templates

I have been asked this so many times that I am just going to go ahead and do it!

these are the templates I use. I designed them over the years because my cq was lumpy and uneven without a little guidance.
I am offering to make them (for $20) on commission to any one who wants them through my ETSY site.

I have had so many people ask me if I would make them a set that I finally decided to put them up in my shop.

these are not professionally made! I make them myself out of a flexible opaque plastic sheeting with scissors an exato blade and a sharpie, they are a little wobbly. 

Circles

Truth be told mine are a little cheesy but they work for me and maybe they will work for you too.

If you want something perfectly die cut from thick plastic go to Sharon Boggins site, she has beautifully made stencils that will last a lifetime.
I bought a set and am waiting with anticipation for them to arrive. they are bigger than my usual stitch and I hope this will challenge me to use bigger stitches,
Mine are better suited to those who use little stitches.

flexible!

squares

wavy

I have been using mine for about 10 years, when I need a new even seam I make a new template!

you can make them too, I am doing this because people have asked. but these are all basic shapes used in the making of any seam treatment. nothing special here, just  little time and effort on my part.
A little expertise and experimentation too.
I have discarded things that didn't work for me.

round

they are not very big and fit well in my sewing kit.

I haven't made any fancy instructions for them yet so if anyone needs guidance, let me know, I will try to come up with something. 

I'll take any suggestions you have too. Remember these are my own designs and I'm not a professional, the lines aren't always straight and the measurements are not exact. They are whoever good enough for me and I hope they will be good enough for you too.

Poetry RR in the garden

 I love my yard!

Have I mentioned that before?

looking out from my favorite places to stitch I get this lovely view of my tree

( ignore the pile of old picknick table, I must put that away.)

the front porch.

 my SO gave me this wonderful wind chime for my Birthday this year, it resonated and sings so prettily in the slightest breeze.
 it sounds like a Nerada track.

 and then there are my Veggi boxes across the yard,

full of tomatoes, squash, carrots, pickles, radishes, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, kale, sweet peas and corn.

I am also trying out brusselsprouts and artichokes this year.

I'm hoping to have enough of a harvest in some of this stuff to trade for fresh eggs,


as the new next door neighbors have chickens.

It's been raining so much the last few months that all 6 of my rain barrels are so full they fountain! I have to run around and make sure they all have open valves and spouts leading away so they don't flood and undermine the foundation of the barrels.


In this nirvana I have finished Janet's block for the poetry and verses RR in CQI.

She chose a children's book version of a Robert Frost Poem, the pictures of which are wonderfully charming!
As I was the last lady on this piece, I had 2 blocks to choose from.
I chose the cover page because it had the best convergence of fabrics for the idea I had.

I took elements from one of the other ladies blocks, the seam treatments in the upper left corner and top seam and then used several of the illustrations from the book for inspiration.

I hope she likes it!

I know I had fun, with the birds especially, I think I may place more critters in my blocks in future.

two new boxes in the shop

I have put two new boxes in the shop , now didn't these turn out nice?

i'm rather pleased with these two boxes,


 I layered some lace motifs at the bottom of the "birds of a feather box"


the diamond seam treatment turned out nice, the blue beads down the center show off that seem very nicely


 the embroidery on the birds is pleasing it's a pattern I've used before with various degrees of success

 I'm glad it turned out so well here




"the music lesson" turned out well too I was hoping the silkie would show better but no matter where I take a picture of it theres a glare and the picture is washed out, poo!

I wish too that the clock would have been a little more centered  but sometimes placement is tricky when your putting the final touches on.

and in order for the rest of the block to be shown well without cutting off anything vital the clock face got a little smooshed, also Poo!
I could just use the top as a template but where would the fun be in that?
besides I like the look of the embroidery wrapping around the edges and going around corners.

the land of Fairie

I must say i'm rather pleased with this block!

All the elements turned out to be just right. Not too heavy, even though I used a lot of big motifs.

Thats the challenge, though, isn't it?

As your technique evolves, to challenge yourself to use colors and elements that you normally would never put side-by-side.

to pick something so glaringly off and make it work within the confines of your block.

I try to do this with ever new project, challenge myself with color, technique or style.
I find it helps me with design choices and makes me a better artist over all.

 

"It's A Saturday Sharing Day"

  "It's A Saturday Sharing Day" at Pig Tales and Quilts"

and I get to share what I have been working on lately

I started this round of 3 fairies, done in purples and greens, master viola comes first,



 pretty heiliotrope,

 and lovely elderberry.








then there's Skellie, I've worked on her a little more she still needs one last arm, the background.
  the strings will come last

also waiting for my DD#2's plane to land she will be visiting for 2 whole months and I can't wait to see her!