I promised

Liebe deutsche Freunde, Ihr könnt oben rechts "Translate ... German" wählen und dann alles in Deutsch lesen. Viel Spaß!

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Sigh, no time for blogging lately. Something has happened though and I HAVE TO write about THIS.

I got mail!
Yesterday I received the complimentary issue of the latest book from DEUTSCHER KLÖPPELVERBAND. On the front page is a photo of my quilted Adventcalendar with the 24 Chrismons in bobbinlace.

I wrote about this project several times. It looks like I had started this project in the beginning of 2014 but I had wanted to do it for a long time. I had started designing the pearls and beads Chrismons (Christian Symbols Christmas tree ornaments) in the early 1990s and would have also liked to design bobbinlace patterns ... but decided that this was over my head.
First blog!
Second blog!

It's a long story how it came about but here it is. I like the under-title "the little bit different advent calendar". The letter which came with it moved me because Maria thanked me with the words that without my idea this would not have happened. Oh how I like to emphasize why we celebrate Christmas and that "Jesus is the Reason for the Season!"

To be honest, I can't remember how I made those 24 "disks" to mount the lace ornaments on but I had promised Maria I would blog about it. In the meantime I have made more advent calendars. Those ornaments are square but the technique is the same. I think it is very easy this way and works well. Much less stress and fiddle work.

You need:

Pellon Flex-Foam 1-Sided Fusible Stabilizer (Style # FF78F1)

Double-sided Iron-on (I use Hotfix Adhesive because the raw edges don't unravel)

Fabric for the front and for the back (cotton is best)

I cut the foam circle 4 inches across. I think I made the lace patterns a little smaller.

Tip: I use the rotary circle cutter. I cut a circle from scrap paper first and make a cut from the edge to the middle (so you can pull it away). I use this circle to find where to place the needle for the middle ... to find out whether the piece of fabric is large enough and to go close to the edges to save fabric.

Lay the foam adhesive side up on the ironing surface and lay the front circle face side up over it (so the foam is on the back side). Mist with a little water and press with the iron. (Only press so you don't move the fabric off the foam.)

Make a cut in the middle of the back side and layer front (with foam) and back right sides together.

When I made this sample I forgot that you might also want to add the ribbon or cord into the layering (loop in the middle with ends sticking out the side)

Sew around with the zipper foot.

Turn! You can trim the seam allowance first if you feel that it needs it. 

With your finger or a turning tool make sure the edge looks nice. 

You might want to take the same back fabric to cover the back with the slits. Iron on double-sided adhesive in the size you about need. Cut a circle, pull paper and iron it on. Done ... except for may be adding the number of the day.

I had made another advent calendar for my church to raffle off this year (similar to another one couple years earlier). Still have to write that blog. Here the ornaments are square but done in the same technique. To hide the cuts in the back I had printed the meaning of each ornament on fabric, added the iron-on and used that. Very effective. In this case the numbers 1 to 24 are in the place the ornament is placed. The advantage is that you can select which one you (or somebody who has a turn) choose for that day and each year the calendar is different. Since you have the explanation there might also be a little discussion. So many possibilities!

Enjoy!

Of course, if you want to know more about Chrismons you should look HERE! This blog is only about Chrismons. Remember you can select the German language in the right top corner.

And now I have time to look at the book. There are 31 of Brigitte Bellon's wonderful Christian Symbol patterns with explanations of their meaning. Also included are the patterns for the numbers 0 to 9. I have always appreciated Brigitte's generosity sharing her patterns. I have already treasured my special advent calendar for some time and will for years to come. It is a big part in our Christmas celebration. 

Thank you, Brigitte Bellon! 

Thank you, Maria Steur and Deutscher Klöppelverband for helping to put Christ back into Christmas.

I treated myself

I had withdrawal symptoms. I felt I had not sewn for a long time. When I saw an email from Block Lotto with the August project I had to take a little while to do it. Surprisingly it didn't take long to make. Here is the link to the State Fair pattern.    The block is 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches (unfinished).

The center is appliqué. Do you like it? I do!

I needed this today. It has been one of those days. 

Cotton Robin Reveal!

Finally I can show the photos. This is my 4th year to participate in the Cotton Robin. I have to wait until the BIG REVEAL on that site before I can upload mine. 
But first, do take a look at all the starting centers!

My Center

It would be perfectly acceptable to just use an orphan block but I have too much fun with this. I saw this pattern on a website and bought it. I am not buying patterns often but I could not resist. The center is supposed to be about 9 x 9 or 8 x 10 inches. 

It was supposed to arrive at the next person before February 28.

It was a paper piecing job. Only the second time for me to use this technique. Here the back side.

I texted the photo to Helen and she texted this photo back. "Looks just like June!!!" Helen has 6 chickens which are laying very nice eggs for her. We call them "the ladies".

I mailed my center to Allison in TX on February 21.

Center with one border

Next day I received the center block from Glen in Louisiana. I had to put it up on my design wall and contemplate what to do. She put a lot of work into it. Don't want to spoil it for her.

Laurina, the organizer, said that the borders don't have to be equally all around. The borders could be on only two sides for example. She encouraged us to be creative. So, here is what I did. 

