So, if an apple a day keeps the doctor away, does a really BIG one keep him away fore even longer? I've shared a
couple sneak peaks of my latest Basic Grey grunge yumminess here and on Instagram,
but perhaps it wasn't really obvious what those bold splashes of red
would become.
I was totally inspired by a Clare Young's print, and I find that when I look at almost everything these days, I just see applique shapes. I have to admit that her pear print makes me want to tear into my green grunge stash too.
For my standards, this is a pretty small quilt, probably a baby quilt size, but it also boasts my largest applique shape to date... that's an almost a 30" apple there!?!
Because of all the million appointments that one has to push through the end of the school year, I will have to bind this after the kids are finished. I'm a little back and forth on which binding, and would love your two cents... on one hand I like the red and white fabric because it connects to the red in the quilt, not to mention that the cursive letters reminds me of school, and the days where students would take an apple to their favorite teacher. The other black and white fabric is more subtle and let's the apple shine instead of the binding.
But, summer time is my applique time. I've gotten a couple of star blocks already from one of my bee members. You can see how it's grown already... I'm ready to let it grow some more.
In any case, I wish everyone a relaxed start into the summer season.
I have to admit that I am a little all over the place with my projects these days. I know that things are winding down because summer is just around the corner... that time of year where there is less time for sewing, and more time for kids, outside activities, family, friends, traveling, and cookouts! (surely a little applique has to be on that list somewhere too!?!)
And that leaves me with lots to do and little time to do it. This past week, I basted two quilts, started quilting two projects, AND worked on several new videos... just to mention a few.
So, if you happened to miss it last week, then be sure to hop over to my YouTube channel. I've been talking about my favorite thing, what else... the starch applique method! There are more videos to come, but since I've got a lot to say about this technique, I just couldn't get it all in at once! I just added an introduction to freezer paper (my favorite quilting must-have, below) and using freezer paper for starch applique videos.
I would love your feedback about what you would like to see more of, but today I'm keeping it short and sweet today because this week's motto for me is: a little less talk, and a lot more action.
I've been talking about it for a while now, that I wanted to start making a few videos about some of the quilting techniques that I use... especially about starch applique. There's just so much to say, that you just can't get it all in on one blog post... not to mention that having a visual explanation of something just makes things so much more clear. So, pop on over to my YouTube channel and see what I've been up to...
Stay tuned, because I've got more vidoes in the making... do you want to see more?
Some of my bee members like to make fun of me that by the time I deicde on a quilt block, and make up a couple test blocks, that the quilt is almost finished. Well... not quite. Yes, I've made a good amount of progress on my yellow quilt, but am no where near being finished. My bee members will be pleased to know that I am stopping with stars now, and passing the torch for them to carry.
As I had mentioned last week, it is my intention is to keep the applique blocks fairly simple and not get slowed down by such labor intensive blocks... you just can't find any simpler applique shapes than stems, ovals, and orange peels. I've always been really drawn to crossing applique designs.
Here is another Chuck Nohara mix up... I used the stem template, but instead of the multi-pieced flower as in the original, I used simple leaves with a oval accent.
I love the curved crossing stems from this Chuck Nohara block... see if you can spot the original design from my summer garden blocks. No worries, I've not forgotten this project... it's coming back out for summer! It is my travel applique project, and I can't wait to work on it again.
What are you summer sewing plans? Take it with you applique? EPP? or lifting a cold drink as you relax in the garden?
