The Charm of Cherry Christmas....

When it comes to shoppe sewing, I try to think a few months ahead....try....

but when I saw Aneela Hoey's new line of Christmas fabrics...

I didn't have to think at all...it is just adorable!!!  So several cuts came home with me :)

I mixed in a little Essex linen and some perle cotton....

spiced it up with some rik-rak and ball fringe....

 but I couldn't stop with just a stocking....this is too darn cute!

so a little patchwork fun...

and some petite dresdens are occupying my machine right now!

Dresdens are so yummy!

Happy Tuesday!

mary

Where in the World is Molly Flanders????

I wish I could say I have been on a wonderful vacation {some place cool}...

but, alas, I have not.

Just busy with silly stuff...nothing too much fun.

I have been trying to stay cool - thank goodness for central air! 

 chugging away on the wedding quilt....

  

it has been fun to work on this and some embroidery while watching the olympics in the evening :)  I think I am in good company...it sounds like many of you are doing the same!  How fun!

And I had a notion to play with some triangles again.  Using the easy technique for piecing these arrows, I used all patterned fabric {no white or solid triangles}

and then what if we changed the arrangement of these arrows...

just playin'

In my class there has been some amazing playing going on...

like this solid coin quilt from Becky!

and the back is going to be equally as wonderful!

hopefully, I will be able to get to some real stitching this week....

I think I may have hit the mid summer doldrums....I need some motivation.  

Happy Monday!

hope you are jazzed and working on something exciting!

mary

Sydney and Mom....

Sydney is a friend and fellow worker bee at Sew To Speak...

Syd and her sweet mom are taking a quilting class this summer before Sydney leaves for college this Fall **sniff, sniff**

I feel pretty confident in saying that, at the shoppe, we all feel like we are Sydney's mom.  In a good, loving way.  The way that makes you feel sad to think she will be leaving in a couple short months.  We will miss her terribly....although we know Sydney is destined for great things.  She is just that kind of girl!

So Sydney and Mom are making quilts.  One for the college dorm room and one for a new addition to their family - did I mention Sydney is an aunt?  And her mom now a grandma!

Here is the amazing quilt Sydney put together!

     I have to giggle when I think of a text I received from Sydney....it began Whoopsie Daisy!  She thought she had done something wrong!  Uh - hardly!!!  It is perfect!!!

The talent in this family runs deep....take a look at the fabulous quilt Loryn put together for her granddaughter!

Isn't it wonderful!  I love the Birch fabric in the solid areas and the shimmering coins...then there is that top and bottom border in that beautiful Bari J fabric!  It is YummY!!!!

Well, tonight I get to see the rest of the quilts this class has put together.  I can't wait! Even if I have been super duper busy the last couple of weeks, I can still enjoy hot-off-the-machine new quilts!!!

Happy Monday Everyone!

mary     

Very Little Stitching....

Busy, busy...

Wedding planning....

Working on my mom's house....

Lots going on, but not a lot of sewing :(

ohio star pincushion



A little paper piecing...

and a little applique work....

TGIF!!!

mary

Jack of a different stripe....

Recently {in the shoppe} we received a very cute selection of London fabrics from Dear Stella...

So I had to use them in a new Union Jack sample....

Perfect fabric for....

A raw edge Union Jack Pillow!

Cheers!

mary

Winner!

We have a winner!!!!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

112

Congratulations Joyce!!! 

JoyceLM said...

Congratulations on 1000 followers. I took a big-stitch quilting class using perle cotton. But have only done some practice stitching since. Thanks for the giveaway.

July 12, 2012 6:23 AM

Keep stitching Joyce!  I am sure you will find the new Aneela Hoey charm pack fun to stitch on:)

Joyce I am sending you and email...I just need your mailing address!

Thank you everyone for the lovely comments.

Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday!

hugs

mary :)

Love....

When I began this blog, July 18th. 2010, my intention was to develop another way to communicate or reinforce techniques practiced in my classes.

It became so much more...

Because of the blog I have met a few friends {in person} that I knew only through comments and emails....

And I have made some very good friends of the bloggy sort - and HOPE, HOPE someday to meet them in person...

It has truly been fun!

And this week, this little blog surpassed 1000 followers.  Pinch me!

