Hearts Desire

Today I've been catching up on some long overdue housework. As a quilter I must confess that my housework sometimes falls behind my creative pursuits. As I was sorting out a storage cupboard I found this beauty and had to revisit it. I've been quilting for so long now that I have a large 'back catalog' of quilts that haven't been seen by very many people. Yes I'm biased but I do think that this quilt is just too pretty not to show off! I love every little detail of Hearts Desire. And what's odd is that, if I had to recreate it today, I wouldn't change a thing.
I look at these details and wonder how I had the patience to domestic machine quilt every last inch. Phew! Nowadays, I'm happy just to complete a 'quilt top' and move on.

 Interestingly, I still love the fabrics I selected. This was my first 'serious' applique pattern that I felt was a step up from easy or fun applique patterns. In fact I think this was the last hand drawn pattern I accomplished before I went digital. Check out those hearts!
In this quilt design I can see my love for flowers, baskets, birds and leaves - the shapes and lines I favor have now become hallmarks of my style and patterns. I'm also really happy to see the 4x petal heart appear throughout the design - years before I started out on my Love Entwined journey.

Obviously that precious coverlet had burrowed into my imagination years before I even realized!

Hearts Desire is an applique design full of old world charm and plenty of time to sit back and enjoy the splendor of a blooming garden. Finished size: 84 x 84 inches

There aren't any Hearts Desire quilts in the Open Gallery yet but I do hope that this will change as I know they're out there! Perhaps you have one yourself? I think I'll go and add my own to get the ball rolling.

Like it? Make it! 

Hearts Desire

Digital Pattern Download

$39.95 USD

What you need to know:

Payment is securely completed via PayPal

You don't need a PayPal account to pay as PayPal also securely processes Credit Card payments 

Pattern downloads are INSTANT and followed up with a live link to your email inbox

Check your email for the follow up email (and check your spam / junk folders if you can't see it)

The pattern will download to your computer directly

You REQUIRE an UPDATED PDF Reader in order to open and print the PDF Pattern

Note:

When you receive your download, be sure to SAVE it to your computer.

If you print it directly from the browser download screen, it will not be backed up to your computer. 

Click here to read my tutorial on printing my PDF patterns at home

Here are all my posts connected to Hearts Desire, if you go ahead and make it yourself, feel free to add your own blog post specific URLs to the linky archive below for other quilter's to enjoy:

An InLinkz Link-up

'Cherish' is Launched

Meet my newest quilt pattern. It's a blooming beauty! Here we have a quilt that's just inviting itself to cozy up a bedroom. The centre is an applique arrangement of beautiful flowers, freshly cut from a garden teeming with ladybugs, bees, daisy chains and blooms! 

And the colours - oh the colours..where do I even start? This is a pattern you can really trust with those prints you love to pieces but don't want to cut up because they're so pretty. I know you know what I mean!

To make things even better, the shapes are large and easy so that even applique novices can feel confident and the simple hourglass blocks bring all your favorite fabrics together to frame your lovingly made applique blocks. Are you in love yet?

Quilts this pretty are simply impossible to forget. You've already seen my idea for a grey chambray background (above) to make your fabrics pop. But what about a creamy light background to play up the charming blocks that just beg for your attention with all their little details? And I can also see this quilt coming into it's own in reproduction fabrics too. Fabrics old or new, this is a beauty that's just waiting for your special touch. 

The finished size of 68 x 80 inches makes it perfect for a single bed. And who wouldn't love a bed covered in this cheerful, loving quilt?

'Cherish' (68 x 80 inches)

Complete PDF Pattern

$12.95 USD

What you need to know:  

Payment is securely completed via PayPal

You don't need a PayPal account to pay as PayPal also securely processes Credit Card payments 

Pattern downloads are INSTANT and followed up with a live link to your email inbox

Check your email for the follow up email (and check your spam / junk folders if you can't see it)

The pattern will download to your computer directly.

You will REQUIRE an UPDATED PDF Reader in order to open and print the PDF Patterns.