I packed it up and posted that I was mailing it the next day but was told that I should wait a little because I was too early. Nobody should be overwhelmed ... if one projects arrived late and the next early you could have two at the same time. Finally mailed on March 19 to Traceyann in Canada.

Center with two borders

The next center with one border arrived Monday April 8 from Marie in New Hampshire. I put it on the design wall to ponder what to do. A lot going on in this block.

It was a difficult decision but I decided to do more trees. For another project years ago I had made this sample but it was too big so I made another drawing (on the right).

I ran out of some of the material. I also thought it needed something in the top right corner so I made the sun. I read that the owner had received her little quilt and was really happy about it.

Layering, quilting and binding 

When I got this one with two borders I had no idea what to do. I am not really a "modern" quilter. I didn't even know what was up or left and right. 

I decided that it needed quilting which calmed the design and pulled everything together. I always wanted to try this quilting with a walking foot. I was very happy about the result.

Since we were leaving on our 5 week trip at the end of May I had to be finished before the deadline which was June 13. The owner of this little quilt lives near London, England. I emailed her to ask whether she wanted me to mail it from the USA or from Germany or from Scotland or from England when I was in those places. She said she would rather wait instead of risking that it gets lost in the mail. Yes, we had some errant mail this year within this group. I finally mailed it from Germany. It arrived soon and she loved it. She said she could not decide herself which way was up either and there was a family vote.

And with everything done now all we have to do is wait for all the little quilts to arrive at their homes. I found this on the Cotton Robin side. Well done!

My chicken has come home to roost.

When we came home from our trip on July 5 my little quilt was waiting for me. It is a bit on the colorful side but we both really like it. And it is already mounted on its place with 2016 (Dresden plate), 2017 (bird) and 2018 (elephant).

And finally...

Everybody has received their little quilt and Laurina, the organizer, has posted THE BIG REVEAL. 

Kate's bed runner

Last year when Kate and David visited I asked whether they would like something quilted. Kate said immediately that she knew exactly what. They had a store-bought quilt on their bed but it was not practical because it was too large. They just needed something for the foot-end. I was happy to hear that. Their bedroom color is light purple. That was a bit more difficult since I don't really work with that color.

By chance soon after their visit in Virginia James and I visited England and also visited them. Before we left I asked Kate whether I could see her bed room because there is a wide variety of purple. She laughed and said she wondered whether I had forgotten about it. Oh no. We decided on the size it should be and I wrote it down. I also took some pictures to help with color choices.

Back home I went to a fabric store and mailed three color samples to Kate. She thought all would be ok. But I still had trouble deciding on a pattern. I had a panel with birds though I really wanted to use. I knew that they love birds.

I was very happy when I finally had figured it out. Log cabin. Different purples with different greens to pull the birds in. James went twice with me to a quilt store to select the fabrics. We both had fun. 

And we both were happy with the result when the top was finally pieced and ready for the longarmer. 

After that all it needed was trimming and the binding. Hand sewing of course for the last step.

And of course we are always told that you should never forget the label for posterity. 

And then on May 3 dear James brought it to the post office. I said to James: "I hope they like it". His reply: "Surely they will and if they don't they only have to put it on the bed when we visit". Love his humor. 

And yes, they received it. And yes, they like it.

Can't tell

I have done not much lacing or sewing lately. I did work on Cotton Robin things but can't show yet. The big reveal is usually in July. I had mailed my center, received somebody else's center and put the first border around and mailed it. Two days ago I received another center with the first border and now should put a second border around. It's on the design wall and I try to decide what to do. It's fun.

I also have worked on the bed runner quilt I promised to make for Kate and David in England. I am quite pleased with it. James likes it too and encouraged me to let the quilting done by a longarmer. That's were it is now. Again, can't spoil the surprise.

I did go to the Hospitality Chapter monthly meeting April 3 (every first Wednesday) of the Richmond Quilt Guild though. It was very informative even though quilts which are so repetitive are not my thing any more. I like now quilts were something is going on ... most of the time. Still, I liked seeing them.

The quilter/speaker was Laura Blanchard. When I realized you can see her designs on her BLOG and from there on her website, I only posting here a few of the photos I took. 

I did like the combination of simple piecing with the appliquéd leaves. She showed a quilt and a table runner in different colors.

 I liked how she showed how one block can be arranged to a lot of different patterns just by the way you arrange them.

She passed cards around for us to get more ideas.

I start liking green and purple. You see why in a future blog.

She also mentioned that she likes to use this invisible thread for quilting, top and/or bottom thread.

She also likes to use double-sided fusible batting for table runners and mats. 

On the following Monday the Colonial Lacemakers met at my house. Unfortunately we were only three. Two more could not come at the last minute because they got sick. Most of the time we meet in Williamsburg (hence "Colonial") which is an hour drive ... for me to them ... or for them to me.

I felt encouraged to work on one of my long-term projects. When did I start this? How long should the scarf be? Keep going until the thread runs out on one bobbin.

The CR quilters met Tuesday. These are friends in my community. As always a lot of show+tell. I only took a few photos. Janet and Becky took a class how to make these with a flatlock seam on a serger. I want to research whether I can do that on my serger (which I have not used in at least 10 years). The fabric is fleece and so cuddly.

I hope I feel more energetic soon ... when this cold/cough is out of my system. I have so many UFOs and so many ideas and designs in my head. Sigh!