Home, sweet home!

I have just returned from a wonderful week at The Elly Sienkiewicz Appliqué Academy which was held at the lovely Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia.  Without a doubt, I had the most wonderful students ever in a full and then some class.  These women were attentive, focused, funny, and kind. We had a blast!  Here they are with their blocks in progress.

We used a number of techniques to address the challenges of this block.  The complex stem was done using the needle turn method with a little back basting twist.  The grape leaves were completed by lightly fusing them to the background and blanket stitching the edge in silk floss.  The strawberry leaves, strawberries and multi-petaled rose were all done using the prepared edge method.  The strawberries and rose were padded in the process.  The rose was completely prepped using unit, or off block, construction. Then we practiced stitching the hummingbird wings.  Phew!  That was a bunch of stuff to absorb!  Now, they're ready to complete their blocks at home.

My students were exposed to many methods for appliqué and, hopefully, learned that certain methods work for certain situations.  For example, using prepared edge for that long skinny stem would be like wrestling an octopus.  But preparing the edge for the strawberries, which are made of silk and padded, helps control the fabric.  Some think of this as torturing the fabric -- I think of it as not torturing myself when I'm sewing.  

As the saying goes, there is more than one way to skin a cat. My preferred method for the last couple of years has been prepared edge appliqué, which I learned from Jeanne Sullivan. Yes, there is quite a bit of prep involved with cutting templates and pressing the edges that some consider kindergarten craft activities.  And others do not like using starch or glue.  My blocks get washed once the appliqué is complete and, even living in bug filled Florida, I've never had a problem.  The extra prep time pays off in the results and the relaxing nature of stitching the appliqué.

Needle turn is not foreign to me.  My quilt, "Love's Horizon," was completed using needle turn and won a major ribbon in the National Quilter's Association show in 2013.  But I have come to prefer prepared edge appliqué for several reasons:  I can place a number of pieces on the background at once and see how things are looking, particularly my color choices.  I can check the level of contrast in the block and make sure that the design can be seen.  My block becomes very portable and my thread is not constantly catching on pins.  My sewing time is much more relaxed because the stitching is all that's left to do.  My points are already pointed, the curves are turned, and it's no stress stitching.  My students love it!  As Elly often says, "Your way is the right way." 

Appliqué for everyone is my motto!  We all have our favorite methods just as we prefer a certain needle or thread.  Is one method superior to another?  I don't think so.  The superior method is the one that works for you and brings joy to the process.  Find that method and run with it! This isn't rocket science and it's supposed to be FUN! 

Thanks again to my students for being such an inspiration. And hugs to my assistant extraordinaire, Barbara Carper.  Your friendship means so much to me!

My sweet Stella is happy I'm home, but she needs to pout a little about me being away.

Finally!!!!

You must think I’m a slacker!  Honestly, I’m not.  I'm just very slow at times and have a tendency to flit from project to project.  Now, if I actually finished some of the distractions I've flitted to, well, that would really be something!  But I don't have anything to show you except my tulip wreath.  Finally, Finally Finished!  This is pretty much straight forward appliqué -- lots of leaves and tulips.  The thistle leaves are random feather stitch.  I cross hatched the base of each thistle and stitched a tiny French knot at the crosses.  The center petals of the bright pink tulips are examples of fussy cutting.

Here's the block, way back in September, when I was checking my leaf selection.

Lots has happened since then.  For one thing, we had a very wet summer in North Carolina and it was a banner year for thistles and goldenrod in the very early Fall.  So, I had to put some thistles in this block to remember a walk (Ha! more like a 5 mile hike!) I took at Moses Cone Park with my dear friend, Patsy.

Now that the holidays are over and we've survived, it's time to get down to business.  That means KITS!  I am well underway putting together kits for The Elly Sienkiewicz Appliqué Academy.  

I tidied things up for the photo.  My sewing room is pretty much a disaster area at the moment and Stella doesn't approve.

I will get back to stitching soon and have made a New Year's resolution to post more often.  Happy New Year!

Appliqué Academy 2014

I am so pleased to be teaching at The Elly Sienkiewicz Appliqué Academy in February 2014.  This will be my third year as a main conference teacher and it is an honor to be included.  The Academy is in its 19th year and is an annual celebration of all things appliqué, drawing students from many areas of the U.S. and abroad.   Some women have asked me about the application process for Academy.  It's simple:  write a check!  TESAA is not just for experienced appliquérs.  All levels, from beginner to advanced, are encouraged to attend.  You will find the instructors very willing to help you experience success, no matter where you are in your appliqué journey.   

The very exciting news is that TESAA will be held in a new venue:  The Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia.  The resort boasts multiple restaurants, a spa, and many recreational possibilities.  Just think:  you could take a break from stitching and go have a massage!

My main conference class is entitled "Love is a Rose."  This will be a techniques filled class where you will get your block well underway.  We will use cutaway needleturn for the complex stem, blanket stitch appliqué for the grape leaves, and prepared edge appliqué for the other elements of the block.  We'll complete a section of the wreath so that everyone knows how to handle the key elements.  We will then focus on the center making the padded, multi-petal rose from wire edged ribbon and preparing the hummingbirds.  It's the perfect class for students who want to try a variety of techniques.  And we will make it fun!

I will also be teaching a one-day class on Monday called "Little Red Baskets."  We will focus on one basket and should be able to complete it by the end of class.  You may choose to do all nine baskets for a small quilt top or just one framed and embellished basket like the blue version below.

