Completely appliqued and beaded top background, now stitched to the outermost (red) background with blanket stitch. All ready for the backing!

Woke up this morning to much more pleasing temps and – even better – reduced humidity! The sun was shining and it felt so good to walk outside and enjoy the fresh air. We took an early morning bike ride around the neighboring regional park; by the numbers of people out walking, roller blading, running, etc. it was evident that everyone seem to be taking advantage of the great weather. Of course, it shouldn’t go without saying – the predictions are for returning higher temps and uncomfortable humidity levels. 🙁 For the moment though, it feels wonderful just to know I can walk out my door and not wilt!! Not surprisingly, I felt more energized and was encouraged to get this final post done for the Fall Leaves series. With the background beading done, the project really is in its ‘home run stretch.’ I find I usually get pretty excited once the background beading is done; all the hours of applique and embroidery are done and the beaded background just adds something special. With only the backing left to do – it’s kind of like putting ice cream on the cake: the final finishing just makes it even better! More…

Completely appliqued top background…ready for beading!

It is a beautifully sunny Monday morning – at least through the windows! Unfortunately, the view through the windows belies that fact that temps are predicted to hit 100˙ with an ever increasing amount of humidity, making for yet another very uncomfortable day outside. While I will take in a quick walk through the garden, it is likely my day will be spent inside…again! Yes,  I have plenty of projects waiting for my attention, but I’m beginning to be a bit frustrated with the continued high temps/humidity this summer. Watching the weather news across the nation, I realize I am likely not alone in my feelings!! I hope those of you who are in areas of similar hot weather are finding ways to get those special projects/UFO’s done while waiting for more reasonable, cooler temps. If one of those projects happens to be a wool felt topper or table runner or if you have been following along with this series of posts  – it’s time to add a distinctive ‘spark’ to your piece. The visual effect of tiny glass beads on wool felt adds a whole new dimension to any piece. Time to get beading!! More…

Completely stitched oak leaf, maple leaf, and center star appliques.

It’s Friday already (Friday, the 13th, no less!!) and I’m wondering where the week went! It was a very busy week with several appts. (at least I group them together on the calendar so that in the next few weeks I won’t have any – then I can work on projects uninterrupted!) It was wonderful to get back to my Wednesday afternoon quilting ‘Daystitchers’ group; I hadn’t been there since almost mid May and I miss the conversation and creative energy the group provides. Waking up to a warm, overcast, and somewhat muggy day (ughhhhh) was less than inspirational this morning. Usually, before I begin tackling the day’s activities, I enjoy walking each morning, but the extreme heat has made outdoor activities more or less miserable; and there is the matter of mosquitoes – in great abundance this year – so I opted to retreat to my computer and get this post written. I hope where ever you are reading this, the weather is more agreeable. Of course, I also have to acknowledge the upside of lousy weather conditions; we are less tempted to spend time outdoors and can guiltlessly (is that a word?) spend our time working on our creative projects! More…

Appliques all cut and laid out, ready for the fun part!

If you are like me, you are smiling with great satisfaction (maybe even relief!) that you now have completed 98% of the preparation in order to begin the fun of stitching together the Fall Leaves topper! It is a lot of cutting, but makes the rest of the construction go much smoother and faster. Since I tend to be a bit of a clutter bug, I have to find ways to prevent myself from misplacing and ‘losing’ things: so I have found it helpful to store any cut out appliques (that are not in any immediate use) in a plastic folder and/or envelopes. More…

21-22″ Fall Leaves table topper brings autumn to your home, celebrating the season’s changing colors.

As promised, today I will begin a series of posts that will guide you through the basic construction methods and techniques involved in creating one of my table topper patterns.  I have chosen to use the Fall Leaves pattern.   This has been a popular pattern that I have rated suitable for an enthusiastic advanced beginner;  by beginning construction now it would  likely result in having it finished in time for autumn!  (With its two alternating ‘snowflake’ designs woven together, the construction and concept is very similar to the Pinecones pattern – if you prefer to follow along with a that design.)  This series of tutorials is not meant to be a pattern per se, but is designed to demonstrate and clarify the construction process and techniques I have used to create these toppers.  As a former teacher, I have found that ‘visual’ is almost always an improved method of conveying ideas.  Should you have a pattern with which you can follow along, that is great.  My greater hope is that by reading the posts, etc, you will gain the understanding and confidence to then select and purchase any pattern of your choice and complete it with satisfying results! More…

Taken in Glacier National Park, I couldn’t help but notice the reflection here. Hmmm…is this nature’s inspiration for a ‘snowflake’ design??

After three weeks of camping our way through the Rocky Mountains – from Colorado to Montana – as well as the Badlands and the Black Hills, we arrived home to the sweltering heat and humidity of Minnesota.  Tired and looking forward to such creature comforts as showers and comfortable beads, we also came back very much rejuvenated and inspired by the abundance of nature’s gifts.  Despite one’s best attempts at photography, it is nearly impossible to ‘capture’ the feelings one has when standing on a mountainside full of colorful spring flowers…or gazing at a mirror reflection on a lake nestled in majestic mountain ranges.   However, I can assure you that all these experiences will likely serve as a resource for future designs and creations. More…