A Whole Lotta Prep

I am participating in a BOM that starts next month. I have my kit early, it helps that you work there and you are cutting the kits. I figured I would try to get a head start. After further thought I should have started about 3 years ago.

One night of cutting. I guess I should have taken at least 2 because my hand was killing me when I was done.

All cut and freezer paper removed. 

Finally ready to hand sew. I did do the flowers pink flowers separate. They were easier to do in a layered format before adding them on to the big piece. I used glue but it didn't secure very well with as much as I move them around. So...after ordering a extra long stapler from Amazon (12" length) I was set. I glued those puppies down then emptied the magazine and stapled everything down. It may be over kill but I don't want those things to move. The stems are only 1/4 in wide so there is a lot of little pieces on this thing. 

I am blanket stitching the flowers but I think I will just whip stitch the stems and leaves. It almost looks the same to me but it is quicker and I don't have to worry about the bottom thread rolling up onto the wool. Which in my case always happens. I am also using a Aurifil 28 wt thread and I love it. You only need the one strand and it slides through like butter. Which really helps since by thumb only allows me to do a little bit every day. My goal is  to get at least one or two pieces done a day. 

Good news is I love the way it looks. Bad news is there are 5 more of these squares and that is only the center of the quilt. We won't bring up the borders or the cornerstones.

Hopefully by March 1 I can show you a completed section. Lets keep our fingers crossed.  Now I am off to trace some more onto my freezer paper. I have lots to do.

Michelle

A Little Bit of Appliqué

Im teaching a new block of the month next year. So of course I'm trying to get ahead. The choice in the setting squares was appliqué or a pieced block. I couldn't decide at first. After spending untold hours cutting, starch and pressing all of those little pieces I made up my mind.  There will be 4 blocks appliqués and 12 pieced. I love appliqué most of the time but these pieces were a little too persnickety for me.

I now have one done.  One ready to stitch and 2 left to prepare. I am procrastinating on that part..

Here is what the complete quilt looks like. I have a lot left to go.

Have a great day. I am off to starch and press some more then head on to work. Fun times.

Michelle

Just keep cutting

This past weekend I ended up spending almost 2 days cutting kits and believe it or not I am still not done..I have to wait for some more fabric to come in.  I have been cutting Generals Wive and Cotton Club for the shop here at home.  I can say I am glad it is coming to an end.

I ended up cutting up 30 kits for Cotton Club (3 months worth). I just need the patterns and I can bag them up and they will forever be out of my house.

For Generals Wive's I cut a bagillion yards...well..ok it felt like it ...I had 10 king kits to cut (which was 50 yards of fabric), 20 setting kits (which was 100 yards of fabric), and 20 kits each for 3 months (don't want to figure out that fabric count).  So I can say I is tired of cutting...

It will be nice to finally have all of this fabric out of my studio...I won't know what to do with all of that room...well..maybe I do.

Don't they look snazzy, all ready and waiting to be tagged and bagged? Although if I must stay so myself it doesn't look like a lot of fabric that is for sure.


Michelle