This is a combination of my love of beautiful writing (calligraphy), quilts and embroidered samplers.

I don't think I will ever stitch, cross stitch or embroider a sampler of any kind, but the more I play with letters as applique, to more I think I will do several sampler quilts. I do have to come up with a different name for them though, as I have made quite a few sampler quilts, the usual sort with lot's of different block designs. (One of them I wanted to look like a page of calligraphy, but without letters, so this is not a new theme I am working with.)

Appliqued Calligraphy doesn't have much appeal, though I used it here for a wallhanging design a few days ago.

Fabric Calligraphy Sampler ..... three long words, too many syllables, too long, abreviation FCS, not great.

Fabric Samplers .... emroidery is all done on fabric.

Applique Sampler .... just sounds like I can't remember the name for Album Quilts!

Quilted Calligraphy ....... 6 syllables is a bit long, but it is only two words, ....... QC sounds good, as it stands for Queen's Counsel amongst other things ...... this is the best so far! Perhaps if I use it as a tag and /or category on this post it will start a new trend. After all, I am not the only one who appliques letters on quilts, so eventually someone has got to give this style of quilt a name or title which will catch on. This post started with Quilted Sampler as its title, but I'm about to change it, so will see how it goes. Watch this space, this might be the latest fad about to start!

I had this same problem when I wrote a book about 15 years ago. The working title was 'Sampler Album Quilts,' but I kept trying to find something whuich appealed to me more. Finally thought of 'Sampler Secrets,' but by then the book was at the printers, too late to change the cover, headers and footers and all the rest! So, it was published as 'Sampler Album Quilts,' but I still like 'Sampler Secrets.'

I was employed by the school district for 27 years.  This is my first year of retirement.  Staying busy, can be a challenge when you're alone.  Since retiring, I have joined the senior choir at my church, a fitness group and a bible study.  In addition to all this, I continue to sew with a friend almost daily.

Approximately 4 years ago, we started a custom baby products business.  God has blessed our efforts with many satisfied customers.  Being co-owners and designers with your best friend is most enjoyable and rewarding.  Our business has grown rapidly and recently, we have added a line of ladies t-shirts.  Having a variety of trendy choices, we believe that we have developed an exciting product line.

We strive to please our customers with a trendy, functional and eye-catching product.  Expanding our line of merchandise has been our desire from the beginning.  Watch for our new and creative designs.  The most recent creations include a shirt with a heart-shaped peace sign.  We also have added one with "faith" or "hope" appliqued on the front.

If you are looking for something religious, but yet, very much in style, look no further.  Our best seller has been a t-shirt with a beautiful appliqued cross and swavorski crystals.  Another choice is a shirt with wings, a heart and a cross.  The fabric on the wings is covered with inspirational quotes.  It is so unique.  You may see some of our products at www.rayofsunshine.net

Most of our products are hand-made with much care and professionalism.  Can you tell that I'm excited about our new venture with the ladies line?  God is answering our prayers to grow this christian business and we give Him thanks and praise.

We are proud of both our baby and adult line.  Your "little one" can dress just like Mommy with a custom order for matching shirts.  You will be "the talk of the town."

Many thanks for your continued business.

Blessings to you all,

Patsy

Que le chef d'un parti politique organise un rassemblement, je veux bien.  Rien de plus normal, surtout pendant une campagne électorale, pourrait-on dire.

Mais il y a un hic.

Si le bloc québécois dénonce haut et fort les politiques des conservateurs de Stephen Harper, que propose-t-il, à la place?

Le bloc ne prendra JAMAIS le pouvoir, c'est mathématiquement prouvé.  Avec 75 candidats, pour 308 circonscriptions, le bloc a été très chanceux de pouvoir former, à une seule occasion jusqu'à maintenant, l'opposition officielle.

C'est là que je reconnais l'aspect distinct des québécois.  On casse du sucre sur le dos du premier ministre, on le traite de tous les noms, mais on ne propose RIEN à la place.  C'est vrai; comment peut-on promettre des réalisations aux québécois si l'on a aucune chance de former un gouvernement?  Très typique des québécois en général, et de la go-gauche, en particulier.

Pourquoi je fais un lien, ici, avec la go-gauche?  Parce que Gilles Duceppe est d'abord un militant marxiste-léniniste, donc, à peu de choses près, un communiste!  Il a saisi la balle au bond, lors de la fondation du bloc québécois, pour en devenir le premier député élu, les quelques autres, dont Lucien Bouchard, ayant "défroqué" d'autres partis fédéraux pour fonder le parti.  Ainsi, de par son orientation politique principale, Gilles Duceppe est plus proche de Québec Suicidaire - bon, d'accord, Québec Solidaire - que du PQ!

