Bunny Bags, Yes Easter is Coming

Easter will be here soon and with it the hope of good weather, sunshine and wonderful flowers.  The clan will gather on this late on April Easter day to bring in Spring.  I made gathered bunny bags to put candy in and have for those who come for the day.  I also made a bunch to give to my adopted class of 5 yr olds.

For the tutorial Click Here    Have fun, happy Spring.

YES Attended the Elly Sienkiewicz Applique Academy

The is my second year to attend the Elly Sienkiewicz Applique Academy in Williamsburg, VA.  The new location Kingsmill Resort www.kingsmillresort.com was delightful and a wonderful place to learn and relax.  Not too far from old town Williamsburg if one wanted to venture to the historic city but unlike the previous location not the one block from old town,...  one had to drive there.  A shuttle was available for $10 round trip and that was nice.  I had a rent car, so exploring was fun in and around the area.
I opted for the full academy 4 day class and a post academy one day class (will post about that class another time).
www.ellysienkiewicz.com
My full academy class was taught by Sharon Schamber. www.sharonschamber.com  Sharon's methods for prepared applique were what I came to learn about and how she masters the crisp clean lines in her pieces.  I picked the perfect class for me and what I wanted to learn.  Sharon is a master at applique and master artist in her work and has won many awards for her quilting.  She dyes the most beautiful fabric and embroidery thread.  Her ability to pass on her skills was so fun to be a part of and if I say I learned a lot that would be such an understatement.  
The method she uses with foundation paper to prepare the pieces were new to me as I have only done traditional needle-turn applique.  I am still getting use to the foundation being left in the pieces and the feel between my fingers and the needle as I sew.  Practice is the key to getting this tactile feel to be "normal".  I am loving learning a new technique  for sure.  I went to learn something different, and this class did not disappoint.
So, this is the block we started to work on...Bower of Splendor
(by Sharon Schamber/2014 All Right Reserved)

and this is how far I got (some leaves pinned on till stems are done)

I did get all the leaves prepared and all the berries prepared too.  I have begun the peacock fabric auditioning process to ensure the color placement is what I want in light/dark etc.  So that is in the works.  

The stems and the process to make them with liquid stitch and pressing is so brilliant and the small size I can get with this method is nothing less than amazing.  This technique I learned was as they say "worth the price of admission".  

Next year....I will return.  I love the Academy.  

Wonky Stars

The Fort Worth Modern Quilt Guild is doing a 2014 BOM.  The theme of Stars  will lead the way through the months with the only criteria that it be done in only solids.  I have chosen brown for my background.  I really love brown and am sad that it is not given more attention in the fabric world.  The Robert Kaufman http://www.robertkaufman.com/ Kona cotton brown is my background and Kona cotton blue and green will be the contrast fun colors.  The January block is wonky stars.  The tutorial on this web site: Wonky Star Tutorial

he fabric world.  I wanted to find a brown rich in color and depth so I chose the Kona Solid brown

Hearts from the Points

Last post I showed the table runners I completed for gifts.  From those you trim the points from the sides.

Those points were calling to be something.  I could not ignore this plea so I started to sew them together and square up.

I debated on what type of coaster to do...square or another type.  The Heart won.


         

And that is how I used the points to be Valentine Heart Mug Rugs.  Off they go to the Grands.....

 Mug Rug, hot chocolate, money to spend on something special and a card that said 

Make a cup of chocolate

In your favorite Mug

Place it on Heart Mug Rug

and now feel a BIG HUG!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Yes... It is Valentines Table Runners

My Christmas table runner (I have a post on that) was fun to make (a pattern from The Pattern Basket called Slice of Cake Table Runner)   For that one I used a layer cake as the pattern called for.  My brain came up to Valentines and I took out all of my stash that would make a good runner.  I had so much of course that I had used for other projects and from last year when I made pillow chases for all the grands.  The pattern calls for 1.5 inch strips from 10" down to 4.5".  I started cutting from the stash.

Strips set up to sew together by block

Stash ready to cu

A block laid out ready to sew

Block sewn and ready to cut to size

 

Laid out

Ready to trim and then trimmed.  Will post later what the trimmed points became.

All of the 4 are done.  It is time to get them mailed to the Valentines.  HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

MQG Riley Blake Challenge

My Modern Quilt Guild participated in the Riley Blake fabric challenge and I took a packet...

The rules were you could add solids and it had to be at least 15" square quilted and finished.  I decided to use a pattern I had from the internet.  Circle of Squares  I chose solids and made the 6 blocks.  I wanted to make something other than just a quilt.  I quilted each block using different decorative stitches and putting the color name in the center.

 After seeing them completed I decided to make a cube for a fun thing and just not the usual.  I have made so many soft blocks for baby showers and I love the ease of them and the reactions of people that are amazed at how they are made.

 It was a fun challenge and I love the pattern and will use it again for sure.  My quilt guild had a great time and lots of creative finishes....

Fort Worth Modern Quilt Guild  January 2014
Riley Blake Challenge Participants 

YES - Honey Cowl Around My Neck

Very warm 

Yes, the first completed knitting project for 2014. It has been cold and I love a neck warmer (cowl).  If my neck is warm I seem to be warm too.  I used yard that I got from Maryland Sheep and Wool a couple of years ago from The Plymouth Yarn Co. www.plymouthyarn.com   The yarn is Plymouth Earth ranch...Yarns from Nature ...Natural Fiber Natural Color and is 100%Alpaca in a grey and white. (no longer available, I bought it at closeout)  I used two skeins.  The Honey Cowl by Madelinetosh is now around my neck.  This pattern is a free download on Ravelry.  I was warm and cozy.

A simple slip stisch pattern creates a dense waffle-like fabric. 

Yes, it was fun to knit and I will certainly use this pattern again.

Yes, New Year ~~~ Yes is the New Word

The word for 2013 was Enter and I did enter a lot of new places and times in my life.  It was a perfect word for me and I will miss it; but, I like to focus each year differently.  2013 went out with 15 family member gathering for New Year's Eve's traditional lobster and Dom dinner.  Tables were set

 The dinner was fun and as usual all had a great time.   Poppers were set off  and dining room chandelier was again decorated to bring in the new year.  Everyone read their "fortune" for the year, toasted in the new year and celebrated all the blessing of the last year.

And so I have chosen for the year 2014 the word:  YES
as in Yes Virginia there is a Santa Clause...Yes, that is a good idea; Yes, let's do that; yes, I like that ; yes, you are perfect just the way you are.  Yes, 2014 will be another great year.!

A good time was had by all.  The light of the night will shine for the year with all our fun hanging out on it.  

Enter Christmas

Fort Worth, Texas December 2013
picture by Brian Luenser

Waiting for midnight Christmas eve service. 

 Advent is all about waiting but the time will come soon and Christmas will ENTER with light for the world.  Blessings to all this eve.  Piecing of Quilts give you peace and 

Peace of the Lord be with each of YOU. 

Jean Bag for Holiday Exchange

Old hubby jeans...cut straight just below crotch , sew across the bottom, add straps made from leg of jean, line with cute fabric, add closure (be creative) and get it wrapped up to give away. Love these kind of bags that have lots of pockets from the jean front pockets and the jean back pockets with pockets inside, the special hiding place is when you unzip the zipper and you can put things between the bag and liner, easy to make and fun to do.  The hardest part for me is deciding what cute fabric to use for the lining.  Since these were men's jeans it makes a roomy project bag.