Sunday, September 15, 2024

Applique Continues

Another beautiful near end-of-summer morning to sit outside on the patio and stitch. The mornings tend to be more peaceful and quiet than later in the day.  Sewing in natural daylight (shaded) is easy on the eyes.


Finally working on the last border. This is one of the last flowers to be stitched down. Edges were prepared using the starch and template heat-resistent method plastic. I learned mostly from watching Erin Russek and Kaye Buckley on youtube. Personally, it is more relaxing to have edges pre-turned and all I have to do is stitch. 




In the hot afternoon, I will be indoors watching the Detroit Lions game. During slow plays and the many commercials I’ll be crocheting edges on fleece blankets for charitable donations and visiting others at Slow Sunday Stitching.


Happy Sewing!
Jill


Sunday, September 8, 2024

More Quilt Show Photos and Applique

This post includes a few more photos from the August AQS quilt show held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Hopefully, the quilt photos add interest to the repetitive applique progress on Midnight Stars. Hand applique is going slow, but steady!  This past week the remaining stems were appliqued down while sewing outside while enjoying the remaining, fleeting summer days. 

Since it's Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's, 
I will be adding flowers and leaves to the recent stems.
Border design by Nancy Rink

Below are only a few more quilt show photos should you be interested. They are in no particular order. Although not ribbon winners, they should have at minium received honorable mention.






The following Roaring Twenties wall hangings were particularly fun!



The outdoor plants are showing signs of summer's end. This is my Bombshell Hydrangea which its' blossoms became just too heavy for its branches. I call it Upside Down Hydrangea.


Happy Sewing!
Jill













Saturday, August 31, 2024

Quilt Show Photos

 Bit by bit progress is being made on my long overdue UFO. Two appliqued borders are complete and were added to the flimsy. Today I am playing with the side borders, corners and appliquing more boring stems.



Last weekend I was fortunate to attend the AQS Show in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Lots of eye candy was on display. Here is a small portion of the quilts along with the quilter's name. Since this post will be linked with Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts, the first two quilts pictured were exquisitely quilted by hand. If you are interested in seeing larger photos, I think you click on image it should open up full size.



by JoAnn Nichols


by Aki Sakai

Kim Stickney


by Kim Fong


by Ruth Rembis




by Joan E. Brink


by Janet Stone











If you had the time to view and made it this far, I hope you enjoyed despite the photos being taken with a phone which due not show their true beauty. Have a good week!

Jill









Saturday, August 17, 2024

Two Quilt Projects

 Two quilts are being worked on. This is a finished block of the quilt which is being machine pieced. This is one of three completed blocks with 17 more to go. It’s a Shabby Fabrics pattern, Cherish. The block was tweaked as I have less points.

The aqua points are not as vivid in color as photo shows.

In order to get near-perfect star inner points, I resorted to foundation paper piecing. So much less stress.  


Hand applique continues with Kaffe Fassett fabrics. It’s a relaxing project to work on while joining Kathy and her friends on Slow Sunday Stitching.
A cool thing happened to Mr. Bliss this week. A sparrow landed on his shoulder. We have a batch of baby birds which are learning to fly so it is assumed this was a baby. Did the bird like the blue striped shirt or does it know who puts out the bird seed.
Photo taken from inside looking out.

An AQS Quilt Show is coming to Grands Rapid, Michigan in a few days. Looking forward to attending. 

Happy Sewing!
Jill