Thursday 26 February 2015

Getting ready for the Oma's Blues Applique BOM


I seem to be getting ready for so many projects and I will be glad when I can get started on a few.

If you have not seen Esther's Blog yet you really should check it out. Esther Aliu is a textile artist and quilt designer. She established a private Yahoo group to link quilters world wide and regularly releases free patterns for the group. Membership is by application to Esther by email and comes through quite quickly. How do you all find Yahoo groups? I admit to being slightly ambivalent. I find the set-up a bit clunky but once you are in there are forums, advice, patterns and so much more. The BOM runs from January-November 2015.
The newly released pattern is called Oma's Blues which is a reference to her German grandmother's plates. I think blue and white quilts are quite beautiful and the design for this one is stunning.
There will be a central medallion plate with bird, flowers and foliage, surrounded by borders with other motifs.



I took a Chinese plate that we have to our LQS and came back with just the three fabrics you see above with the plate. The light blue and the darker fabric are just right but the fabric with hexagons will be kept in reserve. Not sure it has the right feel. I may have to make a detour on the way to London to get some more. I have very few blue fabrics in my stash and none with these kinds of tones.......

......a few days later and after our visit to London....

Mike and I spent last weekend staying with friends. On the way there a little detour was in order to a fab shop called Creative Quilting in Hampton Court Village. This shop had everything I needed, fabrics, notions and a whole lot more including the most helpful staff.
I bought a selection of fabrics with mid and light tones. These have now been washed and pressed. The photo below shows the color catchers from these fabrics at the top and from blue batiks at the bottom.

I ordered Mettler 60/2 threads online for the appliqué. I thought these would be the range of colours to blend with the blue fabrics. The background is Kona Solid White, a good white white, if you know what I mean.  
I'll be trying a couple of new products for my turned edge appliqué. The wash away sheets can be used in the photocopier to copy the pattern then to stabilize the pieces. It will also be used for the foundation piecing of the pieced triangle (see above around the central medallion of the Oma's Blues). Those teeny, tiny triangles have to be pieced in a circle!



The central medallion pattern pieces have now been printed and traced and next week I should have prepared the background square and have some actual progress to show.

A few tools I ordered online to help with the appliqué. I'll be reviewing them when they have been used.



close-up of the tips
Just a small finish to show you this week. I knitted a Perennial hat, pattern by Alana Dakos, from the Sweet Georgia yarn I used for the Oak Trail hat. All the details are on my Ravelry project page


I'm linking up to Freshly Finished Friday (link in the right side bar). Click through on the little blue frog to see the links to posts.

Have a super weekend. It is my granddaughter Isobel's 2nd birthday today and we are hosting a tea party here on Saturday for grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. Should be fun!

Catherine

11 comments:

  1. Lovely post Catherine - I love Ester's latest BOM too but really need to finish up some other projects before I even consider starting! Your fabric selection is lovely. I understand the Appliquick tools are a great time and fiddlyness saver so have fun with them! Sweet hat, lovely colour :-)

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  2. Another informative post, Catherine, thank you. I must check out Esther's blog. Those fabrics you bought are lovely. How serendipitous to find another fabric shop whilst out and about. The little hat is adorable; love the colour. Isobel's tea party sounds wonderful.....have fun!

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    1. No serendipity to it at all. I googled for quilt shops in my area while my husband drove- so easy and a great result.

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  3. Heavens to Betsy! I can't even imagine undertaking such a task. Can't wait to see your work on it. I do love blue and white so.

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  4. Interesting - lots of new things to drool over! btw, the first link to Esther's Blog isn't working.

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  5. Oh my, I love blue willow china and that quilt looks like a real heirloom. What a huge undertaking. I cannot wait to see it as it progresses. Love your hat too - gorgeous yarn.

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  6. Gorgeous BOM - wish i had time to try this one. Very interested to hear how you get on with the appliquick tools. I follow Lynnette Anderson's blog and she loves them!

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  7. Lovely hat! I love blue and white china too. Look fprward to uor quilt progress!

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  8. The hat you've made is very pretty and I'm looking forward to your reviews of the applique tools :)

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