Hold Onto Your Heart: Part 6

This month it’s time to create the applique birdsong scene: you'll find all the wonderful details over in the pattern which is released today. I love this scene, it's the perfect place to begin the first of our four stories. When I was sketching the design, this bird couple just flew into the scene and perched themselves on the cacti. There's always a bird in my designs, well almost always - but in this instance, the cacti came before the birds.. which is a little unusual, but felt right straight away.

Cacti represent warmth, protection and endurance. The birds are plucking fruit from the blossoming flower heads whilst around them, vines are flourishing. There are two orbs tucked under the petal swirls. These orbs appear only once in the design and are very interesting, I'll return to them tomorrow and show you how I made mine.

These images are from my full colour quilt top, I just love how the overall look is coming together. There were a few moments when I was worried, it felt like too much colour all at once..but has finally come into it's own.

 'Hold Onto Your Heart' is a paid BOM 

It's a breathtaking quilt full of meaningful symbols and beauty. The floral border is a triumph which offers an additional  pieced option - making it versatile for all skill levels. Perfect for lovers and enthusiasts of applique. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Be sure to visit my Online Quilt Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!

WOW: Free BOM 2019 = Half Wrapt Up !

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Here's a WOW that thousands of quilters are loving each month: it's my free BOM for 2019. This gorgeous blue color scheme was voted the most popular over in my Group and I can see why, there's something so serene about these tones. The fabrics are by Laundry Basket Quilts and they're drop stitch gorgeous. 

Now that we've hit June, this BOM is officially half way through. Yes, time sure does fly when you're busy creating beauties.. I love BOMs, it's super rewarding to see the months go by each year, knowing that a design is out there, progressing in the hands of many happy stitchers. 

And so that's my very special WOW today - it's a WOW of satisfaction because frankly, I have so many WIPs that I sometimes just have to bask in the completion success of others! Seeing this quilt coming together over in my Group is as exciting and fun as making it myself - possibly better because I could never make the hundreds of variations that are out there.

Thank you so much for making my year so colourful. I know so many of you take the time to share your pics over in the Group and it makes my day.

Thank You For So Many WOWs

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Mid Year Start: BOM 2019

'Hold Onto Your Heart' is a sentimental quilt: it's full of evocative motifs that represent all those values I hold dear to my heart; love, abundance, perseverance, sanctuary and journey. 

The middle section consists of applique scenes before the eye reaches outward and rests in the calm borders. At first glance, the design creates an impression of a life map (..or perhaps a treasure map?) before searching for and finding all those wonderful details that make this quilt so special. 

The floral border is a triumph; full of rose heads tumbling through the vines and spilling over into the previous border. For anyone not interested in the blooming rose border, there is also an alternative pieced border included in the pattern that has been designed to zig zag any gorgeous fabrics you may want to use instead.

Finished Size: 87 x 87 inches for the full floral border. If you opt for the alternative pieced border, the Finished Size will be 85 x 85 inches. 

We're currently up to Part 5, about to receive Part 6 in a few days.

   Yes, you can still join TODAY.    

The BOM runs for 12 months: January 15th 2019 - December 15th 2019. When you sign up today, you'll have access to all 5 x parts right up until today and will continue accessing the monthly parts along with the schedule until it's completed in December.

All the BOM 2019 patterns will be available in PDF digital format, ready for home printing. Throughout the year, members of BOM 2019 will have access to download the blocks as they are released via an exclusive Members LOGIN page over on my website. If you've paid for this BOM, you can click here to login now. 

BOM 2019

Early Bird Discount*

Single one time payment

$83.00 USD

*Normally $95 USD single one time payment.

WOW: Busy As Can Be

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Somehow June has happened and I don't know how I got here?! 2019 please slow down.. I have so many ideas and WIPs and designs and you know, I just can't believe we're half done with the year. Is it just me, or is time speeding up?

I'm really lucky to have 2 full days completely devoted to Hold Onto Your Heart at the moment and I'm excited to be making progress on both quilt tops. But I have so many designs waiting to be made as well as WIPs that need my attention...and now that winter is here..well, you know I went and purchased some yarn, didn't you?

Of course I did! What else is a quilter with over 100 WIPS going to do with her evenings in winter?
I know what you're thinking and believe me, I'm thinking it too.. but the creative urge strikes and off I go..

What's Your WOW?

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Beautiful Dorothea

 Finished size of Dorothea Wall Hanging 57 x 61 inches

Dorothea is a charming naive folk design that works as both a wall or bed quilt (and both size options are contained within the single quilt pattern.) This is a perfect design for showcasing your beautiful fabrics as well as stash busting old favourites with the simple and effective border. 

Finished size of Dorothea Bed Quilt 81 x 85 inches

Dorothea

Digital Pattern Download

$19.95 USD

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WOW: Double Trouble Or Twice The Pleasure??

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

It's really only now dawning on me what an epic challenge I have undertaken for myself in deciding on two colorways. One would have been enough, but that simply didn't satisfy my need to see this quilt made up, so as usual I went in for double duty!

What was I thinking taking on a double dose of this beautiful quilt?! Sometimes I wonder!

