Quilting With Rural Jardin

I've made a lot of progress on the quilt I'm making with the Rural Jardin fabric line.  All 13 Ohio Star blocks are finished!

I am using the pattern Ginger Belle by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.  I've been working on the Irish Chain blocks this weekend and  hope to have the top completed before I go on my vacation in March.   

Thelma of Cupcakes N Daisies and Nicole of Sister's Choice have been using the same fabric line to make Belle Meade from Bonnie Blue Quilts.  This got me thinking what are other quilters making with Rural Jardin.  (Enquiring minds want to know!)  So I did a little research on the internet and found some fabulous examples on Flickr. 

First, check out this fantastic double wedding ring quilt ( Click on the underlined text to see the pictures - I'll wait while you look; just remember to come back because there's more).  It was made by Nicole Kunze of The Butterfly Net.

Kate Henderson made this variation on a nine-patch.

Sewing Daisies used simple squares to create a woven look - very effective.

I'm thinking of using my scraps (though I'm not sure I have enough - might need to buy more) to make this pattern from Bonnie Blue Quilts called A Quilt For Alice. 

Isn't the internet a great source of ideas!  What did we do before?

Fabric Lust

I was wasting time surfing the 'net and found myself on the Coming Soon section at Fat Quarter Shop.  This is where the site shows soon to arrive fabric collections they have purchased with their customers in mind.  I found a lot to add to my wish list.

Civil War reproductions are not really my thing but I do like the patterns from Bonnie Blue Quilts and this rainbow collection would surely come in handly for something.  This collection is supposed to be in the store this month, so I need to think of a use so I can place an order when it arrives.

The 3 Sisters are one of my very favorite fabric designers.  This collection, called Grace, appears to be their Christmas 2011 collection.  Making another Christmas quilt is on my List, though I'm sure I already have enough in my stash for several holiday quilts. 

Penelope Two is one of the most drool-worthy collections I've seen lately.  It comes in several colorways (red, pink, black) but this pale blue is my favorite.  Check out the panel from the collection.  I even have an idea for what to make using it.   Yardage is already in the shop so I need to figure this out and place an order pronto.

Ready, Set, Snow looks like a very cheery Christmas collection.  I like the clean, clear colors.  Very different from Grace, above.  But I have until May or June to figure this one out.

Strawberry Fields is from Fig Tree, another of my favorite designers.  This one doesn't arrive until May, so again, I have some time to plan.

Oh boy, so much fabric, so many quilts, so little time to sew!

Learn-To-Applique DVDs

I want to teach myself how to hand applique.  Do you know of a good instructional DVD or book?  I found this Piece O'Cake one on Amazon.com and it has good reviews, but I cannot find any information on the actual techniques it teaches other than that it covers both machine and hand applique.

I have a specific project in mind and think the starch method might work.  I made a quilt using the starch method a few years ago but the pieces were large and simple; the new project is more complicated.  My only other foray into applique was Shasta Daisy, made in 2009, using machine button-hole stitch.

If you have any advice, please do leave a comment!

What A Difference A Blade Makes!

For the last few days, I've been working on the second unit for Ginger Belle, the hourglass (or quarter square triangle) blocks that make the points to the Ohio stars. 

I make my hourglass blocks just a tad big and then trim them.  This ensures the blocks are both square and the correct size.  The Ohio star blocks then make up so easily, without any need for stretch-and-sew.

The downside of this construction technique is that the trimming is rather tedious.  I was wondering why it seemed so difficult, then I realized, I probably needed a new blade in my rotary cutter. 

Wow, what a difference that new blade made!  So much easier on the hands and shoulders when you don't need to press down with all your strength!

How do you remember to change your blade?  For a while, I was changing it at the start of each new project but somehow, I got away from that practice.  Must get back into the habit because it makes it all so much easier.

My Basket Over-Flows

I finished all the Ginger Belle 4-patch blocks - all 261!

My basket is overflowing.  On to the next step.

We're Going To Paris

I didn't do as much quilting this weekend as I expected because I was side-tracked by another project - planning our vacation.  We are going to Paris in March, during the school spring break!  It is very exciting!

I've been to Paris before, first when I was nine years old and later as an adult but that was almost 20 years ago.  We have guide books and I know all the major sites that I want to see.  But leave a comment or send me an email if you know of any place I should go that a quilter would love. 

Sew Inspiring Blog

I recently came across the blog Sew'n Wild Oaks, by the talented Lynn Wilder.  It is just loaded with quilting inspiration!  Lynn makes quilts to her own design.  Just look at these:

Madrigal - in fabric from the Luna Notte line by Moda

House on Edgeware Lane

Close-up of the appliqued house block in another colorway

 Lynn used Rouenneries fabric in the original of Heartfire.



Here is Heartfire in pastels from Fig Tree.

And Lynn machine quilts her work on her own longarm.  I urge you to visit her blog and take a look.  be inspired!

All of Lynn's patterns are available at In Between Stitches in Livermore, CA.  And they have a website where you can place an order, if like me, you just have to get to work on one of these designs.  Quilter's Paradise in Clovis, CA carries Party in the Garden and Heartfire. The Quilt House in Gardnerville, NV carries The House on Edgewood Lane.

The difficulty is picking which one.  I think it will be The House on Edgeware Lane for me!