All Points Patchwork review

Quilty Book Review by Ronni Chavez:
All Points Patchwork
by Diane Gilleland (CraftyPod)

The layout of this latest EPP book just tickles me:

front and back covers show front and back of an elaborate EPP block:)





Storey Publishing and Diane Gilleland have made complicated illustrations easy to understand, and very fun. [I know, because I drew similar illustrations for our RHQ EPP Tutorial.]
Diane describes every type of English Paper Piecing form, how each is best covered (in fabric, of course:), with several design options for all shape.
No matter what the feature; skinny points, curves, every size angle...all are covered here;)

And covered EQUALLY! Too often EPP books claim to be comprehensive, but really only focus on hexagons. This book actually is comprehensive, with every shape receiving it's own chapter comparing differing construction methods. Now you'll know when to glue EPP seam allowances, and when its best to stich through the papers.

Beginning chapters review all the different ways to make templates and cardstock forms. If you're planning to draw your own papers, you'll appreciate Diane's simplified geometry lessons for drafting. Contemporary tools like paper punches and marking pens are also included.

Best of all is the extensive in text cross referencing.  For example,
"Bet you're wondering how to xyz about now? Remember we answered that back on page 000." Makes my librarian's heart happy:)

I was inspired by the new projects in All Points Patchwork.

Some are 3-D, some are applique, all are clever and would be fun to make. 

I have always wanted to try some Apple Cores. Diane's book has the cutest design for an embroidered apple core applique dish towel. Hope I'll get to try it out, soon!

[This picture isn't it. I wouldn't post copyrighted stuff here, and ruin he book for you! This is another cool apple core design of the Apple-a-Day bloghop project from CraftyPod]

So, the moral of the Storey is, don't be afraid of EPP. If you are beginner, here is everything you need to know in one adorable, inspiring package. And if you are an expert, you'll still find advice on new EPP shapes you haven't tried yet, plus plenty of fun projects.
   What new EPP shapes are you inspired to work on?

Symbols of Hospitality

What says hospitality to you?
The correct answer, of course, is coffee.
JK!

As we begin the holidays here celebrating us - the Hostesses, I'm hunting for traditional symbols of hospitality. What do you recognize most as cozy, open door, a true sign of welcome?

• wreath
• pineapple
• Quilt!!!
• rocking chair
• pie
• watermelon
• coasters
• gift tags
• canning jars
• cupcakes
• apron

Do you have a favorite theme or symbol I have missed? Is there a sign you associate with a time you felt most welcome? Have you made a welcome quilt?

For this Totally Tech Tuesday, here is a Treasury of Hospitality in Quilts: 
https://www.etsy.com/treasury/Nzk4MTk3MHwyNzI3Nzg0OTM4/hospitality-quilt-arts?index=3&ref=pr_treasury_more&atr_uid=
Always fun to see how quilts are used in artistic ways, and how many other arts reference quilting.

Bonus- here is another Treasury, More Hospitality Quilts,
just for quilt patterns with welcome themes:
https://www.etsy.com/treasury/Nzk4MTk3MHwyNzI3Nzg2MjQy/more-hospitality-quilts?index=0
Tomorrow we'll post a FREE hexagon quilt pattern with a welcome message!

New Quilt Formats

Inspired by @AngieQuilts :)
Once upon a time...my first FB friend sent me this WOW! thread painted postcard!!
I had never seen anything like it! I believe Angie pioneered thread-painting in this new medium.

[No worries, you too can get one of Angie's amazing creations in Angie's Textile Art Etsy Shop]

 

While I still haven't quite got the hang of thread painting and fabric printing like Angie does,

I have been playing with the magic postcard interfacing

 

and..........

 

its perfect for quilted jewelry!

 

It took many tries to work out the finishing details over the years since I received Angie's lovely Sunflower Postcard all the way from Cheadle, UK,

but here at last is Hexagon Cuff

Thank you, Angela:)



Home on the Range

Alex Golf Coach/School Librarian has been so wonderful - to our whole family.

 So I especially wanted to do something extra to remember her this Teacher Appreciation Week.

Where I come from, that means something homemade. Found a yard of cowgirl fabric in a vintage shop, and as I was musing about "Home on the Range..."

I decided QUILT MY GOLF CLUBS was a good idea.

You know, create something quilty,

like those ridiculous stuffed animal head golf club covers you've seen?

 It started out well enough.

Alex did some stitchery, of course:)
Decided homespun was the best choice for lining.

  

I quilted the cowgirl fabric.
1/8" zig-zag edge to make sure all layers got covered in seams.

All done! Early!! But it doesn't fit. Fun, but not functional. So...

Recut, refit, redesigned.....I lost track of how many times.
Only one "D" shaped seam, you wouldn't have thunk it so complicated.

Velcro Dot closure.

Far from the corset stay ties I had originally planned.



This adorable crochet edged bias binding is from Etsy,

Holland Fabric House

 



Done. Wrapped at 5:00AM.

Will leave it to Coach to tell us if it is functional or fail:)

Remember this? Rainbow on the Ninth Hole.

Thanks my Twitter friends who always stayed with me
while driving the golf cart at Alex's matches.

Was fun chatting with you!