Bias Stems

I have started another garden block. The first step to this block is adding the bias stems. I have made bias stems using the metal bias bars but I have learned about these Clover bias makers. If you have not tried them you should. Using it eliminates sewing. I like to get to the hand sewing part. The instructions tell you how wide to cut a bias strip. You feed it into one end and then slide it to the other end as you iron it. I like to spray a little bit of Magic Sizing on the fabric before I feed it through the maker. That way the edges stay nice and crisp.
Tip: When sewing your binding on, start with the inside curve of the bias first. The do the outside curve. You will find that you won't have to fight the bias so much if you do them in that order. I learned that from one of my teachers.
I have had a couple of comments about how fast I am sewing these blocks. I am not as fast as it looks. One of the blocks was done in the summer and then the other two were done in the fall. I did not want to give the impression that I am "Super Appliquer". I work on more than one project at a time. If I would stick to just one I would get a block done pretty fast. Hmm!! maybe..., no I like working on more than one at a time.

You might have noticed a new button on my sidebar. You have to check out this great free BOM from Anne Sutton at Bunny Hill Designs. The first block is so cute. I know the remaining blocks will be just as cute. Oh no!another project to start.

With Passion, Carrie P.

Measure wealth not by the things you have but by the things you for which you not take money. Anonymous

Two Blocks

I did get to finish the wool block this week-end. I did work on other applique blocks but none got finished. I also layered the #2 Red Delicious BOM so that I can get it quilted
One more block from Aunt Millie's Garden. It is the last one finished. I have started another one. Here are the pieces all ready to be stitched down.

It takes me a couple hours to cut out and prepare the pieces to applique. So now comes the fun part. Applique is like painting or doing counted cross stitch. You start out with a blank background and then you keep adding the pieces and you end up with a beautiful pictures. Seeing the pieces come together is the process I like the most.

Check out Canterbury Quilts blog. She is working on Aunt Millie's Garden too. Here is another beautiful block by Barbara Dieges. I have been collecting her blocks and one day...

With Passion, Carrie P.

It takes practice to hold onto hope when things look dark. But, for such a small word, "hope" has a huge power to carry us to a better place.

Another Block

Here is another block from Aunt Millie's Garden.  I actually did this one during the summertime before I started a blog.  Karen  led me to a new blog.  Patchwork Sanity is also working on Aunt Millie's Garden.  Check out her version when you have time.  It is fabulous.

I finished the top of my patriotic quilt, number 2 UFO.  It is going to be machine quilted. That is where it is at now.  We got our guild newsletter and it said we could work on the previous UFO since all the holidays took some time from being able to work on it.  So I pulled out number 9 UFO back out of the pile and cut some pieces.  Ready to work on it this weekend.

I highly recommend you check out  Pieced Pastimes. She has two whole cloth quilts on her blog that are awe inspiring.

With Passion, Carrie P.

The greatest thing in the world is to know how to be yourself.  Michael de Montaigne

Finished Applique Block

Remember I showed you these pieces that I had prepared for an applique block? Ta Dah! Here is the block.
This is the pattern I am making.  I am really going outside my box.  Red is not really one of my favorite colors but there is something about this quilt that drew me to it.  So I decided to give myself a challenge.  There are 12 blocks to this quilt.
On the 4th Thursday of each month I will be facilitating an applique bee.  One at 10am and one at 1pm.  There are 12 ladies in each group.  There is also a night bee lead by another lady. 

This is being held at one of our quilt shops.  A lot of us are going to be working on this quilt so it will be fun to see what each one does and I will be sure to share.  I am trying to work ahead so that they can see the block  finished.
I have been preparing for another block with these pieces.  When I have to make a lot of the same pattern I like to use Templar.  On the post that I mentioned above I use the same technique that I use for circles.
After you cut out your pieces take an emery board and file the edges so that they are nice and smooth.  If you don't do this step the ridges will show up on the edges of your fabric. You will be happy that you too this extra step.

With Passion, Carrie P.

The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.  Benjamin Disraeli

A Brand New Year

Happy New Year Everyone.  Let's hope it's a good one.  My wish for you all is that you stay in good health, enjoy every minute of the day, sew many hours, and finish lots of UFO's.

The new year always brings a little frustration to me. I am still one of those people that write checks for my household bills. No online banking for me.  So each year it takes me a while to get the new numbers in my head. I hope no frustrations come up for you.

I bought a charm pack from Nanette's Etsy store and the package came yesterday.  It was like Christmas again.  
Look at this fabric covered button.  So cute.
Here are some of the charms and the trim.

Nanette sent one of her little house ornaments too. I hung it in the tree which is coming down today.


Here is some of the quilting on my Red Delicious BOM. 

With Passion, Carrie P.

If there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.     William Penn