Creating leaves for Melon Study. . .

Although I still need to paint the melons, I have put the leaves together as I was interested in pulling all elements of the quilt together.

As you can see, the leaves are spiky.  The technique I used included freezer paper and glue.

I drew the reversed pattern pieces on freezer paper and pressed it to the backside of the leaf fabric.  The pieces were then cut out with approximately 1/4" seam allowance left all around.  The leaf spikes were turned over onto the freezer paper and glued.  The freezer paper was left on to match each leaf section's seam allowance.  The seams were sewn with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Once sewn and pressed, the freezer paper was then pulled off the fabric.  You can see the freezer paper on the leaf tips where they were glued.  As this is going to be a wallhanging, I am not feeling motivated to worry about taking the paper out of the tips.

Well, I've gone as far as I can with this piece without doing the painting.  As painting is new to me, I am a little timid to perform this next step, but will do so this weekend.  I'll be sure to keep you updated.

A MUST SEE for quilters: Bear Paw Quilting. . .

Went to this GREAT quilt shop in Couer d'Alene this weekend:  Bear Paw Quilts http://bearpawquilting.danemcoweb.com/.

This shop was a featured Top 10 quilt shop in American Patchwork & Quilting in 2010 and that is well-deserved.  The shop is well-lit, has a great fabric variety, as well as wool and needlework, and the staff is extremely friendly.  If you are ever in the area, I recommend it as a MUST SEE!  

I was invited by Traci Marvel to go along to Idaho to participate in a "Meet & Greet" and lecture she was doing at the shop for Bigfork Bay Cotton Company.  Traci is so engaging and creative that she draws people in.  You never meet a stranger when you're with Traci :).

We had a full house for the lecture.  A good time was had by all, especially me.  Thanks, Traci, for inviting me to participate in your world.

Continuing to make melons . .

Melons 3 and 4 of the Velda Newman Melon Study are now ready to be made.

Melon 3

Melon 4

 Begin by cutting out each fabric melon 1/2" larger than pattern piece.  Transfer the lines from the pattern pieces onto the fabric with a water-soluble pen.  Each melon has a segment that needs to be cut away, leaving 1/4" seam allowance.  Turn seam allowance under.  Place melon segment under whole melon.  Pin or glue segment to secure.

Cut batting to exact size of melon pattern piece.  Spray baste to fabric melon.  Sew melon segment to melon using the applique or zigzag stitch.  Stitch along drawn lines with a free-motion straight stitch.

Backside showing applique stitch

Continue free-motion quilting to fill in center of Melon 3.

Backside of Melon 3

All of the melons are now ready to be painted. 
 

Velda Newman's Melon Study continues. . .

Hello everyone.  It's great to be back.  I was surprised by the blogger withdrawal I have experienced while being without a computer.  I'll continue with the Melon Study I was working on when last I posted.

 This melon was cut approximately 1" larger than the pattern piece.  Batting was cut to the exact pattern size and was spray basted to the back.  Tea-dyed cheesecloth was laid over the prepared melon.

Six threads were pulled every inch in one direction only.  With scissors, slits were cut.  The slits were supposed to be cut in the same direction the threads were pulled.  You can see that I messed up by cutting slits in the opposite direction.  I did cut slits in the correct direction too.  My holes just go in all directions rather than in one.

 The melon was spray basted and the prepared cheesecloth laid on top.  Using tweezers, the cheesecloth was  thenseparated to create various sized holes.  Wavy lines were free-motion quilted over the entire piece in thread matching the cheesecloth color.  Here is the backside of the melon after quilting.

Here is the final product.  Pretty cool, huh?  Glad to be back.  Keep watching.  I will next post melons 3 and 4.