Applique Techniques - Purrrfect circles

Sorry I haven't posted much but holidays children and life has kept me busy but still sitchin.

Purrrfect circles..................

When I make circles I generally need a lot of them, so I sit watching my favourite tv shows and make them in bulk.

Save those card inserts in magazines you generally get lots of them especially in craft magazines.

I use a circle template as shown below, but you can get mylar circles on a loop that are heat resistant and great to use too instead of cutting out light cardboard.

So mark the size of the circle you require onto your light cardboard, and fabric choices. Shown above.

Once you have marked enough circles to work on then cut out the light carboard around the line of the circle.  For the Fabric DO NOT CUT ON THE LINE, you need to cut at least an eighth of an inch probably more for all the newbie's past that line.  NOTE first photo.

Once you have done this then thread a needle with cotton and knot.  Stitch a fine line all around the outside of the marked circle and past the knot.  This will help pull up the circle.

Once this is done then place your cardboard in the circle on the marked line  and pull up the thread so it pulls over the carboard and as the light carboard is heavy enough to hold a good smooth edge, be careful not to buckle this.

Once you have made as many as you need then iron these with a hot iron be careful not to burn, you can also starch these.  When you are ready to sew these down onto your work then you will need to remove the light cardboard.  I use an unpicker and grab the circle from one edge and pull out the cardboard, press these again and they are ready.

Happy Stitching............

Cathedral Window

We have finished the cathedral window class.  Yeah we had great fun.  I hope the participants did.  This is a  time consuming pattern but well worth the effort of being tidy in the first stages of this technique and your cushion will shine.

Such different looks

I will take some photos of the completed cushions and show later in the blog.

Live Well Laugh Often Love Much

What wonderful thoughts to live by but in such a busy world we live in perhaps we need to remember the simple things in life.


simple things





daffodil joy



magnolia blooms



Yesterday it was a beautiful morning and hopefully the start of spring which hasn't really shown itself too much yet.  Look at these great pictures of nature.  I planted a magnolia tree and this is my first bloom ever, boy it makes me happy.  (See the simple things make your heart sing)



Cobweb miracles

Hopefully finished some applique today to post and show you. Also coming,  how to make fabulous circles in bulk ready to sew onto those applique blocks!









NZ kiwi icons in a quilt

Fast and fabulous easily put together in a day.  This fat quarter quilt pattern was fantastic.  I got it from one of the local shops and purchased a few more fat quarters in NZ fabric.   I always wanted to have a quilt on the sofa to grab when needing to snuggle up.

It is away to the longarm quilter to get a nz all over pattern quilted on it.  Wait for the finished article, hopefully that longarm quilter is fast.  We got snow here today in Invercargill, so we still need to snuggle even though it is meant to be spring.  Perhaps someone forgot what season it is.  If you look on the rjr fabrics, windham fabrics site you should see a lot of patterns free for download.  Or you can put in google free fat quarter patterns and you have an amazing choice.

PILES OF CUT BLOCKS



Delicious kiwi fabrics



Part of the finished top

Applique How To................... Tips and Tricks

I love to use the Clover white marking pen, it irons out after you have finished, also use the white chalk markers but check first that they iron out.



Mark with white clover pen

To save time I mark all my applique pieces on a roll of freezer paper, then I cut them all out sort the fabrics they are to go on and then iron them onto all the right colours.  Once this is done then I mark them all with the chalk pen and then cut them out a scant 1/8"


Applique pieces cut and ready to place on background

 I mark a piece of  clear vynal, plastic or whatever you can get your hands on, (clear tablecloth plastic is ok) with black pen.  Cover the vynal over the pattern  and trace.
Mark a couple of places on your background as points to ensure your clear template is always in place, otherwise I very rarely mark my background.  Then I place the pieces on the background and wella ready to tack down and carry around to stitch when you have a spare moment.

Hopefully you end up with something like this

All is quiet on the home front

Well I think I have finally got this blog sorted.  It is 1.15am Tuesday morning my middle child has already been awake twice since being put to bed.  We have arthritis in the joints and wakes frequently,  however now I think she will be asleep and I might go now and have forty winks, until the morning.  I hope to have some more applique to tempt you with in the next couple of days.  Thanks to Chookyblue for all help on your blog.

Here's my darlings in Queenstown Gardens, what a wonderful picture.

Thoughts on the 9/11 disaster 10 years on

To the brave souls who perished in this disaster we thank you for your brave actions and thank the families who have lost loved ones.  We will never forget!

I cannot believe it is 10 years, I still remember the morning in NZ when this happened it was unbelievable as though you were watching a movie! But sadly it was not a movie but REAL LIFE.  Where is all the good gone?