Please see the Academy web site for detailed information on supply lists and kit options for these classes.  And do consider attending Appliqué Academy.  You're sure to love it!

Summertime means the junco couple that lives in our yard is having babies.  They always build their nest in the hanging basket outside our kitchen door.  This year's basket is filled with what was a lovely black-eyed Susan vine.  Since I can't water it right now, it's not looking so good.  Not sure it will make a comeback once the babies have fledged in about three more days.  I don't mind at all and enjoy seeing the parents raise their brood.  Four baby birds are growing their wings in a nest smaller than a teacup, so it's getting a little crowded. Anyway, here they are. You can only see one little beak and two little eyes but this one's siblings are in there somewhere.  A highlight of summer!

Chaos theory

Someone should have warned me!!  Kits for classes take a long time to put together.  Actually, I already knew this because I've done it for the past two years for my classes at The Elly Sienkiewicz Appliqué Academy.  Fortunately, this fact faded from my memory and I decided way back in June to offer fabrics kits too!!  Double the pleasure, double the fun!!  Or total chaos!  The photo above is just a small portion of my sewing room/office as I was getting started. 

I'm teaching two classes and there is a required kit for each.  The main conference class features a little basket woven of ribbon and lace and bias bars.  So every kit -- 20 of them -- has ribbon, lace, and at least two 10 inch pieces of pre-made bias bars.  Plus I made a few extra for a minimum of 12 yards of bias bars.  Here they are, ready for their close-up.  Aren't they cute?  

So, when one does 20 yards of bias bars, well you get pretty good at it!  Here are a few tips.  I like the metal pressing bars and these are made with the 1/8" bar out of dupioni silk.  The silk is stabilized with presto-sheer, a 100% cotton, preshrunk fusible stabilizer.  I cut the fabric on the bias 1.25 inches wide which is larger than the instructions suggest, but it is easier to manage.  Use a microtex needle, the 1/4" foot for your sewing machine, and silk thread.

Trim very close to the stitching.

Silk spaghetti.

 Insert the bar and then twist the seam to the back.

Press the seam flat from the back.

 Turn it over and press from the front. 

Remove the bar, being careful not to burn yourself.

After more than a week of choosing fabrics, copying, collating, cutting fabrics,  fibers, lace, and ribbon, stuffing all different sizes of plastic bags and labeling them, the chaos is controlled!  I have a few more things to do but I'm ahead of schedule.

This bin contains just the required materials for one class.  My niece's artwork in the upper right features buzzing bees.  When she's old enough to handle a rotary cutter with confidence, I'm putting her to work!  

I'm definitely not complaining.  There's something about getting all this stuff ready that's very exciting!  It means that Academy time is getting closer and I'll get to see many friends and meet new students and revel in a week of fun with people who share a passion for Baltimore Album appliqué!  What could be better than that?

For Stella, hanging out in the unused fireplace (this is Florida, after all) is a close second!  

In the midst of it all, I did manage to stitch a little something.  We have to do what's necessary to maintain calm.

A little basket is waiting for embellishments -- stay tuned!

A Student's Happy Dance!!

Jan Hood is a lovely woman who volunteers in her community and who tells some really funny jokes.  She kept my main conference class at The Elly Sienkiewicz Appliqué Academy in stitches while we were stitching!  Jan has finished her project from the class and it is stunning.  I could tell that it would be as lovely as Jan and I’m so happy she finished it! 

Jan's work is impeccable and has an elegant look.  Her calla lilies are my favorite -- she used silk for the throat of the flower.  Her fabric choices for the butterflies are light and airy. That sunflower looks real!

Here's a closeup so you can see all the embellishments.  Jan did a beautiful job on her vase!  What an inspiration!

Way to Go, Jan!  

Thanks for sharing your lovely work!

A Real Beauty!

Suzanne “Suzy” Louth is an amazingly accomplished quilter.  She just finished this lovely wall hanging that she started in my class at The Elly Sienkiewicz Appliqué Academy

But let me tell you more about Suzy.  I met Suzy in 2003, the first year that I was a student at TESAA and, happily, we have become friends over the years.  It was fun each year at the Academy to see what Suzy had accomplished because she gets more done in a year than most people do in a decade.  She has won numerous honors with her gorgeous quilts including Best of Show at the Vermont Quilt Festival in 2009 for her Baltimore Album quilt, “A New Look at a Grand Old Lady.”

Suzy was the Honored Quilter at TESAA in 2011 and taught a class there this past February.  I was both surprised and honored when Suzy chose to take my class for her main conference this year where we worked on my pattern, “Floral Elegance.”  Suzy has finished her project from the class and it’s a beauty, of course.

Her vase looks like "flow blue" with Suzy's fabric choice.   The borders frame the block beautifully and Suzy's artistic eye is easy to spot in her color choices.  Is it any wonder that she's such an accomplished and honored quilter?  This pretty quilt hangs in Suzy's dining room.

I hope that when Suzy looks at her quilt it reminds her of fun times at Appliqué Academy:  seeing old friends and making new ones, telling stories that make each other laugh till your sides ache, sharing appliqué tips and our latest "finds," lunch breaks and dinner breaks, and looking forward to the next year when we can do it all over again.

BEAUTIFUL!! SUZY!!  Many thanks!!