Happy Easter

Happy Easter to you!

I couldn't resist making a couple of Easter baskets for my boys.  

My youngest has expressed doubts in the existence of the Easter Bunny : (  

 I was so happy when he came downstairs this morning and told me he got a visit from the Easter Bunny!

The basket is a tutorial from Birch Fabrics and you can find it [HERE] 

The instructions are clear and concise with lots of photos.

 I will be making more of these to use as storage around the house.

The basket pictured is the large version with the height shortened to 5".

The outside of the basket is Essex Yarn Dye linen and the bunny fabric trim is an older print from the Cotton and Steel line from RJR fabrics.

Have a lovely day!

xo

Charise

Splendid Sampler ~ Crocheted Thoughts & Checker Board

Happy Spring to you!

It still feels like Winter here in Seattle, Washington in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, but at least my Splendid Sampler blocks are made with Spring colored fabrics.

You can find all the details and FREE patterns at TheSplendidSampler.com

Crocheted Thoughts was a joy to make!  You can find more about the block and it's designer Alyssa Thompson [HERE] 

It was my "relax while watching the T. V. and stitch" project for several evenings : )

The sweet bow and cherry print is Yuwa Fabric "Bows and Cherries" by Atsuko Matsuyama.

The background fabric is my favorite "go to" cream cotton background - RJR Supreme Solids in color French Vanilla.

I transferred the design by tracing the design onto my fabric with a water soluble marker.

I'm pleased with the end result.

Today's Splendid Sampler block is Checker Board by Pat Sloan.  I adore this block.  The first one was made with blue fabric scraps.
  

I couldn't resist making a second block with some pink, red and yellow scraps.

Having an entire quilt with these tiny squares would be divine : )

Happy Sewing!

xo

Charise

The Splendid Sampler ~ Local Quilt Shop & Iowa

Today I am sharing my versions of the latest two blocks in the Splendid Sampler Sew Along - Local Quilt Shop & Iowa.

I am a big fan of the technique of paper piecing so I was very happy that Jane provided a paper piecing template for her design, "Local Quilt Shop".  House blocks are some of my favorite.  I have made many for friends in the Cocorico Bee.  You can find a few [HERE] and [HERE].

Iowa, designed by Sherri McConnell, is an adorable block.  I chose to make it scrappy in pinks and reds.  The corner background fabric is from one of my favorite vintage feed sacks.

The center fabric is a prized Japanese fabric I have had for years.

Be sure to head on over to TheSplendidSampler.com to get the patterns!

Happy Sewing

xo

Charise

The Farmer's Wife 1930's Quilt Along ~ Lily

Happy Monday!  Today is my day on the Farmer's Wife Quilt Along hosted by Kerry at Very Kerry Berry.

My apologies for this late post!  Even though Spring is only about a week away, we have been experiencing some extreme weather here in the Pacific NW region of the U.S.!  

I had plans to spend Sunday sewing my Farmer's Wife block, but a wind storm and power outage thwarted my plans.  The power was back on late into the morning so thankfully I was able to make the block, Lily, this morning!

This block was a fun one to make! I raided my stash for some favorite fabrics. 

Fabrics from Left to Right:

Dot - Kindred Spirits by Bunny Hill Designs for Moda, Pink Floral - Vintage Happy by Lori Holt for Riley Blake, Pink Ballerinas - Minny Muu by koko seki for Lecien, Flower Pot - Lori Holt for Riley Blake, Green Floral -  Lighthearted designed by Pink Penguin for Kokka fabrics, Green Text - Lighthearted designed by Pink Penguin for Kokka fabrics

This is such a fun ongoing project.  I Love the way this quilt is growing!  

Happy Sewing!

xo

Charise

The Splendid Sampler ~ Friends around the Square

Sewing along with the Splendid Sampler has been such a fun journey.  

I often spend my days designing my own patterns so sewing up someone else's pattern is always a welcome treat.

As with the Farmer's Wife 1930's Quilt Along, I spend lots of time picking out the perfect fabric.

For the new Splendid Sampler block, "Friends Around the Square" designed by Julie Karasek of Patched Works, I decided to take the title quite literally. 

Fabric for my "friends" are Paris Fashion Ads by Suzuko Koseki fabric from Yuwa.  The daisy fabric is "Dear Marguerite Daisy" floral fabric also designed by Suzuko Koseki.  You can find the Fashion Ads fabric [HERE] 

The print comes is four different color ways.

