A way to cheat on my applique prep - BRILLIANT!!

I think I showed you this block that I designed before.  It is going to be the center medallion for my "Little Treasures" project.  

It has been languishing on my design wall as I pondered the skinny border that would come next.  I need a 2-inch border - the rest of the quilt is made up of alternating pieced blocks from my friends and my LITTLE TREASURES applique blocks, all finishing 6-inches and all done in Reproduction fabrics.

That's going to be a very busy quilt, so I want a strong border, but not just a boring strip of fabric.

Ta da!  Appliqued red and black stars on alternating black and red squares (these aren't sewn together yet).

OK...I can hear you now..."those are mighty small stars (each block will finish 2-inches) and lots of them...too difficult and time-consuming!

I have found a great cheat, and now I will share it with you!  I made these eight little blocks as an experiment in NO TIME using this...

The step in my applique that slows me down is tracing pattern pieces on freezer paper and cutting them out.  I also like to scrapbook, and these paper punches make repetitive shapes SUPER easy!

I have experimented with stars, hearts and circles.  Here's how I do it...

You can use a piece of freezer paper from a roll or a loose sheet. But in the heat of hurriedly pressing multiple freezer paper patterns to multiple little scraps, I sometimes end up accidentally sticking the glossy side of the freezer paper to my IRON instead of my FABRIC.  I hate it when that happens!

Now I scribble on my freezer paper to make the right side obvious with a quick glance...

Now I will know where the glossy side is...

I have been cutting out some circles at the same time so that I don't waste my freezer paper...

I like this Fiskars star as it has rounded star points, which I find MUCH easier to turn under with a glue stick.  If you have a star punch with pointy start points, just ignore the points when you start gluing your edges under.

These stars measure about 1-3/4 inches across, which works well as my squares will finish 2-inches.

It is hard to see, but I cut from the edge of my allowance to the paper pattern between all the star points (where my tip of my stiletto is pointing).

Then I just work my way around, gluing and turning under.

With the state of my fumbly, numbly, cat-bitten fingers, I use my tools for everything, so I use my stiletto point to to loosen one tip of the paper, then remove the it the rest of the way with my big beading tweezers.

I will soak and rinse my squares after stitching to remove the glue, followed by pressing and trimming them to 2-1/2 inches.  So, I glue-baste my stars to the center of a scrap that is at least 3 x 3 inches.

"Dot-dot-not-a-lot" with the glue-baste, not too close to the edge because I don't want to stitch through the glue.

I trim to size (after stitching, soaking, and pressing) with my 2-1/2 inch template.

Pattern weights on top of glue-basted stars...

Cool, huh?  Look what else you can do with punches?

Those tiny circles are 1/2-inch, my friend.  The larger circles are 
1-1/4 inch.  The middle-sized circles are 3/4-inch.  I used to hate cutting out all those little circles from the freezer paper!  With the punches, this is easy-peasy!

The crazy pencil marks help me press the glossy side down onto my scraps, not the bottom of my iron.

Now they are ready for gluing the edges under!

All pressed an ready to put away.

This is what I can do with some of the smallest snippets of scraps I save and they work up really fast.  I am storing them until I cook up a plan for them...

They make all kinds of punches...shapes, squares, HEXIES, circles. I'm just saying...

In Stitches,
Teresa   :o)

The "Chemistry" block for the "Contentment" quilt...

Block number twelve out of thirteen for our anniversary project, "Contentment" is done!  It depicts my college major and subsequent research lab career.  

Edit: I just realized that I forgot to put the button "French knots" on the lab coat, so not quite finished!  It is always something...

Among other things, I worked in a DNA repair research group doing a lot of tissue culture (growing cells) and running electrophoresis gels with radioactive markers.  That seems like a long time ago!  I'm even a published co-author on some research papers!

Very early in my career, I worked with growing mouse testicular cells and treated them with things that might or might not reduce male fertility, but I didn't want THOSE things pictured in my quilt!!

