Love Entwined Part 11 is Launched

Here we go again: we're back to making two borders
this month, and what a beautiful set they make!

Border 3 is all about entwined leaves; and in Part 11 this month, the top border has an ongoing flower / element / angel design whereas the bottom of Border 3 finishes with a bird. I have been charmed by this bird in the bottom corner, it's the only difference between the two blocks and immediately caught my eye when I first came across this quilt. Maybe because I always sneak a bird somewhere in my quilts designs too. Of course, this bird isn't so much snuck in as it is simply an extension of the elements of this design.

I have spent a long time looking at Border 3 and I still don't have answers to the questions it has posed, so I'd love to hear your opinions

You might wonder, as I often have when considering the original, what the elements used in border 3 stand for? It’s interesting to consider if the shapes running along all of border 3 are angels, guardians...or something else? These were drawn from the original as closely as possible and they do have this head/wing shape.

Originally I thought they were candlesticks,

then I changed my mind to Angels. 

What do you see?

Of all the borders, Border 3 speaks to me as being the work of a person: someone with beliefs, values and ideas about their world. Someone who sat down and actually made this coverlet. It's easy to forget sometimes, that this coverlet is imbued with someone's personality. Sadly, I can't tell you anything more about that woman, so we'll have to let her design choices speak for her.

I don't know why I like this block so much, perhaps because it's so unexpected and modern looking

This is the central element, I think it's so charming

Of all the blocks in this quilt, those in border 3 strike me as the most hopeful and remind me that this was the marriage coverlet of an unknown woman; someone very real, not just an idea. These design elements are a direct extension of her hopes and fears for the remaining days of her life.

More than any other part of the quilt, these blocks remind me that we are re- creating a piece of history; handling an unknown woman’s legacy whilst creating our own heirloom.

So I invite you, as always, to make these blocks meaningful to you.

‘Love Entwined 1790 Marriage Coverlet’ is a Free 18 Month Historic BOM

Each ‘block’ of the month is released monthly, on the 15th of each month. All ‘blocks’ are available for free 

All ‘blocks’ are available for download via my Yahoo BOM Group only

Pomegranate at Sydney Royal Easter Show 2014

I love it when members send me pictures of quilts they've made using my patterns, its a real honour to see what's been made and how. I also love it when I stumble across quilts out there, by chance.

I really appreciate it and I have to take a moment to thank everyone who sends me quick emails to let me know where they've seen a quilt or where I've been in a magazine, many don't realise that I don't always know my quilt's been re-published or that one of my patterns have been exhibited. Honestly, I'm often the last to know!

Thank you for taking that moment to contact me!

This morning I was sent this image of my pattern 'Pomegranate' behind glass at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. I wish I could tell you who made it, but I don't have that information.

If you do make anything of mine, consider sharing it in our Group so we all ohhh and ahhhh over it! It's too good not to share.

WOW: Free Easter Rose Table Runner

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays 

It's that time of year again and this year I'm delighted to offer Easter Rose as the 2014 free Easter Project 

Blue and gold is such a classic combination and I have some beautiful gold stash fabrics that would really pick up on the dinnerware and vases we have on the table at this time of year... but the pink patchwork style below could look so good all year round. And then there's the red and pinks option of the first image..You see my dilemma? Of course, it wouldn't really feel like a pattern of mine without some colour scheme deliberation, would it?!

Each year I offer a free Easter project to members of my Yahoo BOM Group, this year I am releasing this table runner pattern. You can find it in the Group files area. It will be available for free to members until April 30th. 

What's Your WOW ?