You can find the Dear Marguerite fabric [HERE] 

The yellow surrounding  border print is a Denyse Schmidt fabric designed for Joann Fabrics ~ DS Quilts for fabric tradition from 2011.

Be sure to head on over to TheSplendidSampler.com for a copy of the pattern!

 I think blocks 1-8 (plus the bonus block) are living happily together : )

Happy Sewing

xo

Charise

The Splendid Sampler ~ Snug as a Bug

I am back again to share the latest block in  The Splendid Sampler Sew Along.

"Snug as a Bug" by Amy Sinabaldi.

This was such a fun block to make.  Since I am one of the designers, I have access to the blocks before they are released.  I have been making the hand sewn blocks, so I have a fun project to stitch in the evening.  It is my favorite thing to do while winding down at the end of the day.

The original design is completely embroidered, but one of the Splendid designers, Katja Marek, made the little quilt out of fabric.  I was completely inspired by her fabulous block and did the same!

The block is tiny, 6", and the individual quilt squares are about 3/4"!   It was well worth it.

I have really been enjoying this sew along.  

I find that I am trying new techniques, like appliqué, and loving it!

Be sure to head over to the Splendid Sampler website for a copy of the pattern.

Happy Sewing!

xo

Charise

The Splendid Sampler ~ Focal Point & Simple Simon

Happy Thursday!

Today I am happy to share the latest two blocks in The Splendid Sampler Sew Along.

This block feels like Spring to me and I am ready for Spring : )

The block is called "Focal Point" and is designed by Natalia Bonner.

Head on over to the Splendid Sampler for the pattern.

I used one of my favorite fabrics for this block.  The text print is from Kumiko Fujita and has been out of print for years.

Fabrics from Left to Right:

Yellow Floral ~ 30's collection by Atsuko Matsuyama for YUWA

Aqua Apples ~ One Room Schoolhouse by Brenda Ratliff for RJR Fabrics (In stores July 2016)

Yellow Text Print ~ Designed by Kumiko Fujita (out of print)

Aqua Dot ~ Moda Essential Dots Teal on white

Simple Simon is a lovely block designed by Celine Perkins.
She has a fabulous tutorial on her blog with tips for making this block.

Fabrics used:
Pink /red print ~ Lori Holt for Riley Blake "Vintage Happy", Yellow floral ~ Older print from Connecting Threads "Hope Chest", Yellow Sewing Machine text print ~ Suzuko Koseki (superbuzzy.com has a good selection of her prints)

I have been playing around on Adobe Illustrator and came up with this plan for the quilt!
It will be adjusted for 100 blocks, but I wanted to share it smaller so you could see the detail.

Happy Sewing
xo
Charise

The Splendid Sampler ~ "Happy, Happy" & a Circle Appliqué Tutorial

Hello and Happy Thursday.

Today I am sharing my version of Jen Kingswell's block Happy, Happy.

I have been a big fan of Jen's work for some time and it was such fun to make her block.

You can find the pattern [HERE]

I adore this block but I will admit once I printed out the pattern I thought - " my, those are some tiny circles".  The larger circle is nickel sized and the small one is a bit smaller than a dime.

Don't fret - I have a tutorial to make this completely doable!

I personally love a challenge and I put on my "thinking cap" to figure out the best way to appliqué this tiny circles.

I am by no means an expert at appliqué but I have used the technique in a few of my sewing projects with larger circles.

 I used appliqué to create the flower on this Blossom Appliqué handbag.

Applique is the technique I used to create the center on this block from my Vintage Block Sew Along.

OK... Let's Get Started!

CIRCLE APPLIQUE TUTORIAL

Materials:

Card Stock (you can also use copy paper but card stock will give you a crisper, cleaner edge.
and you can easily re-use the template)

Paper scissors

Spray Starch

Q-tip

Hand Sewing Needle

Thread

Fabric Glue Stick

Fabric

Fabric Scissors

1) Print out the pattern onto card stock. Carefully cut out the circle.

2) Apply glue to the back of the circle. Place the circle on the wrong side of the fabric.

***This is a perfect opportunity to fussy cut a motif on your circle*** 

3) Cut around the circle leaving 3/16" - 1/4" seam allowance.

4) Stitch around the circle with a running stitch with the stitches approximately 1/8" apart

5) Pull up the thread, gathering the seam allowance around the circle.  Secure the stitching.

Dip the q-tip in spray starch and apply to the perimeter of the circle on the seam allowance.

Press the seam allowance flat.

6) Remove the stitching and the paper circle, and press again from the back and front.

Now you are ready to appliqué the circle to your Happy, Happy block!