That is why I had to come up with a picture of me wrangling with a DNA molecule...and holding a flask of/or micro-pipetting colorful liquid, which is hardly ever done, but it photographs well so photographers always ask us to do it when they are taking pictures in the lab.

Anyway, here is the block before I got up the nerve to add some embroidery details.  

Yeah, I have a saying, "better to be vague and ambiguous when drawing shapes so as not to prove you can't draw, than to add too many embroidery details and remove all doubt about your drawing skills."

Oh well, I do think that having a face and fingers does help a bit.

I love my vintage pattern weights!  I have managed to procure a couple of extra sets of these weights, so I will do a give-away next week for you appliquers interested in that sort of thing.

After adding a face and fingers to my chemistry block, I drummed up the courage to add them to the center medallion block, which has been finished for weeks.

Yeah, I won't be hired as a portrait artist in this life time...

The fabric that I used for Steve's skin was so pale that it was hard to distinguish his features from the background fabric, so I outlined his head and arms with a single strand of a slightly darker DMC embroidery thread.

Our faces are comical, but I still like the effect better than just being blank.

ONE more block to prep and sew!  I have been experimenting with something sweet to fill the 2-inch border between the center medallion block and the twelve blocks that will surround it.  This will be an applique border, I think, even though it is a skinny, skinny space with which to play!  Every little mocked-up pieced border I have tried just looked awkward and out of place.

I have also finished a few more "Afternoon Delight" applique blocks and settled on a medallion border for my "Little Treasures" swap project.  More on that next post.

There's nothing like working on several things at one time!  It helped me stay sane this week as major work was being done on our large, metal roof (ALL the screws needed to be replaced!).

In stitches,
Teresa   :o)

"Afternoon Delight" during evening Olympics watching...

During my sporadic evening Olympics TV viewing, I was able to finish more "Afternoon Delight" blocks.  I now have 25 of the 40 applique blocks hand-stitched.  These blocks will finish to a little bigger than 6 inches square.

"Afternoon Delight" is a quilt pattern by Sue Garman.  There are quite a few pieced, scrappy blocks in this quilt, which I hope to power piece at a retreat at the end of September.

The Olympics were fabulous!  I wish I could have spent more time watching.  And it was really nice to have the media focus on something else for 16 days.  The next ten weeks of political stuff are going to be brutal in the ol' USA.

I wish we could adopt something like the Canadians have in this country...they have a very limited time of campaigning before elections.  I think I heard that last time it was something like 78 days, which was long for them.

Wow...it feels like it has been 78 months here!

I have been working on the attached 3-car garage and basement wood shop.  There are a lot of tools and stuff on this property spread between the garage, shop and 6 outbuildings.  It's hard to organize it one building at a time when you don't even have like things together so you know what you are dealing with.

One of my super powers is organizing, but not having everything in one place while trying to do it is making me a little nuts!  And, of course, as you organize stuff things ALWAYS get worse before they get better.  Everything has to be removed and piled so that you can arrange shelves, bins, and wall organizing systems.  

Ugh.

I would much rather be stitching, but things are so spread over the property that we can't find things we need.  Then we go out and buy what we can't find, then almost immediately stumble on what we needed...so frustrating.

This place was a handful, even before adding our belongings to "the mix."  My parents were working physicians right up to the end and they struggled to get a handle on organizing stuff.  Then the seven of us kids and families would visit off and on.  Some of us would work when we visited, but there was always more stuff to do.  And while the 800+ acres were intended to be wild and unspoiled, there is a certain amount of maintenance that needs to be done to keep nature from just completely taking over!

I keep thinking that once things are more organized that I will have more regular time for stitching, designing and quilting.  But for now I am trying to make the most of the time that I have.

It helps to have a pile of blocks like this prepped so that when I have time for a little de-stressing stitching, there is something to pick up immediately.

