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Drum roll please - my Tree Of Life quilt - pattern by Lynette Anderson Designs - is ready to be layered with backing fabric and wadding while I deliberate over how to quilt it. Initially purchased as a 5-part BOM from Cross Patch back in 2019, this wasn't started until a couple of months ago. The sweet hand painted wooden buttons (that were supplied each month with the pattern instructions) will be stitched in place once the quilt is completed. 
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When I first purchased this 5-part BOM called Tree of Life by the Australian desiner Lynette Anderson, the patterns arrived one block per month, with instructions to construct one set of log cabin blocks once each appliqued bird had been stitched. As I'd already got all the instructions for this quilt, I decided to wait until the quilt centre had been stitched before I started these small log cabin blocks. The centres of these tiny blocks are embroidered - and rather than stitch the embroidery once each block had been constructed (as per the original instructions) I decided to do all of the embroidery first. So I set to and ruled a grid onto the front of the yarn dyed background fabric, then using a lightbox and a fine nibbed Micron Pigma pen, I traced all the different bugs and flowers that were then embroidered using a selection of variegated Valdani hand-dyed stranded embroidery threads...
...prior to the hand embroidery, I'd fused a thin lightweight interfacing onto the wrong side of the yarn-dyed background fabric. This gives a bit of "body" to the fabric. Once the snails, ladybirds, bees and flowers had all been hand embroidered, I carefully cut along the grid lines with a rotary cutter. This is a great project for using up lots of scraps, and I've used a huge selection of scraps from my box of Lynette fabrics for the log cabin blocks - so no two blocks are the same...
...once the first block was stitched so I could check it for size, I was able to chain piece the remaining 29 blocks. These are just 4.5" square, and I've used a neutral coloured Bottomline 60wt polyester thread for the piecing, along with a size 60 Schmetz Microtex needle. Once all of the blocks were completed, they were pressed on a wool pressing mat with a warm iron, then loined together to make the borders...
...this shows a little peek of one of the corners of the quilt, once the borders had been attached. Now the quilt top just needs a good press ready for a photoshoot!  I'm really pleased with how my current project - Tree of Life pattern by Lynette Anderson Designs - is coming along! These five birds - Birds of a Feather, Take Flight, Early Bird, Wise Old Bird, and The Hatchling, have all been hand embroidered using a selection of variegated Valdani stranded embroidery threads. The next step will be making lots of small log cabin blocks for the borders, so I need to spend a few days preparing strips of fabric and embroidering the centres of the blocks.  The Tree of Life was a 5-part mystery block of the month project, designed by Lynette Anderson Designs, and was originally purchased from Cross Patch here in the UK way back in 2019. Each month a pattern arrived in the post - the pattern included full colour instructions, with full size stitchery and applique templates, and also included a pretty hand painted wooden button that was to be stitched in place once the quilt was completed. Each pattern arrived, and although it was carefully inspected, and oohed and aahed over, it was duly packed away as I was busy with other projects. As it was a mystery BOM, I didn't know what the finished quilt would look like until the final installment - and then when the final patten arrived, as I was even busier, the whole set of patterns and buttons, along with all the fabrics, were packed away in my huge box of kits. I honestly never believed this project would stay in that box of kits for quite so long! The final block of this gorgeous collection of birds is called The Hatchling, and has a beautifully embroidered wing...
...as with the previous birds, I'm using a selection of variegated Valdani threads for the hand embroidery. These hand-dyed threads are just perfect for simple stitches. Once the body of the bird and the wing had been embroidered, the wing was attached using a very fine neutral coloured thead and a very small slip stitch, before it wa sglue-basted in place with a few spots of Roxanne's basting glue. When the glue is dry, the bird was then appliqued into place, and the remaining hand embroidery was added to the background fabric. This blue heart is so cute...
...the hand painted wooden button which was supplied with the patern will be stitched in place once the quilt is completed. Even the bird's tail is embellished with some hand embroidery...
