Pins and Needles

When doing applique there are many different tools you can use. I have tried different pins and needles but I have found that I like these two the best. The applique pins are from Clover.

Remember the other day I showed you my new ironing board cover? I subscribe to TipNut.com and yesterday it had a site you could go to which shows you how to make your own cover. So if you are interested check it out here.
There is a new blogger in our midst. So go by and say hi to Kaaren sometime. She just finished the Primitive Garden pattern and it is beautiful.
With Passion, Carrie P.

Nothing makes us more productive than the last minute. Anonymous

Orange Pile Challenge

If you are a follower of Pat Sloan's blog you know that she is having an Orange Pile Challenge.  I thought I would participate in my first virtual retreat and see what I can do with my small orange pile.

The next three pictures are from my two students.  They are both doing Aunt Millie's garden too.  The are just applique fanatics.


With Passion, Carrie P.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.  Nothing can be done without hope or confidence.  Helen Keller

Is it Christmas again?

I taught an intermediate applique class this morning and I will show you their blocks tomorrow. Today when I arrived home in the late afternoon I felt like it was Christmas again. I discovered a small box on my porch when I went out to get another package from the postman. They were both for me. Yippee!!

Look at this bag and journal cover and the card. They all match and they are all my favorites. The pinwheel is my favorite block. Brown, green, and pink are my favorite colors. I am also am birdwatcher.
Look at this covered button with the little bluebird and the tiny brown button. Sweet!
Here is the other side of the bag. When I opened this box from Stephanie I was so overwhelmed by her generosity. Stephanie had an applique quilt that she showed on her blog awhile back and said she probably would not finish it. So I offered to finish the blocks expecting nothing in return. I just wanted to help her finish this beautiful quilt. Check out her blog to read her little fairy tale. It is a 2 part story so read here and here. I hope you feel this big hug I am sending you, Stephanie. Thank you so very much for the gifts.
This is what was in the other little box. Before I started my own blog I was visiting lots of other blogs besides Stephanie's. I left a comment on Quilters Buzz last year in September and was one of thirteen winners. I was just expecting the "Honey Bun" but also received the charms. Sweet! Thank you Moda.

What a SWEET day!! It is Christmas again!

With Passion, Carrie P.

Great thoughts come from the heart. Marquis De Vauvenargues.

$5.00 BOM

Finished! The two blocks are done.

Have you seen these boxes? They are great for 12 1/2" blocks and smaller.
I will keep my blocks in this box as I make them.

Here is the last show and tell from the applique bee. Two more Aunt Millie blocks. This appliquer is using a focus fabric and taking colors from that piece of fabric to create her blocks. Beautiful!
Another lady created this child size apron for her grandchild. Cute!
With Passion, Carrie P.

Learn to be silent. Let your quiet mind listen and absorb. Pythagoras

Before and After

How many of you have dreamed of a makeover? A room, your hair, or your attitude. I decided to makeover my ironing board cover. Here is the before:

And after! Much nicer, don't you think? I bought this ironing board cover at Target. I guess I could make my own but it is so much easier to buy one.
Melissa won a blog makeover. Go see it. She is also having a giveaway.

These next three pictures are from one of the ladies in the applique bee. This picture isthe hand quilting on the quilt in the next picture. The back was just as much fun to see as the front.

Here is an applique quilt she is working on. You can see some finished quilts like this one here.
In the blogging world you have people discover your blog. I have had several new people come by and I will go to check out their blog. Dorothy is a designer and and she loves applique too. Check it out sometime. You won't be disappointed.

With Passion, Carrie P.

What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing. Aristotle

One more BOM

Our local quilt shop is having the $5.00 BOM again this year. There are three choices: red and white, black and white, and blue and white. They allow you to pick two, so I went with the red & white and the black & white.

Look what I found on the selvage of one of the fabrics. I have seen a lot of selvage projects being made since I have been blogging so I am collecting the selvages too.

I have made a couple of pincushions but if you want to see some really great things made with the selvages check out the Selvage blog. You will be amazed. One day I might make something amazing.
Here is another applique block from one the ladies in the bee. Isn't it wonderful? This is a pattern from Kristen Steiner.
I appreciate you all going to visit my new blogging friends. I was so excited when you ladies started visiting my blog. I am really enjoying getting to know you all. Geri's is really new to blogging. Her blog is only two posts old. She does all her work by hand. Mabye when you have time you and say hi and check out her applique cardinal. It is as beautiful as this little guy that was in my backyard.
With Passion, Carrie P.

Every artist was first an amateur. Ralph Waldo Emerson

More Talent

Today I am sharing more talent from the applique bee. Seeing every ones work is so inspiring for me. I hope you will be inspired too.

This first block has a ruched flower. The appliquer who made this is also doing Aunt Millie's Garden too. She is almost finished with a block.

These two blocks are made by one of my students. I really like the black background. It is a bold look.

These next three pictures were made by the same appliquer. She was also one of my students.


Tomorrow is Candace's birthday so go by and wish her a Happy one.

With Passion, Carrie P.

Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. Henry David Thoreau

Applique Bee

Yesterday was the applique bee that I facilitate. There are two groups. These ladies are very talented and I hope you will enjoy this show and tell.
I designed a name tag pattern. A few ladies got around to making theirs. Aren't they cute. Notice the names. In the 10 am group there are two Ellens and in the 1 pm group there are two Beckys.

These next two photos are made by the same person. I love her Aunt Millie background fabric. They are so beautiful. A touch of spring for sure.
This a BOM that she did through a guild. She is getting ready to put it on a quilt frame and hand quilt it.

Here is another appliquer's block. I love this block but I really like the stripe fabric on the stem and leaf of the flowers.

More to come later. When you have time go say hi to another new blogger. Her blog is called Five Healthy Hearts. I have been conversing with her and didn't realize she was new to blogging. When you click on the title it will take you to her 3 part life story which is very inspirational. Read it first and you will know why her blog has that title, then check out the rest of her blog.

Thank you all for visiting Amy too. Your comments were helpful for me too since I am still new at this myself.

With Passion, Carrie P.

That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet. Emily Dickinson

A little bit of Applique

Last Thursday was my last beginner applique class. I had two students but one was sick. This picture is what the attending student had finished. She is addicted to hand applique. She really likes needleturn applique the best. I just got an email from her and she finished one more border and now she just has two more to do. I am so proud of my new convert.
Here is a little more of Aunt Millie's Garden. It is coming along. Tomorrow the two applique bees that I facilitate are meeting. Can't wait to see what they have all done. I will show you all on Friday.

Go say hi to Amy. She started blogging January 7. She needs every one's help. She is wondering what to do with these "Darn Old Blogs." Go give her some advice if you have a way that you limit your time on the computer. It all can be addicting and time consuming.

With Passion, Carrie P.
Live each day as if your life had just begun. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Invader In My Sewing Room

Yes, there was an invader in my sewing room. My husband had the day off yesterday and he decided he was going to make an apron from a pair of old jeans. So I set the machine up for him. So for the first time ever using the sewing machine he made himself an apron to wear out in his workshop. On the left side of the apron you can see where he added a pocket. He sewed the raw edges and added the apron tails. He was pretty pleased with himself. I was too.

We got our first snow for 2009.
I am going to add this fabric each time it snows to my calendar quilt.
With Passion, Carrie P.

Failure is only an opportunity to begin more intelligently. Henry Ford

No Applique Today

No Applique today. What is that all about? Today I am going to show you some blocks I have finished that are embroidery.
All caught up on my combination Calendar Quilt.
Here is my Verandah View. I just love that word. Maybe we will build one on our next home. Check out these pictures of verandahs. I know a lot of you would like to be sitting under one today.

Here is the Christmas Wish BOM. I am going to wait to put the borders on until I see a few more blocks.

If you would like a little bit of embroidery to do check out Bird Brain Designs. They have a free designs that you embroider on a tea towel. They will be doing this each month.

With Passion, Carrie P.

A friend will joyfully sing with you when you are on the mountain top, and silently walk beside you through the valley. Anonymous

Freezer Paper Points Tutorial

Thank you all for your kind comments on my first tutorial. I was a little unsure about how the first one would go. It is a lot different when you have actual students in front of you to teach.
Before we go on to freezer paper let me just say that a lot of you use the toothpick to turn your fabric. One thing I did not mention but was mentioned in the comments was to put the toothpick in your mouth. Getting the toothpick wet seems to help turn the fabric more easily.

First you will cut out your freezer paper shape. Iron it to the wrong side of your fabric. Cut out leaving 3/16".  Then carefully pull of the freezer paper. Place the freezer paper waxy side up. This is the side you will now iron the fabric edges to.

Now iron one side of the fabric up around the edge of the paper.  The fabric will stick to the waxy/shiny side of the freezer paper. I really like to use the small Clover iron when I am doing applique.
Then I go to the other side and I place my fingernail at the edge of the paper and iron up the opposite edge.

Here you can see the little tails sticking out.
Next I take some Magic Sizing and spray a small amount in a small container. It will turn into a liquid shortly. Take a paint brush, dip it into the sizing and paint the little flag. Take your fingers and fold the wet flag over to the back so that when you turn it over to the front side you can't see any of the fabric.
This is what it should look like.
Take your iron and press it down.
Do that to the other side and you will have some great looking points.

Here you see a star which has a much sharper point than a leaf. This star has freezer paper underneath and you can see the little flag that I need to tuck in.
Sorry this picture is blurry but I think you can see that handy dandy toothpick. Use the toothpick to tuck that flag in under the point. I don't trim the flag like I do in needle turn.
Trying to iron the flag on sharp points just doesn't seem to work as well as just leaving it and tucking it in. I will take a stitch right at the tip of the point and continue going around. When I get done I will cut a little slit in the back and pull out the paper. Now you can leave the flags on the leaves and just tuck them in just like the star but it sure is nice to have it all prepared so that you can just sew.
One more thing, if you will cut your seam allowance smaller than 1/4" you won't have so much fabric to fight with. 3/16" is good to work with.

With Passion, Carrie P.

The main dangers in this life are the people who want to change everything... or nothing. Lady Astor