I have always been attracted to the Reproduction fabrics, but now that I live in the middle of the woods in a log home, it just seems natural to be sewing with these fabrics more and more has I design blocks or work through my "bucket list" of other designer's patterns in which I want to get completely lost.

On top of everything else, with the weird tropical rain systems that have been parking themselves over the southeast, we have discovered that screw fasteners that hold down our nice metal roof have been working themselves out.  We have developed a leak somewhere above the master bath and we have a mildew situation slowly emerging on the ceiling.  Now there is a little drywall to do after we remedy the situation.

I have been entertaining roofing companies submitting estimates for replacing ALL THE ROOF SCREWS...ugh.  Hopefully work will start early next week.

So, it is very nice to have blocks prepped for LOTS of fabric therapy, as I need it GREATLY right now!

In stitches,
Teresa   :o)

The "Peace" block...

I started stitching on this block for my "Contentment" anniversary quilt project while watching the opening ceremony for the Rio Olympics.  It seemed appropriate...I love all the International cooperation and participation.  I wish the only battles in the world were the ones between athletic teams with no violence.

The block measures 10-inches finished.  Steve and I are pretty peaceful and wish there was less violence in the world.  I have two more 10-inch blocks to do, then I have to start putting it together.  

This makes me panic because I have not figured out what to put around the center block.  I need to have a 2-inch border of some kind.  I cannot decide...pieced, appliqued...ugh!  I will draw out some possibilities and try and nail down a decision.

Are you watching the Olympics?  I am enjoying all of it.  The most surprising event for me has been the women's rugby...that is such a strange sport with the big ball!  Weird!

I was so moved by the opening ceremonies...it is always so interesting to see what the host nation puts together.  That projection system was amazing!  And I loved the moving sculpture behind the lighted cauldron. 

I wish all nations would act as if the rest of the world was really watching all the time...including us!

In stitches,
Teresa   :o)

More finished blocks!

This is block eleven of my original "Contentment" applique anniversary quilt project.  The block is 10-inches square and represents our shared love of music.

Steve plays guitar and sings, and I play piano, clarinet, and sing.  I decided not to try and represent all those things separately in one applique block...at least not this time!

Only three more surround blocks to go on the "Contentment" quilt. One is prepped, so I hope to stitch it this weekend.

I am also working on the 40 applique blocks in Sue Garman's "Afternoon Delight" quilt as we all continue to pray for her continued strength in fighting cancer.

This is block #31 and my favorite so far!  I loved the challenge of all the little...what are they, tentacles?  Whatever they are, they are a great design motif and fun to stitch. The blocks are 7-1/4-inch trimmed.

I did not find these little doo-dads hard to hand-applique, but I will admit that cutting out the freezer paper template was a little challenging.  

My paper-cutting scissors are not very good.  I am very picky and careful about my fabric-cutting scissors, but I must admit that my only criteria for paper-cutting scissors is just that they not be my fabric-cutting scissors!

As much freezer paper as I cut out, I will designate a pair...any of you paper crafters out there have a particular brand that you like? Serrated- or straight-edged?

This is block #29.  It was really fun picking out all my favorite reproduction fabrics for all these blocks.  I am using a different repro neutral fabric for each of the 40 applique blocks.

This kind of applique with repro fabrics is fun for me.  None of these "Afternoon Delight" patterns make me worry about shading and perspective the way that my LITTLE TREASURES patterns do.

Now that I live in a log home with wood floors in the middle of the woods, the reproduction fabric color palette better matches my decor.  I've never been too worried about that, as I have a pretty eclectic style.  But it has made me more open to using them!  I have always been attracted to them and think they are beautiful...that is dangerous because every time I have a favorite ANYTHING, manufacturers stop making it (I will rant on THAT subject another day!).

There are a lot of double nine patch blocks that need to be made to set all these applique blocks.  They will be scrappy, which is always fun.  I am going to a retreat at the end of September, and I am planning to pound out most of those while I am there, basking in the company of other quilters.

It looked like a snow storm around my room the day I traced all the applique patterns on freezer paper and cut them out.