Gilles Duceppe, tandis qu'on en parle, est passé maître dans l'art du changement d'idée rapide.  On se souvient tous de son élan à vouloir prendre la chefferie du parti québécois, suite à la démission d'André Boisclair, en mai 2007.  Au lieu de prendre le téléphone, et d'appeler Pauline Marois, afin de savoir si elle était intéressée, il se présente en sauveur du PQ, sans prévenir.  Le lendemain, alors que Pauline 1ère a annoncé qu'elle allait se présenter comme chef du PQ, Gilles Duceppe, au lieu de s'embarquer dans une course à la chefferie, s'est retiré, la queue entre les deux jambes.  Avant cela, en novembre 2006, Gilles Duceppe a déchiré sa chemise, aux Communes, en refusant d'appuyer une motion, déposée par le gouvernement conservateur, qui stipule "Que les Québécois forment une nation au sein d'un Canada uni", parce qu'il ne veut pas des mots "au sein d'un Canada uni", et se dit même prêt à voter contre.  48 heures plus tard, tous les députés du bloc, Duceppe compris, ont voté en faveur de la motion conservatrice.  Bref, Gilles Duceppe n'a vraiment pas besoin de se mettre un bonnet sur la tête, pour avoir l'air fou!

On dit que la devise du Québec est "Je me souviens".  Peut-être, mais celle des québécois est plutôt "Je me souviens... de RIEN!"  Le bloc québécois n'apportera jamais rien, au Québec.  Ça fait 18 ans, qu'il est à Ottawa, et pendant tout ce temps - et particulièrement pendant les années libérales, le Québec a vu sa position, dans le Canada, s'affaiblir.  Le bloc préfère s'acoquiner avec les "artisses", en BMW, qui braillent parce qu'ils ont perdu leurs subventions, que de s'associer aux travailleurs québécois, qui paient des impôts à Ottawa, et qui voudraient que ces argents servent à autre chose qu'à subventionner des galas.  Gilles Duceppe a trouvé le point faible des québécois; il parvient à transformer des coupures à quelques privilégiés en attaque contre tous les québécois.  Et le bon peuple, qui ne se souvient de rien, embarque.

Du côté de la justice, Gilles Duceppe a encore déchiré sa chemise contre le projet conservateur de resserrer les filets de la justice envers les jeunes contrevenants, profitant du fait que les québécois ignorent que la loi à venir, qui permettrait à la justice de condamner un jeune de 14 ans à la prison à vie, ne s'appliquera même pas au Québec!  C'est ça, de l'honnêteté, monsieur Duceppe?

Tout cela pour dire que le bloc aura beau organiser des gros shows - payés en partie avec vos impôts (1) - à Saint-Hyacinthe, ou ailleurs, pour ma part, hors de question d'appuyer le bloc, dans cette campagne électorale.  Personnellement, j'ai déjà voté, vendredi dernier, par anticipation, et je n'ai pas voté bloc.  Et j'encourage tous les électeurs québécois à ne pas voter pour le bloc.  La raison est fort simple; ils crient au loup, très fort, créent un sentiment de panique, dans la population, mais ils n'ont rien à proposer, à la place!

(1) Les partis politiques qui reçoivent un certain pourcentage de votes, lors des élections générales, ont droit au remboursement, par le gouvernement fédéral, donc, via vos impôts, de 50% de leurs dépenses d'élections.  Le bloc québécois remplit ce critère, comme les quatre autres principaux partis politiques fédéraux, dont les chefs étaient présents aux débats télévisés.

ok, had a little break here cause tom showed up and we put the plastic up as best we could - attempted to angle it such that water flows off and doesn't puddle.  course, with tom you get candace, rachel, marcus and then add sophie and mocha!  usually you also get 3 or 4 cats - guess they are hunkered down out of the rain.  it's a real parade. ^_^  anyway, that plastic will probably work just fine as long as we have no wind.  expected to rain all day.  i will periodically check.  those staples won't hold much weight!  or, rather, the plastic won't - and will rip.

ahh, life in a primitive cabin.  one would never guess what kind of work emerges from here. ^_^  for those of you who missed it, here's a picture (or 2?) of the "fridge house".  just imagine it now has a plastic roof and side wall.

and from another angle

ok, this is it with plastic.  couldn't find the one i was looking for and then decided to just go take an 'updated' one. ^_^

NOW, it's time to see if i can prepare myself to be a 'professional' (hah) teacher tomorrow. ^_^  like find something to wear and get product ready, etc.  did get more copies of the class pattern, so have enough for both classes (and beyond!)  class begins at 10:00 tomorrow, so will just drive over in the morning.  will be staying with ruth tomorrow night.  monday night will be in a hotel!  do like this teaching stuff!! ^_^

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

http://hyenacart.com/BellaTesori

I cannot run out to the neighborhood quilt shop and buy some special fabric for this project - there is no quilt shop in Panama, in fact, I have never even stepped foot in a quilt shop. I order fabric online and buy anything that is 100% cotton in the stores here in Panama. We used to get a decent selection of out of season US quilt fabrics for about $2.50 - $3.50 a yard - mostly Timeless Treasures for some unknown reason - but I rarely see them these days.