Connecting threads has a good video tutorial for appliqué [HERE].  They use silk thread, but cotton thread works well, too.  I like Aurifil 50 wt thread cotton thread.

Enjoy!

xo

Charise

The Splendid Sampler ~ "Lots Of Love"

Happy Sunday to you!

I am keeping up with all my blocks for The Splendid Sampler Sew Along.

"Lots of Love" is the third block in the series.

  

Making each block has been such a treat.  You can find all the info and patterns [HERE]

The third block in the series is designed by Melissa Corry.  Be sure to head over to her website for some tips on making the block and a special extra project.  It is adorable!

Happy Sewing!

xo

Charise

The Splendid Sampler ~ "Wings"

Happy Thursday to you!

Today I'm sharing the second block in The Splendid Sampler Sew Along ~ Wings.

This block was designed by Jane Davidson who created The Splendid Sampler Sew Along along with Pat Sloan.  Jane also designed the graphics for all the patterns and they are stunning!

Be sure to head on over to TheSplendidSampler.com for the pattern.

I am a big fan of scrappy quilts and blocks, so this one was incredibly fun to pick fabrics for.

Some of the fabrics are small scraps that I have been saving for some time.

The others are pictured above (Left to Right):

Windham Fabrics "Little Menagerie",  Lakehouse Drygoods Floral, Hello Betty by Chloe's Closet by Moda Fabrics, "Country Girls" by Tasha Noel for Riley Blake, "Simpatico" by Maywood Studios, Flower Bouquet for Lecien, "Fog City Kitty" for Lakehouse Drygoods, "BonBon Bebe" by Robyn Pandolph for RJR fabrics, Lakehouse Favorites Aqua Seed Catalog, Moda Essential Dots Teal on White 

I used Aurifil 12 wt embroidery thread to embroider the butterfly antennae.

This was a fun and easy block to make.  Enjoy!

Happy Sewing 

Charise

The Splendid Sampler "Hearts a Flutter" ~ And an applique tutorial

Happy Valentine's Day to you!  I am so happy to share my version of Pat Sloan's first block for the Splendid Sampler ~ "Hearts a Flutter".  It is a fun block which combines both piecing and appliqué.

Be sure to head over to TheSplendidSampler. com for the link to Pat's lovely block pattern!

I used a prized piece of Suzuko Koseki fabric for the heart.  It was fun to fussy cut the image and I was able to fit most of the word "LOVE" on the heart  : )

Fabrics used in the block are:

Red Floral ~ Flower Bouquet Collection by Lecien

Blue Floral ~ Bon Bon Bebe by Robyn Pandolph for RJR Fabrics

Pink Dot ~  Lakehouse Favorites

I cheated a bit on my appliqué and used Dritz Fusible Bonding Web to create a turned edge instead of needle turning the edge.  It adds a bit more bulk, but is a faster way to get a nice clean edge.

Let's get started!

1) I used Dritz Fusible bonding web for Medium Fabrics.  You can find it HERE

Trace the heart onto the fusible web using a pencil or water soluble pen.

  Place the web on your fabric with the fabric right side up.
***This is a great opportunity to fussy cut the heart.
The web is shear so you can see exactly where the heart will be!***

Pin in place.

2) Trim beyond the marked line 1/4"

3) Stitch on the line back tacking at end.

 Clip around the curve. Clip into the top inside corner close to the stitching. 

 Clip the bottom point close to the stitching. 

Cut a slit in the fusible bond approximately 1" from the stitching on both ends.

4)  Carefully turn the heart right side out gently pushing out the edge. Finger Press. 

DO NOT PRESS with an IRON.

5) Place the heart on the pieced block and iron in place.  Machine Edge stitch or Hand stitch the heart to the block.

Be sure to tag your blocks with the hashtag TheSplendidSampler if you share on Instagram.

I can't wait to see your blocks!

Happy Sewing

xo

Charise

The Splendid Sampler is just one week away!

The Splendid Sampler starts in exactly one week!

In case you haven't heard, 

Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson came up with the amazing idea to invite 80+ designer to create original blocks for a year long Sew Along!

The block pictured is a free block from Pat to give you a little warm up for the quilt along.  It is a great way to audition some of the fabrics you are planning on using.

The quilt along starts February 14th and you can find all the details [HERE].

There is a Facebook group which is a great way to share fabrics and get to know everyone.

Here is a sneaky peek of my blocks!  I have had such fun making them.

I will be sharing my version of the first block in the quilt along on February 14th including an easy appliqué tutorial.

Happy Sewing!
xo
Charise