Red Delicious BOM

Here is the latest Red Delicious - two more to go. There will be one more leaf pointing downward that will actually extend into the block below and also a narrow sashing between the blocks, so the third leaf will be appliqued later. Also later will be some embellishment to the three flowers. (Click to enlarge)

Summer Challenge - Inchies (Plus Size)

For our summer challenge this year, we are to make "inchies" only make them one and a half inches. When I was looking on line for examples I found that they called these larger ones "plus size". These are tiny artist trading cards. I think there are about 16 taking part in the project and yesterday I started working on my little cards. These are printed on paperbacked fabric for printing. I first put the backgrounds in my program I use for things like this, then the pictures on top, printed them out and added the batting and a sheet of fabric I had made by scanning a pretty piece of scrapbook paper. Freehand quilted around the pictures and the surface of the inchie. Next, I cut them apart and added the decorative row of stitching, then buttonhole stitched around each one. I am trying to think of something else to embellish the pieces - embroidery is not much of an option as it is too hard getting a needle through. So, I am looking for something to glue on - will come up with something. (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

Last Saturday at our fabric dyeing class, Nancy, our hostess, came out with this very sweet picture of her mother. She reads my blog and mentioned Fashion Friday in regard to this photo. She let me borrow it and bring it home to scan and here is the delightful------- Vida VanPelt Newell, fashionably dressed in a dark, two pieced outfit featuring a ruffled blouse. The jacket appears to have a lovely fur collar and she carries a beautiful fur muff. Like the other up-to-date women of the time period, her hat provides the crowning touch to her chic ensemble.

Added later: (I think I was mistaken that this is Nancy's mother - I believe she is her grandmother.)

Thank you, Nancy, for sharing this really beautiful picture. (Click to enlarge)

Some Flowers - Inside and Out

My hoya plant has been blooming these past weeks - as many as nine blossoms. I took these pictures from beneath the flowers - the first one is getting ready to open and the other in full bloom. They are so pretty the way they hang.Outside my mandevilla (sp?) plant is blooming nicely and outgrowing the trellis. One of the pink flamingos looks over it. (Click to enlarge)

My Polka Dot Girls are Back Again

I'm liking the fabrics in this! They are so very lush and pretty - shabby chic? I am using the layer cake from Moda called Aviary plus a few other pieces that I like with it. This first section still has another row to go. It's going to take quite a while to get all the blocks embroidered - although my friend Barbara has finished embroidering hers. They are gorgeous. Will do another post when I finish the third part of this section, but I was anxious to get this up. (Click to enlarge)

An Afternoon Dyeing Fabric

Yesterday, our guild sponsored an afternoon of fabric dyeing. The class was taught by Janna

who is very experienced with this process and a lot of fun in addition. Thanks, Janna, for guiding us through the ins and outs of dyeing fabric.

Hosting our get together was Nancy who graciously volunteered her backporch for the class.
Thank you so much, Nancy.

Here is Deb looking as if she is enjoying what she is doing. More of the girls intent on the tasks they are working on. Some of the bowls of dye. We used kits and there will be a variety of tones and hues. Here are my ziplock bags ready for the trip home. Mine were called "Prism". This morning I emptied each bag, rinsed the fabric well, then washed it all in the machine in hot water with synthrapol (I think that's how you spell it), dried and ironed it and--------------------- here they are!!! I think they are so very pretty. I know I gave Janna fits when I first started out but I finally caught on and I love the outcome. (Click to enlarge)

Polka Dot Girls

Here is the last of the first three blocks of the first section of PDGs. There is one area that I may want to change and that is the color of the floss for the outline of their faces. Will try the faces first in the next one and see how that goes - then I could change out the color in this block. I do like the reds and pinks, though. I think I am going to go ahead and piece the rest of this section and maybe do the piecing as the blocks are finished. (Click to enlarge)

Today is the class in fabric dying (dyeing?) and I think I have everything gathered up to take along. Looking forward to it and hope I come home with some lovely fabrics!

First of August!!!!!!!! Time flies!!