Perfect Applique Circles

 Hello Everyone,

How many of you plan your quilting schedule around the weather?  Well, I looked ahead at the 10-day forecast and I'm seeing close to 20" of snow beginning next Friday on March 1st.  I can't think of a better way to spend my day than sitting by the woodburning stove and appliqueing my entire day. Keep in mind a few naps may occasionally kick in!  I'm preparing 10 blocks to stitch, which means I need to make 40 perfect circles.

As you can see in the picture above, I'm using Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Circles.  I selected two different sizes of the circles.  The smaller circle is the finished size which I need.

I always begin with fabric starched with a HEAVY DUTY spray starch.  Doing that cuts down on the amount of raveling and the fabric behaves beautifully.  I guess you could say that I starch it into submission.

I use a Frixion pen and draw a circle around the largest of the two circles, and then cut around it with about a 1/16" of an inch beyond the marked line.  Then I take a running stitch along the marked line.

I put the smaller circle on top of the larger circle so you can see the difference in the sizes.

After I've taken the running stitch, I pull the thread to gather it around the smaller circle and then I press.

I do not knot my thread. Now that's a tongue twister!

I then use an Aqua Touch marker filled with Best Press spray starch and apply it to my perfect circle and press.  I do not apply the starch to the gathered side, I only apply it to the finished side.

I then carefully remove the plastic circle and press again.  The fabric has a memory and will spring right back into shape with just a bit of coercion. I will prepare a bunch of these little guys today and tomorrow and also work on some piecing.

I'll also prepare a lot of plaid pieces while listening to a book on Audible.  

I find applique so soothing and productive.  I love incorporating both piecing and applique in my designs.  I guess because it fulfills me.  Do something fulfilling this weekend.

Soon,

Lynn

A Sneak Peek

 Hello Everyone,

Here are just a few snippets of the project I've been diligently working on during all of our storms here in California.  The project includes 12 of the applique blocks.

I'm working with my Hearthstone fabric line, and I haven't tired of it yet.  In fact, I'm loving it more and more as I go.  I'm making 16 of this pieced block.  I finished block #8 yesterday.

Here are the blocks against the backdrop of Hearthstone bolts.

I'm making 8 of this applique block.

I set up an applique station in the great room so I could watch the playoff football games and applique the day away.  I need to find another sport now that football is over for the season.  I'm not a huge fan of basketball.  I wish the Winter Olympics were on so I could do some Olympic-type applique!

Before all of the rains began, we did have a bit of snow.  The shoveling was very doable as the snow was very fluffy and we just had to push it out of the way. We probably could have used the leaf blower as it was so powdery.

The picture doesn't do this scene justice.  It looked like thousands of diamonds were falling out of the trees and glistening in the sun.

We stay comfy and cozy in our cabin in the woods.

While all of this quilting is going on, I also worked on two new fabric lines and submitted them to Marcus Fabrics.  I'm working on fabric line #3 now.  It takes sooooo long to bring a fabric collection to life!  I'm having a Zoom meeting with the graphic designer and Marcus management next week to discuss my submissions and maybe I'll get some sort of timeframe for their release.  

I always set the Zoom call up in my quilting room and change out the quilt behind me.  I really need to tidy up my room so I can show them the entire setting.  We'll see about that!

Soon,

Lynn 

Two Beauties

 Hello Everyone,

I received two more pictures from quilters who made my patterns that I'm sharing with you.  The first picture is Country Courthouse which came from Jan.  This quilt took First Place and Viewer's Choice at Happy Trails Quilt Show in Surprise, Arizona. 

Jan did a great job and is very deserving of her ribbons.

The next picture of Heritage is from Betty.  The quilt was made by her husband Bruce.  Here's what she said in the email.

     "Wanted you to see my husband’s completed quilt. He has been encouraged to enter it into the 2024 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Quilt Show.  He is a 72 year old male who began quilting a little over a year ago, with no prior sewing experience.  He plans to begin “A Ribbon Runs Through It” next.  He really appreciates your quilt plans and looks forward to creating more in the future.  He gave me this quilt to display in our guest quarters."

Wow, Bruce, you are amazing.  I really hope you do enter the quilt in the two shows.  I'll be you will be sending me pictures of your ribbons too!

California has been under another atmospheric river for days on end.  The rain was so torrential the other night that it kept waking us up.  I love to hear the pitter patter of rain on the roof unless it resembles elephants tromping across the roof for hours at a time.  The high country is receiving a great dumping of snow which is fantastic.  I'll put up with the rain instead of four feet of snow.  Last winter was brutal when it came to snow at my location.

All of the rain has kept me inside my sewing room.  I'm spending more time quilting and listening to books on Audible.  I just finished and highly recommend The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon and Code Name Helene by the same author.  Look these books up and see if they might appeal to you.  Both books kept me quilting for hours on end, and the reader drowned out the elephants tromping around on the roof.

Soon,

Lynn

P.S.  If you are interested in purchasing the patterns for Country Courthouse or Heritage, they are located HERE in my Etsy shop.