*If you don't know how to download computer files, open PDF's or print, please don't buy this pattern. 

  Note:  

When you receive your download, be sure to SAVE it to your computer.

If you print it directly from the browser download screen, it will not be backed up to your computer and your print out might be missing pages, depending on your internet memory and download speed. 

Click here to read my tutorial on printing my PDF patterns at home

Morning Glory: Making Part 8

This month's making is very similar to last month's Part 7.

You will breeze through the steps..

If you haven't already, you can view last month's step by step by visiting the Morning Glory archive right here on this blog: click here now to see all tutorial posts on this quilt. 

Prepare all your fabrics according to the Templates. You already know by now, but I like to repeat myself: please make sure that you print and accurately construct your pattern sheet before cutting into any fabric.

 I created the 'blades' first, alternating the fabrics as per the pattern

 Then I started on the quarter circles

turning the top fabric edge and using small dots of basting glue to hold it all together as I layered each shape on top of the other, building 'upwards'. Remember as you work and build your applique, to continue checking it against the pattern sheet to ensure that it isn't 'growing'. I always pin my design into position as I work, just to make sure..

 this is what the back looks like

and this is the gorgeous front

I am loving this quilt more and more with each block I make.. I can't believe we're so close to the finish line now..

BOM 2018, My Biggest Year Ever! 

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

To see some of the breathtaking examples that are taking shape, simply visit my Free BOM Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!

Meet 'Juliette': My Fabulous New Quilt Is Launched!

I'm so happy to share my latest quilt with you. Juliette is a quilt I sketched into existence years ago- I had a Mediterranean colourscheme in mind: crisp whites and radiant blues twirling around a quilt top framed by red baskets. When I checked my Quilty To Do List, I realized that Juliette was next on the list and I was delighted. It feels wonderful to release new designs that have been patiently waiting for me to get around to making them.

I know we all have lots of fabric at our disposal. There are so many ranges being released so thick and fast it makes my head spin. Somehow I end up with lots of bits and pieces from several collections knocking about together in 'themes' in various boxes around my studio. This is the perfect quilt for those half and half stashes. The applique is large and easy and the blocks come together quicker than expected. The end result is impressive and seeing your favourite prints put to use will be completely satisfying.

The finished size is 77 x 77 inches.

This is a really interesting design: it's based on octagon tiles. The sashing between the blocks that create so much depth and interest actually comes together when the blocks are pieced alongside each other. This is because the sashing is part of the block. And this design detail can create a stunning impact according to your fabric choices.

Speaking of fabrics, there's lots of room for showcasing your favourite gorgeous prints in the fussy cut boxes of the centre and in the triangles of Border 4. It looks fabulous with a dark background yet also works in a low contrast pallette.

As you can see, I've had a lot of fun playing between colour schemes and love how the attitude of each quilt top completely changes depending on the fabric in use. I love this bright breezy scheme above but can also see myself loving the modern black and white stash  mix up below. 

Juliette 

Complete PDF Pattern

$19.95 USD

What you need to know:

Payment is securely completed via PayPal

You don't need a PayPal account to pay as PayPal also securely processes Credit Card payments 

Pattern downloads are INSTANT and followed up with a live link to your email inbox

Check your email for the follow up email (and check your spam / junk folders if you can't see it)

The pattern will download to your computer directly

You REQUIRE an UPDATED PDF Reader in order to open and print the PDF Pattern

Note:

When you receive your download, be sure to SAVE it to your computer.

If you print it directly from the browser download screen, it will not be backed up to your computer. 

Click here to read my tutorial on printing my PDF patterns at home

'On My Window Flowers Bloom' Now Available!

'On My Window, Flowers Bloom' an applique wall hanging. Finished Size 38 x 48 inches.

  This gorgeous wall hanging is now available in my pattern shop!  

Yes, I've finally added OMWFB to my pattern shop. I know many of you have been requesting this pattern since I released it last year. At that time it was offered for free. Since the free period expired and the pattern was taken down, I hadn't actually gotten around to adding it to my pattern shop. Until now. I know all you new members to my Group have been pining for this pattern. You can now purchase and download this pattern any time you like. 

