An English Paper Pieced Sampler

So exciting, just saw where a book I co-authored with Darlene Beltman, is now available for pre-
orders both on Amazon and AQS. The publication date is set for February 2016, but so exciting to see in on the web now. 

(Image taken from Amazon.com website)

 

 

The book has 12 blocks, including traditional blocks , a couple blocks shown in old newspapers and one original block I designed called The Star of Justice  (middle block shown above).  Templates for printing your own paper pieces and coloring pages for design purposes are included in the book.

 

 

If you would like to see more information on the book; check out Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/English-Paper-Pieced-Sampler-Darlene-Beltman/dp/1604603976/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450662227&sr=8-1&keywords=An+English+Paper+Pieced+Sampler

 

or the American Quilter's Society:  (Members of AQS will receive a discount)

https://shop.americanquilter.com/an-english-paper-pieced-sampler.html

 

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Teresa





 

 

Patchwork of the Crosses Update

Completed row 5 of 8 yesterday and tried my best to get a good picture outside. Did not help that the wind started blowing just as I started setting up for the picture....I even tried taping it to the wall. So use your imagination to see a nice flat quilt. I am seeing so many beautiful quilts on facebook, makes me want to do a second quilt:)

I counted up how many more little red connecting squares I need to complete the final three rows and borders...392!!!!!

So, I cut out the squares and will get them all attached to the papers before I start on row 6. I feel like I have made a million of these little squares already!

It's funny how you see things in pictures that you don't notice when looking at the quilt. I don't like the way the corners look like they have a red W and think I need to fix that somehow.

Some options below....not sure I like any of them. Maybe need to replace the brown piece in the corner with a red one. Oh well, I have time to figure this out.

Today I plan to do some fun sewing, making new Christmas Stockings with this pretty fabric I found at Hobby Lobby. In the past I have had a stocking for each of my children and grandchildren, but we are up to 18 stockings counting little Adeline who is due in February. Hmmmm.. That's a lot of stockings to stuff. So this year I will have one stocking for each of my children to share with their families. That takes 18 stockings down to 5. And since the tradition is changing, I want new stockings too.

Hope you have a good day and some fun sewing I store for your day too. Thanks for stopping by,

Teresa

 

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Variety is the spice of life, right?

I have so many pans on the fire, I need more fires......or less pans! I usually have several projects underway at any given time, but seems like lately I have a multitude of things going at once. At least if I get tired of one, I can move to another.

This is one project nearing completion. In my sewing room I have a shelf that holds 15 tubs of fabric similar to this one. They were somewhat organized by color or theme, until I started looking for a specific fabric and then they became an overflowing mess, like you see here. I saw a note on facebook where someone has shown how to wrap small pieces of fabric around cardboard....and I just had to give this a try. So with my patient husband's help, I began cutting boxes like cereal boxes into 4x5 inch squares and wrapping any fabric less than 1/2 yard onto the cards. This takes a lot of boxes, and we even got cardboard at SAMs that is used to separate pallets of boxes.

The end result is a much neater box which is easier to find fabrics. I finished all the boxes on my shelves, but still have to tackle the containers of solids hiding in my closet.

This was also a good opportunity to purge fabrics, that are now set aside for the "playpen" at the guild's next quilt show.

I used a cardboard guide that measured 5x8 inches to fold those fabrics that were between 1/2 to 2 yards. Anything more than two yards went into drawers, that will also need to be organized. So as you see..this is an ongoing project.

In my hoop, is my spools quilt that I made during the Klosje craze that swept the blogs a couple years ago. I am quilting the top with the baptist fan pattern and have 5 rows done (except for the last block on row 5). There are 8 rows in the top so I am getting excited about getting close to the end of the Baptist Fan part of the quilting. I am still a little undecided about how to quilt the border, but I do have an idea in mind....just have to get the fans completed first.

I love starting my day with several cups of coffee and some relaxing hand quilting. I try to quilt at least an hour each morning....the joys of retirement.

 

 

A new project coming up is a quilt for my next grandchild, Adeline Grace. She is due to arrive in February so I need to get going on this one. I designed this quilt in EQ as my daughter, the expectant momma, liked the star and this color combination.

I see a trip to Mary Jo's in my near future! We already checked our only alternatives here in town - Hobby Lobby ands Hancocks. So much for getting fabric with a coupon.

Progress continues on the Patchwork of the Crosses quilt. All the blocks are made, and now just assembling them into rows and adding the border as I go. I have rows 1 thru 4 together and have started row 5. This quilt is a favorite to work on, especially with my good friends Darlene and Brenda. We keep each other on track.

