Applique Inspiration in Books!

I'm a huge fan of books...and can spend hours just browsing them and dreaming of things to create! This past week, I've been playing with some applique and that has caused me to pull several inspirational books from my shelves.

Thought you might like to get a quick look...and explanation of why I love these specific books.

Hand Applique with Embroidery, by Sandra Leichner - This first book is the source of the little rose & bird in the above project that I'm presently working on. It is a wonderful book. The author, combines embroidery...detailed embroidery...into her applique items. Not just the standard "stems and such" either...but in-depth additions to every applique piece that really makes her work awe inspiring!

Little Brown Bird by Margaret Docherty - Similar in style to a Baltimore Album type of quilt, this book documents the create of a single...amazing...quilt. The border alone makes me drool as I'd love to recreate this. It is "once in a lifetime" kind of project that I dream about working on. While I'm not a real fan of BA style applique quilts...this border just is the stuff of fantasy.

Floral Applique by Nancy A. Pearson - An older book but my first one that resulted in a love of applique. While no longer available unless you find a copy in a second hand book shop, it is a wonderful source of designs that are large enough for a beginner to attempt. I'm a fan of the style of applique and have used it to create my own "logo" for Shawkl Designs. 

Piece by Piece Machine Applique by Sharon Schamber - While this is a machine applique book...the preparation of the applique pieces is very similar to what I do myself today for hand applique. Just the method of attaching the applique to the fabric background is the real difference. So, the quilt in this book would be a very cool project to do by hand or hand/machine. The colors are vivid and just make me happy to sit and review the photos alone! Plus, Sharon is a "Master Quilter"...seriously, she has been awarded that title (one of few in the USA that has it)...so, what better source for a "how to" reference too!

Do you have favorite appliqué books? I'd love to know what they are...as I can always add to my library. Ha!

New Templates Available!

Embroidery Shape Templates

are here!

Note: Don't be confused...these are NOT the Stitch Templates that have sold out (we have those on back order and I'll post just as soon as they arrive back in stock).

These are NEW and will be the accompaniment to my next book "Dazzling Diamonds" which releases this spring (or before). They are not STITCH templates but rather are SHAPE templates. If you took the BCQC-101 course, you'll easily understand the difference. (and if you missed that class...check out "classes" under the top tab here on the blog for the schedule of courses to begin again next year). :)

This set is a grouping of 5 plastic marking stencils. Each one is 6 x 6 inches in size and contains a variety of shapes to trace...that then become Base Seams in crazy quilt blocks (or other crafts). Just embroider along your traced line to create...curved seams, Holbein seams, etc. There are plenty of seam ideas...PLUS an entire alphabet and numbers 0-9 to help "write" on blocks to embroidery over.

 Here's a seam design with a SHAPE as the base seam...the "curved" part. This would be drawn using these templates...than every thing is stitched on top. In this example the curves were done in Back Stitch..then wrapped in a second color. The French Knot flowers have 4mm ribbon leaves in Straight Stitch; and the large flower is a Woven Rose done in 7mm silk ribbon with 7mm silk ribbon leaves created in Japanese Ribbon Stitch.

Hoping we can keep these in stock...but not sure what the "demand" will so get yours soon! ;)

The template set is available at Creative Impressions and at my Etsy Shop.

Hand Applique like a dream....

I was so happy with the quality of the Clover silk threads that I posted about this week...that I jumped right into an applique project. It will be a wall-hanging...and while I can't share the entire look of it here is a beginning look just the same.

Working with silk threads for applique is the same difference as working with crochet cotton rather than rope! One is so much more pliable than the other...and easier to get into tight corners. The needle I like to use is a #10 milliners because it is thin but sturdy.

While my goal is always to have stitches that don't show at all...my eyes are not what they used to be so I do get a few tiny stitchers here and there. The silk makes this much forgiving than working with cotton...even the thinner 2-ply variety. These photos are REALLY close up, so from a normal distance the work looks even better. Ha, maybe I should stand across the room...and I'd be really happy then. :)

I hope Janet gets these up on her site at Creative Impressions soon! Or, just call her at 1-719-596-4860 to talk with her about which colors you need.

If you are wanting to begin an applique projects...select colors that match as close as possible to the color of your applique piece(s). But, if you want to economise...purchase a medium gray, light gray, and cream. These will be close enough to just about any color to hide sufficiently. Then buy a couple of colors each month..until you have the entire set! I'd go with black next...then greens (there are always leaves to applique)...and then work through each main primary color. 

Sweet Silks!

Just look at all of the beautiful colors! In this white basket, it reminds me so much of Easter and gathering brightly colored eggs. (But alas, we turned on the heat today here at home...so a far cry from Spring weather for sure).

So, I'll have to be content (VERY content) with having all of these pretties to keep me thinking of gorgeous flowers that can be re-created in embroidery as I hunt for my winter sweaters on this cool Autumn day. 

Plus, these are a MUST for hand applique work! They slide through fabric so wonderfully! I so enjoy stitching with pure SILK. If you need silk threads...I totally endorse Clover's brand. Really, Clover is such a great company (nope, not getting any kind of "kick back" to say that)...totally enjoy any product that I get made from this company. Their double needle-threader is one of my most favorite tools!

Silk thread is also great for making fishing lures too..so share this post with any lovers of fishing (friends/family). These specific spools by Clover are available at creativeimpressions.com (though not sure if Janet has them on her website yet...so, if not just give them a call and they can "hook you up". Ha, sorry couldn't resist a fishing pun. :)

with your fishing folks in t

70% Off Sale

This weekend is the Home Coming Football Game for our local high school...so, I'm celebrating with them by having a 70% off sale on my Etsy Shoppe.

ALL E-PATTERNS

&

ALL DOWNLOADs of IMAGES

So, if you do scrapbooking, embroidery, or quilt...join the celebration and get these while the sale is on.

Go Bulldogs!

:)