Applique tips from the applique queen

Good day folks!

Today, I'm working on new designs for both general sale AND the new set of Monthly Mini's (series #5) that are due to release at Fall Quilt Market in Houston.

One of the new designs has a large and sort of detailed snowflake.  Now, I like to keep my design shapes simplified so that they are easy to machine applique.  Although this particular snowflake has more  . . uh what's the word I'm looking for . . . . detailed edges, it is still relatively simple.  Okay, how about one notch up from simple?  Here's a sneek peek and you'll see what I mean.

I thought this would be a great opportunity to show you my actual applique process with a little video showing me doing just this.  That, and I got a new ipod last week (fancy schmancy) and it's so damn cool that I got the genius idea to take progress pictures and video of my work today.  Yeah - I'm sure I'm the first quilter to use my ipod to demonstrate - I was a child prodigy - always ahead of the curve . . . just ask my Mom.  HA!

So - I'm inserting the video here & I hope you can view it - if not please holler at me, cuz I'd love to hear your feedback.  If you can't view it . . . well then a genius I am not. HA!  Please let me know, though, because I tested it and could watch it once and then when I opened the blog again to view it - it wasn't working.  You are my guinea pig - lucky you.

When I'm appliqueing, I stop and turn many many times - especially when a shape has small curves which I can't maneuver around while in stitching motion.  This snowflake is the best example of how I take a few stitches (always stopping with my needle on the right, at the edge of the shape) stop with my needle in the down position (very important to choose that option on your machine when appliqueing) lift my foot, turn the entire project, lower the foot, and continue stitching.  By always stopping with your needle in the DOWN position and at the right of your shape, you won't get the "V" shaped stitches in your blanket stitching.  Oh, yeah I forgot to mention that I always use the blanket stitch - it's my favorite.

This snowflake shape is white, but I didn't want to use a white thread as it will just blend with the fabric.  I want the edges of my flake to POP, so I'm using a very light blue thread.  It's just enough that it will give the snowflake edges definition, yet it blends or rather, compliments the white fabric nicely.

So, that's it - my brilliant applique tip!  Seriously though, I hope you find this helpful.  I know lots of people who are scared of machine appliqueing and as long as you follow the steps I gave above, you should be machine appliqueing up a storm in no time.

Til next time, thanks for peeking in on me.  Hope you enjoyed this.

~Julie

My home work studio

Here is my home work studio.  Wow - look at how clean and organized it is!!!  Yeah, sure, organized -  that's the ticket - - a little Saturday Night Live humor there.  Just skip over it if you don't get it.  (grin).

This is where I work when I'm home.  

I like to follow the blog of Whimsicals and a while back she posted pictures of her design studio which is a room in her house.  I enjoyed seeing where she comes up with all her brilliant designs and thought 'what a good idea - take a picture of your work space for folks to see'.  So here you have it.  You may notice there is not a sewing machine in sight . . . . that's because I only get it out when I'm working on designs.  

This is the first time I've had a nice home office - now that I live with my honey in St Lucas, Iowa - an hour from the Patch Abilities office -- I can and need this great home workspace.  Plus, now that my good friend Liz has become a confident quilter, I am realizing the importance of getting together with your gal pals for a little retreat. =)

So - now that my handsome fella, who's a carpenter, has finished this great space for me, I can  . . . . proceed to . . . . spread my crap everywhere!!!!!  Right ladies??!!!!!  Yahoo - what a trip!!!  Yesterday I brought home my sewing machines, all my sewing goodies and even bought a couple new cutting mats and rotary cutter for to spread across my space - -=)  I'm smiling from ear to ear as I type the words!!!!! 

This summer, I must confess, I haven't been able to work on any designs.  And let me tell you, with fall market approaching at a scarily rapid rate - I need to get the creative juices flowing . . .no not flowing . .. gushing!  They must gush out designs - - oh that almost sounds icky - - don't you wish you were here??  Again, uh yeah sure that's the ticket.

Well, at least you'll be able to picture me slaving away, here in my home office, tirelessly creating new designs for Patch Abilities fans everywhere.  

Till next time - thanks for peeking in on me.