 

With the fabric left over from the PotC quilt, I have started a pineapple quilt. This quilt will be a companion quilt to the PotC quilt and will be a gift to my son-in-law, Adam.

I need 99 blocks to complete the quilt, and so far I have 35 made. These are machine paper pieced blocks, a process I thoroughly enjoy. My grandkids have fun tearing out the papers :)

And just for fun I have been playing with Prairie Points, which will be a future demo project. These are fun to do and a great way to use up some of those fabrics I have been organizing.

Believe it or not, there are a few other pans in my fire, but I will save them for another day.

So what have you been cooking up?

Teresa

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Fabrics

On our recent trip thru New England, I came across a quilt shop in Maine called Bolt. I believe it was in Cornish, Me. I thought these would be cute for a baby quilt for my granddaughter on the way due in February. The near solids are Fairy Frost. The prints are Timeless Treasures, Babes in Farmland. There is one more print with little chicks and then a border print. I have ordered more, hopefully enough. Saw the cutest quilt on Facebook, was simply squares with circles appliquéd. I thought I saved a picture of the quilt and the lady that made it, but can't find it now.

So that is the plan, a baby quilt using fairy frost for the background and these darling prints for the circles. Plan to make the background 8" squares and the circles 6".

Also made a stop at Keepsake Quilting in Center Harbor, New Hampshire.

I will be going to White Oak in a couple of weeks for the Quilters of SC Piecable Retreat ad taking a class being taught by Linda Knutson titled "The Low Country Sampler" that involves applique, English Paper Piecing and machine piecing. I am looking forward to the class, learning new techniques and being around women who love quilting as much as me.

While at Keepsake Quilting, I purchased the fabric for the project. Got it all washed and pressed today and so happy with my choices. Debating on the bottom two fabrics on the left for the outer border.

Don't you just love having new fabric to play with?

Thanks for stopping by,

Teresa

 

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Chattanooga AQSQuilt Week

This was my favorite quilt at the show this week in Chattanooga. It did not take a ribbon, but believe me, it is a stellar quilt. I thought I had gotten a close up of the name and maker, but it was blurry.

At first look, I did not notice that this is a Patchwork of the Crosses quilt. I have a close up of the corner blocks below and that is when I saw the POTC blocks.

The quilt layout is amazing! I am writing this in the truck as we speed thru Ohio, so I can't get to my show book to look up the quilter,s names, but I will do that tonight and add them to these two pictures.

My class was a lot of fun and I had a great group of ladies to spend the day with. They all got a lot done on their project and were able to sew a few "panes" into their Cathedral Window before they left for the day. The show was outstanding.

One final picture for Julie...here is your friend's quilt on display:

Thanks for stopping by, be back later with more pictures from the show.

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Chattanooga AQS Quilt Week

Yea, the time has come to head for Chattanooga and the AQS Quilt Week. I am looking forward to meeting the quilters in my class, and as always when I teach a little anxious hoping I will have packed everything I need and be able to teach so that everyone comes away having learned a new skill.

Quilters are great and each class leads to new friends and inspiration.

We left yesterday morning and are visiting with our dear friends Ron and Linda in Maryville, Tn. Enjoyed a game of Mexican Dominos last night, which I won by just a few points in the last round.

 

 

 

I did get in a little hand quilting before we left Rock Hill. It's so relaxing in the morning to sit in my comfy chair with a good cup of coffee and stitch on this quilt. I was tempted to bring it with me.

Thanks for stopping by,

Teresa

 

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Patchwork of the Crosses update

Two rows completed with borders.
I have all the blocks made and have decided to add the borders as I go. Border is English Paper Pieced as well, and I am loving the way everything "fits" and lays flat, not always the case with my machine piecing. Who am I kidding, it's seldom the case with my machine piecing, unless it's machine paper fundation piecing.
I am pleased with the red sashing, red is becoming my new neutral. The block borders are scrappy shirtings.
This is a long shot across my design wall, and below is a close up. The pesty white like is the pull cord for my light that I keep forgetting to pin out of the way.

I have started the process of hand quilting another EPP project that I have been putting off quilting until retirement. Retirement is here and time at last to finish this quilt.

