Teddy Bears with Friends

When a new member is being welcomed to a family, it is customary that gifts are presented. Our friend Tracy is adopting this summer, and she asked Mom to help create a teddy bear matching the baby blanket Tracy quilted.

This is before the finishing touches of felt!

 

That blue heart on the pad of the paw was done by yours truly!

 

The face looks cute doesn't it? But which eye is better? This one...

 

... or these flowery ones?

 



Mom also got a chance to use the stuffing skill she learned from Mhairi. Plus, Mom liked this bear pattern; Simplicity 5461. She said it was challenging, but not too hard. I bet anyone could make a bear like this.



Corvid Complete

At last! Finished my corvid applique project. I learned wool applique from Darlene at a Gilbert Museum quilt show class. As you recall, I had trouble finding a setting for my very primitive plaid applique blocks.

As you can see, I decided on table runner size with 3 equal blocks and 2.5" border. I set the applique blocks in tilted black frames to give them added wight in the design.

It was the feathered sunflower from the Quilt It! Challenge first project that inspired me to finish my corvid appliques. I just couldn't wait to try a full sized sunflower! It just fit, the perfect sized medallion to dress-up the center block.

 

 

I used a silky Gutterman brown to quilt the sunflower and outline the crows and the in-the-ditch allover. Should I have used black thread?



 

The best part of finishing Corvid Applique was seeing it "come home"- back where it started. You see, when I took new table runner to show the girl's at museum quilting bee - they added to the museum's annual quilt show :)  It sure looks nice hanging with the vintage and exhibit quilts, don't you think?  I will leave you with two more pictures of the Quilt Show, open thru Memorial Day if you are in town:

 

 

Pineapple Welcome

Welcoming Summer and friends new and old with a quilted pineapple door hanger. This easy project combines two applique pieces: pineapple and prim stitchery.

This pineapple applique is from Rag-Spun.  It comes in two parts: green top and yellow bottom. We used the medium 4"x5" sized Rag-Spun pineapple. You could use wool or felt shapes, a fussy cut pineapple, or an iron on patch. Even a card stock pineapple will work, if you plan on never washing door hanger.

I auditioned a lot of background fabrics for this project. This tropical blue wicker print gives a summery attitude to the project. All you need is a 10"x7" scrap.

Start with glue stick and tack pineapple pieces in place with the green part roughly in the center of background scrap.

Create a quilt sandwich (layer top over batting and backing). Secure layers with pins or basting stitches, or my favorite quilting tool, Spray Basting.

Quilt diamond grid all over. I used 3/4" grid to match the size of the wicker background print. Anything 1" or smaller will work. Just quilt right through the pineapple applique to secure it in place. No need to outline or edge-stitch. Recommend machine stitching and regular foot for quilting over Rag-Spun appliques.

Alex stitched "welcome" on muslin scraps. Replacing the "L" with cross stitches and stitching some of the letters in miss-matched floss gives a  primitive feel to the words.
Any idea how pineapples came to signify Welcome? I believe it started as a colonial era tradition. Guessing that's why primitive accents go so well with pineapples.
Alex used dark brown and gold floss. Center welcome stitches above pineapple and stitch around word in an oval shape. Trim muslin to follow stitching line, leaving a 1/4" margin.

Square-up edges. Finish with traditional quilt binding. One yard of binding will do. Attach a 10" or 12" scrap of ribbon for a hanger. Tuck ends of ribbon in top binding edge on back and tack in place.

Bremen Peeps

My favorite folktale has always been the story of the Bremen Town musicians. Not sure why. Nonetheless, I have long considered quilting something reminiscent of this fable. Felt Peeps at last provided the ideal venue. How do you like my Bremen Peeps mug rug?

Bremen Peeps

This grassy egg background fabric made all the difference. It was just a scrap from a trade, but there was some selvage that said "Jennifer Sampou - Zany for Zinnias." The buggy stripe border is ideal too. Mostly blanket stitching by hand, but I anchored the grass with a decorative stitch and there is minimal outline machine quilting. Daisy is cut from the same spotted felt that made the egg.

Once I had agonized over drawing the felt patterns, the rest of the project was quick and fun. Hope all your spring projects fall into place too.

Happy Springtime

 

Corvid Applique

Alex has gone camping with the Girl Scouts. Pearl and I sure miss her. It is too quiet here.

In the meantime, I have learned something new. Darlene taught me wool applique!

I have resisted learning wool because:

• I don't need more UFOs
• Not a huge applique fan

But Darlene's Blackbirds quilt so inspired me, I had to try it. And guess what, I was so wrong!

Turns out, the mystery of wool applique is the good old fashioned whip stitch. Same as in my favorite, English Paper Piecing. So the only trick is all in the cutting; getting the shape right to start with. Darlene says small sharp scissors are a must. (the excuse I needed to buy new scissors :)

And you know those scalloped dents on the edges of wool applique? Guess what, that's okay!

I had so much fun with my blackbirds from Darlene, I have already finished them. So no more UFOs! All I need to do is pick the right fabric for setting strips. Want to help? Which one do you like best?

Chocolate Butterflies

Sunflowers

Postagestamp Cheater print