Monday, September 27, 2021

A September Mini Quilt to share

 What?
September is over?!
I really didn't have the chance to
stitch up a new September mini
so, if you will forgive me,
 I'll share a mini from the past,
2004 to be exact. 

A friend of mine had recently had the opportunity
 visited the Netherlands 
and went to 
Den Haan & Wagenmakers in Amsterdam
and brought back fabric to share.

I used my pieces by appliqueing this pattern by
Lori Smith,


American Folk Art Sampler
2004
38" x 38"

The colors are soft and pastel


with  subtle texturing,
tone on tones.


The colors popped on the black background


At this time I was
still making prim folk art designs
and I remember thinking how fun it was
to work with these cheerful colors in the 
prim style.


The sawtooth border was appliqued as 
one long rectangular piece and clipped and folded as you went.


The quilt was hand quilted.

Despite being made 17 years ago, it is 
still a favorite of mine.


Each quilt has a story and memories.
Please jump over to Wendy's 
to see what the 
other mini creators have
been up to.
Until Next Time-
Kyle

Monday, September 13, 2021

What Kind of Days Are You having?

 The lazy hazy crazy days of summer continue 
here in Colorado. 
I've been the lazy one and
the usually bright blue skies 
have been hazy with smoke.
I haven't seen the foothills from my backyard
for weeks.
The crazy days of 2021 seem to keep
us guessing about what will happen next.

But with all of that in mind,
I have actually been filling my days 
with stitching, mostly,
x-stitching.

The first piece that I've finished 
earlier this summer was:

"Winter Rose Manor"
Designed by Brenda Gervais
With Thy Needle and Thread.

I learned with this piece that not all overdyed cotton
threads look like the photo.
There must be some variables in the 
dying process.
It's okay because we know that
 there aren't stitching police,
just like there aren't quilting police.
 Who says you can't change threads and 
choose a color that you find more appealing or
makes more contrast.


I had to do that so the cardinals showed up better.

****

This small piece is 
"Hello Summer" 

Designed by Paulette Stewart
Plum Street Samplers

I've been enjoying stitching some
of these smaller pieces just to get something finished 
Although, I've found nothing is really
too quick.

Adding some trim around the edges gives 
this a nice finished look.
What I don't like to do is to stitch the
small opening closed after it's stuffed.

Here's what I've been doing.
Stitching completely around all 4 sides
and then making a small slit in the back in 
order to turn the piece inside out.
We've all done that, but what I have been doing
is fusing a piece of fabric and  matching up the 
design elements of the fabric. 


I challenge myself to see how close
I can make it.
Not too bad.
****

The 3rd piece just finished is:


Come Into My Garden
Designed by Blackbird Designs

I learned that if the border actually meets 
it can be a miracle.  
The question then becomes 
do you fudge or frog it (rip it, rip it)
In my case, I like fudge more than frogs!
Hopefully, no one will see what I had to do.
And if they do, well, that's the way it goes.  
I'm sure my recipient will love it anyway.

Well, my days are still some what lazy,
the sky is still hazy,
and from not going too crazy
I keep putting in more stitches, one at a time.
Until Next Time-
Kyle