LE: Your Questions Answered

How am I tracing my background? I'm tracing directly onto my background fabric for precise placement. This is especially helpful as there is so much hand sewing on this quilt and the constant gathering of material can mean small differences in applique positioning. Unfortunately, its just those little details that always catch my eye, so I'm making doubly sure  it doesn't happen to me by tracing the pattern out, accurately, onto my fabric. I'm making  a point of this because its something I routinely don't do. I usually stitch in guidelines and position by eye and then remove the guideline stitches when I'm finished. In addition to this technique, I recommend that on patterns as crowded as LE, that you do also draw down the design. If you are out just a little bit with your positioning, it will create troublesome crowding or disharmony elsewhere. You can see from the pattern that there isn't any 'extra' space to play with. I don't believe in perfection, but I do believe in precision and with preparation, you  can produce the quilt you want. And I think, considering the hours you'll spend making it, it's the least you owe yourself!

What light source am I using? Normally I recommend using a light box - they are great, especially if you are building up layers. I don't need one in this particular instance because, although you can't see it in the photo, I have strong lights above me that angle in such a way as to allow me to trace without one. That's just a matter of luck!

What pen am I using? All importantly, I trace onto my fabric using a friction pen. This 'pen' irons away and does not require washing or wetting first - this means a lot to me as I frankly don't trust some of the other pens on the market which promise to wash out. I've seen (on other quilters quilts) a few 'come back' after quilters were washed, quilted and packed away. In a project this size, stick with what you know.

Over in the comments, Patricia has mentioned that ink sometimes re-appears in freezing temperatures but that this can be solved by using a steam setting on your iron. I actually do steam press all my quilts, so this isn't a new thing for me to try, but it is an interesting one and I wonder, regarding the science of it all, if that is what makes the end difference? Whatever you do, pre-test.

The specific pen I am using (as in picture above) is PILOT Frixion ball 'remove by friction' in 0.7 black. It looks like a normal pen, slightly thicker and has a kind of tattoo scrawl on the barrel in silver.

Before using anything, especially for fabric tracing, please test and double test it yourself, on your chosen fabric!

If you do use a friction pen, don't expect to iron your work as you go. Keep the applique pieces neat and don't iron the main body of the background until the entire area is sewn down because the friction lines really do disappear once ironed!

What applique technique am I using? I am turn edge applique-ing all the applique. Well, so far I am. This quilt has a mind of it's own and I will wait for the quilt to 'tell me' what it wants me to do with the bow borders. I turn edge the applique using the freezer paper method tutorial whcih you can view on this blog. The key difference is that instead of using freezer paper, I am using fusible (details in the pattern)which means I don't have to 'remove' the freezer paper part. Otherwise, my freezer paper tutorial is a good indication of how to do this method as the actual turning is the same. I am then hand sewing the applique down for precision. On some parts, such as the compass points, I hand turned all the points with needle, on the spot. It depends on the area I am working on. 

Do you really think I could get away with raw edge applique and satin stitch? That's what I really want to do. Then please, do it and make it yours. I know that if you make it with love and dedication, it will be incredible. I don't think the original was needle turn applique, I think there are indications that the bow border certainly wasn't. Obviously I just don't know.  I think you should make it according to your own heart, I don't think any applique technique is 'better' than another - it's your workmanship and personal style that makes or breaks it. Of course, this is just my opinion- if you have ideas on creating a faster quilt, but prefer the idea a classic applique quilt, then you have a decision to make. Again it's all personal, I don't think there is a 'fast' method for this quilt. Although I say that and someone in the Group might just go ahead and prove me wrong!

What am I up to? Well, at the moment I only have 1 or 2 days a week to spend on quilting, so I am working in areas that interest me on that particular day. Right now, I've set aside my patchwork LE and I'm still needle turning my compass points on my red LE... but I am nearly there now... just a few more to go. As I keep telling my DDs, you can't rush these things. Hand turn edge applique is an art and dedication, it takes time.

It's taken days of hand needle turning these 36 points to be so close to finishing today. This is a quilt worthy of heirloom hours, that's for sure. I'm glad my DDs are keeping a keen eye on my progress, I want them both to know how valuable this quilt is - I don't think I'll ever do so much handwork again!

WOW: Preparing my Red LE

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays 

I'm afraid that the dishwasher is going to have to wait to be unloaded, I've got things to do!