Doing the Baptist Fan pattern and for once tracing the pattern on to the top before basting the sandwich together. This was one of my Mom's favorite patterns to hand quilt. She used a cardboard strip she cut holes in and a pencil to mark her fans, and quilted on a quilt frame that hung from the ceiling in her living room. She let me quilt on a few of her quilts with her, but I have a feeling she ripped out my stitches when I left. I do remember her look when I called it a Baptist Fan pattern.....no, no she would say. It's a fan pattern, not a Baptist Fan, hahaha. Her faith background was Catholic and Methodist - no way would she do a Baptist anything. Didn't help matters that I am a Baptist!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Grandkids

Aren't grandkids just the best blessings!. Thought I would share a couple pictures of my daughter's children.

Presenting Titus on his one month birthday. The quilt is a quilt I made him. Took the last stitch on the binding the night he was born. It is English Paper-pieced tumbling blocks.

And here Titus is with his siblings. Back row is Toby, Taralyn and Timothy. Front row is Tess, Titus and Tori. They all love and are so proud and caring of their new baby brother.

My son's sons at the SC State museum. We took them on a day outing and had a great time. The museum has a lot to offer and well worth the visit. They are, from left to right, Levi, Eli and Malachi.

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Circus Stars

My long awaited September issue of AQ magazine has arrived! My quilt, Circus Stars, is in the magazine and will also be in the November issue as part 2. I was thrilled when they said they wanted to publish the quilt, but just couldn't believe it was real until the magazine arrived in the mail today. I can't stop smiling :)

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It all started with a little wooden box!

I just love this little wooden box. Found it at Hobby Lobby and with a 40% off coupon, could not resist. Only problem, I wanted to use it in my kitchen and my kitchen has dark green/blue paint, dark gold countertops and red and gold cushion covers on the chairs. It just did not fit in, plus it did not fit in my small bookcase in my kitchen.

So my sweet husband offered to make me another bookcase, and paint it white to match the cabinets.

So.....I began dreaming of a kitchen makeover. Not new appliances mind you, just new paint and countertops to match my little wooden box.

My husband, son-in-law and daughter got the kitchen painted and most of the woodwork, while I went on a quilt retreat for a couple of days :). I finished up some of the woodwork when I got home.

The new bookcase was hung an I am so pleased. The little wooden box is just right for some of my miscellaneous cook books. The basket in the bottom right corner was made by my mom and holds some of her cookbooks, which I treasure.

 

This was one of her favorites and well worn from use. She has little hand written notes on all her books about how she might have changed the recipe.

 

 

 

 

 

Next problem was the kitchen chairs which no longer matched anything in the kitchen.

I found this fabric at Hancock Fabrics and recovered all four kitchen chairs, with the help of my wonderful husband. This makeover turned out to be a lot of work for him.

 

 

This is the back of my kitchen and used to be a laundry room with washer dryer and freezer. Not sure how I ever managed without this counter and cabinet space.

 

And now for where all this is leading....I finished this UFO this morning to use as a table topper in my kitchen. I made the top two years ago at a quilt retreat and never finished it as it simply did not match anything in my house.

The colors are just right, I must have had very good foresight In picking out the fabric two years ago :)

The little plaque below has hung in my kitchen for many years. And I am so very thankful for my husband, children, home and now a new bright kitchen.

I am also thankful for all my blogging friends. Thank you for stopping by, and what "little wooden box" have you found lately that inspired you?

Teresa

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Patchwork of the Crosses - making progress!

The last few days I was at a mini retreat with two friends ( Darlene and Brenda) working on our Patchwork of the Crosses blocks. We have each finished all the blocks and helped each other layout the blocks and tag them In the order they will appear in the quilt. I got the first two joined together and it is so exciting to see the quilt top coming together, 2 down, 54 to go.

My new notion - these have been around for awhile now, but I just got mine yesterday. You can thread 10 needles and put them into the spindle so that as you hand sew or quilt you have 10 needles ready to go. This is great for when I English paper piece, as I use a needle with a small eye and since my cataract surgery I am having trouble seeing to thread needles. Using my clover needle threaded, I can get 10 needles threaded and loaded in the spindle in the amount of time it would have taken me to thread 2 or 3 needles without these tools. It's great when sewing in the car as well to have threaded needles at hand. Cost was $8 at a local quilt shop.

Thanks for stopping by,

Teresa

 

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AQS Quilt Week - Chattanooga

I am excited to announce I will be teaching at The AQS Quilt Week in Chattanooga. My class is September 16 and I will be teaching a class in a method I developed for making Cathedral Window quilts. I hope you will come by and say hi if you come to the show, and maybe even register for my class.

Teresa

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