When I cut out the freezer paper patterns, I store them in a sheet pocket protector with the pattern sheet until I use them.  

The freezer paper adheres to fabric multiple times, so I store the pieces with the pattern after that first use in case I ever come back and make that block again. That saves a lot of time!

I store all the pattern sheet pocket protectors in hanging file folders in filing cabinets. I tried the notebook thing and it just didn't work for me - too floppy!

I was trying to do too much applique prep in our bedroom...now I am re-thinking that decision and moving more of it downstairs to the new quilt cave.  I am finding little snippets of fabric stuck to everything and everyone in the house.  I need all that mess in a more contained area.

I will still draw upstairs, in addition to glue basting on my light box upstairs.  And it seems that most of my hand stitching is done upstairs, along with tracing patterns on freezer paper.  My quilt book library is also upstairs.  Those are things I can do while watching stuff on the stove/oven or doing laundry.  The laundry was in the basement in the Michigan house, and I had no qualms about announcing that I was going down to do laundry...then totally ignore the clothes and play with he fabric, LOL!

I also just need to spend more time downstairs.  I've got to get over all the feelings of it being new and not yet cozy like my old Michigan space.  If I just spend some time down there it will quickly seem like an old friend.  That is where my main sewing machine is located.  

I have also started to tackle organizing Dad's shop, which is on the other end of the large, long basement from my new quilt cave.  I am trying to incorporate all the tools we moved with what was already there, and sort out tools that need to be housed in other areas on the property (tractor shed, barn, garage, etc.).  Dad and I spent a lot of time in that shop...it has the most ghosts, but also the most great memories, I think.  I have been avoiding it, but now I have been doing some stuff in there.  I am making progress!

My Michigan house was small enough that being in the basement didn't seem like being locked away from the world when I was down there.  In this house, I am very removed when down in the walk out basement.

But that could be a good thing!

I am looking for a better bag or container to carry my current hand-stitching project with me when I leave the house.  It needs to be big enough to carry 10-12 spools of silk thread, scissors, thimble, etc. along with my Beam 'N Read light and some blocks, but not too big.  

When I go to the car place to get the oil changed, those guys always look a little worried that I am starting a sewing bee there, LOL!  I would like it to have compartments, hopefully a see-through one for the thread.  

Right now I use either a ladies travel toiletry bag or this beautiful handmade Shaker oval box with a handle.  Neither one is quite "it." Any suggestions?

In Stitches, 
Teresa   :o)

Another piece of the "Contentment" puzzle...

OK, I can now FINALLY see an end game in this anniversary quilt!

This block, representing Weasley the cat, is the eighth 10-inch block of the twelve that will surround the center square.

I like his little cat feet, desperately trying to keep from falling while climbing...bad little boy!

The color is actually better on the next photo...the flowers are more yellow than orange.

Here is the center, 16-inch block.  All the hand applique is now finished on this one and I have a little bit of embroidery yet to do.

I am still learning about the use of flesh-colored fabrics.  Steve and I both are paler than pale.  The fabric I used on Steve needed to be more like the one I used on me.  He is too pale!  His arms and head almost disappear on the background fabric.  I might have to outline embroider his skin with one strand of floss...

I have decided to embroider minimal facial features on us along with fingers, after much thought and practice.

All blocks are now drawn.  With eight appliqued, I only have four of the twelve surrounding blocks left to do.  One will represent my science background, and then there will be blocks representing our joint interests in music, books and peace.  (I took this picture before I finished Mr. Weasley.)

I may play with the placement of the surrounding blocks after they are all done.

There will be a 2-inch pieced border between the center block and the surrounding blocks, a skinny stop border beyond the surrounding blocks, a 4-inch applique border around the whole thing, followed by a slender outer border.

It should finish right at or right under 60-inches square.

It feels good to finally have some direction on this quilt!

Thanks for all of your encouragement!

In stitches,
Teresa   :o)