Today I've started early and I'm planning on drawing up my Red and White LE onto my background fabric so I can go ahead with the crown, if I'd known I was going to make two, I would have drawn them both up at once as it would have saved so much time and energy, I like getting parts done and moving ahead so its hard to go back to this prep stage. But it will be worth it once my compass is stitched down into the centre position.

It's hard to believe I've turned the calendar page to April yesterday, it feels like just last week that I was unpacking the Christmas decorations.  The fleeting weeks remind me that its what I do in little bits that adds up so quickly, so a few evenings here and there in addition to my Wednesday quilt days will really help me have a productive year.

How do you plan your year? Do you plan around your interests or hobbies or goals? 

Or do you enjoy them as and when you can?

Don't have a blog? No problem, add your WOW as a comment in the comments section today

Whats Your WOW? 

LE: My Crown

 It's such a satisfaction to have my crown on, I love it. And the patchwork style scrappy I finally rested on, just speaks to me.  You can see my needle turned points of the compass ring are finally done on this quilt, but I am yet to do my red one. It took me 2 x days to complete those points, this is such an intense quilt, it feels like I'll never finish. That doesn't worry me though, because each precious stitch is a legacy and I am loving every minute of it. 

I simply embroidered the little flowers around a small flower print and I am thinking about embroidering my stems when I get to the vases too. I'm actually in two minds whether I will or won't. I think it would match the image in the book if I did (in the published image, its clear that the vines are very thin) - but I have seen some real beauties in fabric over in my Yahoo Bom Group... and that is how I made the pattern. Perhaps I will make one with stitch lines and the other with fabrics as the pattern indicates. Although I am not sure yet, I do know better than to plan ahead: I'm sure this quilt will let me know when I get to that point! It has with everything else!

This centre is going to be such a joy to finish, at times like this I wonder if a third LE would be so impossibly difficult to fit in? 

Just kidding. 

WOW: Scanning In Magazines

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday

I've finally finished scanning in my magazines. I've been in a few over the years and have been a bit absentminded about them - having them throughout my house and in a box somewhere in my garage. It was time I got organised and having them all scanned in is a weight off my mind and an easy way to look things up too. 

They are now listed over on my new website: www.estheraliu.com  and you can view them under the 'Media" page over on my website. 

I'm thinking about the next BOM and asked if any quilters in my Group were interested in being Early Starters on new patterns as it is not possible for me to make all the patterns I have ready for release in time for release. I just can't make them all that quickly! I was so happy to be contacted by several quilters but just after requesting, I have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to respond properly or select the next BOM . Today I am hoping to catch up on emails and make some decisions. I've got my coffee ready for a productive day ahead. It's a bit funny to be planning future quilts via my computer, but I guess that's how everything is now. 

What's Your WOW ?

An InLinkz Link-up

LE: More Compass Talk

Five compasses and now I'm ready to  move on past Part 1

I don't think I've ever spent so long focusing on the start of a quilt. In fact, I know I haven't! 

I've been thinking about stitchery to emphasis certain design elements of the compass, especially because the red and white is so repetitive. I'm adding extra stitchery around one compass set behind the front beams for some dimension.

And now it's time to get down to some applique, I feel like the exact piecing and fiddly 36 point needle turn points is an intense introduction to this quilt, but now it's out of the way (I still have 36 points to go for my red compass) I am looking forward to some larger applique pieces.

Two quilts, Two cushions and one left over...

Le: Red Compass

I love these fabrics, there's always something so special about reds...

and I especially love that these are mostly stash reds, I didn't have to buy any extra

With a red and white LE now in creation, I have doubled my work. But the work itself is still so enjoyable and now that the colour question is settled, I can just get on with making it. My red compass came out perfect the first time, unlike my first two patchwork style ones!

I love this compass, it feels so right to be making a two colour version. 

Because I am making two LE’s and because I started late on LE, I am not making it in the same monthly installment progression as many of you are. I am working on some areas and then leaving them behind to work on something else. 

Right now I have 36 points to applique on this compass but I can't face sewing them so soon after sewing down the first set, my hands ache! So I will set this compass aside and return to the points later.

