WOW: Lily Rose is Launched

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

 

 

Today I'm delighted to launch my latest pattern Lily Rose with my Yahoo BOM members. I spoke about 'Lily Rose' in this post a few weeks ago, about my inspirations and how the design developed. It's one of those quilts that just grows on you. I am in love with the patchwork-ness of it and I love that as a wall hanging, I'll be able to see my favourite scrappy fabrics on display all the time.

 

Lily Rose is a wall hanging and for the first time, I am offering this quilt in two sizes: the original size (which is 54 x 58") and a half size (which is 27 x29"). Both sizes will be available for free to members of my Yahoo BOM Group and I recommend the half size to experiences applique quilters only. The original size has been styled for beginners - the applique shapes are basic and just right developing your skills without being overwhelming. The full size pattern is suitable for beginners. If you are a beginner, select your applique style before starting and don't forget to view my applique tutorial on freezer paper turn edge applique here.

I was planning on releasing this quilt as a BOM over 3 months which would be a nice end to the year, but have decided instead to release the complete pattern at once. I just felt that there would be too much confusion in the group with 2x file sizes being released over 3 x months so the complete pattern will be available outright for 1 month.

 

I have so many quilts, and such a long Quilt To Do List that I decided I'd prefer a miniature style quilt (and I confess, I have a spot in mind for it already so this made my decision easier). Of course, at 27 x 29" the half size pattern is not a true quilt miniature, but I do think it is charming and I am going to really enjoy the challenge of making the pattern in half size.

 

You know how I was all undecided about fabrics and colours (sounds familiar?) I have settled on the colours listed in the pattern now. Of course, you will make it to your own style (and I was seriously considering a red and white version...and might yet sway back to that idea.....except I have so many lovely stash busting scraps that it would be a shame not to use them).

 

Apologies for the late posting this morning: I'm having technical issues!
 

 

What's Your WOW ?
 

Forget Me Not: Peony Block Up Close

You asked for it...so here it is...details!

Here are some close ups from my Peony Block

This applique design is 1 option of 2

from this month's Mystery BOM

Forget Me Not, Part 2

There are still more details and embellishments to come. As I work through my 12 blocks in this Mystery BOM,  I will be creating each one to this 'finished' stage. When all 12 are finished, I will view the quilt as a whole before deciding on how to complete the blocks. By 'completing' I mean extra embellished stitches, embroidery and whatnot. I think there will be room for a few ladybugs or hidden things here and there...but can't say for sure until they are all lined up next to each other.

This is just how I work, if you have a vision for your own block - go for it!

This is also why my scrolls are being left blank, I'm still deciding how to script inside...and if I do it by hand, I want to do all the writing in one day so that my script doesn't change. You know, details, this quilt is all about details. Each month is about bringing 1x flower block to life and really taking care in whichever applique method you have chosen.

The applique method I used in this block is the Applique Freezer Paper Method, however instead of freezer paper, I used "Floriani Stitch N Wash Fusible, Water Soluble Tearaway"

To see a tutorial of the Applique Freezer Paper Method, it's right here on my blog,

click here to see it pop up in a new window. 

The peony petals have been enhanced and highlighted with pencil. See the pattern for brand info. It's such a simple touch which really gives the head depth. Simple and effective.

The Peony is an applique block from PART 2 of

Forget Me Not, my 2012 Mystery BOM

No, it's not too late to join in...go ahead and get in on the mystery!

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. 

Hope: The Blooming Dahlia Block

Today I'm making the Blooming Dahlia Block. If you're making Hope month by month, this block is created in Part 8. I'm making my quilt parts 'out of turn', according to my fabric usage - I have a limited amount of Japanese Woven fabrics that I am balancing out between the blocks. 

Like always, I'm using fusible to create my turn edge applique. For newcomers, you can read detailed tutorials on this technique right here on my blog by clicking here now or the Guide To Applique button on the page header. 

I number all my shapes to help me arrange them when it's time to layer. I even number my leaves, when it comes to prep work, you can't be too organized.

 Layering up

I started with the centre circle and added the first layer of petals, adhering them with dabs of Roxanne glue to keep them in position until I'm ready to machine stitch them down.

 First layer complete and pinned into position - 

I do this to make sure my applique isn't 'growing' as I work

 Now it's time for the second layer

 Second layer pinned and checked against the pattern for size accuracy

 Motif completed and held in position with glue

 Ready for positioning on the block background! Today was all about creating the applique.

I'll be sharing a step by step tutorial on creating the circle star background for this block shortly. 

 Now I'm heading back to my Facebook Group to enjoy all the gorgeous centres that are being created - the range of fabrics and effects are stunning.

Hope is a gorgeous blooming applique design, perfect for beginners. You can start this quilt anytime as a BOM or purchase the pattern outright. Simply click the image to learn more. 

Sweet Pea, details

Sweet Pea

This is a block from Part 6 of my free 2012 Mystery BOM Forget Me Not 

Select fabrics to suit your background

I'm using this Sweet Pea block on my yellow background quilt

Turn edge applique; it's faster and even easier than it looks

Considering using this method?

view my turn edge applique tutorial here

I'm actually using Floriani stitch and wash fusible which doesn't need to be removed

(freezer paper does) but the method is the same

The Sweet Pea is actually 3 layers of fabric

the base fabric is turn edge

the two upper fabric pieces are raw edge

 Graduate your Sweet Pea fabric colours to your own taste

Sweet Peas come in quite a few shade options

Stitch in the tendrils

The stems are raw edge as I will be embellishing them with stitches

at the quilting stage, you can also opt to turn edge the stems if you wish

the finished block

This is a block from Part 6

of my free 2012 Mystery BOM Forget Me Not

You can download this month's block via my website or my Yahoo Bom Group 

Festival Time: Hearts Desire

A

big

thank

you to Amy

for once again organising this wonderful quilt festival. I always take part and look forward to meeting so many wonderful quilts and the stories beind them. It's getting better each year!

Usually I'm right in there from the very start on day one, but the month seems to be slipping away from me at the moment, so I'm glad theres still 5 days left to take part and enjoy.

My Quilt entry this festival is: "Hearts Desire"

I really love this quilt. It's still quite new to my stash and it's a quilt that I have always wanted to own, so having it finished feels really special.

You know, it was just one of those quilts I had to make!

It's an intense applique quilt, full of details that you want to concentrate on and perfect, piece by piece. Each block demands patience and skill. It's the kind of quilt that uses everything you know and then encourages you to try something new. I just love enjoying it.

Something I really enjoyed was embarking on this quilt with so many other quilters who were experiencing the blocks, month by month. Hearts Desire was a free monthly block of the month earlier in the year. Many beginner quilters started this quilt (and I'm pleased to add that they all did a fine job of finishing it too). We worked through it each month together, step by step.

For the applique, I used the applique freezer paper method throughout (tutorial on the side bar) and the end results speak for themselves.

This BOM is now finished.

You can purchase the pattern for this beautiful quilt here:

via my online shop.

If you'd like to take part in the next free BOM, why not join my Yahoo Bom Group? (see side bar)

Thank you for stopping by my Festival Post!

'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

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