Some photo's of the Baltimore Class

Beautiful birds baltimore block - This one was pieced using several methods, the bias circle was machine stitched down, then hand appliqued finished, the birds were done using a lightweight interfacing, bagged and turned through and then stitched down. The flowers, hearts etc were layered over paper templates, tacked, slip stitched down and paper removed from the back. It was finished with a lovely organza ribbon around the outer circle for softness - a really nice block to do and not too difficult.

Finally I am able to post some photo's of the Baltimore blocks, one of my girls took these photo's for her own colour reference and was kind enough to email them to me. Even tho they are not technically well photographed (it was using a phone) I am pleased to be able to show you something of the appliques already done.

This is the first block I had the class do, There are a few ways to approach this one, and after running the class I have decided to replace this block with something else in future.

We used lightweight interfacing, stitched and turned through, then it was to be appliqued down either by hand or by machine, the girls had some trouble turning this one through however so I have had to rethink this block. Even tho the results are nice it isn't my intention for the students to become frustrated by it.

Drawing

It's all Bron's fault, she told me about a lovely quilt she had seen and described it to me which got my mind rolling and thinking and wanting to create. SO naturally I did.

The fact that I had a sore foot meant that I needed to sit and rest it, so this weekend was spent drawing some lovely baskets of flowers so that we might later, be able to stitch them.

I had started off intending to do them rather niave and simple but no - they became quiet a production and very life like. I really think they are going to be hard work to stitch. So do I simplify or do I leave them as is.

Time will tell, getting time to do them will be another thing entirely.

I fell in love with a flying geese block and had to have a play with it in eq6. Pickle dish is another block for a quilt that I have always wanted to do, two colours only, nice.

Charlotte is stitching

Stress, its a real killer, we know that don't we. My darling girl is very stressed at the moment at work and dealing with peoples enquiries about their insurance claims for travel insurance.

I know personally that when I talk to a customer care person I try to remember that they are not personally responsible for my problem/dilemma and in fact are there to try and sort it all out for me if they are able to. My daughter is yelled at on a daily basis and called some shocking names, all because of a few hundred dollars worth of camera or whatever the person is claiming for. And yes, we all know how slow these things can be. But we really need to put them into perspective.

I was very busy with getting things done for class over the weekend (beside having a shocking weekend at the drags, but I am not going there). So as I stitched a small design for a friend and trying to get it started at least so that I could then do the machine sewing at a later date, Charlotte asked if she could do some, well Charlotte is one very neat stitcher and I was delighted to hand it over to her. She was still stitching when I went to bed last night and when I went to my sewing box this morning, here was a note on top with the work I had given her half finished and asking to let her finish it tonight. No problem to me, I love getting the help and Charlotte said she relaxed last night with the stitching like she hasn't been able to relax for ages.

It is a really bad time energy wise at the moment, there is some really odd energy going around and some strange things are happening - hope the moon changes soon or something, lol.

Baltimore on and on

It feels like I have been stitching baltimore's for years but in truth it has only been 4 months. They are so devine, and as I stitch I remember why I love applique soooo much.
It is relaxing, it's medatative and as I stitch I think about the next block and the colours for it. I have done the cornacopia with fruit and will do an eagle block next perhaps.

Having sorted it all out in EQ6 has been wonderful and allows for me to free up more time for sewing. I have some Christmas pressies to prepare too for class as we have decided on a secret santa for this year and will be going out for dinner like last year but at an Italian resturant this time. Should be great fun. I am doing one of Christine Books little cushions with a blue bird stitchery in the middle, I may even turn it into a small wall hanging for the person I have in mind.

I have been buying a little lace and odds and ends to as I explore the mixed media a little more, as I type I have the embroidery machine chugging along stitching a design that I will then take and manipulate, layer, cut and paint add things to and develop into a little wall hanging.

EQ6 and designing Baltimores

Spending time on EQ6 is so much fun, I have found wonderful pallettes of fabrics that reflect my stash rather nicely and decided to see if I could represent some of the blocks I have chosen for the class Baltimore.

The girls wanted sashing and swag borders so this is my interpretation

I have no doubt as I work more in EQ I will find much more to do with it and lots more ideas generated.

Don't ya love it

Hey,

Classes are going wonderfully well, I am having a blast with these baltimore blocks, they are soooo lovely.

And a large amount of french ribbon has come my way, well okay, I had to pay for it but it is so nice and will give my students some lovely ribbon to play with.

I have also been working on Christmas things for class - not something that I have to do every year but I do keep my eye out for interesting things. Christine Book is a wonderful resource for me in this as she does Christmas sooooo well.

Come to think of it, I have not done any stitchery for so long and I am getting a bit of an urge to do some soon. The Baltimore must take precedence tho and even when I go to Margaret Cormacks class on wednesdays I still have to be sewing on the baltimores.

I am embelishing lots more now and have been trying out some flower making both from fabric strips and ribbon. I have also been asked to do some ribbon roses for a flower girls dress, this is in a lovely deep pinky red, the fabric was especially dyed over seas just for this wedding.