Tag Archives: paper piecing

My week of sewing…Progress being made

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I am loving my new machine. Thank you all, who commented and wished me fun on my new machine – sorry I have not had a chance to reply. I have a good reason though…I have been sewing most nights…

Over the weekend, I finished all my blocks for Carolyn Friedlander’s Mini Aerial quilt. I used various prints of Lotta Jansdotter’s lines (echo, bella, glimma, mormor and sylvia). I plan to finish the top for Friday.

AerialQuilt_FinishedBlocksI am pleased with how it is turning out. I think I am going to add some Essex-dyed Linen around the edge and possibly bind it in an eggplant print or teal print from the Lotta Jansdotter lines.

Monday night, I spent the time redesigning my sampler quilt to include the right colors based on the bundle I selected and adding the sashing. I also simplified a couple of blocks.
SqueekCrafts_Sampler_Quilt
I then moved on to cutting and writing up the fabric requirements and cutting instructions for making the top row of this quilt. This is the fabric selection (check out this post for details), but I have decided to drop the pink and possibly use it for binding.
IMG_9300
Tuesday, I was sewing up the second block of the top row, it turned out fantastic. I am so looking forward teaching the blocks at Spoonflower next month.

The rest of my week, I am planning on keeping up with my great progress:

  • Wednesday – last block of first row of my sampler quilt
  • Thursday – Photograph blocks + sewing together my aerial quilt blocks and finish top
  • Friday – Start 15/30 min. daily practice sessions for FMQ ( I plan on blogging my progress over the next two weeks – 1 month…maybe in a photo a day type style via instagram with a week blog summary??).

That’s it for my week of progress and activities. Keep an eye out for Book Review Tuesday next week – it will be a FMQ special.

Linking up with Lee over @ Freshly Pieced for WiP Wednesday (see button on the right).

Sew Down Nashville: Paper piecing and hand appliqué

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Sunday, the last day of sew down continued the wonderful classes, lectures, socializing and food. The first class of the day was Carolyn Friedlander’s paper piecing class using her aerial quilt.  We had a chat about layout, as I had chosen my fabrics based on the full quilt and the class was a mini quilt. Carolyn_Michelle_AerialQuilt

This mini version of Carolyn’s aerial is my favorite layout, and it is the one we are making in class. Paper piecing was not new too me, so this class was not challenging but I love the pattern. I was so excited and knew I would be using my Lotta Jansdotter fabric stash, that I had been saving up.CarolynFriedlander_AerialQuilt

I managed to finish 3 of 8 blocks in class, which I was thrilled about. The other 5 blocks will be all grey, black and white. I loved how my first blocks turned out. You can check out some of the other people’s blocks on Carolyn’s blog.AerialQuilt_LottaJansdotter

After lunch, our final class commenced with Anna Maria Horner. Of course, we took advantage of a photo-op. with Anna Maria – who wouldn’t right??Michelle_AMH_Daisy_Antionette
(Photo Left to Right: Me, Anna Maria, Daisy, Antoinette)

Anna Maria’s class was on Modern Corsage where you could choose to use either:

  • Structured design and piecing
  • Or fussy cutting and hand appliqué techniques.

This project definitely took me out of my comfort zone…way beyond my comfort zone. I decided to do the fussy cutting and hand appliqué, as this was all new to me. It took me a while to decide on my background fabric and then from there it came together.

I added the low volume prints with the focus print for the complete background. The flowers were fussy cut from a variety of Anna Maria’s fabrics. Currently, they are pinned but will be basted on, then hand-appliquéd. I was so surprised how this turned out….I am not huge on flowers but I can picture the end result and I am excited. ModernCorsage_AMHClass

To finish off the day, I took a couple of celebrity shots of our wonderful organizers. Elizabeth, Heather and Jen did a fantastic job all round. The classes were so great, the food was wonderful and it all ran so smoothly. ElizabethDackson_Michelle
(Photo: Me, Elizabeth Dackson)

Heather_Jenn_Michelle
(Photo Left to Right: Heather Grant, Me, Jen Carlton Bailey)

New Zealand Kowhai

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One of New Zealand’s fantastic native trees is the Kowhai tree. It has the most wonderful colored flowers and fine delicate leaves.

532px-Kowhai_flowers
Image Source: Wikipedia

Once again, Juliet from Tartankiwi, came up with a fabulous paper-piecing pattern for this wonderful flower. I will definitely be including this in my New Zealand bird quilt.
NZ_Kowhai

Check-out her other patterns here on Craftsy.com.

Block size: 8 x 8″ (finished)
Fabric: Brown – Les Amis, Bright yellow – True Colors/Joel Dewberry, Citron – Tula Pink, Grey – Chevron/Alice Kennedy

Linking up with sew cute Tuesday and Kristy @ Quiet Play Paper Piecing Party.
Sew Cute Tuesday