Here are my two projects, side by side as of last night. 

Yes, I'm busy.. really busy.. and I can't wait to progress even further.. 

What's Your WOW?

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HOYH: More Bows and Berries

I'm making steady progress on my berries and bows. Although I like to buy all my fabrics ahead of time when I've settled on a project,  this is one quilt I simply can't confine to a single palette. This used to drive me crazy. I hate going over (and over!) fabric decisions once I've made a start on any quilt, but Hold Onto Your Heart has it's own ideas and I can only take directions. 

At least once a week I go out and browse local fabric shops looking for an elusive shade of green or blue or pink to match this or that. I've noticed that fabric ranges are coming and going much too quickly for my own artistic pace - I like to do things a little slower and enjoy a range a little longer than seems to be popular. 

I'm currently setting aside the best daylight hours for a few days each week to make this beautiful quilt happen and can't wait to show you what's next..

 'Hold Onto Your Heart' is a paid BOM 

It's a breathtaking quilt full of meaningful symbols and beauty. The floral border is a triumph which offers an additional  pieced option - making it versatile for all skill levels. Perfect for lovers and enthusiasts of applique. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Be sure to visit my Online Quilt Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!

Hearts Desire by Bunny of Canada

Hearts Desire by Bunny of Canada

Bunny has a wonderful eye for using blues and her Hearts Desire is a masterpiece. It has a permanent place in my heart because when I was making my own fabric choices for this quilt, I was torn between two schemes and a blue quilt option was strongly on my mind when I made my own selection. 

In many ways, I see this beauty as what mine would have been if I had selected a blue pallette. Well, it's what I hope my blues would have looked like! The truth is, Bunny has a special way with blues which she's showcased over and over again.  Knowing my fabric indecision I think my blues would have moved into a more diverse teal and green scheme. 

But back to Bunny's beauty here: I love how she's balanced her blues perfectly with the orange and yellows, the whole quilt sings to me and I just love every bit of it. 

Thank you for always being an inspiration Bunny, you know I love all your quilts - they're a constant inspiration and motivation - two things I'm always seeking and striving for.

'Hearts Desire'

Read more about this quilt by clicking here now

--------------------------- Open Quilt Gallery--------------------------- 

Thanks to Bunny for sharing her quilt progress with us all to take inspiration from. If you'd like to see more finished quilts made from any of my patterns, visit my Open Gallery. It's a place for all quilters who make any of my quilts to show off their creations in a central online gallery. It's new and I hope you'll join us by adding your own quilt there. Submitting your quilt pics is easily done via an upload screen directly on my website. Click here now if you'd like to submit your own quilt.

Pomegranate by Bunny

Pomegranate by Bunny of Canada

You've probably only seen this wall hanging quilt made up in reds as that seems to be the most popular colour, so prepare to be surprised by this blue beauty! Bunny has a special affinity for blues which always leaves me inspired and this stunner is no exception.

Thank you so much for sending through this image of your quilt Bunny; I know these projects are out there and I wish I'd started the Open Gallery years ago so everyone could enjoy each others work so much sooner. 

I love every blue inch of it!

'Pomegranate' 

You can read more about this quilt or buy this quilt pattern by clicking here now

--------------------------- Open Quilt Gallery--------------------------- 

Thanks to Bunny for sharing her quilt with us all to take inspiration from. If you'd like to see more finished quilts made from any of my patterns, visit my Open Gallery. It's a place for all quilters who make any of my quilts to show off their creations in a central online gallery. It's new and I hope you'll join us by adding your own quilt there. Submitting your quilt pics is easily done via an upload screen directly on my website. Click here now if you'd like to submit your own quilt.

Mini Easter Blessings by Bunny

Mini Easter Blessings by Bunny of Canada

This sweet mini quilt was an Easter project from a few years ago. Once day I'll include it as part of a seasonal project set but it isn't available as a pattern right now - mostly because I haven't completed mine. That's right; although I have many grand plans and schemes, most of them haven't eventuated yet because of my epic WIP pile! Once I get all my Easter Projects made and photographed, I'll release them, but for now I browse the beauties other people have managed to complete - like my dear friend Bunny. 

I can always rely on Bunny when i want to see my 'back catalog' because she's done just about everything I've put out - which is more impressive than what I can boast for myself!

And this little sweetie is just too cute not to share. Honestly, who doesn't love tulips, birds and foliage? And let's not forget the jumping bunny behind the eggs.

I love it Bunny, but then again, I love everything you do.. 

Spring Reflection by Tena Davis

Easter Blessings by Tena Davis of Sarasota, FL, USA 

Tena decided to call her Easter Blessings Wall Hanging 'Spring Reflection', here's what she has to say about her quilt: “Spring Reflection” won an Honorable Mention in Appliqué at my quilt guild show this past March 2019. Machine appliqués and domestic machine quilted. Thank you for the beautiful pattern! 

If you look closely, you can see the wonderful quilting on this piece that silhouettes the bouquet with added tulips, I love this effect! Tena you have done an outstanding job on the quilting! 

