Wednesday 23 March 2016

WOW 23rd March

Hi Everyone,
Haven't blogged for a couple of weeks as have spent far more time thinking than stitching but have been recording my progress as I go. Reaching the end of my applique blocks it was a case of  who gets to be the star of my last Frog Block. Decision finally made!!!


Jillian Sawyers "Jelly Bean"

I initially planned to use JellyBean as my applique at the top of the quilt once the two top blocks were joined together but he just didn't seem right there so now he has a block of his own, I think I should have enlarged the pattern one more level as he seems a little small against the other frogs but I just love him anyway.

I ended up choosing this frog as my central applique after joining the top two blocks.


The Crawler.



Happy with my choice, he is just crawling across the top without being noticed by the other two.
Have taken the plunge and started cutting my back ground fabric, top two corners are stitched in place.
Then it was measure, measure, measure before cutting into my main panel to fit the central block as I had trouble getting my head around what size my block space needed to be with the seam allowance.
I worked with my panel folded vertically in half with right sides together so I could mark and cut from the reverse. My first cut was the right length but not wide enough, I then realised half of 9 1//2 is not 4 1/4 Lol. Luckily it was a cut on the small side not cutting too big.



Happy with how the fitting of the block has turned out.
Am pleased I did cut this panel as one piece as it would have been near impossible to get such a flow of leaves if I had pieced it in sections around  the block.
Just remeasured as looking at my photo the top edge of the block seems slightly off but it is my pinning on the wall not the block thank goodness.
Now to tackle the other Y seams and join the top and bottom of the panel together


Hoorah, my Y seams stitched perfectly.
The only problem I had was taking this photo, Steve is out thank goodness as I had to pin into the wall just below the ceiling to get my length, something I promised him I wouldn't start doing, Lol
Now taken down and hopefully he won't spot the pinholes!!.
Only the two side panels to make now and as it is windy and raining an ideal day to be in my sewing room. Finally in time to Esther's WOW this week.
Enjoy your Wednesday what ever you are doing and if you stop by my blog I love to read your comments, unfortunately I am terrible at replying but will try to improve on this.
Cheers Jenny

Thursday 3 March 2016

WOW 2nd March

Hi Everyone,
Apart from stripping wallpaper my concentration has been on my Frog Song quilt using Glass Art patterns from Jillian Sawyers book of the same name.
I'm down to the final few blocks having finished my Oooh Mama Block.


 "Oooh Mama "
He came out lovely and masculine and together They make a wonderful couple.


I think Love is blooming!!!

These two blocks have been cut to my final size and stitched together so that I can do my central applique in the bottom area. Have remembered to leave a quarter inch unstitched at the top for my Y seam to join my background.


Jillian Sawyers " Rub a Dub Dub "

Biggest problem I had was deciding which bit belonged to which frog when pattern was reversed on the light box. Finally with the colour photo alongside it became clear that the middle frog was over everyone else and came together easily.
Initially I chose a lovely rich marbled blue and green for my water and it looked fantastic, at the last 
minute I thought put the background behind it and it just screamed "don't use me"
It was the only blue in the quilt and it was overpowering.
Back to my stash and this pale watery green batik is far more harmonious and still speaks of water.


I like to think the three frogs in a tub is the perfect applique for here.

I now have a central applique for the top two blocks and one side block to decide on and make before I can put it all together, that is the part that is scaring me!!!
Time now to Link with Esther's WOW for this week.
Enjoy your Wednesday everyone.
Cheer's Jenny