For those of you who missed it the first time around, be sure to join my Facebook BOM Group so that you don't miss any more freebies when they happen and yes, this colouring shown has been created with Kaffe Fassett fabrics. Doesn't it just shine? I LOVE IT! There are quite a few OMWFB projects on the go out there and if you spot them on our Facebook Group, you will be sure to swoon. They are completely fabulous.

'On My Windows Flowers Bloom' 
Complete PDF Pattern

$19.95 USD 

What you need to know:

Payment is securely completed via PayPal

You don't need a PayPal account to pay as PayPal also securely processes Credit Card payments 

Pattern downloads are INSTANT and followed up with a live link to your email inbox

Check your email for the follow up email (and check your spam / junk folders if you can't see it)

The pattern will download to your computer directly

You REQUIRE an UPDATED PDF Reader in order to open and print the PDF Pattern

Note:

When you receive your download, be sure to SAVE it to your computer.

If you print it directly from the browser download screen, it will not be backed up to your computer. 

Click here to read my tutorial on printing my PDF patterns at home

'Diamond Hill' Now Available!

Diamond Hill is an applique quilt, finished size: 72 x 72 inches

I'm delighted to finally add Diamond Hill to my online PDF pattern store.

Diamond Hill was my free BOM for 2017 and it was hugely popular. You've probably seen images of blocks being made or completed floating around in my Groups on Facebook, and each is as gorgeous as the next. This is simply a design that lets your fabrics shine. Whether you want to go bold and bright with a dark background as above, or go dreamy and low contrast, all fabric choices I have seen have made perfectly fabulous quilts. 

If you missed out on this stunning BOM back in 2017, it's now available to to download as a digital pattern in PDF. 

'Diamond Hill' Complete PDF Pattern: $19.95 USD

What you need to know:

Payment is securely completed via PayPal

You don't need a PayPal account to pay as PayPal also securely processes Credit Card payments 

Pattern downloads are INSTANT and followed up with a live link to your email inbox

Check your email for the follow up email (and check your spam / junk folders if you can't see it)

The pattern will download to your computer directly

You REQUIRE an UPDATED PDF Reader in order to open and print the PDF Pattern

Note:

When you receive your download, be sure to SAVE it to your computer.

If you print it directly from the browser download screen, it will not be backed up to your computer.

Click here to read my tutorial on printing my PDF patterns at home

Easter Blessings 2017

Each year I like to release an Easter Project and this year it's Easter Blessings

A bouquet of parrot tulips, a mischievous bunny and plenty of charm—it must be Easter. I just love this abundant basket of bulbs and it's admiring hopper in the tradition landscape layout (above) but I also know that there'll be those of you who have a perfect spot that would suit a portrait design rather than the original landscape option, so I've made another version. In face, this project offers you three styles: the original landscape layout, a portrait option and an Easter Egg bonus for all those chocoholics out there who want to celebrate the fun of garden treasure hunts along with bunny and bunting to boot! Speaking of bunny, this little fellow is too sweet to kick out of my garden patch, with his twitching ears and possessive taste in tulips, he’s the star of the show.

The finished size is 32 x 24 inches which is a perfect golden ratio number whether you opt for the landscape or portrait layout. With the 2 inch border, you have multiple options. The pattern shows a layout consisting of 2 x 2 inch border blocks which when turned, create an egg shape. However if piecing these 2 inch blocks doesn’t appeal, simply add your 2 inch border and applique the egg shapes into position or leave the egg shapes out completely and replace those motifs with an interesting fabric print. It’s up to you! Which will you choose?!

 

It's a real honor for me to keep up this free Easter Project tradition. When I started out in quilting, I wanted to connect with other people who were passionate about the art of creating and who wanted to be part of a 'creative bubble' with me. A place where we could create and inspire and dream- all in fabric. I didn't know then that this creative hub would indeed happen, but that it would happen unexpectedly and online of all places. But it did and I'm so grateful that it turned out that way.

