Island Paradise & Singer 15-91

Island Paradise

I don't live in a tropical area but I certainly love tropical flowers. This large hibiscus fabric is bright and cheerful, so I chose complimentary prints in colors to match. Luscious melon, bright lemon and fuchsia, soothing green and black are bracketed with cream.

I laid out the design in EQ8, moving colors around for balance. I repeated the layout on my design board, sewing the squares, rectangles and quarter square units into strips. After I finished all the strips, I sewed them together for the center section. I added a green 1” border, then featured the large print as a wide border, plus backing/binding.

I quilted the center on our newly restored Singer 15-91, and boy does he sew a pretty straight stitch. I followed a ruler to space long rows 1½” apart, using pale gray thread. On the borders I switched back to Janome to ruler quilt a braided design. Island Paradise finished out at 60” square.

Dies used: 

Blue Wren 6015 1½” strips
Accuquilt
55160 Rectangle 4½” x 8½”
55018 Square 4½”
55047 Quarter Square Triangles 4½”
55488 Strip 6”


NOW, the Singer: I found him on Facebook Marketplace for $50, in a basic cabinet. We already had a 15, but needed parts, so off to Kentucky we went. Turns out this one was in better shape, so Jerold tackled it first. The cabinet lid hinge was broken off, likely because the swing-arm support didn't work. While waiting for new hinge, he took apart the motor, cleaned, lubed, oiled everything. No other adjustments needed, timing was perfect.

Check out the shine! 

Born in November 1948, this Singer has lovely trefoil decals. The few dings and scratches give him character. We cleaned, polished and waxed machine and cabinet, added an LED light and fixed swing-arm. We named him Woodrow, after Captain Call in Lonesome Dove.

Fabricate

I've always been one to improvise. To change ingredients in a recipe, or mix styles in décor and clothing. It must be my curious nature to seek new ideas, to figure out how to make something. This quick project came from a blissful afternoon of experimenting.

I saw a similar table mat online, so looked through my dies to find shapes that might work. Of course, I used remnant pieces.  The side sections of Jackaroo Star fit together to form petals of a dresden plate block. I positioned the sewn quarters with a glue stick onto a 6” square, then stitched them down. After trimming off excess fabric and the points, I added a yellow piece (trimmed center piece from the Wheels die).

Once I put them together with sashing, quilting began. I echo stitched with cream thread, then used free motion ribbons around the gold. Fabricate is 18½” square.

I'm inspired by color, design, creativity, and nature. I love playing with fabric, making useful and beautiful items. If the results are pleasing to me, I'm not going to worry about what others expect or what's in style. It's my life, after all.

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6369 Jackaroo Star
6297 Wheels
Accuquilt
55006 6 Square
55017 Strip 2½”

But it's all right now

I learned my lesson well

You see, you can't please everyone

So you got to please yourself

~Rick Nelson

Emerald Stars

Emerald Stars

Hey everyone, I have a beautiful new quilt for you today. Shades of green with black accents are perfect for the gem star die from Blue Wren. This die is fairly new and comes in two sizes.

I created the layout in EQ8 to determine color placement and yardage. Sewing went quickly since all the blocks are the same. No scraps this week! 

After joining the blocks, I added a 4” wide border of black and white gingham. Backing is a dark gray and cream swirly print.

I quilted an allover pattern with pale gray thread, using Angela Walters Creative Grid Squiggy ruler. Final size for Emerald Stars is 58” square. Black binding with a decorative stitch creates a pretty frame.

Schedule update: Regular posting day will now be on Thursday. Thanks for reading!

Blue Wren die:
6817 Gem Star 10” finished

Accuquilt dies:
55054 Strip 4½”
55017 Strip 2½”

Life should not feel like a chore,

it should feel like an adventure.

~ Donna Ashworth