Checking One More Off The List

One more finished! This was really not that hard but took me a while in between other projects. I am not looking forward to all the cherries in the border. I posted a tutorial on my blog about how to make circle using the Perfect Circles if anyone needs to know.

Block 18

Block 18

This block just didn't get me excited.  It's really close, if not identical, to blocks I've made for other quilts so maybe that was it.  It's been up on my design board for over a week, waiting to be photographed.  It was a fairly easy block.  The only part I even had to think about was the buds.  I threw in some of the lighter green from last month's block to tie it in with the rest of the quilt.

For those of you who back baste, I have a question I've not seen addressed.  What do you do for fussy cutting?  The rest of the process makes sense but I have no idea how you tackle that.

The Pineapple block

A dose of a heavy cold last week had me staying at home for a couple of days and, with nothing else prepped other than this block, meant it was about time I tackled this block as it has been sitting around since Christmas. I have to say that I enjoyed the challenge of the "fingers". I have never worked with such narrow selvedges, but I am generally pleased with the result. So maybe now I should be tackling those wreaths whilst I am on a roll!

Block 13 and 15

Two more blocks done! I have conveniently skipped over the fingerling wreath and will make my way back to it next.

Block #7 Finished

Hello from icy, cold rainy Northern Wisconsin...a good day to stay inside and do some stitching.
Here is my block #7 - I think all 42 cherries are in place! You might notice something a little different...I would like to think I "approached this block in my own way" but in all honesty I goofed...instead of the open background showing around the basket handle, I interpreted as the inside of a vase and chose to do reverse applique in a gold interior along with the other 3 little openings.  I was too far along when the realization hit - so as they say "it is, what it is...." and it is done and I can move on to more cherries and also start #8.

Hope it is okay to mention also - I have a little Giveaway going on - can you drop by for a visit?
Thanks much and keep stitching everyone!

Pat

Block # 18

I was away for the weekend and needed a nice, portable project for any sewing opportunity that presented itself.  The timing for publishing Block # 18 was perfect.  I haven't used as many scraps as in previous blocks because I wanted to travel light. 

I couldn't make my mind up what fabric to use for the rosettes, so I decided that "more is more".  It is a fun, easy block with only four circles.  Compare that  to Block # 16.  I am still working on the final two bunches of grapes.  For a sneak preview, jump on over to here.  While you're there, I would be thrilled if you enter the giveaway.  It would be great if one of the BTCT followers won!

Applique blog

This is another applique blog you might find interesting. http://margaretmathews.blogspot.com/
Margaret is a beautiful appliquer from my Guild. Look over the blog, she has some tips for traveling toward the beginning of her blog. Also are photos of her prepping techniques. She also has a blog for her cat and travels.

I'm official now

Thanks Sharon for my invitation. I have been enjoying this blog, but only have the 1st two blocks done. I am working on the pineapple, but will take someone's suggestion to re draw those "fingers". They aren't fitting. I will get a couple of pictures to post after I gt back from Lancaster.

Block #6 done

I finished #6 over the weekend. I didn't like making the flowers, call them "wind mangled blossoms". The colors are insipid, but it's only one block in a large quilt. And its DONE!!

4 blocks done

In the comments some one asked to see all of my blocks together....sorry the colors look a little washed out. I am still working on the bottom left hand side block, no cherries on it yet!
The way I did the center flower on the vase block was not something I would recommend. I did it right on the block and it got a little "poufy". I also trimmed each back of each flower to eliminate the bulk. I usually do the "off block method", that is a good way to do it with multiple pieces on top of each other. First you start with your cut out shape of the top piece #1, applique it to  the fabric of the second piece without first cutting the shape of piece #2. After piece one is appliqued I trim away the extra fabric from the backof piece #1,  then you trace out piece #2 so you can get fabric #1 exactly centered and then applique it to fabric #3. You continue in that way until all the pieces are appliqued and then you applique it to the block. Does that make sense? If possible I will try and do it as a tutorial, when I get a chance. It is a lot easier than how I explained it!

One More

I have been very slow with these blocks...the next few I have together are easy ones....hopefully they will go a little faster!

C'est fini... Block 15!

I haven't been around as much as I would have liked these past 2 - 3 weeks, but my work has had to take precedent. I finally finished block 15 early this morning. It took me longer than I would have liked as I had a long period of indecisiveness - the vase was unpicked a couple of times (I am using a cotton sateen as the back ground and started stitching it to the wrong side!), as were the purple side flowers (I tried a chocolate brown fabric and the teal, but came back to the purple) and finally, the flower spray went through several incarnations. But, I am now generally pleased with how it came out although looking at the photograph I can see areas where I need to do better, namely the reverse applique and smoothing some of the edges, but finished is as good as done, so these matters will wait until later.

Block #7

I've been working on a couple blocks at a time, and finished #7.


Oops, I see now I missed a leaf--but that's easy to fix! I'll do all the embroidery later. This is a FUN project. Seeing what everyone else is doing is so inspirational. We all know how enjoyable it is to sew *with someone*.

#6 and a start on #16

Wondering how many leaves we will have appliqued when all is said and done??? Eventually I will master those little pointed ends...

 Have closed my eyes to the fact that #16 looks out of whack...those vines follow the original pattern...except for the 4 stems which lead to the clusters of cherries...I am thinking about doing the embroidery links a little differently....at least one of the cherries is in place:o)

 Now on to getting #7 ready to go...

Block 11

Here is one more completed block. This one wasn't too difficult.
The next one I'm prepping has all the fingerlings.....

Lots of Prep Work

I haven't posted any finished blocks because I don't have any to show.  That's not to say I haven't been working away at my BTCT.  My plan was to prep a few blocks to take with my on vacation, as I have a 7 hour layover in the Seattle airport. There is only so much eating and shopping one can with while carrying all their luggage with them.

Here is block 8, 9, and 10. I've got the vines all stitched down, plus I've marked the placement of the pieces with blue washout. All I need are three bobbins, one each of red, green and yellow, a couple of needles and my tiny airplane safe scissors.

 I've been prepping for the grapes block, as I know it's coming down the line.  I have swapped with a group online with repro prints and blocks and the swap leader, Joyce, so kindly sent me a stack of purple charms so I have a great variety.  I'm making all sizes for this block and will just lay them out how I think they look good. I'm not stressing on getting the exact amount or placement.

The border cherries are also coming along. I'm about half ways there. As well, I'm not concerned they are all the same size.  With the mylar Perfect Circles, the sizes are graded ever so slightly.  I hope others are still working away at their BTCT.  Even if it's making bias vines, or prepping circles, it's all going towards the big picture, a fantastic quilt that we shall all be so proud of.
Sharon