Kanzashi Flower #2

Steps for making flower #2. This makes a beautiful pointed petal flower. It can be used using either side for a flower. Pretty pretty!

Blue Hydrangea

For ones of you in Florida who are making my applique Florida flowers project, just wanted you to see the real flower in color. My blue hydrangeas are in full bloom right now............so exciting. There must be 25 blooms on one bush or plant. Amazing. Be sure to find the exact shade of blue for this project. It is most important. I know that they come in other colors, but the blue one just sets off this project with a zing!

Flower info for Florida folks

If you are making the Florida flowers, look in my archive to the right of the webpage. Fine May 12, 2010, and click on that and you will see beautiful pictures of the magnolias complete with buds, etc.
In the July 1st issue of the Ponte Vedra Recorder, you will see the picture pattern of the Hibiscus. To see the actual picture, look in my archive to the right on my opening webpage, and find June 22, 2010, and click on that and the beautiful orange hibiscus will pop up. Hope you are trying these flowers, as they are truly beautiful when finished. I'll share pictures of some of my "students" work after I have given all of the patterns to you! Please share your finished work, as I love seeing them! Just send pictures to: quiltlady14@aol.com
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO YOU!

KANZASHI Flowers #1

Kanzashi is a form of fabric folding started in Japan in the early 1600's. They made hair pieces and clothes adornments out of them. I want to use them in a quilted wall hanging. There will be a set of at least 4 different flowers for you to learn how to make. Fun and easy! This is the first flower and I started it using 3" squares of cotton fabric. Spray with spray starch and iron cloth before starting the folding steps. Have fun with this new project!

FLORIDA FLOWERS FOR FLORIDA FOLKS!

Hopefully you are going to start your beautiful Florida flower wall hanging. The azalea is so beautiful, and such fun to make. Enlarge pattern to at least amn 8 1/2" X 11" sheet of paper. Using a light box or tape it to a glass window and trace the outline onto a selected background fabric. Then trace the pattern onto the dull side of freezer paper. See below how to do "freezer paper applique." Once you have your flower made, applique it onto your background fabric. Using wax crayons, do shading as suggested on the pattern.
Page 2 of the pattern gives you the small flower that is shown in the picture with directions as well.
***If you do not know how to print from my blog, look in the archive listed to the right of the front page of the blog and find May 10, 2010. This will tell you how to do this. If you've never done freezer paper applique and wish to applique this by hand, check my archive for January 25, 2010
Have fun with this project! Need more help? Go to Ocean Wave Quilters Guild meeting the 2nd Friday of any month at the Players Community Center in Ponte Vedra off Hwy 210 behind the Shell station. They meet at 10:00. Someone there will help you!

Baby Quilt or wall hanging using Orange Peel pattern

I think the "orange peel pattern is one of my favorite classic patterns. Most people avoid it as it have curved pieces in it. It is truly a pretty pattern.
I have devised a method for making it that requires no "piecing" what-so-ever!
The pattern that I put in the newspapers called for making the squares 8 1/2". The "Petal" pattern has to be enlarged for sure. Unfortunately when I wrote the article, I got my "wires crossed" and put the petal for the 6 1/2" square in the paper which has a measurement 4 1/4" from point to point.
Let me correct that right now. If you are making the 8 1/2" squares quilt, the petal must measure 5 5/8" from point to point down through the center! Once you have that petal enlarged to that size,cut out a plastic template for it and cut out freezer paper petals to iron onto the back of each petal, using 4 petals for each square. If you wish the quilt to be 36", cut out 16 squares.
Fold the squares in half and into half again and crease them. This give you the center point where the creases cross in the middle of the square.
Pin the petals onto the square making sure that you are leaving 1/4" seam allowance at each corner of the square. I discovered that when I machine buttonhole stitched the petals down, it ate up some of the seam allowance. I would recommend that the template be cut smaller to ensure the 1/4" seam allowance.
I used regular pastel colored thread for the buttonhole stitching.
I want to make the baby quilt by hand, so I shall use embroidery thread and buttonhole stitch around the petals. The pictures you have here in the blog, or just samples that I made to be sure that everything works.
Wonder Under or Steam a Seam may be used to adhere the petals down firmly before stitching.
Once the blocks are all finished, I shall sew them together 4 blocks horizontally and 4 blocks vertically. 2" borders will be added to the quilt and then all will be sandwiched with batting and a lining. I am going to use "minkie" fabric for the lining; so nice and soft!
I plan on hand quilting around each petal about 1/8" away from each petal once I have sandwiched the quilt.
The finished quilt will be 36" X 36" which is a nice size for a baby quilt.

Directions for NY purse

I guess this purse is a winner. I have gotten so many emails, etc about it. Some want the entire set of directions, so here goes:The top fabric for the purse requires 36" X 15" and the lining requires the same. I used a light-weight batting cut the same measurements. Using a 1/4" seam, sew the three together placing top and lining right sides together, with batting on the bottom, leaving a 6" side open for flipping and turning right side out. Hand sew the opening together.
To get the shape of the top of the purse, make 3" folds toward the center at each corner, pin, and fold the tops down at least 3". Tack all of this in place. Velcro may be used for closing at the top.
Free motion quilt only the back side of the purse.
Before sewing the side seams together, cut an 8" X 15" piece of fabric for inside pockets. Fold raw seams in 1/4" and fold again, to finish the seams. Sew this piece to the back side of the purse. Stitch vertical lines for cell phone pocket, etc.
Make ruffle: Using two fat quarters (one main fabric and one for lining) folded together. Cut four 2 1/2" strips across width of fabrics. Sew 4 strips of main fabric together. Press seams. repeat for lining fabric. Sew the two long strips together along each side using 1/4" seam. To turn the ruffle inside out, use a stiff yard stick and starting on one open end, start pulling the inside of the ruffle out by pulling the outside down over the yard stick.
Once this is done, sew a gathering stitch along one edge of the strip and gather gently....not tightly.
Begin in the center of the purse with a "rose shape" in the center. Stitch this down through the layers to hold it firmly while you work the ruffle around and around to the outside edge of the purse. Pin end under the ruffle. Pin about every 3" to hold the circular shape. Tack ruffle about every 3" with a matching thread.
Hand sew the top triangular sides of the purse together with "blind stitches."
Ribbon may be added for a handle and a decoration. Voila you have an adorable purse.