A rose by any other name ...
March 11, 2006 at 8:13 AM
by Ashleigh
Rose Applique - Blackbird Designs Rhubarb and Ginger fabrics
'What’s in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet; '
I'm having a brief segue from cross-stitching to quilting. I spent last weekend binding a huge quilt for my bed and when the last few embellishments are done on some of the interior squares I'll share a picture. The quilt is machine quilted with the exception of about six blank cream squares in the centre panel of the quilt which I intend to hand quilt using a contrasting thread. It should look great!
In the process of making this quilt, (which was much too big and a real pain to maneouvre), I learnt some interesting things, like how to make continuous bias binding with the help of these wonderful directions and instructions. Bias binding has uses in finishing off your cross-stitching too so take a look - its well worth the time.
Today's picture is from another quilt which I started making yesterday. This one has a Rose of Sharon appliqued bouquet in the centre of each block, surrounded by sashing and posts (which stand at the junctions of the sashing).
The photo is of one of the posts. I decided to applique the posts first to get into the habit again before moving onto each of the blocks. The fabric is Blackbird's Rhubarb and Ginger and the pattern is called Amaretto Rose from the Vintage Spool. You can see some of the other Vintage Spool quilt designs here. I bought my pattern from Carlene at Aunt Lenie's Attic. She has fantastic products and excellent service. I heartily recommend her!
The roses are appliqued in layers using a technique known as needle-turn applique. You hold or pin the item to be appliqued in place and then fold under the seam allowance as you go by turning the seam with your needle before each stitch. It gives a wonderfully primitive look to the applique. In this block I purposely used cream thread for the applique as I wanted the quilt to have an 'imperfect' look.
I've made another quilt using this technique. Perhaps I'll share a photo sometime.
I have worked on my exchange projects this last couple week and two are finished, the third has the stitching finished but the finishing isn't done. I plan to do that today. This leaves only two exchanges, neither of which I have the details for yet, so I have no need to worry about them. In between I started working on Amy Mitten's Margaret Muir sampler, but its going slowly and right now I feel more like quilting so I'll alternate between the two.
Joe seems to be feeling okay, although he is exceptionally naughty at the moment. Do you think playdoh up the nose could cause one to have a personality change? ;) And me? I've been trying to rest more. Its snowing today and we have judo and gym this morning. I plan to walk for 30 mins at a really slow pace on the treadmill.
Some other startlingly good news is that I found a quilt shop in my neighbourhood! I have lived here three years and had no idea it existed until I attended the Handwerkbeurs with a friend, and a friend of hers told me about it. Subsequent to that I mentioned it to a neighbour and she was like 'oh, didn't you know? sorry, love, I thought you knew'!
So yesterday I intrepidly set off in the car and was completely overjoyed to find out that first of all, not only is there a quilt shop, there is also free parking and there is a pet store just across the road, not to mention some other cool shops. Until I got a car I never realised how strong the lure of free parking could be ;)
I left the shop with some freezer paper, quilt stencils, a new cutting blade for my rotary cutter (which is much improved as a result), some air erasable pens, a quilt square, a new leather thimble and some quilting thread.
For the Americans reading, do you know how much freezer paper sells for here? Its a whopping 1 euro (that's around $1.19) per METER (just under a yard)!
ie. that which you get in a roll from the supermarket is sold by the meter in the quilt store at extortionate prices!
And on that happy note I'll leave you. Have a fantastic weekend. We'll be enjoying our north-easterly wind and the snow which came with it.
Comments
Hi Ashleigh, love your foray into patchwork! I am responding to your message on my blog re having some linen for me. I can't find your email address to send you my postal address, so could you email me direct (mine is available) so I can reply - thanks in advance!
Ashleigh, your appliqued rose is superb!! I don't quilt myself, but am a great admirer. :D
So, you can't buy freezer paper at the market in the Netherlands? Wow! Expensive stuff!
Ash.. that rose is lovely!!
I'm loving watching your quilting foray - I have an applique quilt to do, that I have all the fabric and patterns for (from a pattern/fabric of the month club once) ... but haven't attempted starting it yet ... one day ... :D
Beautiful applique! I love needle-turn applique. And I think your choice of thread is very charming.
Ash, I know who I'm going to for advice when I get busy with my little quilt project!
So it's NE wind? I noticed it was really cold when I stepped outside just now.
Take care, and keep trying to rest!
March 11, 2006 9:19 AM