I have a great selection of wild bright prints, but that isn't the look I want for this project. I also have a nice assortment of William Morris fabrics - about 34 different prints - I love them - but they just don't seem right.

Then there are the batiks. I have a great selection of batiks and hand dyes - in fact that's my most "in depth" fabric collection.

Hummm... a hexagon quilt with batiks. Let me Google that and see what comes up.

Here's one that uses a lot of batiks - but not all batiks from what I can see. Tropical Screamer - a blogger from Hawaii.

That's it - I am going to go for the batiks. Well - maybe - let me get them out and play around a bit and I'll let you know.

The thing about batiks is the fabric is very tightly woven and not that easy to sew by hand - but I have had some practice with some appliques - this was my first - I designed it - it is not a pattern. I still haven't quilted it because I can't decide what to do with it.

The coconuts are the back side of mother of pearl buttons, great coconut color and texture.

And this one - I planned on doing some swirly quilting in the open sky area - the sky color looks a bit yucky - it really isn't quite that green.

so, here are the things i still need to address before i leave -  take all the quilts out  of the trunk and make sure they are in the proper order.  plus, add the ones i normally have hanging in my bedroom.  2. get all the tubs out of the van and make sure enough of everything in them - then put them back into van.  3. put together some clothes to wear!  yikes! for me - that's a  big job.  i'm not much on real clothes these days.  i have my 'uniforms' for when 'working' (in the booth) and my comfotable, and often not so pretty, at home clothes.  those in between ones drive me crazy!  ok, if i could lose a little more weight, i'd probably feel better about wearing real clothes.  anyway, it has turned cool here, which means it will be very cool over there!  perhaps that means i can wear jeans?  assuming i can get them zipped, that is.  ya just never know these days. ^_^  will take a uniform dress for the trunk show/talk.

doesn't sound like so much, does it?  given i have two whole days.  well, today i have the rachel interruption - so will save the trunk/quilt sorting for after she is here.  will also put the trunk into the van while it is empty - too heavy once all those quilts are in it.  may leave the quilts out until the trunk is on the cart at the meeting - easier for whoever is going to help.

have been cutting and folding kits - in preparation for piqf and houston.  feeling very uncertain about both of those shows.  i'm pretty sure lots of people will still be attending - will they be buying, THAT is the question.  i mean, even in houston i think they will come, cause i'm sure they need the break from reality at this point!!  and looking at all those beautiful quilts could be just the right therapy.  but spending money?? hmmmmmm  at least what i sell is not expensive.

ok, let's see if i can find a picture just to lighten this up a bit.don't remember if i posted this guy?  doesn't matter, still think he's (she?) handsome and worth a second look.

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

  oh, and different colors as well. ^_^

just a little bit ago, i decided to rake away the leaves erv had brushed off the porch roof - many!!  then rachel wanted to rake, so i handed over the rake and brought out the broom to kind of clear off the porch.  miss rachel proceded to rake all the way up the path - first one side and then the other!!  she would not quit even when mom and dad came home!!  so, here she is during and after completion and returning the rake.

     she is quite a good worker!!  that's a very long path!

wow, that sun is really bright orange out there.  coming down and out from under a big cloud - yes, tempting!  you know me and my sunset pictures. ^_^

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

Shown above are some of the latest patterns from Lori Holt's "Bee In My Bonnett" designs. The scarecrow is just darling for fall and the Count Your Blessing wall hanging includes Lori's directions for her applique method in the pattern.

I thought that I had put up a picture of our version of "Apron Club" a while ago. I sent a few poor customers on a blog goose chase and have now realized that I never did. So for them here is a picture of our shop sample that Jeanette made.

BIG NEWS! We are launching a new wonderful and amazing and easy to use website on Nov 1st! So keep an eye out, it will be at the same pipersquilts address. So until that time we will not add anything new to the existing website. So if you see anything here you have to have call us at 801-484-5890 or e-mail us and we will get it to you.