Spring has sprung

Well finally daffodils and pansies are rearing the tiny little heads.  However we have still had days of immense cold and then sunny weather its so hot the t shirts need to come out.  I have finished a spring applique block and detailed below:

Spring Blooms

Spring is in the air 2011/2012

Well I cannot believe that it is nearly summer, spring is showing signs of blooming  pansies, daffodils and the spring blossoms are coming. Sunglasses, shorts and t shirts, yeah

Watch this space for some lovely applique, spring blooms!

Unfinished Projects

Hi We as my husband has mentioned to me I haven't blogged in a while, I suggested he purchase me a new laptop then it might encourage me to be technical.  However I have been happily stitching away and have completed my twas the night before Xmas wall hanging.    Photos below.
Fairyland - Natalie Bird                                                   Twas the Night before Xmas - Hugs n Kisses

Add caption

Spring is in the air

I cannot wait for spring and those new blossoms to appear.  Meanwhile I have been busy stitching in my hideaway.


The holidays saw Kate and Samantha keen with the cuttlebug, Samantha attended a scrapbooking class and was very excited with what she achieved.  We also had snow in the holidays exciting for the kids but not enough to make a huge snowman.

I have finished my cushion "Cathedral Window"" and have placed this in the class list.  It was such fun to do and I remembered doing this pattern 20 years ago.

Well our power went out on Sunday 3 am 31st July and it wasn't back on until 1st August 4.30pm.  Wow you would be amazed at how reliant we are on electricity.  Those cantabrians need hugs for all those days they were without power.  It made me think what to do about being more prepared.

I hope to have some more applique classes soon that are exciting.

Happy stitching enjoy before the garden beckons.

Applique is sew divine

Who is passionate about applique?  Who enjoys stitching?  It is the rythmic stitching that makes me feel happy each day.  Who else out there loves to stitch?

Would love to get together with a group of applique enthusiasts. I attended a mariners compass class with Brenda Henning  and here is a photo below.

Fabulous ball gowns galore

Its Balltime and the last year of school for the eldest child.  At times it has been  zip your lips and get on with it, but the day was lovely and Hannah looked beautiful.  A photo is attached.  Queens Birthday weekend and it was lovely not having anything specific to do .  Kate the 5 year old wanted to buy the Queen a birthday present and post it to her.  What a lovely thought!

Moments to enjoy with your children

Its great to remember those rare moments of pleasure you have with your children.  We went to the patchwork shop today and chose some fabric to make little bags with bows and buttons on.  Just a delight to see how they choose their colours.  I will post photos of bags.  I have a stall the weekend of 15th and 16th April to show what I do.  So busy organising stuff and need to get on with posters and handouts.  but a teachers only day today,  wet and cold so an inside day but visited the library for a break and lunch with dad. 

Have a great day.  Enjoy life one day at a time

Stitching Each Day keeps me creative

Goodness can you believe it is the 4th March 2011 wow!  The garden is calling to pull those weeds, and give a drink, however I am torn as to being in the sewing room stitching or out gardening, both I love however a bit each day keeps all happy.  The garage still seems like a bombsite and I am gradually getting around to that also so we can get those cars back in for winter.

Happy stitching make time for yourself every day.

Life put into perspective by Mother Nature

It is with much sadness we learnt of the horrendous quake in Christchurch on Tuesday 22nd February 2011.  Even though we are in Invercargill and all safe and well and no family have been hurt or taken we all feel shocked and dazed along with being unable to help.  Our thoughts are with everyone in Christchurch and we thank all those international  parties who have come a long way to help.

The devastation in Christchurch has hit hard and therefore I cannot be joyous at the moment but I am grateful my family is all well.

Take care and live each day with happy thoughts.

Wow! What a week.

Hello fellow bloggers, what a week its been with three children one a teenager! say no more and finally we have sold our house, it has taken 10 months yeah!  But now amongst my excitment of organising classes I have to finish packing the house, have a garage sale, help shift my mother all in the space of 7 days.  But life is one big party after another!  I have organised the class starting packs and I am trying to get class samples finished.  I think it will be some late nights. 

Sunshine and Stitching

What a fabulous day to wake up to, but you can feel the autumn is coming.  I have been stitching and completing paper work for my classes.  But it is Valentines Day and my husband left a wonderfully wrapped surprise package on my bed for when I got back from school help this morning.  A fabulour Pandora ring with hearts on it!  How lucky I am to have such a wonderful caring fabulous with the kids husband.

Hope to have some photos soon.

Being Brave

Finally I have stepped out of my comfort zone and am about to do what I love!.  Applique, Patchwork Quilting.  Yeah finally!  Yes I am about to take classes and pass on my knowledge I have gained over the last 25 years being addicted to fabric.

I am starting classes on applique which is my first love!  Don't let my husband hear that!  When I work out how to load photos and get around this blogging I will have more to see.