How-to - Applique Circles

Here is the tutorial I used to make the circle appliques for the 48 circles in the modern quilt for Shayna.  I sorted through 3 different tutorials and this was by far the easiest for a newbie.

To make 48 circle-in-squares, I cut 96 squares of fabric and 96 circles (based on a coaster or a template of the right size of freezer paper.) That was the hardest part!

  

I followed the tutorial link above to a T and, given that I am NOT a perfectionist, came out with 48 pretty nice little circles inside squares.  Sewing in a circle on the machine was helped by a tip from another site: stop with the needle down at every point on a clock or compass (whichever you prefer) to lift the foot and slightly turn your fabric.  This makes for a smooth looking curve without bunches.

This was mostly just a matter of staying organized... and I really did not pay attention to which circles went on which squares, but let fate play a role!

Shayna's Quilt in its New Home

I could burst with pride that this actually made it onto Shay's bed... that is a true sign of acceptance!  I also did the lettering on the poster above the bed.... heh!  Aunt Jobi strikes again!

Phew! Finished Shayna's Modern Quilt

This is a 68 X 68 quilt for Miss Shayna's New Room, which features icy blue walls and Cranberry colored accents.  She is 14, and a budding interior designer.  And she has taste, which made this project a real challenge for me!

I chose this pattern while in NYC at the City Quilter, and it seemed modern enough for my sophisticated niece... and off I went, 48 squares, 48 circles, and 48 rectangles!



Mommy: please stop looking at that quilt!  Look at ME!

I wrote the label on sparkly fabric.

The fabrics all came from Quilter's Heaven in Northbrook.  The ladies there are outrageously helpful and put up with me over many visits.  They helped choose the color scheme and forced me to consider more contrast than I was incluned to do, and I am so grateful.  They also saved me lots of dough by cutting thirds instead of halves for me!

I lost the pattern halfway through so I cannot credit the creators of the design here.  Blah.  And tonight, I tried to find the circle applique tutorial I used so I could share it with you and it has disappeared.  It was super awesome, so I may try to replicate it and post it so others can try.  I only scorched my fingers, um, 48 times.

This was a joy to make and I home Shay is cuddled up in it right now.

I am thankful for owls

Before I get rolling on all my holiday jewelry projects, I had to get this little guy out of my head and into the physical world.

Phew!

Needle felting is FUN and cathartic.  I was having a panic attack while trying to order my son's Christmas pressies on LEGO.com (his fave is sold out EVERWHERE), and when I could take no more, I started Sir Owl here.  Presto chango, I am no longer stressed.  

Lotan's Playmat, and my first finished quilt!

Finally finished, and right now hopefully being ravaged by Lotan!

The pattern is based on one in the book Play Quilts by Kristin Addison.

I tried to design my own quilt for Loti, but since I have never made an entire quilt before, I found it to be, well, bad.  So, to the book shelf I went.

The little pockets hide owls and other surprises.

The animals were sewn in two pieces (head and body) then assembled.  They are tied on with ribbons and fully detachable.


I did machine free motion quilting for the first time, which was super duper frustrating at first but ended up being addicting and fun.

I also did some hand applique on the owls and some hand embroidery. Hoot.


You can see the kid-ready texture that the machine quilting gave this mat.  Yay, Kenmore home sewing machine!  It can be done.  It was hard to manage all the bulk of quilt with so little space, but I just did a little section at a time while trying different ways to secure the rest of the fabric.  The best way at the end was to use these cool circular clamps to hold the rolled up quilt while I worked on a small section.

I am especially partial to the technique of using the features of the fabric to free quilt, like on the milky way!

The only hand embroidery is on the signature label (which I realized later was missing a date) and the Big L sun below.

My son was very disappointed that I did not "make this up" (that I used a pattern) but I assured him that I departed from the pattern often and there was a lot of Jobi in this gift to Lotan.
The sun is the only bit that is 100% Jobi, not at all based on the pattern.

I hope this mat provides as much fun for Loti as the ones Fiona made for my kids, which are true treasures.

Knotting madness

I started knotting the other night and now I can't stop.  I have even made two pretty horrible macrame pieces.  Egads.

This site got me started with some great free tutorials.  They are total dealers - "hey, try this for free!" and then WHAMMO, you are hooked.

These lovely lampworked beads came to me from a bead-swap with the fabulous Suzanne.

My Monday night's labor.

This is going to be a very fancy pantsy necklace that I will never, ever wear. I hope someone out there wants it! It is brown agate, with hand stitched beaded bezels on the two flat stones, and an experimental chain that is inspired by Cynthia Rutledge's lattice weave that may or may not work. The beads are a great example of stash use - the top left were brought back from Mexico 3 years ago by my sister-in-law (there is a funny story about my brother trying to say beads in Spanish, which I believe translated to the horrified shop keeper as "small balls"), the middle top were from a sale at Caravan Beads 4 years ago,the next around the clock bead show, silvery ones at the bottom from a wholesale shop close to our NYC office (I cannot remember which one, there are way too many). The flat stones came 1) from the bead show and 2) from a mix package I got from Fire Mountain Gems. And why do I remember every single bead gift or purchase made over the past 5 years? Insanity. Plain and simple.