~Julie

Summer Storms

 The Summer skies bring many smiles to my face.  One being the sunshine, which just makes the edges of my lips curl up into an uncontrollable smile.  The other, is the thunderstorms.  I have found that people either love or hate thunderstorms.  I happen to be a lover of them - I have my Mom to thank for that.  I vividly recall a severe storm when I was around the age of 5 or 6 and we lived in Waterloo, Iowa in a big 2-story house.  I remember it being severe because Mom hauled my little brother and I to the basement - which was rare, as she usually took us out to the front porch to watch and feel all the excitement of leaves rushing past in the wind, lighting and thunder crashing all around us, and then the drenching rain - - and don't forget the smell of that rain -- ahhh.  Well, this particular storm was a big one and away to the basement we went.  We saw neighbors lawn furniture fly past the windows down the alley, as we could see thru a small basement window.  When the storm passed, we went up to inspect the damage and found out that a tornado had hit Byrnes Park - which was just blocks from our home. . . . well at least Mom knew when to scramble to the basement. 

So, to me thunderstorms are exciting and definitely worth sitting out on the porch to watch their wonder.  Well, earlier this summer, on an afternoon at the Patch Abilities studio and retreat, a storm rolled in and produced this gorgeous rainbow.  These pictures are views from just outside my office door! 

The picture being a little dark, you can't see me that well, but I think the skies were actually this dark -- but the rainbow glows brilliantly!  See, I could be the pot of gold, don't you think??  Uh, yeah, Chad thought I might be stretching it too!  HA!

Well, I thought this rainbow was worth sharing - - especially, right outside my office like this.

Hey, how about you share a thunderstorm story with me?  But, not if you're a thunderstorm weenie - it would just make me shake my head in wonder. 

Till next time, thanks for peeking in on me.

-Julie

Oh crap, it's been a while since I last posted!!!

Okay, okay.  I have failed to keep you up to snuff on what I'm up to, since . .. uh . . . . just before I left for Spring Market in Salt Lake City.  Ugh.  I have such good intentions you know, but somehow I let it slip to keep posting to you all.  I guess that's partly because I'm continually suprised that fellow quilters actually want to see what I'm up to.  HA!  I am humbled each time someone sends me a comment on a post I've made, no matter what the comments pertain to.  It warmly reassures me that I positively affect the lives of so many others . . . others that I've not a clue who they are.  So I really, really, truly mean it when I say "THANK YOU" for reading my blog or just taking in interest in me, my life and/or my designs.  I'm grateful that I get to make a good living at using my very overactive imagination.

So, now that I have the sappy "sorrys" and "thank you's" out of the way, how about I recap just what in the world I've been doing since market, back in May.

At market, I sort of shared a booth with Sue Daley of Busy Fingers Patchwork.  Here's 2 examples of her work.

Cassie's Quilt

Pie & Tarts Quilt

It's important to mention this, because I'm in the middle of embarking on a new adventure with Sue and her designs - of which I'll tell you more about in a near future blog. 

So while at market (next to Sue Daley), her daughter Shannon was there helping her man the booth and we got to talking about her plans about moving back home (to Australia from Canada) to work with her Mom in the pattern business.  While she's "waiting" to head home, our brilliant minds came up with the grand idea that she and her sweet fella should come spend some time in NE Iowa, both to kill a little time and help get us organized to launch Sue's pattern line here in the U.S.

And bada bing, bada boom!  They hopped on a plane and a week later, they arrived in Iowa.  I mean, Iowa is surely the most highly anticipate vacation spot they imagined they'd spend their summer 2011, right??

Well, they are staying here at my Village Creek Retreat in between groups of guests and soaking up all the tranquility the trout stream valley has to offer. Chad (my fiance) and I have showed them all the "hot" spots around our area and this week they've trekked a bit south to spend some quality time with my Mom, Merry.  And believe me, they are well entertained at mother's - between the casino, jam making and the quilt shop, they are working off their vacation - HA!!  I'll try to round up some pictures of our adventures to share with you. 

All of that activity has brought me up to today, June 23rd.  I haven't been sluffing off, don't worry.  I've been too busy to even work on new designs, but that too I will tackle very soon.

There.  I feel better knowing I've clued you in on my . . . . uh . . . lack of postings, we'll call it.  So, now you can relax knowing I haven't fallen into a sink hole or a really deep pile of fabric and could not find my way out.

