Sharing WIP Like a Proud Momma

Oh I'm having such fun!!   I still have to pinch myself to be sure I'm not dreaming.... In the last few weeks I started teaching Introductory Wool Applique "Spring Basket" with two different groups and I'm doing cartwheels in celebration!!

Spring Basket Sample by Karen L. Miller ~ Redbird Quilt Co.

Many thanks to the ladies at the New Quilters On the Block Guild in Candor, NY and to the Partners and Students at Quilters Corner in Ithaca, NY for taking a chance on this green instructor!   Thank you ladies -- ya'll are just wonderful to work with...  

New Quilters on the Block - Working Hard

The New Quilters on the Block wanted to learn the basics of wool applique -- knowing that we wouldn't finish any pieces in the 4 hours we spent together.  We reviewed wool preparation, floss basics, Needles: threading - knotting - burying - finishing;  Stitches: blanket, couch, overhand, french knot, and so on...  They did a fantastic job on their quilts -- and Joan came sharing her own overdyed wools with the entire group of 11 ladies (and one lucky instructor)!   We had a fun time!

New Quilters On the Block -- Almost quitting time...

Besides the people, personalities, and comradely -- here are some moments that make this sew much fun....


1.  The "Light Bulb" moment - You're looking in a persons eye -- they're watching the lesson, and listening to what you share, and they sit down and take fabric, needle and thread in hand and "click" -- it works!!  They get it!  WOW - now that is fun!

2. "Individuality & Creativity" -- this is really, really fun for me.  The class comes in with their wools and backgrounds and nobody is exactly sure where they're going.   After 3-6 hours it all starts coming together and everyone is drooling over everyone else's projects.    Oh my that is fun!

Here are some Work in Progress images from Session 2 at Quilters Corner:

My apologies to Ruth -- somehow I managed to get out the door without taking a picture of her quilt -- I promise I'll share in another post.

This is Barbara's Spring Basket - she is stitching it onto black wool -- so soft and plush.  Don't you just LOVE that basket and how she cut it on point... the piece is coming together beautifully - I love how she used different color berries for her hyacinth. 

Barbara's WIP

This is Cathy's WIP -- Cathy took a whole different approach with a Gray wool background and a complimentary gray wool basket -- She used buttons for the centers of her mums -- how sweet!  And how about that bird ?  Don't you just love the red breast?   It's fabulous!

Cathy's WIP

Here is Mary Ann's WIP -- Mary Ann had fun with colors that were closer to the original pattern sample and it worked out wonderfully.  Her forsythia are bright and cheery, and the entire piece just jives... I love it!

Mary Ann's Work in Progress

No matter if you're the teacher or the student -- it's just fun to share quilting moments.  If you're a quilter you LOVE to see other people's work....

Here is "the other" Cathy's Spring Basket -- she nearly finished it in our 2nd 3 hour session.  The background is cotton fabric but it comes off plush and full -- and almost looking like green grass.  Cathy went with brights and WOW -- what a fantastic finish.  Congratulations Cathy!

The other Cathy's Spring Basket -- All done except for the quilting

After class Mary Ann worked hard and finished her piece over the weekend.  Here is an image she sent me -- didn't it come out beautifully ?  Way to go Mary Ann !! 

If you live locally and would like to take Introduction to Wool Applique ~ Spring Basket, I'll be teaching it in a 1 day Workshop at Penn Yan Sewing Machines on Tuesday, August 19th from 9am to 3pm.   You can reach the shop by calling 607-243-7879.   

I'll be updating my Facebook Events Page with a complete lineup of classes this week.

If you're not local, a PDF version of Spring Basket is available for immediate purchase and download at my Crafty Pattern Store.

Thanks for stopping by today and sharing in my excitement!!

Hugs,
Karen

Bloggers Quilt Festival - Mini Quilt - Spring Basket

It's like Lays Potato Chips -- you can't enter just one!!

I just couldn't help myself and decided (at the last minute) to throw a 2nd entry into Amy's Bloggers Quilt Festival.

Here it is "Spring Basket".  For those new to my blog - Welcome! Here is a bit of history...

"Spring Basket" is an 11" x 16" wool applique on cotton, half-moon, mini quilt.  The Original Design quilt represents a lot of First's for me!!

• My first ever completely wool design
• My first ever published "for sale" pattern
• My first ever Big Stitch quilted piece (ouch -- that hurt -- I Love to FMQ)
• My first ever teaching adventure (thanks Quilters Corners for taking a chance on me)
• My first ever ...

Well - you get the picture.  It all started when I shared a picture of my "Penny Garland Revised" wool on cotton quilt to Cheryl.  Penny Garland is a pattern by Kim Diehl..  You can learn more about "Penny Garland Revised" by clicking here.

Cheryl is a very talented Wool Felt Artist and a local Fiber Arts cheerleader.  Each year she organizes a Spring Fiber Festival event which includes animals, vendors, felters, woodworkers, and other wool related craftsmen.  Cheryl took a chance on me and invited me to show my Wool quilts at the next event.

One thing led to another, and a handful of ladies at the event signed up to learn wool applique!

I reached out to a Local Quilt Shop - Quilters Corner in Ithaca, NY -- and the partners there decided  to give me a chance.   (Thank you ladies!).

But wait, I needed something original to teach -- In two weeks time, I designed, stitched and delivered a "Spring Basket" sample to the shop so a class could be formalized and announced in their upcoming Newsletter.  See the debut in the Newsletter by clicking here (I was so honored and excited...)

The Spring Basket design came to me as I longed for warmer weather, spring flowers, and the return of the Carolina Wren to our cottage.  I also wanted it SIMPLE, and easy to learn, so beginners would feel comfortable making it.   I hope I've achieved that goal.  The PDF pattern includes many color photos and step by step instructions for preparing your background, wool pieces, order of stitching, etc.

Spring Basket is available as a PDF Download from my Craftsy Pattern Store.  If you are interested in a printed version of the pattern, feel free to send me an e-mail.   The printed version of the pattern includes the applique shapes already printed on freezer paper -- a sweet little shortcut for you!

Carrie from A Passion for Applique Blog graciously reviewed and stitched her own version of Spring Basket.

Image courtesy of http://apassionforapplique.blogspot.com

You can read her review here:

If applique appeals to you, you should jump over to Carries' blog, look at her beautiful work, and take in her awesome tutorials. (Thank you Carrie).

Well I hope you've enjoyed the "Spring Basket" tour with history.   You can see a sweet little Printed Quilt Label tutorial I made with Spring Basket by clicking on the image below...

"Spring Basket"

an Origial Design Mini Quilt

by Karen L. Miller

11" x 16" half-moon shape

Wool applique on Cotton background

Big Stitch Quilted

Quilt Festival Category: Mini Quilt

Voting starts later today -- I hope you have time to jump over to the Quilt Festival and see all the beautiful work by very talented Bloggers in the Quilting Community!

Hugs,

Karen

Needle Turn Applique Catch Up and Process

Getting caught up on my "Quilting the Garden" BOM by Blackbird Designs.  A good friend and mentor of mine, Debbie Wick, made the quilt years ago and small group of close friends meet at Debbie's house each month to work on our own versions of this beautiful quilt with Debbie's guidance.

Here is the latest block we're working on, Summer Cottage, this is an image of Debbie's finished block.  Awesome isn't it?  She does fantastic work...

And here is the same block from the "Quilting the Garden" book: (I don't remember if this is Alma's or Barb's block - sorry).

My Summer Cottage block currently looks like this - The roof is ready to stitch down.

 What do you think of those side windows ?  Don't they look like stained glass?  The fabric was a  special gift from Debbie.  Love them.

Love that background fabric too!  Another special gift - thank you my friend.
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In case you're interested in the process -- I've outlined some details:

*** NOTE:  If you're new to Needle Turn Applique and want to learn more, you can reference "Teardrops of Love - a needle turn applique tutorial" on my blog header tabs.  There is an in-depth 4 part tutorial documented there. ***

The grass has some areas that are needle turned and some that can be left raw because another applique piece will be placed on top of it.

To transition from one area to the next first snip the fabric at the transition mark, travel with a running stitch to the next transition, snip the fabric again, and continue with your needle turn.

When you prepare the piece for needle turn, don't mark the areas that can be left raw - this will be your clue to transition from turning to raw edge.  Be sure to give yourself a comfortable amount of leeway so you don't end up with raw edge where you need needle turn.  At the end of the turned area, snip or clip the fabric so it will lay flat and then travel with a running stitch to the next area that will be turned.  Here is another view:

Below is the completed view.  The raw edge area will have a flower pot positioned on top of it.

Another important tool for applique piece placement is an overlay.   There are several tools you can use including the Dritz overlay sheets or thin clear vinyl.  I use the Dritz flimsy clear sheets (it comes on a roll), trace the edges of the critical pieces on the sheet with a dry erase marker, and then use the marked overlay to position each applique piece.   When you're not using the overlay it has enough "cling" to hang on a clean painted wall. 

Using the overlay for the grass placement.

Using the overlay for the house placement.  It's hard to tell from this picture but the needle turn lines are drawn on the pink house and should line up exactly under the overlay lines of the same.

A view of placing the roof - I'm making progress.

Here are some of the other blocks I have going - Block1 - my poor little bird still needs to be stitched.

 

Detail view:

I love the star -- it's an old Blackbird Design fabric !!  Woohoo!

Block 2 -- remember I worked on this one when we went to San Diego in October -- great place to visit quilt shops !

 Details:

Oh - and the Herb Block -- it's a bit stalled but an easy one to work on in time:  I love the background on this one too!!

That's all for tonight - If you have any questions on the Overlay or the stitching for layering of applique pieces please leave me a comment - I would be happy to try to answer them.

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Have a good week all and stay tuned -- that 100 post giveaway is in the works - and some other exciting news to share with you!

Hugs,

Karen

Work in Progress Wednesday

Hello dear friends -- this week brings with it a few items that need to be finished in short order.  I hope you enjoy the journey with me while I share some Work in Progress.

* The Redbird and Berries Giveaway is open until Feb 15th  -- click here to enter *

I'm still humbled by the positive feedback on the Redbird and Berries Mini Quilt.  Not only on my blog but also on the Moda Bake Shop post -- thank you all so much.  I tried my best to keep up with replies on the comments but a few things got in the way -- Soo many of you were "No-Reply" Bloggers and did not provide your email address in your comment :(   Please, please, if you've never checked, be sure to check to see if you are a "No-Reply" blogger.  Click here to see one of the many great tutorials for "No Reply" blogger syndrome.  Thanks again for all of your fantastic feedback !!

On with the Work in Progress....

I'm working on completing a pair of wool appliqued, envelope backed, quilted pillows.  The last two nights I finished the pebble quilting on them.  I still debating on doing an outline or stem stitch around the wool pieces using Pearl cotton - not sure - what do you think ?

I had a blast quilting these pieces -- they were small and manageable.   I do, however, need to design a new quilting foot that works well with wool applique with a 1/4 inch (or more) rise on it.  Does anyone have any input or suggestions for this ?   Hoping to turn this project into my first pattern and share on Craftsy - very exciting!!

Next up -- I'm nearly done with the applique on "Teardrops of Love - a needle turn applique tutorial".  Sorry about all the wrinkles...  I haven't pressed it yet   :(

I think it needs a few more hearts appliqued before it's done.  That won't take long.  I just LOVE the French General charm pack that I used - have I mentioned that I'm addicted to birds ?

 

One thing I realized while stitching this piece is that with every new needle turn piece I learn something new or just feel more comfortable - this is why with needle turn applique as well as Free Motion quilting "practice, practice, practice" is always the motto...

 I had fun doing some fussy cutting of the fabric for these teardrops.

Once I get Teardrops of Love quilted I'll finish up the tutorial and post Part 5 - Wrapup.  At that point maybe starting an advanced Needle Turn Tutorial would be in order ?  What do you think  - more on layering, large pieces, etc ?

Finally...  Redbird and Berries in Wool is ready to be layered, basted and quilted...

This piece (above) looks a little wonky because I originally made bias (cotton) stems and machine appliqued them onto the background.  I did NOT like them but rather than ripping them out I decided to stitch the wool stems on top of the cotton stems.  I hope this does not come back to haunt me when I start quilting.  Keep your fingers crossed.

I used a hand blanket stitch on the wool Redbird using Valdani 12 Wt Cotton thread, an overhand or whip stitch on the wool stems with DMC Cotton and, to finish the berries, I put a stitch or two in the center of them and left the edges raw to add dimension.   What do you think ?

Amongst other ongoing projects like Benjamin Biggs Wedding Quilt and Quilting the Garden BOM, the "to-do" list includes writing a post for layering of the cotton Redbird (mask and beak) -- I haven't forgotten ;)  

One other thing I wanted to share -- for those of you that LOVE applique, please stop by and visit my friend Wilma from the Netherlands -- she blogs here at Quilting Willempje.  Her most recent post shows the lovely handwork she has done on Esther Aliu's Love Entwined 1790 Marriage Coverlet.  You have to see this -- oh it makes my heart skip a beat - just beautiful!! 

Lastly, here in the Northeast, we had a foot of snowfall overnight.  This is a view out to the barnyard.

I'm thankful that I can work from home most days -- no trekking into Campus for me (thank heavens).

Happy hump day all!
Hugs,
Karen