Where did the year go? Again...

Well, here we are again.  It's the end of October and I haven't posted anything since May.

I'm not sure anyone even still reads blogs, but I do love documenting and sharing my sewing adventures.

My "Chirp!" project is on target to be finished by the end of the year. Probably not quilted, but the top will be done.

A block update:

Are they cute, or what?

I cut one block too small (of course). Fortunately, it's the center block, so maybe no one will notice?

There was no way I was going to redo it!

Euphoria Quilt

It's been a while and I've worked on quite a few projects since then.

My current addiction is needle turn appliqué and this project:

The pattern is from a book named "Euphoria Tapestry Quilts" by Deborah Kemball.
I haven't done hand appliqué in ages, so this is a bit of a learning curve for me. I'm using the back basting method which I think is my favorite. Much less prep than some of the other techniques.

So far I've only made one panel:

I don't think I'm going to make the entire quilt but there is a smaller version in the book which I may be able to handle.
My quilt will be made using mostly Moda Grunge fabric. Deb's quilts are silk!
A couple of detail pics:

I love that there are some embroidered details.

If you'd like to follow my progress be sure to follow the Twiddletails Instagram feed.

(If you're a Temperature Quilt follower, I'll be posting an update soon. Life (and the quilt) has gotten away from me a little. The best laid plans...)

Temperature Quilt Along - Week 2

It's the second Friday of 2019! I can already tell this year is going to fly by way too quickly.

As seems to be the case in many places, it's been unseasonably warm in Iowa. I have a whole bunch of pretty purples I'm aching to use, but it may not happen until the end of the year.

Here are my blocks for January 4-10:

And all sewn together!

I've had a little change of heart regarding my layout. I was going to go left-to-right and row-by-row like reading a book, but after some deliberation, I think I am now going "snaky".

Yesterday I spend a little (OK, more than a little) time making a video showing how I make my appliquéd circles. It includes sharing all the tools I use.

You can find the video over here or in the sidebar.
I've also added a couple of little starter kits to the Etsy store if you're interested.

Now, let's share!
(If you have any trouble with this linky thingie, please let me know. I haven't done this in a while and I have a feeling Instagram may still be the best way to go.)
1. Be sure that, when you are filling in your information in the Linky form below, you include the URL to your specific post or photo, not just your main blog or profile address. I need the address of the page where your photo and/or post is, not the whole account.
2. You can share blog posts, Instagram posts, Pinterest posts, and photos on Flickr. You CANNOT share Facebook posts.
3. Please include the following link in your post, which will allow everyone to see our shared posts: https://twiddletails.blogspot.com/2019/01/temperature-quilt-along-week-2.html
4. And...please use the hashtag #tempquiltalong.
Inlinkz Link Party

Making Circles for Appliqué

Since I last posted I've completed almost two of the 4 appliqué blocks for the Oopsie Daisy quilt.
I also discovered that I "only" have to make 84 petals, not 86 as I previously thought. Phew, what a relief!

A photo posted by Twiddletails (@twiddletails) on Nov 17, 2015 at 7:49am PST

The center of each little flower is a circle. I thought I'd share my method for making perfect (or as perfect as I'm going to get them) circles.

You'll need: a circle template in your preferred size - something sturdy like plastic or cardboard, spray starch - I like Mary Ellen's Best Press, an iron, needle and thread and, of course the fabric you want to make the circles out of.
My preferred templates for circles are Karen Kay Buckley's "Perfect Circles". There is an assortment in each package with multiples of the same size. You should be able to find these at your LQS. You can, of course, make your own templates, but I find I can never cut them perfectly smooth.

1. Place the template on your fabric and trace around it, using a disappearing or washable marker. Cut out, leaving a scant 1/4" seam allowance - smaller if you're making really small circles. I don't think it really matters whether you trace on the the wrong or right side of the fabric since you're going to have to get rid of the markings anyway but, if you'd rather not deal with it, trace on the wrong side.

2. Run a basting stitch all around the circle about midway through the seam allowance. My stitches are about an eighth of an inch long. Leave thread ends at least 3" long to make the next step easier. Ensure that both thread ends are on the right side of the fabric this time. Pleace the template back into position on the wrong side of the fabric.

3. With the template in position, pull on the two loose thread ends, gathering the fabric around the template. Tie the threads in a single knot.

4. Now for the tricky part. Spray the bottom of the circle with starch. Pull the two thread ends in opposite directions with two fingers, thereby tightening the gather around the template.While holding on to the thread ends, press the circle with a hot iron until the the starch has dried.

You should now be able to let go of the threads and your circle will hold its shape.

5. Flip the circle over and spray the other side with starch as well. Press until dry.

6. Carefully remove the template and thread. I like to starch and press the circle on each side one more time after this to ensure that it will hold its shape until it's securely appliquéd to my block.

Voila! A perfect(ish) circle!

Don't Look Now Patterns

I'm happy to announce that I'm the first US distributor of Kellie Wulfsohn's Don't Look Now patterns. I'm very excited since this will mean that quilters over here will be able to get the patterns without having to pay the shipping from Australia.
If you haven't seen her work, hop on over to her blog. She's AMAZING!

Remember that little flower quilt I made last week? Well, that was me trying to get a sample made before the patterns arrived. Alas...

Pretty 'n Pink


Garden Party


Meg's Garden


She has a special offer for the first person to purchase one of her patterns from me - a free pattern. (Just scroll down on her post a little for the details.)

Off to go package Rainbow Jane kits.

Slow and steady...

...wins the race, right?

I started the "A Tisket A Tasket" BOM five months late and now I'm six months behind.
Oh well.

Lime, prizes...and chaos

The follow up to "Orange"...


And the winners of the pincushion drawing are...
Pat from Bits and Pieces who gets the flower pincushion
and
Penny who wrote "Congrats on your 201st! I love looking at the things you have created!" for whom a little strawberry is waiting. Please contact me Penny. I have no contact info for you.

It's hectic around here.
My mom went home yesterday,
the house is a mess, I haven't cleaned or organized anything in 6 weeks,
the laundry is piled to the ceiling (well, not quite),
the bathrooms have to be cleaned,
Josh is coughing himself half to death and his first school formal is tonight, which really sucks,
I have to go get flowers for the "date", since "Mr. Barky von Schnauzer" (have you seen that ad on TV?) has been too sick to do it himself,
and I have things to return to the store before it's too late.

Don't worry, I'll survive. Just send some organizational thoughts this way please...

Orange

Remember my orange obsession, obsession, and obsession? Well, I think it's b-a-a-a-c-k...

It's early and dark. Photo's are nearly impossible to take, but this is my plan for this:

Fall...

This was one of the very first quilts I made. I don't think I would pick this pattern today, but it still holds warm memories and I love taking it out every year.
It is machine pieced, and hand appliqued and quilted.

(click on the photo if you want to see more detail)