Author: sharonwasteney@gmail.com

Christmas Baubles and Bubblelights

Christmas Baubles and Bubblelights

Christmas Baubles and Bubble Lights A Table Topper Hoffman fabrics with silver metallic highlights caught my eye at my favorite quilt shop earlier this year. This table topper is an easy and quick project to make for the Christmas holiday table and could easily be 

Mississippi River

Mississippi River

My interpretation of a specific section of the Mississippi River. Done as a challenge project for the Hannibal Piecemakers Quilt Guild. It features Tyvek leaves, thread sketched bluebird, needle felted branch on a raw edge applique background. The river had to be the challenge fabric 

Thread painting

Thread painting

So fun to do some thread painting. Has been a couple of years since practicing this technique.

Iowa quilt retreat

Iowa quilt retreat

  Enjoying warmth of the fireplace at calico cat barn with quilting friends.

Dresden Plate, The Inner Circle

Dresden Plate, The Inner Circle

I am making a display quilt for Hickory Stick Quilt and was asked how I did such perfect circles in the center.  Below are photos and directions for the method I like to use for this 6″ center circle.  I cut 8″ squares of fabric and 6″ circle from freezer paper and from mylar template plastic for a 6″ finished circle.

Finished block, 38″

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iron freezer paper  template onto fabric square

 

 

 

 

Baste stitch about 1/4″ outside the freezer paper in preparation for gathering.  Then trim away excess fabric about 1/4″ away from basting stitch.

 

 

 

 

Remove freezer paper and insert mylar template, pulling gathering threads around the circles edge.  evenly distribute the gathers for smooth edge.

 

 

Press from wrong side (mylar template does not melt) and then again on the right side and remove the template.

 

 

 

 

I use a blind hem stitch with a narrowed zig zag and narrowed straight stitch to invisibly attache the circle to the center.

Love this method for those perfect circles–very similar to the work of hand appliquers when making perfect circles.

 

 

 

 

 

Harvey

Harvey

My husband and I have spent the last two weeks cleaning tree debris resulting from Hurricane Harvey at our winter home near Rockport, Texas. We were so fortunate to have only limited damage to our home or my sewing/guest room. In fact, because the sewing 

Clamped Dyeing of Fabric

Clamped Dyeing of Fabric

I tried a different method of dyeing on some small samples. Usually I use the low immersion technique instructed by Ann Johnston and seem to have lots of excess dye when ready for the rinsing stage. With this technique I used ¼ c of water 

Hexagon Flowers

Hexagon Flowers

I posted a photo of a display quilt for Hickory Stick Quilt Shop in Hannibal, Missouri yesterday.  Below are the directions and photos of how to make the hexagon flowers from a two inch circle.  They are a simple way to make blossoms.  I have grouped them to make hydrangeas, used alone to simulate cherry blossoms,etc. Limited only by your imagination. Enjoy.

 

 

Step 1. Cut 2 inch circle

 

Step 2. Find center by folding in half and then in half again and press or mark with dot.

 

Step 3. With wrong side up, fold edge to center and press in place

 

Step 4. Fold point up to center, press in place

 

Step 5. Fold point to center and press 4 more times

 

Step 6. Anchor center by hand or machine or with decorative stitching

     

Van Gogh Challenge

Van Gogh Challenge

It was fun designing, planning and constructing for the 2017 Cherrywood fabric challenge.  The theme was Van Gogh and the colors were three blues and black.  My design was simple but pleasing to me.  They had record entries this year and mine was not among