Busy Sewing

April Work

I have been sewing , in between some "spring cleaning" projects.  (After I do the job, I get to sew as my "reward!"  Does anyone else do this?)

First up:      Sherbet & Creams Quilt Along  by Joanna Figueroa at Fig Tree Quilts

Joanna posted one day.... how about a quilt along with low volume prints and sherbet solids?  Are you in?  Well, she " had me " at the low volume prints!   

I went  ran into my stash of treasured Fig Tree Fabrics and found these beauties :
 Fig Tree  Millhouse Inn,  Buttercup, Dots. I threw in a  Wyndham Fabrics beige tonal, and a fat quarter of the darker beige tonal because I like how they looked together.

My Low Volume Fabrics for the Sherbet & Creams Quilt Along  at Fig Tree Quilts

I have had some of these fabrics in my closet for a long time!

Then, I went in search of solid fabrics that would look good with the low volumes and look "sherbet-y."    How did I do?

My "Sherbet solids".
 ( I ended up not using the darker greens on the bottom right.)
  Do you see the bundle that Joanna has for sale on the paper in the background?

After we gathered the fabrics, we  were to cut the low volume fabrics into 3.5 " squares....

and  then sew them into scrappy 4-Patch blocks.  Joanna said not to stress out with the  fabric placements.  Just put a "light" with a "dark"-ish block.  So I had fun and did not get "fussed-up" figuring out how to put the blocks together.  There are 80 of them.

My low volume Fig Tree 4-Patches

I love them!  (And I still have yardage of most of the fabrics left for other low volume projects!!)

In the  #2 segment of the Sherbet & Creams Quilt Along-   Joanna told us we were to make 80 pumpkin seed applique' pieces.  She really encouraged us to try her Starch Applique' technique, and "learn something new."  She assures us that the ends of the pumpkin seeds will be totally covered in the end.  So I trusted Joanna,   got out my freezer paper, starch , and her pumpkin seed template, and gave it a try.  (Joanna wrote some more details on Sew Mama Sew here, too.)

The doubled freezer paper templates... the bottom was used 22 times

I actually made the first two pumpkin seeds with  glue ,from a glue stick, on the turned edges.  But I  decided to try the spray starch on the third seed .  The starch ended up being so much easier to use, and created cleaner edges.   Surprisingly, I was able to reuse the doubled freezer paper templates about 22 times each!  I cut a hole out of the center of the seed, as this made it easier for me to remove the template after it was all pressed.

80 Sherbet Pumpkin Seed Appliques

I am wondering if Joanna will be having us sew them onto the blocks with  "matching" petals...

or.... into scrappy flowers?

Can you guess which way I may select to assemble them?
I am happy with my pumpkin seeds, and can't wait for the #3 time to come in this Sherbet & Creams Quilt Along.  You can see other folks' work on InstaGram at
 #SherbetandCreamsQuiltAlong  and  #SherbetsandCreamQuiltAlong .

And by the way, I am also learning another cool  method of applique', too.
This new technique  is taught by the creative and talented Lara at BuzzinBumble blog.
She has her first book out now!   It is called, "Crafted Applique'  - New Possibilities "

                                                     

Available here and here 

         Lara has lined up a super-charged Crafted Applique' Blog Hop in May!  I was lucky enough to be invited, and will be sharing my project and a bit about this awesome book, on May 22 !!   Check back here  soon for the blog hop line- up... there will be giveaways all along the way!!!

See you soon!                                            

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up at:    Let's Bee Social  @ Sew Fresh Quilts   and
                       Can I Get A Whoop Whoop  @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict  and
                      Fabric Tuesday @  Quilt Story   and  
                       Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Fort Worth Fabric Studio