Wordless Wednesday...Busy Sewing

Applique...my latest obsession

Over the last little while I've been slightly obsessed with needle-turn appliqué.  I've always used a freezer paper template of some form or another in the past, but was very keen to learn how to needle-turn.  Last year I tried traditional needle-turn with less than perfect results...



Then in this post I talked about trying freezer paper as a possible leave-in template when needle-turning to give me an edge to turn to.  Although it did work, the paper was easily bent, particularly in the inside points, and made it less accurate.



In probably a fit of madness (I am known to have them from time to time) I redid the Dear Jane block a third time using Sharon Schamber's method of needle turn using the Floriani Stitch N Wash fusible.  Although there isn't a huge difference between these blocks, I like the inside points better on the last one.



Of course in the grand scheme of things..is any one really going to notice when it is next to 160 odd blocks!!  LOL

Until next time...

Winter isn't quite over yet...

It would seem that old man winter isn't quite done with us yet.  With a forecast of more snow tomorrow, we are most likely going to have interesting school runs this week! 

We had a quiet half term week and yesterday ventured out the Brixworth Country Park.  The scenery was breathtaking...the fields all pristinely covered in snow.



This looks more like a scene from Canada...





Signs of spring were about..I saw lots of bright green shoots..though they might want to wait a week or two before sprouting.



As there are likely to be a few more days like this...



Until next time...

Can you "face" it?

It all started with this American Express commercial.  I first saw it on Thimbleanna's blog..who saw it on Miss Jean's blog....and then I started to see them looking at me!  The faces around the house!  Following on from those before me I've photographed a few that I found..perhaps you might like to join in...can you "face" it? 

I love the long nose on this one...



Or how about these three staring at me!



The quiet but "bright" one that lives in the kitchen



Or this friendly face...which BTW got my eldest thinking I'd lost the plot when she found me in the bathroom with the camera!



I do like this one...he'll keep "track" of you if you start "mousing" around!

Until next time...

Snow Business continued...

Still here...appliqueing away...

I thought I'd better get a post up today before anyone sends out a search party.  The last couple of weeks have been so busy, what with 2 family birthdays and 2 different colds coming through the house.  I'm just about over cold #2, but I have to admit it is taking a bit longer than I would like to shift. 

Although I've not felt inclined to sit at the sewing machine I have been doing some hand sewing.  Like a cat, I've found the warmest spot in the house, curled up under a quilt and have been stitching away.  I'm now working on Block 4 of a BOM from Apple Blossom Quilts.  As I've said before I'm using Sharon Schamber's method of needle-turn and I'm loving it.  She uses a wash away stabilizer under the applique shape which gives you an edge to turn to...as a result my curves have been very easy to achieve as are my points.



This got me thinking...I'm forever questioning quilting methods and trying to improve on them...could the same effect be achieved with freezer paper?  It is a cheaper and easier product to obtain after all...so to test the theory out I'm redoing a Dear Jane Block.  The last one like this was another attempt at needle-turn, but I really didn't like the results..and it has been bugging me ever since.  So far the freezer paper is working, but I have to say Sharon's method is easier to handle..not so crunchy! LOL  I'll let you know how I get on :o)



Until next time...