything 'clicked.'

I am excited to be getting off the 'mountain' tonight and going to the January meeting of the Huntsville guild.  It is over an hour drive each way, but it will be worth it to talk to someone other than my husband.

(I realize this is the third blog post in as many days...not my usual sporadic production, for sure.)

In stitches,
Teresa   :o)


33 comments:

  1. I hope you enjoy your new guild - sometimes it is hard to get into a new one and like it especially if you really liked your old group. An hour each way is a ways to drive but like you say - it does get a little boring after awhile just talking to the hubby LOL Have fun!

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  2. Ohmygosh--just love your gorgeous blocks--your work is exquisite, Teresa. those two little bunnies are adorable--that would make the cutest Valentine's little piece--ya think? hugs, Julierose

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  3. Your applique is just amazing when you think of the size block. They are all just lovely, but I adore the bunnies.

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  4. wow...such gorgeous work...excellence in applique!

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  5. You blocks are wonderful! So glad you are able to get back to your applique and start posting again. You've been missed.

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  6. Your blocks are fantastic! Each one so beautiful and gorgeously appliqued. What a lovely project to work on with friends - I can't wait to see the pieced blocks too. Enjoy your guild night out :0)

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  7. Teresa, it is very good to have you back, I'm not complaining about 3 posts in 3 days! Your house looks fabulous and those blocks are beautiful. I was wondering how your hand is healing?

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  8. Your applique is gorgeous! Your friends are very lucky to have you in the swap!

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  9. Great blocks! I admire the effort in making just one, but three of each, wow!

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  10. Your work is amazing! Eager to see you at our guild meeting tonight!

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  11. Teresa, I am just stunned by the gorgeous work you do. Anywho......look for a lady named Kim Story at tonight's meeting (if it takes place). I think this is the guild she belongs to. If it is, she was president a couple of years ago. Crap, she may be out of town for work, but ask about her anyway. She's just a wonderful lady and I love her to death. Fabulous quilter, too.

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  12. My goodness Teresa, your blocks are just stunning. How lucky your friends are to receive such darling blocks. As you know I'm on an applique bent right now, so it helps me to appreciate your work all the more.
    Hugs
    Tazzie

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  13. I love your blocks! Will you sell the patterns eventually?

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  14. Yippee... you're back!
    You have your toys out and you're playing again :)
    Love the bunny block!

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  15. Oh, I Love these blocks. I enjoy seeing your applique, always so pretty. Enjoy your break away.

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  16. I hope you had a great time at the guild meeting and found some new friends among quilters close to you!!! Love your blocks and I can't wait to see the memory blocks of the beloved pets. These are going to be awesome quilts when you all get them finished!

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  17. Absolutely amazing! I can't imagine doing 3 of the same block on all those little gems! Great job! Look forward to seeing your friend's pieced blocks too.

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  18. That was a huge task, and the blocks are truly beautiful. Love the apple basket. But what's so impressive is the 6" size- WOW!

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  19. Oh, I just love all of your blocks! They are just lovely and I think you really did a wonderful job sewing them. Beautiful job!!!

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  20. All I can think of, is "Have your cake and eat it too". Three of each? Beautiful!

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  21. All I can think of, is "Have your cake and eat it too". Three of each? Beautiful!

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  22. Greetings from Tuscaloosa. Glad you found the bobbins. You have made wonderful blocks. I have not done much appliqué, but I am starting an elephant wall hanging for our oldest granddaughter who is a junior at the University of Alabama. I will do the appliqué by machine, however. The elephant will be made out of several red and red and white fabrics, and the background will be 5 grays. I have more of the Reds than I need. The hard part will be selecting which ones to use. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  23. I like all your blocks, but I especially like the little bunnies block. So cute.

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  24. I loved looking at all the blocks and admired all the hard work you put into making them all x3. I didn't comment but I enjoyed reading your post with all the Christmas trees and looking at all the ornaments hanging from the branches made over the years - what happy memories for you to treasure :)

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  25. your work is amazing. I am so happy to see you blogging again.
    I am planning to go to the quilt show in Pigeon Forge in March. Any chance you will be there too? would love to meet you.

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  26. What fun blocks!!! The bunnies are so cute. Love the reds in the flower block. Repetition is hard for me too. Glad you have some stitching going & have a good time tonight with the quilters.

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  27. All of your blocks are very pretty. I like that they are smaller than most applique blocks.

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  28. I'm glad I don't have to pick a favorite block, Theresa, because I couldn't possibly do it! They are all so fantastic! Wish I could make one of each of them too!
    Marsha - QuilterinMotion

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  29. Hard to pick a favorite of the different blocks you made. How nice of you to do the applique blocks for the trade. I too have trouble when it comes to making duplicate blocks. It is just so much more interesting to have a variety to work on. That is why I like album style quilts.

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  30. Your blocks for your friends swap are wonderful. They will be honored by the time and expert workmanship you have put into their blocks. You are so thoughtful and a wonderful friend to them. I know you miss them a lot.

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