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| In progress Rosebud Heart Wreath, design by Elly Sienkiewicz |
I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season and that it was the merriest Christmas ever! We were very fortunate to spend a very quiet, low key holiday, surrounded by family and friends.
As usual time has gotten away from me and I was not able to post in time for Christmas. Instead, please accept this tip as a belated gift.
I love to add folded, gathered, 3-dimensional flowers to my applique blocks. I usually prepare them ahead of time so that they are ready to go when I sit to applique. In the case of the Rosebud Heart Wreath pattern (designed by
Elly Sienkiewicz) there are several folded rosebuds - 21 in all. To complicate matters, I chose to do them in 2 colors out of mottled, hand-dyed silk. I wanted a certain symmetry to the layout so I created a mini, portable design wall that I could keep in my sewing basket.
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| Double-sided tape in a manila envelope makes a mini design wall |
I learned to use double sided tape in a manila folder to keep templates organized in class from
Mary Sorensen. Even though I don't use templates in my applique preparation I always remembered this organizing tip and decided to try it out on my rosebuds. It worked like a charm! I played with the lighter colors on top and the darker colors on the bottom, making sure to match both sides of the wreath. When I finally decided on the layout, I stuck the rosebud in place on the tape in the exact order I wanted them to be stitched on the block. The tape held them in place securely until I was ready to applique.
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| Folded Silk and Gathered Rosebuds waiting to be added to applique block |
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| Closeup of Rosebud Heart Wreath, designed by Elly Sienkiewicz |
This is the last block I will be working on this year (for a few days more). Then beginning in January I will switch to embroidery to give myself a break from applique. My goal for 2013 is to embroider the 9 blocks I have stitched thus far and stitch the remaining 4 to complete the 13 block set. I do not have anything planned or ready for the setting triangles but that will be the project for 2014!
From my family to yours - I wish you a happy, healthy New Year with lots of time for family, friends, and stitching!
Best stitches,
Mercy in sunny, warm Miami
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| Happy New Year from the best fabric guard dog ever - Ricky! |