As you can see, I really enjoy my little sewing nook and sewing time! I usually watch The Quilt Show whilst I work and I can spend hours just like this, getting bits done, one stitch at a time.

MMQ: Sandy Beach

Meet My Quilt: Sandy Beach

Sandy Beach is a wall hanging I designed for Down Under Quilts. I had a sketch in my journal (below) of a seaside memory box full of interesting objects

The pattern is applique shapes on top of a memory box background

And the applique pieces are many little seaside memories which you can alter and personalize to suit you. Once you get started it can be hard to stop. Here I am ironing down a block when I should have been cooking dinner!

Just as I was making Sandy Beach, that was also the time I was having great difficulties with my Bernina 820, it is such a troublesome machine, as you can see below I had a lot of difficulties, and with a deadline to boot! I was not happy...

and made many blocks again and again

Sandy Beach is a fun quilt: I had the white washed walls of a seaside room in mind when I designed this quilt, whilst Down Under suggested it would make a great Nursery quilt. I think that's a great idea too, especially as there's so much room for personalizing.

If you make this quilt, consider sending me a picture of your work, I'd love to see it!

WOW: Sandy Beach is published!

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

My quilt 'Sandy Beach' is published in this month's Down Under Quilts magazine! Here it is on the front cover!

This is a fun quilt and I really enjoyed making it. Especially so for two reasons: I was asked to create a design on a nautical theme and I had a deadline! I already had a design for a beach scene memory box so the theme was just right and an excuse to create an applique wall hanging. The deadline meant that I actually finished it instead of letting it turn into a WIP!

Something else which is so nice, is that this edition arrived in the post yesterday. This is, unfortunately, unusual. I have been published on numerous occasions and in the majority of instances I had to go out and purchase the magazines myself. Because of the editorial timeline, this is harder than it sounds as quilts are submitted months before publication and its easy to forget which edition in which magazine you think you will be appearing in! It's such a simple courtesy but one that is often overlooked. 

Receiving this magazine has really made my day, thanks Down Under Quilts!

Do you buy a monthly quilting magazine? 

Which is your favourite?

 What's Your WOW ?

An InLinkz Link-up

LE: a quilt with a mind of it's own

Love Entwined has a mind of it's own. I made other plans, but my Love Entwined wants to be a patchwork style scrappy. I resisted this at first, but not for long. Nothing I did worked, even though I had thought out at least 3 excellent colour ways, each one as lovely as the next. But it wasn't to be. I've been rejecting all those lovely new fabrics for a patchwork style of assorted lights and darks and, against my initial decision not to, I'm now firmly following my feelings with this quilt. I really don't know how I thought I could resist in the first place because, honestly, this quilt has a mind of its own! So my original colour scheme issue was resolved, but then came the red dilemma.

Every time I selected fabrics to use, I kept sneaking in red fabrics...and it just didn't work. It was too red for the patchwork style LE I was making, and not red enough for a red quilt. So I was left with no other option: 

I am now making two Love Entwined quilts at once

One in a patchwork style scrappy and one in red and white. 

Although it's double the work, I feel relieved because I was sick and tired of chopping and changing all my ideas over and over again and of being so undecided all the time. Making two quilts is a resolution and now I can be free to follow my instincts and just get on with making them. I feel like the patchwork style version is a nod to the 1790's era. Oddly, even though it isn't particularly Georgian in my opinion, I do feel that it's right as a homage to the original quilter whereas the red and white is more my own personality.

and I'm loving each of them in their own way. Now that the colour scheme has been resolved (or doubled?! depending on how you look at it) I'm enjoying each of them in their own specialness and have even started on my red compass. It's going fine, I won't have to make 3 of these compasses, I think that was just me warming up to the quilt ahead!

Thank you to everyone who is posting their own Love Entwined progress over in the Group: it's an inspiration to see how you are making your own quilts, I love seeing what you are doing with the blocks each month. 

