More on aeroplane applique.....

My aeroplanes are still on their baking paper..... 

I have now made my lengths of sky but I keep them on the baking paper whilst I set out how I want them to go.....

you can see here that taken off the baking paper the pieces still stick to each other where they have overlapped... this means I can keep my whole aeroplane in one piece......

... and place it on my background and move it around until is is just right.... and then press with the iron to hold firm in place prior to stitching .....

... here is a picture of them all together on the background - all pressed.... next job to sew them... I am going to do machine buttonhole....

 

This quilt is called Up and Away and is by Kids Quilts 

I have used scraps for the planes and the background was in my stash

... and I have another girlie quilt block finished....

Righto, Gotto Go ......  machine buttonhole stitching to do...... so fun....

Preparing Applique.....

When I was shown this way of preparing applique it made such a difference to me....  

Once the pieces are all drawn on the selected fixing medium and cut from the fabric (need to follow instructions given on pattern about this taking note of reversing etc)

we are working on the finished direction of the applique...

I use a piece of baking paper big enough to fit over the picture and clip it so it doesn't move around

then start adding the first pieces (usually the pattern marks which ones to do first)

 ... and building up... gently pressing the pieces onto the baking paper as I go so they don't move

... and more placing and pressing.... having the picture underneath helps so much in making sure the placement of pieces is correct....

 ... and on and on until it is all together.... then give it a good press with the iron...

... it is going to lift off the paper so easily when it is done and cooled but the pieces hold together nicely where they overlap on fabric ...

I like to keep my applique on the baking paper like this right up until I want to add it to the background fabric....

... here I have several of my aeroplanes on the baking paper and taped to my cupboard so I can compare colours as I make some more....

... I haven't negected my girlie quilt though....

Righto, Gotto Go... I need to make some sky for my aeroplanes.....

Happy Mr Postie.....

Sheila is hosting a "Spring" postcard swap ...... let her know HERE if you feel like joining in....

Postcards are a lovely small arty thing to make and a fun way to meet other bloggers and stitchers ....

It's always fun to get something besides bills in the post isn't it... and I have been spoilt recently

Thanks Maria .... this is one of my favourite Anni Downs pictures.... and cutiepie ladybugs

Thanks Marilyn ... that music envelope smells just divine and such a pretty pincushion and matching butterfly card....

... and thanks Marina for these wise words... no seam ripper needed on this... beautifully made and more flutterby's

and thanks Helen for lunch.... smoked salmon with loads of trimmings.... delish... 

(that didn't arrive with Mr Postie!)

I did tell you I have been spoilt didn't I?  xxx

this is another girly quilt block finished.... going round those petal filled flowers is a challenge!

and on the machine I have started to put these blocks together for a wallhanging....

Righto, Gotto Go... quilt club day today.... I'll be working some more on the girly quilt applique ... I hope you will join in with making postcards....

FNSI and a new cushion....

I have always loved crazy patch but never been brave enough to try... so imagine my pleasure when Christine presented me with this gorgeous cushion made with velvet, silk, gold thread and other plushness and indulgence....  just look at all the texture in the different fabrics....

It was lovely to have this with me whilst I enjoyed FNSI with lots of you.... thanks Wendy for having us... vanilla slice is a favourite of mine too!

I stuffed this pincushion.... a UFO which only needed stuffing and stitching up the hole....

... that took 10 minutes or less even though it is quite a bit fat pincushion .....

... then I finished the binding on a secret swap giftie....

... and then I carried on with my pretty girlie quilt applique....

... oh ... and did I mention the size of my lovely little crazy patch cushion?

I have had the fortune to see quite a bit of Christine's beautiful miniature work.... so pleased to have one of my own now.... 

the scissor fob cushion is filled with emery sand so it sharpens the needle too....

Righto, Gotto Go.... need to check on Hubz... he is bottling the Irish Stout today.....

(yes... the brewery is also the laundry!)

Gatecrash....

I took a bit of a road trip yesterday to have some tea and chats with this amazing bevy of ladies...

they were all on a retreat and I kinda gatecrashed their party for the day.....   you may recognise a few of them.... (missed a couple...sorry!)

Thanks ladies... wonderful to see known friends and meet new ones

we went for a walk down the street and I noticed this sign.... 

 ... one wonders what craft there was with a flashing red light.... a couple of the ladies went to look and scurried out quickly with much shaking of head..... 

Michelle surprised me with a lovely parcel.. some oh so pretty teacup fabric with matching birdie charms and a set of hand made cards.... just beautiful... that shabby one was my card and made by the same lady.... also some sweet little handmade tags to add to creations.... thanks Michelle for spoiling me...

I did take some stitching and did a few stitches.... mostly we chatted and I admired beautiful work done by them....

This is another appliqued block for my girlie quilt.... 

of course when one visits a new town and new quilt shops one has to buy up....

yup... I got two skeins of thread for yonder girlie quilt

Righto, Gotto Go.... I want to put in some eyelets and finish off a bag.....

Open .....

Todays word for Alsha's photo challenge is 'open'

This flower grows on a succulent vine which I have always known as a moonflower....

  as it only likes to open when the moon is nice and bright....

only lasts the one night... this is the bedraggled look the next day

they are really quite pretty.....

Thanks for this fun challenge Alsha.... I'm enjoying doing something a little bit different and finding pictures to match words is definitely a challenge for me.... if you feel like joining in the fun just keep an eye on Alsha's blog HERE

I have been doing some sewing... not much to show you but I have quilted around the first section of this doily.... tiny stitches... takes time....

the back looks quite different.....

Righto, Gotto Go.... I am going to play with aeroplanes today ..... fabric ones of course!