Thinking outside appliqué

Wallhanging 9 1/2" x 23"

I just finished a small wallhanging using patterns from the book "3D Folded Blocks"  AQS books.  

This was a fun project and forced me to think outside my comfort zone (appliqué, appliqué, appliqué) and to try something I've never done before.  These traditional blocks are actually created by fabric folding; sort of like doing origami.  Once finished, I machine quilted the wallhanging using my walking foot and simple, geometric stitching lines.

Close up of 3D folded blocks

Easy hanging method

Instead of a hanging sleeve, I stitched 3" folded corner triangles to the back top side of the quilt just before adding the binding.  A narrow, flat wooden strip cut to size is slipped inside the triangles, and then I attached a small picture hanging hook.

Finished wallhanging hung on guest bathroom wall.

Opposite wall of bathroom with my color inspiration for wallhanging. 

Out of the Ordinary

 Detail "Oh, Mexico Beach"

2012 Jane Zillmer

To rev up some quilt excitement (winter gets long here in the Northwoods), I've entered this quilt in the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival in Hampton, VA .  This is a juried and judged show with great cash awards.

The show's theme is "Out of the Ordinary" and there is a separate award for best theme interpretation. A statement needs to be included in the application about how your art and specifically this quilt entry allows you to "escape the ordinary and enter the realm of extraordinary."  

Here's what I wrote about my quilt (approved by Katy my journalist daughter):

 

Designing a quilt starts with inspiration from the ordinary world around me; a passing idea or a thought is transformed into a lasting memento, something extraordinary.

Our many family vacations spent in Mexico Beach, Florida are now but a memory.  Here, in my quilt “Oh, Mexico Beach”, the most beautiful shore birds, the white sandy beaches, the aqua and bright blue waves of the Gulf of Mexico, bubbles and seaweed are all right there and I’m back on that beach with my family.

Flower Power Part 6

The current issue of Quilters Newsletter is "hot off the press" - as my daughter the editor would say.

Part 6 of Flower Power is included in this issue.  You can order back copies of the magazine and catch up before Part 7, the final pattern installment!  

I'd love to see your Flower Power quilts.  Email any photos to me.   

UFO Bucket List

I'm one of those people who keeps lists.  I carry a little notebook with me all the time and write everything down. This is in addition to my never ending shopping and grocery lists.  Love to cross things off those lists!  

Starting a new quilt ("December") is always exciting and fun, and while I usually do have several projects going at the same time, when they pile up (literally) and stare at me, I can't focus!  

I had the idea to clear all UFO's out of my immediate work space and store them in a plastic bin (UFO Bucket).  They'll be right around the corner in a closet, don't worry.  

Just to make sure I don't forget what's in the bin, I attached a UFO Bucket List, complete with bullets - for checking off as I complete them.  Hey, it's me.

 

Stitching heaven

Snowflake Block #1

I enjoy all aspects of applique and quilting, but machine applique stitching is my favorite.  

 "December" design and fabric selections are pretty certain and after sketching my first snowflake block: 

 

I then fused my appliques and started stitching:

December - full design idea and layout.  All nine snowflake blocks will be original and each one different, of course!

New beginnings

Fern and Rosy of the Woods.

 

 

Hi There!  Happy New Year!  Where have I been?  What have I been doing?  Funny, but I had to lead with this photo of our grand Golden Doodles posing during a romp in the woods on Christmas Day.

 

 

The Zillmers and Fahdens on a snowshoe trek.

 

The rest of us snowshoed behind the doodles and they seemed to know just where the trails led, though we did get a bit lost at one point.  It was a wonderful vacation with family spent right here on beautiful Echo Lake.

 

As great as it was, it was also great to get back to quilt world.  I had seriously neglected all of my projects, except for hand stitiching "Crimson Tweed"- pattern by Sue Spargo.  Yes, I did finish it, but it needs to be quilted.  No problem:  I'm doing well with my machine quilting if I do say so myself.

 

 

 

"Crimson Tweed" (pattern by Sue Spargo)

 

 

 

Before getting back to other projects such as designing 3 new quilts I have in mind, I simply had to finish machine quilting Etude.  I set a goal to have it finished by New Year's Day and I did actually complete the stitiching yesterday.  I'm ready to add the binding, hanging sleeve and label.

 

 

 

Etude pinned and ready to quilt

 

 

 

 

 Etude quilting complete.

 

 

To quilt the last couple of blocks, the sashings and the borders, I didn't use my Bernina Basic Stitch Regulator.  I used my #24 free motion foot, with stitch length and width set at 0 and I did not lower the feed dogs.  This is a trick I picked up from Leah Day's blog.  I have to admit, I like the feel of this method better than using the BSR.  Stitch quality and tension seem about equal. 

 

 

Regardless, I'm really happy to have this done.  Now it's on to new beginnings.  I won't be hibernating the winter away like some furry family members seem to be:

 

 

Leo and Lily sleep the day away.