I am shocked and thrilled at the same time.  I appreciate every single comment I receive and I try my best to answer them all {when the no-reply blogger function doesn't get in the way}

I want to thank each and every one of you for visiting Molly Flanders.  I have only tried to share my passion for quilting and build a network of friends that inspire me everyday!!!     

So to say Thank You I will have a little giveaway...

      

I will be giving away this little mini quilt....

 

  

I haven't done many giveaways...this may be number three....so I thought something made by me might be fun....

The wee flying geese quilt measures just 15" X 18" - so a great dolly size or even for a table top.

   

And then to sweeten the pot....I have a charm pack and a little pincushion....

Aneela Hoey's Sew Stitchy!!!  So Cute!!!!

Thank you all for stopping by often.  

It has been a difficult year and I did have emails and comments that helped me deal with the loss of my mom. 

Thanks for the LOVE...

As you know...I love hand quilting with perle cotton.  So leave me a comment and tell me if you have tried quilting with perle cotton or if you plan to give it a go.  I would love to know how you like hand quilting with perle!!!

I will randomly choose a winner on Sunday, July 15th. at about 1:00 pm Ohio Time!!!

Big Hugs!

mary

Special.....

Things have been a bit quiet on Molly Flanders...

I have been working on a couple of special projects.

Hopefully this will come together the way it looks in my head...and then I can give you all the exciting details...

I could eat Essex Linen for breakfast, lunch and dinner!!!  I love working with it and I LOVE stitching on it!

So my other fun project that has kept my hands stitching away...

is the quilt for Molly and Kyle.

   

 I feel fairly safe showing this to you....Molly doesn't pay much attention to my blog lately....a little preoccupied - me thinks :)

Happy Tuesday!  

mary

Cool Pursuits.....

It is a flippin' 101 degrees in Ohio today!!!  For Pete's Sake!!!  Ohio!!!

what is a girl to do, but search for some cool space and a cool activity....

a little cool embroidery...

and a teeny flying geese...probably flying North looking for relief!!!

Stay cool....

mary

On the 4th. of July...

I have felt a bit under the weather....

so I have been doing a lot of this....

and this....

Happy 4th. of July!

Independence Day!

Celebrate our American Independence!

mary

Making Bias {tape}

The wedding quilt I have planned requires lengths of bias tape...

The pattern calls for 1/2 inch tape, but I have decided to go with 3/8ths. inch instead. 

And when making bias tape for applique, I prefer to use bias bars.

I began by cutting 1 inch strips on the bias {45 degree angle} and piece the strips together just as if piecing binding strips together.

 

Then press the entire length of bias strip in half - Wrong Sides together....



Stitch a 3/8 inch seam with the folded edge to the right side of the needle...this creates a pocket for the bias bar....

    

If the bias tape you are making is smaller, such as 1/4 inch, you will need to trim the excess fabric close to the stitch line.  Mine was close enough so no trimming needed.

Then insert the bias bar into the fabric tube and arrange the seam so it is laying on the back side of the bar.

Press the strip with the bar holding the shape inside the fabric tube.

Continue pressing and moving the bar along the length of the fabric tube.

   

I like to give it another press once I remove the bias bar and use starch to help the tape keep it's shape.

Easy and makes a nice strip for vines or stems!

And here is the quilt I will be making {thanks Sarah Fielke!}

Happy Tuesday!

mary

I Must Confess!

I must confess....I am a swap virgin!  Thank you Nicky for providing me with the perfect moniker....

I was working on these courthouse steps for a super secret swap....I have only done one other swap and that was a personal swap between me and Clare.  But secret means secret!

Duh...

Super Secret means no sneak peeks...not yet!

So I am forced to start again on my swap....and keep the steps for myself....I will try to be strong...

I kind of LOVE this pillow....and it looks charming on my old ladder back chair.

I stitched it with perle cotton gray and orange...

 No fear...I began a new super secret swap project...and I love it just as much.  But this time my lips are sealed!

I also began cutting out some leaves or petals for the wedding quilt....

And I am thinking very soon it will be time for a giveaway.  So check back....details will be posted soon!

Have a wonderful Sunday.  Stay cool and safe!  We had a horrible storm in Central Ohio.

mary