If you are a local, come and check out the Sugarhouse Art Stroll this Friday! It is a new event and we are participating and are super excited. For more information visit Brolly Arts.

Before I got a computer with lots of fancy fonts I dabbled in Calligraphy. I wasn't particularly good at it, but I have always loved the look of a page of beautiful writing. With a computer I put the fountain pens and assorted nibs and bottles of ink aside, and used a publishing program to produce fancy text on a page.

However, I still play with fancy letters, but now I am appliqueing letters onto quilts rather than putting beautiful writing on paper. This 'sampler' is one of a series of smaller wall hangings I have designed, a couple of which I have made, experimenting with different fonts, and 'page' layouts. A couple of the fonts I have designed myself, and the ones on the computer have to be traced and modified to work as applique.

After three years of playing, I have just realised that it would be possible to make a quilted version of a cross stitch or embroidered sampler. (Sometimes it takes a little while for the obvious to jump up and hit me between the eyes!) Up till now I have been thinking about quilts and blocks and applique with letters, but now I am thinking of stitched sampler layouts as well as quilt layouts.

The Electric Quilt 6 project file for this pattern will be sent on request. Just fill in the form on my profile page (Abour Judy B) or leave a comment below to receive the file by email within the next few days. Instructions for opening a project sent by e-mail are on page 113 of the EQ6 User Manual. Here is another colourway of the same design which might appeal to those who are not attracted to the autumn colours above.

I have been playing with the Best China again. I set out to design a table runner, but that didn't work as well as I had liked, so I changed the setting and did some re-drawing and it became a table topper.

The idea of a table runner featuring the best china hasn't run away yet, but it will take a while to draw up the appliques again. The lightbulb moment I had during the night is for a collection of plates laid out on the runner. Sounds simple, so it will probably take forever to design, but I might just make it because it will give me a chance to play with the rotary cutter for cutting circles.

Here is what the table runner looks like now ........

other than that, it was an ok day.  i really do love those new poles.  i didn't realize how much more work it was to use those quilt racks.  been killin' myself for over 3 years now.  slow learner!  teardown was fast and easy - with a little help from good friend, bobbie!  and everything fits nicely into the van.  moved a few things around, which weren't really working all that well where they were anyway.  space-wise it was perfect, but timing-wise, not so much.  had to remove the things that go into the booth last before i could get to the things that go into the booth first!  now, those things are up front and only cart and booth poles/drapes & electric are in the back -  and come out first!

today is a minimum day for the schools. grrr  hate it when they do that.  that means i must leave here around noon - no time to do much of anything.  did a short walk this morning so i'd have a little extra time.  one mile better than nothing, right?!!

oh, i didn't know the person who won the quilt. bobbie did and i did meet her when she came to get it.  she was very thrilled.  they took lots of pictures of us.  if they put one in the newsletter, i'll see if i can copy it and get it into one of these.  and so another chapter closes - along with another year of my life.  onward and upward. ^_^

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

We have Five chicks that hatched - two yellow and three brown.  No telling yet if they are gals or guys....but they sure are cute right now.  Right after this photo was shot, the little thing zipped up and hid under my hair - which isn't very long.  They are cute at this stage.....

And there's a little evidence that although the knitting has slowed - the appliqueing has been going on.  This is what happens when I wander aimlessly around my studio, opening drawers, looking in fabric and viola!  A red and white cutwork quilt I started awhile ago - why don't I finish that?

Why don't I finish half the things around here that are, um, not finished?  In my own defense, I don't have many things like that laying around - and it would look so nice put together.....but I'm so easily led astray.

One panel of the Winter Wonderland Quilt Sampler - it is just awesome - A friend of mine at work showed me a corner of this in a magazine last week - I love Snowman, have collected them since we've been married (24 years next month!!!) and when I went to the quilt shop to get some more red for the Applique quilt, this was hanging on their wall.  Needless to say - I've started that, too.  All over the place, anyone?  Sheesh,  all I can say is.........at least I'm crafting!

And just so you don't think I've abandoned all thoughts or deeds of knitting...

That's a delicous little bit of Claudia Hand Painted sock yarn - in all my favorite Fall colors.  This is just a plain toe up - but really, with yarn like this - is there anything "plain" about it???  It had me thinking - I just have this beside me on the couch and I love looking at it, picking it up and doing a row or two in between everything else - while the other eleventyfive projects I have in the knitting basket just lay about.  It's the yarn...its a joy to hold, amazing to knit.   I know all the other yarn I have is pretty and nice and I try to do my best matching up yarn to pattern, but sometimes there is just something about A yarn - and in this particular yarn it is the Colors that are drawing me in.  It suits my mood, the season, and looking out my front window as I knit and seeing all the green still on the trees?  It helps me picture the riot of color that I know just waits around the corner.