Til next time, thanks for peeking in on me!

~Julie

New! New! For You! and You! and You!

P138 Mamma Bird  12x14 - she fits on the 12x14 Table Stand (Ackfeld Wire) with the Double Scroll header

Not one, but 2 smokin' fresh new patterns for your summer quilting fun!

I have been busy.  Busy like a bird snatching up worms after a spring rain! 
That only begins to describe "getting ready for market."   I'll bet nearly every pattern designer knows this feeling. 
No matter how well we think we've planned ahead and have all of our bobbins in a row, weeks before market . . . . we get down to the last couple weeks and a tidal wave of tasks suddenly wash into your mind.  I always ask myself the same question  "why didn't I think of these weeks ago when I HAD time to get them done"?  Ugh.  I just laugh at myself.  Because it happens before every single market and no matter what planning efforts I make, the story is the same.  Laugh and roll with it, that's what I say.

Here's the second little cutie:

P141 What the Buzz?!  6" x 11.5" each section finished - fits upon the 6x12 tri-stand from Ackfeld Wire.

 There is a button pack for this one - - it includes all the flower centers & 3 bee buttons.

Both of these patterns are shown on the website:  www.patchabilities.com and can be seen right on the home page!  They are so fresh though, that they may be hard to find in your local shop at the moment - so please ask your favorite shop owner about them - I'm sure they'd be happy to order them in for you - - I mean, anything for an awesome quilt customer such as yourself, right??!!  Right.

Well, now it's back to my long list of "holy crap this list keeps growing - get it done" HA!

Til next time, thanks for peeking in on me. =)
-Julie

Birthdays are worth celebrating!!!

Well, another birthday has come and gone.  I turned 39 (for the first time) last Friday, the 15th.  Yes, tax day.
I gladly celebrate each birthday and in fact look forward to them.  That one day of the year is MY day.  My day to do whatever I please.  MY day not to do the dishes.  My day to request hugs from my handsome fella all day long .  .. . . and I did . . . and he delivered many warm strong hugs to his precious birthday gal. 

He truly "gets" me and I'm grateful he loves me for all my traits, quirkiness included. 

So, I can happily report that amidst the relentless little tasks that must be completed as I prepare for Spring Market in Salt Lake City, Utah (in a mere 4 weeks - - holy crap!) I made time to savor #39.  For I believe every birthday is a hugely important day in one's life that begs to be celebrated. 

Imagine my surprise when the local florist pulled into the driveway & came in the office with this gorgeous floral bouquet.  Which by the way, contained beer and chocolate!  The perfect birthday meal of course.  My Missouri parents, Peggy and Skip sent these to me - - totally unexpected, and oh so excited I was.  Carrie took this ever so glamorous picture of me, so I could share it with . . . well . . . who ever wants to . . . hey wait, I'm not sharing those chocolates or the beer!  Oh, perhaps with that handsome gent who gave me all the birthday hugs.  Tee Hee!

Did I get anything accomplished on my birthday?  Not much . . . . other than 2 more brand new patterns that are ready for release any second!  
That's a great topic for my next blog!  Peek back in a day - - I'll have 2 new designs ready to grace your peepers.

Til next time . . . .thanks for peeking in on me. 

The First Retreaters!

They came, they stitched, they conquered their projects!
They were my very first group of retreaters to stay here at my home turned guest house.  And they were gracious to let me stay with them as their "hostess" so I could be the fly on the wall.  Not to listen to their sacred quilting secrets, but to see what things I need to add, improve or modify to host all of the future retreaters.

Thanks Ladies!  I am grateful.

Here's a picture of the happy retreaters amidst their nest of . . . . stuff.

They really had it rough.  New beds were delivered just hours before they arrived.  A loaf of fresh home made bread had just come out of the oven an hour into their stay, followed by warm slices of bread slathered in butter that melted instantly into each decadent slice . . yumm!  Can't you just taste it? 

With the first fantastic retreaters under my belt, I'm ready to "wow" the rest of you with a weekend retreat!
If you would like more information on retreats here at Patch Abilities headquarters, click here.  And if you need any enticing, there will be a fresh warm loaf of home made bread waiting for you too. 

Til next time . . . thanks for peeking in on me!

~Julie