Love Entwined Part 10 is Launched

It's time for the charming four corners as we complete Border 2

bottom right and top left corner

Part 10 keeps us busy as we complete Border 2. Unlike the work of Part 8 & 9, Part 10 allows you to spend a bit of time with your stitch work and embellishments as well as finishing up any little details from the previous blocks before we start on Border 3 next month.

This is a quilt full of detail, so don't be afraid to embellish and take your time.

bottom left and tip right corner

 This is where we are up to, quilt wise:

Can't wait to see your progress pics...

‘Love Entwined 1790 Marriage Coverlet’ is a Free 18 Month Historic BOM

Each ‘block’ of the month is released monthly, on the 15th of each month. All ‘blocks’ are available for free during the month of their release. Any missed ‘blocks’ may be purchased.

All ‘blocks’ are available for download via my Yahoo BOM Group only

WOW: Heart Sent!

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Sometimes deadlines can really help me get things done. I'm glad to announce that this morning (as soon as my local post office opens) I will be posting my Tombola Heart contribution to fly all the way over to the UK where someone will end up claiming it for themselves. I hope they like it. I always get so attached to these little things I make, I wish I'd made two at once now!

I've used my Love Entwined hearts because I love them. I think I'll have to create a design of hearts to work with my spare cushion compasses. Speaking of Love Entwined, I'm onto Compass No. 5...but more of that after WOW, it needs a post all of its own.

I'm a few weeks behind in my emails, so today I'm hoping to spend my WOW time sending emails and deciding which pattern to release as the next BOM. Can you believe it's March already? I feel like this year is just speeding by, I'm going to spend today trying to catch up!

Some new members have been asking me how to do WOW as they don't have a blog? Simple, just tell us what you're doing in the comments section of this post - blog or not, I'd love to know!

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

WOW: Spare a Heart?

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday

The Quilter's Guild of the British Isles Festival of Quilts 2014 will be hosting a Heart themed Tombola this year and are asking for heart shaped items, no more than A4 in size, to be donated for this event. If you'd like to contribute to the Tombola, you can send in your creation which will be used to raise funds for the Guild. 

If you're outside the UK, as I am, you can send in your finished hearts from anywhere in the world to: 

Hearts,

The Lilacs, Dittons Road,

Polegate, East Sussex. BN26 6JQ

UNITED KINGDOM

Jan Allston is the co-ordinator of Region 2 of the Quilter's Guild of the British Isles and when she asked if I'd be interested in making anything, well I was delighted to help. You may remember that Jan is our fine marriage coverlet contact in the UK and was researching and looking into the original 1790 quilt before it was found. I think she's been amazingly generous with her time and I am happy to do what I can to contribute to the Quilter's Guild. I personally think that it's in every quilters interest to do what they can to support quilters, wherever they are.

The quilting community I know is generous and worldwide. Somewhere in my own heart, I'm fairly sure that if the mysterious quilter of the marriage coverlet of 1790 were alive today, she'd be a member of a Quilting Guild and contributing in this small way feels like a nice connection to her home country.

Do you recognize these hearts? They're from Love Entwined and this is my contribution to the Tombola. Today I'm going to quilt it in preparation for sending.

You can read about the Tombola here
or why not send a semi completed piece? You can read about that here

What's Your WOW ?

An InLinkz Link-up

WOW: Teal Crisis

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Now I have three completed compasses; two mustard and teal (which turned out too large) and my final compass with red print instead of teal. In this photo my needle turned points on the final compass are not completed, but in fact I finished this compass and set it aside several days ago.

Now I have been considering my applique fabrics for the square and, with fresh eyes, I think I love the teal compass most of all. I don't know what I was thinking changing the colour all of a sudden for my third and now I'm going back to my first idea! This must be the fussiest quilt I have made, and I haven't moved past Part 1 yet!

The only problem is? The teal compass is too large and the needle turn points are sewn down on the red compass. So what to do? I have to follow my gut feeling and this means making yet another compass and needle turning yet another 32 points! Which I'll start today...

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up