Made some progress

I have stitched a number of blocks and am back in the swing off applique, forgot how much I enjoy it and I still like all the fabrics that I had picked for the quilt.

Happy stitching
Christine

Here Comes Trouble

Cue the theme music from "Jaws"

Die-hard hand appliquers, step away from the computer screen.  Everyone else, place your seatbacks in their upright and locked positions, and stow away your tray tables.  There's the possibility of turbulence today.

Deep breath everyone.  Ready?  Here we go:

The subject of my post today is MACHINE APPLIQUE.
Yes, I am making Lollipop Trees as a fusible, machine applique project.  It's a different approach to what you usually see on this blog.  But I think it's a legitimate one.  And it's fun--so what's not to like?  

As I was thinking about what I was going to write, I realized that my approach to the quilt is a unique one, and not just limited to the fact that I'm using the sewing machine:

Fabric selection:  when I ordered the pattern from Glorious Color I also got the Kaffe Fasset fabrics that were available with it.  We all agree they're really fantastic.  But here's the thing about fabric collections.  I do feel that if you use only one designers fabric, then it looks like the designers quilt, not your own.  Quilting is deeply personal, so I always need to feel that it's unmistakeably MY quilt.  So I've incorporated my own fabrics into it.  

I've read alot of posts on this blog and others about people suffering from Fabric Selection Psychosis and Paralysis.   It's completely understandable.  I've avoided it by choosing fabrics for my blocks the following way:  I chose 1 or 2 or Kaffe "feature" fabrics for the main body of the block.  In the above block it's the large leaves, the flower center and the large circles.  The selected fabrics should look nice together but I don't get all hung up on things matching perfectly.  Then, I go to my stash to see what else might work.  The olive green leaves, the small purple circles and the orange polka dot are my own fabric.

Here's another thing that's making this quilt personal for me:  in the original pattern photo you will see that the blocks are symmetrical; that is, the elements on the right are identical in size and fabric to the elements on the left.  But mine aren't.  There's not a huge amount of asymmetry, just enough to shake things up a little.  I like it.


 This quilt is really all about the incredible design and the beautiful fabrics, so I'm keeping the quilting stitch a narrow, simple satin stitch.  The thread either matches the fabric, or is a complementary color.

So is anyone else doing this or another Kim M. project on their sewing machine?  Let your voices be heard !

Pam-----The background fab is Graceful Geisha by Lonni Rossi purchased last year from Bigsbys in Milwaukee, Wi.

Kim----The EQ blocks are in the Folk Art Applique add on. You had GREAT vision to turn the original blocks into Glorious ones with your fabric choices and the fussy cutting.

Mary

More Stars and Sprigs

Woo hoo!! These are the last three applique blocks for the Stars and Sprigs, they really don't take long to make and I've enjoyed the small blocks that can be done in an evening. These last ones are darkish and more moody in colour but it's what I though looked right.

I'm getting pretty excited about nearing the end of the center part of the quilt so just some more star blocks and I can assemble the last three rows. After that will be another border and then another and then the last one. I feel the end is closer with every stitch.

Who else is going to be making this one when the pattern comes out next month?

My second bloc

Hello,

I'm a belgian quilter since 16 years, who loves appliqué and the designs of Kim McLean. So about a month ago i was absolutely thrilled to discover i could buy her designs at glorious.com.After receiving them (one of the best days so far this year) i procrastinated what to do and decided to start on lollipops because i figured it would be relatively portable, ideal for vacation and soon to happen trip to Birmingham Festival of quilts. I also decided that allthough i love working with Kaffe's fabrics, i would make it from my existing stash, with fabrics i bought years ago and now can hardly figure out what to do with them since taste and experience have evolved. I see that as my challenge. I'm still sewing my first block(very slowly), because i don't have the time to prepare the second one before leaving for Birmingham. The background fabric was supposed to be a backing (extra wide) but i changed its destiny.
Happy sewing,
Françoise

I have begun the Roseville Album quilt after seeing the pattern on Kathie's blog. Ordered the 10 yards of background fab and pattern from Glorious Color with speedy delivery. I love that the pattern is full sized. Washed the whole shebang and held my breath while cutting all the blocks and borders of the background. I need to prep the circles before the first block can be called complete.

I had started the Lollypop Trees in June, using the blocks from EQ, downsizing them to 14". I used background fab that I had on hand, so can only make 12 blocks.

I love the Kaffe fabs and am learning how to work with them, but have a ways to go. I am enjoying seeing the blocks that have been posted so far and see that we have a lot of the same fabs to work from.

Back to sewing circles.

Mary