Another thing I didn't expect was that the Group would attract the most perfect people to it - our Moderators - who, as well as being skilled and committed were also prepared to volunteer their time for free - just to help others get what they needed in order to get on with creating. What an unexpected surprise it is when I look back on how all these events turned out. What a blessing!

This Easter is a reminder to me that life goes on and what time we have is both precious and fleeting. This time last year, I was completely oblivious to the fact that my mother was about to die. In the time since, I've thought a lot about what a blessing it is to have life and to be in a position to share life's passions with others. I do indeed believe in Easter and in the power and beauty of acknowledging that blessings abound. 

It's an honor for me to share my Easter Blessings with you this year 

 I hope that you'll love it as much as I do!

Be sure to come back as I'll be showing you how I made my own Easter Blessings in a tutorial post tomorrow. You know how much I love seeing your work, so be sure to join my BOM Group and share your own thoughts and ideas as you make your block.

An InLinkz Link-up

Applique by Freezer Paper

The Freezer Paper Applique Method is popular, surprisingly easy and completely satisfying.

It attends to all those important details which are so important: like smooth edges, clean tucks and sharp lines. Whilst traditional needle turn applique is my favourite and most cherished technique, this is the technique I use the most. It's so practical. If you haven't tried it - I can only recommend that you do.

 Simply brush fabric edges with starch

 Turn with a hot iron, using the freezer paper insert as your edge guide

 Remove the freezer paper easily

 Inner view of turned piece

the completed applique shape

I know many of you are familiar with this technique, however from the emails I have received this week I realise that there are still some quilters who are not confident using this method.

This is the technique I will be using throughout Hearts Desire and as there is so much applique in this BOM, I have decided to show some more detail in the slides below.

Coming up in this BOM, you will be creating applique leaves ...so I have created a leaf in the tutorial below which shows exactly how I do it.

2015 update: I'm re-posting this technique which was first posted in 2011 as I'm asked about it so often. This is the same technique I use today except that these days, I replace the freezer paper with a wash away fusible instead. The method remains the same. 

Lily Rose: the Hearts

I decided to do all my hearts at once. Of course, I did opt for the heart blocks in the Lily Rose border which are optional. I think these blocks really add something special to the quilt and I have a real soft spot for them.

It's just a simple method of tracing out my hearts onto wash away fusible, ironing it down my chosen fabric, cutting it out with a small seam, and then gluing the edge fabric with Elmer's disappearing purple glue and turning the edges over with a small cuticle stick, keeping the whole shape smooth.

You can also create this process with freezer paper using my freezer paper applique method (see my tutorial on the sidebar), but in that case you need to remove the freezer paper. I'm very fond of the freezer paper technique, the reason I use wash away fusible is because I find it easier to work with in terms of speed. Also, I print out my pattern on a copier that prints the pattern directly into the fusible and this saves me time too.

My Bernina 820 has been very bad today. I'm having ongoing trouble using anything but the plainest thread. With this machine, thread, tension and stitch troubles are the three key issues with it. It's the same issue over and over. I am determined to have my gold stitched hearts, but its becoming more trouble than its worth. 

 I have a lot of experience stitching in metallic thread so I go through my thread stash trying them all out until one is accepted by my temperamental machine. Once again, the simplest sewing endeavours become a struggle.

 the Bernina 820 ruins this heart with poor stitch work so I have to remake it. Like most quilters I don't have time to re-make otherwise perfectly good blocks and I certainly don't expect my sewing machine to be the reason why I should! It's remarkable to me that a machine this 'advanced' could chew up and spit out stitches like this

I'm surprised anew at how badly my 820 is performing. It has a knack for turning what should be the simplest work into messy, unusable work. Thanks Bernina. 

I got ahead of myself when I thought the Bernina 820 could be used for a simple blanket stitch - it can't. I'll be changing my plans for the rest of the quilt now. Decorative stitches are out.