Megan's Blog

Spring or Not....

Someone here in the North Country did not get the memo about Spring arriving this week!

But it does playing basketball alot easier!

I got a few emails and comments asking about things in my applique basket, so here's a few of the things I love to use:

1- Freezer Paper:  when I'm only do one of a shape, I'll use freezer paper for the template.  Otherwise I use heat-resistant mylar.  This is not kept in the basket because it needs to be stored flat.
2-  Clover Mini Iron:  LOVE this improved iron, the red guard definitely helps to prevent burnt fingers.
3-  MaryEllen's Best Starch - starch alternative , great for use with the mylar templates, but beware, it has a color to it, so it may temporarily leave a mark on light colored fabrics.  But it washes out....
4- Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Circles and Bigger Circles -- you know me and circles!
5- Clover Tape Makers - I have these in a bunch of sizes, they are the fast and easy way to make bias vines.
6-  Basting Glue - sometimes those pins are just too pesky, so I glue the pieces down.  I always soak the blocks after applique is done to wash out the glue or starch.

Of course, everyone has their own way to prep applique, you have to do what works best for you, these are just the things I like to use.....but that doesn't stop me from shopping, you never know when you'll see the next best thing!

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

Call it Done!

Thanks so much for all the input on my tree dilemma.  Once I put the border fabric up on the wall, it really turned the direction I was going in.  So I found the perfect blue at the LQS and put it all together.  I had to do the dreaded math  to adjust some of the blocks, but it all worked out in the end. 

I think I'm going to hand-quilt this one.  It's not too big, 52x64, so it's do-able.  I'm just glad it's done, and in record time for me.

Hope this weekend finds you finishing things too...

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

Now the tough part

I've been hard at work on my trees.....now the tough decision.  I love all the trees but I'm agonizing over whether I should add some sashing strips, the pattern does not call for them, but I'm feeling like this needs a little more of something to separate the blocks. 

I've changed the pattern a little already....I added the year of completion.  I know, now I have to actually finish quilting it in this year too.  Geez what have I done--made my quilt into a To Do List?

Piping, decorative stitches, sashing....What do you think??

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

P.S.  In case you are looking for this pattern, Teresa over at Homespun Hearth has it.

Step Away from the Template

My task at hand was to make a class sample to teach curved piecing.  So I picked a really simple design that I thought could be almost finished in a one day class.  Part of my challenge was to use fabrics on hand, so I pulled out a pile of 1/2 yard pieces I bought in Lancaster in December.

Ok, so my planning was exactly perfect and I didn't have one piece to set aside for the border....so 2 fabrics were used.   But I think it works.

But what's that sitting on the ironing board-----Perfect Circle Templates.

I swear, I couldn't help myself.....I had to make circles.  So circle I did. 
(Please forgive the blurriness, I've had WAY too much coffee today!)

Remember, plan the work, work the plan....or just throw the plan out the window and make circles.

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

P.S.  This pattern will be available soon....think I'll add a second version that's bigger for a pattern bonus!

Too Much??

February is month one of the Lollipop Ladies new project.  So one of my projects for the long weekend was to ready the first block.  It is no exaggeration when I say I spent HOURS prepping this block.  This is really a departure from my last few projects, but a very happy change.  So here's my first block (pinned, not sewn)

Have you seen the original??

I'm liking this, I'm throwing caution to the wind, breaking the rules, charting new territory (for me anyway!)  So thanks to Patty, Kathie and Lorre for taking the journey with me....and especially for the contributions of a fabric persuasion!

What do you think of the first block? Too much?

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

The Forest or the Trees

While some of my friends have been piecing at a feverish pace, I've been the turtle on the crew.  Slow and steady has been my progress on the group projects.  You know how it is.....the work, the family, all cramping my style when it comes to fun projects.

So now I have 9 blocks done and the rest nearly prepped in anticipation of a weekend in the woods.

you know me.....give me a roaring fire, cup of tea, some applique and maybe a good book----Sister Mary gave me The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette and a few others to read--- and I'm good for a long stretch on the couch.

