Clam Flower #11 - Part 1

Here's the start of Clam Flower #11.  My cousin tells me that it looks like a bromeliad and it does though I didn't plan it on that. 

These pictures are more true to color.  I had fun picking dark deep purples on this one. I also really like the circular shape at the end of the leaves.  

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

Free Motion Friday - My New Filler Book!

I'm excited to share my new book with you all today!  I've included tips for getting starting and what to do when you hit the edge and don't have room for a full motif.  Many of the designs have been shared here on Free Motion Fridays, but not all and many of them are on the cover.  There are 40 designs in the book.

Here's a peek at the inside directions complete with drawings.  

Quite a number of the designs come from my Brick Wall Quilt Along, but not all of them.

If you're interested in ordering a copy send me an email at websterquilt at gmail dot com (as normally typed) and I will send you a Paypal invoice.  The book is $15 plus $3 shipping.

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

I Wish You a Merry Quilt-a-Long Block #1

I love this first block from the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-a-Long.  You can find the pattern here.  It's such a cute snowflake and it's been a blast to see all the different combinations in the Facebook group.  I knew I wanted to use this gorgeous cherry red batik with snowflakes I just bought as the background with a white snowflake.  I've climbed aboard the leather in quilts train and I had a piece of white metallic leather that would've been amazing, but alas it was a scrap and I didn't have enough.  So I added some dots to the original pattern so I could use the leather.  

I put fusible (steam-a-seam 2) on the back of the leather and cut them out just like normal.  Next I stuck them to the fabric.  The only difference was that I ironed them on from the back side.  It would take a long time for the heat to make it all the way through the leather, so ironing from the back is easier as it's only a layer of cotton.  I don't think I could do this with other fusible products because they don't stick, but Steam-a-Seam 2 worked wonderfully.

Here's the block all stuck down.

And a close up.  The metallic leather dots are so much fun!  

I used a Glide 40-weight Poly thread in Wheat to do the blanket stitching.  I did use a smaller stitch size on the dots and center circle than on all the kite shapes.

The final block!  So much fun.  I'm excited to see what block 2 has in store.

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy 

Flower Inspiration

What can I say?   I LOVE flowers.  Here's a few pretties from a recent trip to the Black Hills in South Dakota.

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

I Wish You a Merry Quilt-a-Long

Have you seen the I Wish You A Merry Quilt-a-Long going on in a group on Facebook?  It's fabulous! 

The first block is a snowflake and I'm a sucker for snowflakes, so I was debating whether or not to join in.  And then I went on vacation and hit up some quilt shops and found some fabulous Christmas batiks to add to what I already have.  Here are my fabric selections including some fabulous Island Batiks of course!

Now to pick fabrics for the first block and get playing!

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

Free Motion Friday - Picking Fillers

So last week I was working on this quilt and playing with rulers.  Once that was done I had to decide how to fill all the spaces I'd created.

 I knew I wanted something really dense behind the flowers.  So loopy and fun.

Here's the top at this point.

I decided to add feathers to the other side of the spikes for added contrast.  I really like it.  Then I went to fill in the large open spaces.

Here's my first attempt.  hated it.  Ripped it out.  It's not dense enough.

And my second attempt.  It's better, but I still don't like it.  I ripped it out.  Not quite dense enough. 

Here's the start of the third attempt.  I really like it.  

Here's more of the swirls stitched out.

And the final quilt all done.  I really like the contrast between all the different fillers!  (And my foot LOL).

I hope you get to quilt today!

Suzy

Clam Flower #10 - Part 2

I love the fabric that completes the flower of this block.  The wavy orange and blue makes such fun petals.

I also really like the shape of this leaf.  It's really fun.

The back.

And the final block.  Upon looking at it that bottom leaf is really dark, but when it's with all the other blocks it should be okay.

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy