Classy Little Pumpkins

 Hello Everyone,

I spent Monday in the classroom with the quilters from the Independence Hall quilt guild.  I taught them how to applique little pumpkins.

Independence Hall is a former school, so the class had nice large windows to trace their applique pieces.

By the end of the class there were pumpkins 'growing' on everyone's workspace.

The girls loved going around to check out all of the different pumpkins.

The class did a great job constructing their pumpkins.

Sue tackled making the little flower for her adorable pumpkin.

Look closely at Lori's fussy cut faces in her pumpkin.

Each and every pumpkin was unique and colorful.  The girls learned not to be afraid of applique, instead they embraced the process.  I'm envisioning a lot of pumpkin pillows, and table runners in the near future from this class. 

It has been a very busy couple of weeks for me.  On a personal note, the IVC (Inferior Vena Cava) filter was removed from my vena cava vein.  The purpose of the filter is to keep blood clots from entering the lungs. The filter was installed last September and has a shelf life of 6 months and needed to be removed since I was at month 5.  The procedure was not without risk and the removal was more painful than I expected. A catheter was inserted into my jugular vein, and apparatus was inserted to remove the filter which was in place below my heart. Finally, a week after surgery, my neck is not tender and sore, and I'm pain free.    

I feel that this blood clot issue is now in my rearview mirror, and I can return to a much more active lifestyle.  So, look out world, I'm back to full steam ahead!

Soon,

Lynn

Laurel Ridge Applique

 Hello Everyone,

I'm making small clusters of flowers for my latest project. To enhance the 'cuteness factor', I've chosen to incorporate a handstitched buttonhole stitch rather than using a machine.

I'm using a #12 Valdani thread to outline the pieces. 

I'm assembling tutorials to illustrate the differences between the two applique methods: freezer paper and raw edge applique. I have not been a fan of raw edge applique, until now.  I like to have a nice, finished edge, and the buttonhole stitch gives me a sense of completion and a finished edge.

Each method takes me the same amount of time, so it's a toss-up in my opinion. The freezer paper method does give me a look with more dimension after machine quilting. Yet, the buttonhole stitch makes the design more whimsical.  

Another scorching hot day is on the horizon up here at Wilder's Last Resort. Stitching doesn't require much effort, so that's my plan for today!

Soon,

Lynn

Applique in the Snow

Hello Everyone,

Another snowstorm rolled through the other day. I set up my workstation in the dining room so I could watch the snow and work on my applique at the same time.  

I love the applique process, the old-fashioned process using the starch method of applique.  I set up my Ott light as the cabin was dark in the middle of the day due to the storm.  At 3pm, I stopped for our afternoon hot cocoa break.  Was there a splash of Bailley's in it?  I'll let you decide.

 

I have a new tool which I used to apply the starch to the freezer paper which I really love. It is called the Aqua Touch Marker.  It is available HERE at The Quilt Show. The tool comes in a set of 3 applicators, so you have 3 sizes of tips to choose from. You can be surgical where you apply the starch, and it doesn't 'drip' on your workspace.  It can be a bit tricky to fill them with the starch, but once that's done, you are good to go for a long time.

 

I've been wanting to create a new project to incorporate applique using my Hearthstone fabric.  Over the next few weeks, I'll be creating different bouquets of flowers during each of the next snowstorms.  Rain is in our forecast for tonight and all day tomorrow......I guess I'll have to work on my piecing and my next fabric line.

Soon,

Lynn