Personalized heart

The New Year arrived with many expectations.
The great news here: I am totally recovered from shoulder pain. I promise never stop making exercises and take a rest every hour when sewing or sitting in front of computer.
By the way if somebody has such problem don't hesitate to write me for support. I have collected many useful videos with exercises which are helpful.

So the new pattern arrived right for Valentine's day.
If you like to make happy your beloved one make a cushion with a heart personalized by his letter.

The pattern is designed with letter A and you can download.
Need another letter?
Simply add a message after purchase and I will send manually.

What about making a bunting flags with the letters of whole name?
Do you know that one of most popular names in USA is Ava?

You can put inside any letter from the funny alphabet.

The heart is made as a frame and it is easy to put inside any picture if you don't want to add a letter.

Enjoy sewing!

More than happy

Do you remember my quilt 20 blessed years and the story behind?
Today I am sew satisfied.
Today is the anniversary date and She gave Him the quilt.
I don't say anything, just put here the words She wrote and the picture of happy owner with two girls.

He loves it and it brought a tear to his eyes. So lovely thank you thank you. Cx

 
 My lovely friends, I wish you to live many, many years  in LOVE and harmony!

Tessellating Hearts pattern

I love tessellation. Each time I can combine shapes in tessellation mode I am happy.
One month ago started design an anniversary quilt.
What is the most suitable shape than a heart. But not common simply heart already known.

I think to change some of the hearts with pictures of the mutual life during all 20 years. 20 hearts for 20 Years.
When test the pattern I make a placemat. Fast and easy work.

It is based on 6 inches block.
The pattern is very versatile so you can add so many block you need to have the desired size.

 Great scrap buster, easy to sew.

My quilt will be based on 12 inches block. It is easy to enlarge or I will add the measures for 10 and 12 inches blocks at the pattern soon.
Would be glad to see your comments below.

Memory quilt warms the heart

What days were passed away!

I have finished the memory quilt for my Mum jubilee.
Last two weeks my thoughts and actions from morning till evening were dedicated to making a present.
I decided making such quilt in July when cleaned a wardrobe full of old clothes - a skirts given her as a wedding gift , some blouses and jackets, a dress, a costume I have sewn for her for my brothers' wedding.

I have seen many memory quilts and waiting for an ocassion to make one.
Especially like Sherri Lynn Wood from Daintytime.
It is great pleasure to do improvisational quilts so the fun began.
I put my mum's favorite music in the player and keeping her in mind began cutting and sewing.
I remember many days spent together, lessons I have learned, my childhood.
Here is what has happened.

The very first block was made from her favorite blouse.
Embroidered flowers surrounded by tiny pieces from other blouses.

Next one was first my patchwork block I have ever made - Marple leaf.
This time made using rotary cutter, ruller and mat. How easy is to make it now instead of using scissors.

And cute accent with buttons and yo-yo. One of the button is from my fathers jacket :)

Mum like yo-yo so much a year ago and I taught her to make them.  She decorated some cushion covers.


Mum loves gardening. She adores flowers and trees so many blocks were quilted such FMQ.

 

For the back I collected a wedding gift dated more then 50 years ago.
The time left only 3 small holes so I repaired them quick by small applications.

And of course added a pieced heart with embroidered date of the birthday.

Sweet dreams under this quilt dear Mum.
I am sure the memories and our love will warm you.

A Thank you pouch

I discovered ELMER glue.
It works good for me.
And the way it came to me is a little bit funny. A friend of mine living in the USA came back for a month, so I asked her to bring me a bottle to try.
I have received 4 bottles as a birthday gift.
Now she has a birthday. Guess what she received - a thank you pouch.

 The back

Another idea to use letters and hearts - I have paper pieced them and added denim fabric around.

Mug rug with FMQ - tutorial

You like very much free motion quilting, but are not sure you could make it.
Quilting on scraps sandwiches look not attractive idea. Then try to make  mug rugs with different motifs and shapes.

Yesterday was 14 of February so I made it as a gift for a friend with Golden Heart (used golden thread when quilting heart).

Cut a piece of fabric 10" x 6" or get something nearly this size.
 Lay the back fabric 11” x 7”  right side down, bating 11” x 7”and this piece.
Sandwich three layers with basting stitches.
 Later you can use safety pin for basting but now you would feel more comfortable  with thread basting.

Use running stitch to make a heart on the right side - the shape is free. This will help you when reach the area with FMQ.

Put the darning  foot and quilting needle (optional). Drop the feed dogs. Thread the needle a black thread.

On a piece of paper try to draw shapes - triangles and quadrangles. This will help you later when began drawing by machine.

Begin stitching from the left side - I began at down corner.
Cover all the surface. Don't worry about the shapes.
Keep in mind to make straight lines.
A the end you will have something like a web.

With a color thread (mine is orange) began stitching parallel lines.

Choose another shape not so close to this to repeat.
To avoid permanent changing of bobbins and upper thread I filled 3 or 4 shapes this way.
Thread another color and do FMQ. Notice that each time I fill different direction - parallel to the black sides.
Make this exercise till you fill most of the shapes. I leave some of them blank.

I decided to finish with a thread for knitting. I have red about this method but haven't remember where.

Draw a line for the place of the thread.
Set your machine to zig-zag stitch. Change the foot.

 Place the thread under the foot and began stitching following the drawn line.

Stop when reach the corner in needle down position, pivot , turn the threat without cut and follow stitching.
When come to the beginning cut the edges and finish zig-zag.
Carefully trim the excess fabrics and batting with scissors.
Repeat zig zag stitching along the edge once again.
You are finished.

Look at the back. I have the same picture.
If you want to have an embroidered logo at the corner as I did you have to do this a the very beginning - before sandwich the mug rug.

P.S. 

 OMG! I have found the site I have red about the Edge finish tutorial.

If you have not understand my explanations ;)

Love is...

The idea to show different faces of love became a reality.
Nice wall hanging with hearts and the word LOVE at the bottom.

There are different hearts - Yo-yo, stripped, wonky, crazy, french braid, broken heart, patched heart and double hearts.
Put the hearts in attic window pattern seem like they are in a box - I want to store them in a safety place.
I designed the patterns and had so much fun to make a wall hanging.

Love has different faces. Sometimes it hurts, but always it is a great feeling.
At the beginning it is like an embryo, so shy and small.This is the yo-yo heart.
Then began walking on straight roads, sometimes winding, sometimes it is crazy.
Sometimes Love is colorful and vivid and so tidy that all happiness of the world is only for you.
And suddenly comes first lie, scandals and broken heart.
"Patch" the wound and you are ready to looking for the next true love.
When you find it both hearts beat together. Till the end of time.

The Saint Valentine is here next month. You can buy the paper pieced pattern here.