Susie's Sunroom: June 2016

Thursday, June 30, 2016

A Book Bag for a Boy

"Boy Hiking" Block

The first of July means there is a new edition of " Paper Piecing 1/4 " " digital magazine!
These magazines are simply filled with modern, creative paper piecing patterns designed by Janeen, of Quilt Art Designs!

This issue #10 has 12 summertime blocks depicting families and their fun outdoor summer activities ! There is everything from the beach to a picnic, and from fishing to soccer!
You can make them up into a fabulous quilt, or use the blocks individually.

(7) Name: 'Quilting : Paper Piecing 1/4' Dig Mag Iss 10

Issue #10 July - Sept {here}

Here's a look at the paper pieced patterns included in this issue !! Aren't these cute? And they are even better when you make them come to life with fabrics!!

In Issue # 10 July- Sept 2016

The block that I got to test is made : Hiking Boy (I just call him that)

Boy Hiking made by Susie's Sunroom

Block stats: Hiking Boy pattern design by Janeen, at Quilt Art Designs, in the issue #10 July-Sept 2016 of " Paper Piecing 1/4 " digital magazine {here }
Size: 14.5 " x 14.5 " unfinished
Fabrics: Solids and a few textured blenders from my stash

Things I love about this block: The mountains in the background
The boys little knees ( it reminds me of my son , when he was a toddler and wore shorts that showed his little chubby knees !)

I thought this block would make a cute book bag for a little boy. I added some sashing to the front, and made up a simple tote bag. It measures about 16" across and 16" high.

Hiking Boy Book Bag

It is big enough to hold lots of books from the library!!

I also added a large slip pocket in the inside.

You'll want to check out the other adorable blocks in this issue, depicting families in outside activities! click {here} They are really cool !

I'm off to my sewing room!

Pattern provided by QAD Publishing

Linking up at: Can I Get a Whoop Whoop! @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict and

Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts and

Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts and
Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt Story and
TGIFF @ Celtic Thistle Stitches

Monday, June 6, 2016

Blog Hop Giveaway Winners!!

Winners Chosen for the Giveways!

Mr Random Number Generator had fun picking out 2 winners from the comments on my book tour post.

So here we go......

For the "Crafted Applique'... New Possibilities" book, sent directly from Lara

The Book Winner:

#28 is......

Lori SmanskiMay 22, 2016 at 2:13 PM

this is such a fun hop. I love your quilt and pincushions. I cant wait to get the book and start machine appliqueing myself. I have done it by hand.

****************************************************************************************
AND,

for the All in the Family Mermaid Deluxe Pincushion Winner:

#17 is .....

17 Happy Cottage Quilter

This book looks so awesome! I would love to learn this applique technique. No I have never combined books or patterns. I have always basically followed the directions :-) Thanks for the giveaway!

Congratulations, Lori and Happy Cottage Quilter!!

I will be emailing you both soon , asking for your mailing addresses!

Thank you everybody, for taking time to visit my blog, and for leaving such wonderful comments! Your encouragement means so much to me!!

I'm off to my sewing room!

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Christmas in June

The Folk Art Christmas Quilt

I just love it when I can make something early for the Christmas holidays! It doesn't happen every year. But this year, I saw a small Christmas quilt that I fell in love with instantly! It is the "Folk Art Christmas" quilt, from the book, "Crafted Applique'... New Possibilites," by Lara Buccella.

Folk Art Christmas quilt
by Lara @ BuzzinBumble

Lara Buccella, the extremely talented quilter and designer at BuzzinBumble blog, has her first book published now, and I was so thrilled (and lucky) to be a part of her book tour this past month. (You can see my book tour post HERE.)

The book can be purchased
at BuzzinBumble {here}

Normally, I would shy away from making a quilt with all of this intricate applique' as the main cornerstone of the design. But, I had new confidence, having used Lara's crafted applique' technique a few weeks before , and I dove into making the Folk Art Quilt with excitement!!

I was happy that I washed and starched the fabrics a few days in advance of my "getting down to the nitty gritty" of pattern tracing and cutting applique' shapes out. The process turned out to be quite enjoyable for me! And the pieces were easy to cut out, with no fraying edges, using my small scissors and teensie thread cutting scissors for those round berries and thin stems.

Lara's directions are clear and thorough. I felt like she was sitting beside me at the table, showing me the steps along the way in a private class!

This is my quilt... as it hangs in my living room ... in June!!

Folk Art Christmas quilt made by Susies' Sunroom

I really loved the quilted background that Lara has on her quilt, and so I decided to try to quilt a little on mine. I used a chalk pouncer to outline some hearts from a stencil.

It is far from perfect, but seems to add the texture in the negative space that I was looking for.

The quilting ... close up. And, you can see the thin gold striping
in the fabric

I like using the white tone- on- tone fabric, for the applique'. It reminds me of powdery snow!

I really LOVE these doves! Lara drew this part of the design , way back in high school!

The Folk Art Christmas Quilt:

Pattern: By Lara Buccella, in the book "Crafted Applique'... New Possibilities"
Size: 18 " x 27 "
Fabric: Striped Christmas fabric from JoAnn Fabrics from my stash!!
I used the same fabric on the back and for the binding, as Lara had done on hers
White Tonal fabric from my stash

Batting: Warm & Natural 100% cotton (scraps)
Stitching: Straight stitch , outlining the applique' shapes
Quilting: I used my walking foot and Guterman thread. The hearts were marked with chalk, with a pouncer and stencil.
For Hanging: 2 upper corner pockets, to hold a small dowel rod

Here are some more photos :

Folk Art Christmas on my pencil Christmas Tree

Yes, we still have our little pencil Christmas Tree up in our dining room. It's in the corner, so you have to sort of "look for it" to see it! My husband and I like it so much, we decided to keep it up year long. I only have a Star of Bethlehem hanging on it now.

Note to self: I need to make a Christmas tree skirt for it, AND a year-round tree skirt!

I also wanted to share with you a little tip:

Using Crafted Applique' to make a Patch

I used the Crafted Applique' technique to make some patches for a tote bag purse.
My SIL showed me her beloved (and well used) tote bag, where the bottom corner edges were fraying.

See the bare spot?

I prepared a patch.

The patch... hmmm looks like it can work!

I sewed the patch on by hand, as it was not possible to use my machine at the corner, on this lined tote bag. I didn't have to turn the raw edges under, using Crafted Applique' technique ! Yay!

You can see my handsewn stitches, in the light. (My thread was lighter than the fabric)
But the patch bent nicely and shaped-up ,like a corner

It went so well, that I decided to patch the other corner of her tote bag, as it was beginning to fray as well.

Here are both corners, front and back .... repaired and ready to go for more use!

You know how good it feels to make something for another person when they just love it? Well, my SIL really loves this "simplified" Bow Tucks Tote bag, and my mother asked me to bring along my Folk Art Christmas mini quilt. She asked if I could " leave it at her house until Christmas , " because it reminds her of living with her grandmother, who was Pennsylvania Dutch. { She has only seen a tiny picture of it on her little cell phone, so far. } I will be making a second Folk Art Christmas quilt soon... for our house! LOL

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up at: Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt Story and
Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts and
Crafted Applique" Sightings @ Buzzin Bumble