From the the lush green fabric in the frame to the handsome black and white bunny with those irresistible pink ears, this is a gorgeous wall hanging. And those tulips - the colour graduations are stunning. I love everything about this wall hanging!

I know you're going to get so much enjoyment from this quilt and I'm so grateful that you sent through pics of your beautiful quilt and it's show success too!

'Easter Blessings' 

Read more about this quilt by clicking here now

--------------------------- Open Quilt Gallery--------------------------- 

Thanks to Tena Davis  for sharing her finished quilt with us all to take inspiration from. If you'd like to see more finished quilts made from any of my patterns, visit my Open Gallery. It's a place for all quilters who make any of my quilts to show off their creations in a central online gallery. It's new and I hope you'll join us by adding your own quilt there. Submitting your quilt pics is easily done via an upload screen directly on my website. Click here now if you'd like to submit your own quilt.

WOW: Working on my Diamond Clusters

 WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays 

Like usual, I'm working on my Hold Onto Your Heart quilt out of turn. Although I've completed Part 5 now, today I'm returning to Part 4 which is the Diamond Clusters. I really love these shapes but I'm unsure about what fabrics to put on the sides, so I'm playing around will try to get these completed today.

What's Your WOW?

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Click here to enter

HOYH: Simplified Flower Heads for Part 5

Fussy cut flowers can work beautifully with the pattern in place of the multi layered flower heads. If all that finicky applique isn't for you, don't worry, you can simplify. The most important step is to make sure any potential fussy cut flowers are size appropriate to the pattern and then it's a matter of picking a colour scheme that's going to shine. 

I thought this was going to be nearly impossible with my warm golden yellows and fuschias, it seems a long stretch but luckily I found a gorgeous flower print that I knew would be perfect as soon as I set my eyes on it. Look at those layers- they actually remind me so much of the pattern- how could I not go with them?? I was considering small roses first in position for an easy option, but these flowers stopped me in my tracks. 

I traced them from the fabric to obtain their shape

and cut their shape from fusible to make turning the edge nice and crisp

 like this.. perfect huh?

I wasn't sure if I wanted to simply this pattern, after all I do LOVE every last detail of it, but this fit was too perfect to pass up and I know it's going to enhance all the other pieces. Look at the colours and layers of the print, isn't it just lovely?

 And this green swirl colour is my current option for matching the stem, nice isn't it?

OK, time to get back to work.. 

 'Hold Onto Your Heart' is a paid BOM 

It's a breathtaking quilt full of meaningful symbols and beauty. The floral border is a triumph which offers an additional  pieced option - making it versatile for all skill levels. Perfect for lovers and enthusiasts of applique. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Be sure to visit my Online Quilt Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!

HOYH: Part 5 Flower Heads (following the pattern) and Berries

Today I'm sharing how I made the flower heads (following the pattern) of Hold Onto Your Heart Part 5. Tomorrow I'll be sharing how to simplify this head, so be sure to check back if you've reached this stage yourself.

I love everything about Part 5 and now that the bows and stems have been resolved fabric wise, I'm free to play with the flower heads. The pieces are little and varied, so its really a process of organized production lines.. 

As I work, I pin the shapes into position directly over my paper pattern. This is another reason why I love my new wool mat that I mentioned last week - it allows me to iron and pin shapes into place without having to move work areas.

To help me during my production line, I coloured in my pattern to distinguish how many fabrics I wanted to make up the flower head. Then I numbered each shape. Using Stitch N Wash fusible, I traced each shape (and marked it with it's number for easy assembly later) on the wrong side of the fusible. Then I ironed the fusible onto the wrong side of my fabric.

This is why I don't remove the 'inside' paper when I turn the edges. The inside is not paper, it's fusible and it's meant to stay in place. If I was using freezer paper, I would remove it once my glue from turning the edges was dry. As you can see in these berry pics below for Part 5, the process is the 

same.

I just ran out of my new favourite glue - the blue sewline one and whilst I'm waiting for it to arrive, I've gone back to using Elmer's. There's nothing wrong with Elmer's at all, I've just developed a habit for the sewline one now!

And I turn my edges with a cuticle stick. I now also use the Purple Thang.. but can't actually find any of my 5 x pieces in my mess of a sewing studio...

Love these gorgeous berries

Once all the turned pieces are pinned into position, this is what the back of my flower head looks like

I am so pleased that my completed flower head is almost exactly as per the pattern. Phew!

When the glue is completely dry and all the heads are done, it's time to sit down and stitch my motif heads together with the smallest zig zag stitch I can get away with.. 

If I told you how many hours these flowerheads here represent.. well, lets just say you wouldn't believe it! 

Luckily I love seeing my time turned into beauty with the help of fabric. 

This is an heirloom level quilt and the fine little details matter to me and like many applique enthusiasts, I enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of the end result. However, if finicky little pieces aren't your thing, don't torture yourself - come back tomorrow for another option. 

 'Hold Onto Your Heart' is a paid BOM 

It's a breathtaking quilt full of meaningful symbols and beauty. The floral border is a triumph which offers an additional  pieced option - making it versatile for all skill levels. Perfect for lovers and enthusiasts of applique. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Be sure to visit my Online Quilt Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!