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Bullion Stitch in Silk Ribbon

2012-05-19T01:33:27Z

Another class handout I want to share with all y'all. I taught bullion stitch for many years in my silk ribbon and crazy quilt classes and then in 2007 finally took photos as it was being stitched so that after the class the students would have a visual reminder to take home. It is the way I like to do bullion stitch and I think is it the easiest way to create beautiful bullion.

The handout shows the stitch in silk ribbon, but it translates easily into regular embroidery thread. Here is a photo and a link to the website tutorial page.

Bullion Stitch in Silk Ribbon

The more I dig out these handouts and tutorials, the more I want to start doing some silk ribbon work.

Quilting Bloggers

2012-05-15T16:40:32Z

Just joined this great group.

All Organized :)

2012-05-13T20:49:26Z

I've been working at it bit by bit, but this weekend with a little....okay a lot of help from hubby and the princess, got the stock room and library totally organized with the main studio right behind with just a bit left to do. I didn't do before pictures, but it looked kinda like a tornado blew through.
Here is a shot of one side of the room:

I still have one bag of bits of beads to sort, but 99.9% are in their little boxes and cases. The next photo is one of the walls. All the paint sticks are in their trays, glitter tubs in their boxes....I'll be able to find stuff when I need it .

And you can walk through the studio without tripping on boxes and bags of stuff that need to be put away in their places. But my little rolling cart I use to put current projects is looking forlorn and empty. I need to get moving on a new project. In the foreground is the princess's "new" sewing machine that I passed on to her when I got my new Bernina (you can see it over by the windows on the left which is the corner princess and I both wanted....grandma won . Of course she says the new Bernina is half hers lol.

The last little corner of the studio to clean, organize and straighten. But it's almost done.

And last but not least, my stockroom closet where I keep all my Pellon products I use in my projects.

I love Pellon products. It's hard to pick a favorite, but Wonder Web is one of them. Okay, and Decor Bond for making bags. Oh and I love painting and sewing on Lutradur. Lutradur is fabulous. I am working on more projects using it. It's so versatile. And Insul-Fleece. and.... I guess there isn't a Pellon Product I don't like.

Now I have to get started on new projects or work on my crazy quilt blocks. Just one question pops in my head. Did y'all ever get so organized that you do not want to work for a while so you can just sit and enjoy the peace and tranquility of neatness?

Cat, Brier or Coral Stitch?

2012-04-29T01:33:25Z

I found this stitch on one of my grandmother’s old crazy quilts and just loved it but didn’t know its name.

So I went on a search through my antique needlework magazines and books and finally found it in one of my Corticelli Embroidery Magazines from 1901. It had three different names depending on where one grew up, cat, brier or coral stitch. Because brier and coral stitch generally resemble the two outer stitches in the diagram, I decided that the stitch on my grandmother’s quilt must be the cat stitch.

It is stitched in the same manner as a featherstitch.

Here is an example I used in one of my crazy quilts. I spaced the two stitches on either side of the center line in the same manner as my grandmother did on one part of the quilt because I like the way it looks.

This is how it looks without any additional embellishment.

Add some beads, french knots, or lazy daisy stitches for the secondary row and your crazy quilt will have a nice looking row of stitches.

Needless to say, I spent several hours peeking through all the old books. I just absolutely love them and found some more stitches that I have never heard of in all the years I've been crazy quilting. I will be stitching some of them up real soon and will share them with all ya'll.

A New Crazy Quilt?

2012-04-24T18:39:44Z

Having taken a break from working, I was sitting here this afternoon trying to decide what fun project to work on next. With so many possibilities, crazy quilting, needlework, pieced project, applique project, it is hard to decide. I do have a crazy quilt in progress, so didn't want to start another of those. Although it is tempting with all the new silks I purchased to start a new monochromatic theme or two color theme instead of the polychromatic one I've been working on.

I do love the look of monochromatic. Here is a block from my "All That Glitters"

The whole quilt photo is in my gallery.

I've always followed the rule that you only have one of each type project going and finish that one before you start another. I guess that is from growing up watching my mother flit from project to project and finishing so few. (Guess who ended up with 65 unfinished mother projects). Does it count as separate if I have one multi-color and one monochromatic?

I would love to hear from other crazy quilters. Drop me an email if you love crazy quilting. I am going to post a tutorial for a rare crazy quilt stitch I found on one of my grandmother's old crazy quilts. Look for that soon.

Using the back of a quilt for a binding

2012-04-23T11:06:26Z

Yes, this is a speedy way to finish off a quilt. It can be done all by machine, you do not have to create yards of binding material, and it's the fastest way to finish a quilt.

But is it the best? Depends on what you plan on doing with the quilt. If you are going to want to save this quilt as a family heirloom for your grandchildren, then no it's not the best method because the binding only has one layer of fabric.

The binding on a quilt gets the most wear and tear and if it is only one layer thick it will wear out the quickest.

But if you are just doing a little wall hanging that no one will be dragging around the floor, making forts in the living over the couches (quilts are great for that), or washing constantly a back to front binding is fast, fun, and easy to make.

Here is a link to the tutorial I wrote that is available at Pellon Projects: Iris Table Topper/Binding Tutorial

Applique Bird Patterns

2011-09-08T19:24:39Z

I have added some state bird applique patterns to my shop. Each pattern comes in 8" and 12" format and have the embellishment pack included. I am thinking of putting them on here in downloadable format, but that will have to only be in the 8" format because unless someone has a 12" printer they won't be able to print the pattern. But I will give the % for increasing it to 12" if someone would like that. Now if I can only get the postage thing straightened out.

The next segment for my Pellon Projects (www.PellonProjects.com) Quilt - along will be published soon. I hope that all y'all who are doing it are having as much fun making it as I did designing it.

The next design I am doing for Pellon Projects will be a music box made with Pellon Peltex.

I am going to add more tutorials to my tutorial page soon.

Till next time, keep on quilting.

Just trying this out

2011-08-13T12:44:35Z

Hi. I'm trying something new to me....blogging. I have added another free pattern to my website free download section It is a one of the patterns from my newest book "Lexa's Christmas Petites". I hope you enjoy stitching the pattern. It is in the 8" format.

If you love Christmas, I am designing a quilt - along for Pellon Projects. It is a five month quilt wall hanging with both applique and piecing. The applique can be done by machine or hand. The first two months are posted. Go to http://www.pellonprojects.com/products/1197-to-grandmothers-cottage-we-go-quilt-along-part-1.aspx to see the project.

Welcome

2011-08-04T16:05:54Z

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.