Traci and Sylvia from Woolin Rouge asked if I would review one of their patterns and I chose their Humming Birdie Table Runner. I interviewed both of them about their new company here and here. Isn't it a cool pattern? I am used to seeing and doing wool applique against darker backgrounds (think primitive designs), so the colors appealed to me. I chose to repeat the trellis blue background on the outer border and am pleased with the overall effect. Above you can see the color I picked for the … [Read more...] about Humming bird Table Runner
Appliqué
Applique in the USA
I am trying to get ahead of the game by working on Christmas gifts. I remember I had two of these blocks from a wall hanging I made a little while ago (and gave to someone, don't remember who, and did not keep a picture...). So, I made another table runner with one heart with stars on each end, and four layer cake pieces in between, separated by sashing. There is only one border, pieced; the backing has the same fabrics pieced in squares. As in my previous project, this table runner is also … [Read more...] about Applique in the USA
Turning your passion into business – Part Two
You read about Woolin Rouge - an online store selling hand dyed wool and quilt patterns - and their creators, Traci and Sylvia, on my previous post. Now you have a chance to read my interview with Sylvia Gauthier and to find out, from her perspective, what it is like to start a business based on something you really enjoy doing. Sylvia brings her own strengths to their new business venture: a passion for sewing and quilting, and her ability to turn Traci's drawings into very cool wool … [Read more...] about Turning your passion into business – Part Two
Turning your passion into business – Part One
Sample hand dyed wool pack from Woolin Rouge Many years ago I was a freelance translator, working with marketing materials and ad copy from English into Brazilian Portuguese. Since I loved what I was doing, was very good at it, was reliable and fast, clients were abundant. After a few years I decided to open my own translation agency. Within two years the agency was profitable, and by the time I sold it to a competitor - some 10 years later - we were translating into over 150 languages, … [Read more...] about Turning your passion into business – Part One
Colorful pineapple blocks
I've been working on a fun quilt with [real] pineapple blocks. Using mostly batiks, I started assembling a square with strips from various fabrics, then ironed fusible web on the back, cut it, and machine appliqued it onto the mottled cream background. The leaves were supposed to be cut individually from different green fabrics. However, due to all the colors I had already used on the fruit, I decided to use the guide for leaf placement in place of many leaves, and chose a single … [Read more...] about Colorful pineapple blocks
Machine applique
This is my other source of relaxation: machine applique. I can't show you the whole quilt as it is for our round robin... The colors turned out so nice, I may even make a quilt for myself with them. I am adding some embroidery on the corners, but am not sure I like the thread I am using (too thick) as the French knots are not turning out right. It looks like a do over... Applique is a great technique to use when the quilt blocks are very geometric, and the whole project could benefit … [Read more...] about Machine applique