I better hurry up and finish these trees....I've signed on for the next group project:  The Civil War Diaries and the Civil War Love Letters.    Please someone stop me, I can't help myself!!!!

But really, these little groups, both on-line and in person are alot of fun and motivate me to get some of these projects finished (or started).  So find one that fits you.....you'll be glad you did!

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

P.S.  Remember in high school when we thought we were so funny in saying "Happy V.D." on Feb 14th?   It still kinda cracks me up....not the  Happy VD, but that fact that we thought it was soooo funny.  Anywho.....Happy Valentines Day!!!

A block among friends

About 100 years ago (ok, it was only 2, but in quilt years, that's a long time ago!) the Lollipop Ladies decided we would each make an applique quilt using some of our favorite blocks from different designers.  We swapped fabrics so we would all have some of the same fabrics in our quilts.

Of course, our friend Lorre had never done hand applique, but she jumped right in feet first.  She worked on blocks as she crossed the Atlantic and now, I'm ashamed to say, she's the only one that finished.  And WOW did she finish!

Here's my pathetic first block...


And now that Lorre has joined the blog-o-sphere, she can show you her AMAZING quilt.

Welcome Lorre, and now I must go work on my blocks...

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

In between shoveling....

We heard there was new snow up north, so we headed up to the cabin to take advantage of the powder---and for once the weather report was not an exaggeration!  there was about a foot of new snow when we arrived!
 

So we shoveled our way in, shoveled our way to the sleds, and shoveled our way to the snow-blower.  I know, common sense would have us leave the snowblower where it wouldn't need shoveling to get to.....but sometimes common sense takes a seasonal break in our house.

And while the gloves dried by the fire and blood flow returned to the toes..... I worked on a sample for a hand applique class. 

Sometimes when I teach these classes the students complain about the prep time.  I think it's all worth it when I have a piece I can sit by the fire, or in front of the tv and sew without really having to think about placement, position, just the rhythm of the needle.  I love the part of the class where the students figure that out too.

Can't wait to show you this finished piece...I think it's gonna be adorable.....we'll see!

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

And the NewYears Winner is.....

Rose Marie!!! 

So please email me your address and I will get your little quilt out to you.

Thanks to everyone who left me a comment!

Oooo, and I got a little package yesterday and in it was my new best friend for applique.....

In case you haven't used the little sister set, these are heat-resistant templates (a little heavier than the normal heat-resistant mylar) in various sizes.  The little sister set (The Perfect Circle) only went to circles 2-1/4" in diameter.  This set goes up to 4-1/2"....perfect for the new project Kathie talked me in to (without an ounce of resistance from me!).  There's 4 of each size in the package, so while one is cooling down from the iron, you can be ironing the next one.

One little word of warning when using this method of applique prep.....I love the new MaryEllen's Starch Alternative for most things, but when I used it for preparing white applique pieces, the color of the starch made a temporary mark on the fabric.  It washed right out but it still made me a bit nervous.  But that's just me.....

So, few things in life are perfect, but now maybe there's hope for my applique circles...

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

Trees, Trees Everywhere....

Our little cabin in the woods has no lawn, just dirt driveway, the campfire pit and trees.  Trees everywhere, big trees, small trees, and even trees that block our satellite TV. It seems only fitting that I should celebrate the season with trees and someone talked me into Another Project!

Today I finished the second block of the Festival of Trees quilt by Karla Menaugh and Barbara Brackman (when I was supposed to be cleaning or some other nonsense)....

As you can tell, these are fast blocks....I like to do some simple ones first before I go on to the more complex ones and very rarely do I ever embark on a project according to the instructions.  This pattern calls for the quilt to be made in wools, but I'm looking towards the stash for this one.

I think I'll aim for next Christmas for completion of this one...for now I'm just happy to have hand work to do while I sit and admire the tree in the living room and listen to music of the season.

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan