Remember Escher

Have you ever seen this amazing picture?

 Or this one

They were created by M.C Esher - famous dutch artist.

 I have seen the pictures earlier, but lately fall in love with tessellation.
Some quilts have the same design.
I tried to make a simple pattern.

I was wandered Escher was born today.
You would say: Everybody has a birthday.
Amazing fact is that I have birthday, too.

Happy birthday to me!

"The islands" swap in the group

This is the first swap I participated ever.
When the theme was offered I was a little bit wandered, but definitely know what to do.

"Surrounded islands" is a project of famous Christo 
Amazing work of an amazing artist.
Inspired by this photo I made a fabric picture.
For the islands I used small pieces green, brown,yellow loke a real surface.
Surrounding fabric is pink silk similar to the photo and shining at the sunlight.

 Quilting is a challenge - I want to show different shades of  water and remember geographical maps with its lines. So look what happened at the end.

I received very interesting coasters like old maps with signs on them and dotted sea around.
Some coins - parts of ancient treasury and cute octopus pincushion.

When comes the next swap:)

Baby shower set

I was invited to a baby shower and had to sew something in one day..
I had knew about the birth and think I have time to make a quilt.
Alas! I had to finish another project and have limited time.
This is the fastest project I ever made.
Baby shoes and a bib with the same fabrics.

The bib is my design.
The baby is a little boy.  Like two fabrics for the shoes, but have buttons for checked one.
Add recycled jeans for the soles and inside. The shoes are so cute.

And so small.

From the rests designed a bib. It is very easy to sew.

Paper pieced first letter of the name -  I offer the entire alphabet here.
For fastening I add a magnet button - more safety than velcro tapes.

Quilt by hand - running stitch round the letter and within 3 hours I was finished.
Waiting for pictures of the little boy with shoes I show you this one.

How to change the size of a block

Recently I have received many questions about how to change the size of a block. One quilter asked me to enlarge the block and send it back to her, but
Adobe Acrobat allows you to print at different percentages yourself.  

If you want to reduce the size, it's easy to do. If you need to enlarge the block, it's a little harder because the block is arranged on four sheets and you have to cut them out and stick them together. One easy way to change the size is to print the block and photocopy at whatever percentage you want.

Beth from PieceByNumbers gives a very convenient table for enlarging or reducing a 6" block pattern. If the original block is 4", use the following table to change the pattern to your desired block size

If you need other sizes, you can calculate with the following formula. I have  written examples. The formula helps you no matter what size the original block is.

Is the block square? Never mind. Measure one of the sides and calculate the percentage for copying.

It doesn't matter which one.

If you still have questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

With a little help from my friends...

This is the famous Beatles song.
I am very happy with my friends, so title my post so.
One month ago  I received two lovely pieces of fabrics from Elnora.
They are newspapers prints on fabric in red and black version.

I like them very much and began thinking what pattern to create.
I was inspired by painting of another friend of mine.

I remember my childhood when had making newspaper boats and put them on water for sailing.
We were so happy! We didn't know they are called Origami.
But now I know definitely  - I will  make an Origami boat pattern!
Here it is.

I folded a real boat from double side color paper with printed text on it.
Like in a real model I followed the orientation of the text.

Lavender sachet with paper pieced flower - tutorial

This small bag has collected the sweet scent of lavender flowers.
The sachet is full of fragrance.
Great for drawers to keep underwear fresh.
Simply put the lavender sachet in the wardrobe to prevent the clothes.
I made this Little lavender sachet with simple paper pieced flower on it.
Measures approximately:
4" (10 cm) squire

In fact it is easier to sew paper foundation method wit such small pieces.

You will need:

• some scraps fabrics
• 4 1/2 " squire fabric for the back
• lavender flower - about 30 grams
• 8 " ribbon - optionally

Step 1. Paper piece the flower following instructions and pattern from here. Trim 4 1/2" square.

Step 2. Cut a piece of fabric 4 1/2" square. It could be different color from the top.

Step 3. Sew two pieces right side together. Don't forget to leave 2" opening for turning the sachet.

Step 4. Trim the corner and turn.
Step 5. Fill with lavender flowers and stitch blind stitch the opening.

Shake sachet from time to time to force the scent.


You want to add ribbon to hang in the wardrobe? Look at this picture.

It is very easy to do.
After Step 2 you should insert the ribbon.
Cut  2 pieces of ribbon 4" each.
Get the back fabric and stitch in the corner on the right side 1/4"from the edge.

Then follow with Step 3.


FUTURE USAGE!
After some months when the fragrance of lavender disappear you can fill the bag with cotton and use as a nice pincushion!

Birds of a feather...

Didi you remember a butterfly coaster I made for Sew,mama,sew?
Yesterday I thought it is better to make a friend of this butterfly.

Some time ago I found this beautiful pattern and  decide to try.
Reduced a little to fit first coaster and started.
It turned out this was a very brave action :) I have to sew little pieces and wavy lines.After one hour I have finished the butterfly.

For the back side I used the same dotted fabric. Added hand stitches to look like the first coaster and bound the same way.

The final look.

Tea or coffee, please!