I love Fall.  Autumn is my all time favorite season of the year.  I know everything seems like it is dying, drying up and getting ready to sleep away for the winter, but to me it feels like things are so vibrant and the most alive just before  we head into the long winter.....My second favorite season.

So there has been knitting and quilting and sewing and reading and work, work, work.  Talking about reading - that up there is the most recent book in the Outlander series - I have read them all since July - and I'm sooooo sad.  I really want to keep reading about Claire and Jamie - and I know that Jeanne says there will be another book, the last book, but I don't think its going to be out until September '09!   I've picked up the first in the Lord John Series, but bah!  I don't think it will be the same.  If you've read these books and have any recommendations for similar series, I'd love to hear them.  I really enjoyed them and I just might start reading them all over again while waiting for that 7th book.

The days are just flying by right now and I can scarcely wrap my head around the fact that September is nearly over.  It makes me more than a little grateful for rainy weekends that force me to stay in and catch up on all those things I like to do.

Enjoy!

 When I started it, I was using the freezer paper method for the the turned edge applique.  I am not very experienced with applique, and find it much more challenging than piecing.  I found out early on that needle turn is not the method for me.  I'm not crazy about fusibles.  I am now using Sharon Schamber's methods, and slowly but surely, I think I'm getting a little better, and I'm enjoying the process more.  I bought Sharon's book, Piece by Piece Machine Applique, and have a premium membership to her network, where I can watch her training videos.  I am very much a visual learner, so I find the videos quite helpful.  Maybe I have finally found the method that works best for me.

Now, if only I could quit getting my pieces backwards...

and so it goes.  and this too shall pass.

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

And in the words of the mama who is receiving this sling:

"The cherry blossom symbolizes the transience of life in Japanese culture. Its quite fitting for me as I see my baby growing up so fast right before my eyes....I see, in her, the transience of mine and her life happening right before my eyes, and the cherry blossom reminds me to enjoy each and every day I have with her and the ability to still wear my little girl."

$170, no pocket

I don't usually name a quilt design by the border, but ......

The border design was published in the sixth issue of Down Under Quilts, the first Australian quilt magazine, the final part of a series of patterns for 'The Sampler from Down Under.' The series gave all the patterns, original designs, for a 25 block sampler quilt, which is now faded and worn because it spends a large part of each year on our bed. On that quilt it was just quilted in black thread on plain cream background, so it was interesting to see what it would look like as an applique.

Must check to see whether all the original blocks from that series have been added to Electric Quilt, and if not, do it, and recreate the sampler quilt here. In the meantime, you can find a photo of the real quilt on Flicka, taken before it faded! You will also find a photo there of Fans for Midori, where I used the fans included in this design.

and along those lines - did stay to help with the  hanging of the quilts after i delivered mine.  and once again was struck by how much some of those women have 'aged'.  i often miss the regular meetings - i'm either out of town or too tired of being in public.  i have now been here and a member for 10 years and can clearly see how 'they' have changed in appearance.  and, yes, when i actually turn on the bathroom light and put on my glasses - well, the same is true for me.  and while i usually still feel no more than 50 (or ageless, actually) - it's often a sobering experience to drive past the highschool just down the street!

and this is one of those years that puts me just one year away from another decade turning!  just the sound of 70 is daunting, or at least really really old sounding. ^_^

and so, i am choosing to live in gratitude!  i found myself becoming preoccupied with those thoughts about how old i am and how much 'time' i might have left - scary kind of thoughts.  and downright depressing if you don't watch out!!  and the other day it hit me - better to be thankful just to be here now - for this day!  to disempower and dissolve the fears in gratitude.  Life IS Good!  Thank You, God! ^_^

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

This was originally posted on May 31, 2007 04:08 AM EDT

Back when I was writing for Associated Content, I did this craft with Gideon. He just adored it!

They are so easy to make and they do look pretty cute when done. This was sold as an exclusive to the site, so I’m not able to post it here. You can, however click the link to read how you and your children can make them.

Here’s the completed project images:

My felt picture - hand sewn.

Here’s the two that Gideon made.

]]> http://sugarose.wordpress.com/?p=212 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:57:39 +0000 sugarose http://sugarose.fr.wordpress.com/2008/09/25/featured-store-maak-en-herstel/

I came across these shirts a little while ago and was instantly attracted the simple but quirky designs.

The are created in Fremantle, Western Australia, by Annabel who makes the entire shirt from scratch.

Check out maak en herstel store on Etsy for some other designs.