...and here's my completed Hatchling, looking very pretty indeed. These birds have been an absolute pleasure to stitch, and now they are completed, I can start constructing the log cabin blocks that will make up the border of the quilt.  The fourth installment of this pretty pattern is called Wise Old Bird, and this bird is facing in the oppasite direction to the other birds (they're all looking towards the future) and this one is looking back - a very wise old bird indeed! As with the other patterns, this one includes a pattern sheet with traceable applique templates and stitchery designs, and a hand painted wooden button...  ...I don't know why, but I found this bird a bit tricky to stitch - and my first attempt was hastily discarded! Goodness only knows why I struggled with it, but I'm happy to say my next attempt was so much better. As usual I traced the stitchery design onto the background fabric using a lightbox and a fine nibbed Micron Pigma pen. The hand embroidery has been stitched using a selection of variegated Valdani stranded embroidery threads and a few simple embroidery stiches...
...you can use whatever method of applique you like for this project, I'm using a mix of both needleturn and the Apliquick methods for these birds. This bird has several parts to it, and on my second attempt they all went together very nicely. I'm using a neutral coloured Bottomline 60wt polyester thread for the applique stitches, and it blends really well with these fabrics. Rather than using applique pins to hold the bird in place while it's being stitched onto the background fabric, I use a few spots of Roxanne's basting glue, so I don't get pricked by those sharp pins either...
...and here is a very splendid bird, with a very smart comb and breast - this one was well worth all the extra effort I put into making it, hopefully I won't struggle so much with the final bird! The hand painted wooden button that was supplied with the pattern will be stitched in place once the quilt is completed.  A few weeks ago I started stitching this gorgeous quilt - the pattern is Tree of Life, by the Australian designer by Lynette Anderson. This was originally purchased as a block of the month from Cross Patch here in the UK, way back in 2019, and had been packed away in my box of "Lynette" patterns until I decided the time was right to start it at long last. Here's an update of my progress so far, now that the first three birds have been hand embroidered and appliqued into place. Although I've been using the Apliquick method of applique, you can use whatever technique you prefer. The hand embroidery is completed using a few simple embroidery stitches - back stitch, satin stitch, colonial knots, running stitch, blanket stitch and detached blanket stitch. Lynette's instructions include a list of suggested colours of varigated Valdani stranded embroidery threads - these have a very subtle colour change.  The next installment of Tree of Life - designed by Lynette Anderson - is called The Early Bird. This was originally purchased as a block of the month back in 2019 from Cross Patch here in the UK. Each pattern arrived with a hand painted wooden pattern, and this month it was a cute little birdhouse button. The stitchery design for the wing and the bird is traced onto fabric using a lightbox and a fine Micron Pigma pen, nib size 005, in a pale brown colour. The ink is permanent so you do need a steady hand. The stitchery design is hand embroidered and the instructions for these birds suggest using variegated Valdani stranded embroidery threads...
...once the bird and the wing have been embroidered, the wing has been appliqued using the Apliquick technique onto the body of the bird, and the bird is ten appliqued onto the background fabric. All of the fabrics used are also designed by Lynette Anderson, some were supplied as a fabric pack from Cross Patch, and some are from my stash...
...and here we have another pretty bird, tucked between more gorgeous wool appliqued flowers. The hand painted wooden birdhouse button has just been laid on the bird for the photograph, as it will be stitched in place once the quilt is completed.  As I mentioned in my previous post, I'd purchased this gorgeous block of the month - Tree of Life - back in 2019 from Cross Patch here in the UK. The second installment is Take Flight, and this block is another mix of hand embroidery and applique...  ...the wings are hand embroidered using a selection of variegated Valdani stranded embroidery threads - these particular colours are suggested in the pattern instructions, however you can use whatever threads you prefer, in colours to match your fabrics. I particularly like the subtle varigation of colour in the Valdani brand. the fabrics I've traced the stitchery design onto the background fabric using a lightbox and a very fine nibbed Micron Pigma pen - my favourite is a size 005 nib, which is the finest, in a pale brown colourway - this fine nib ensures the traced lines can be covered with even a single strand of embroidery thread...
...once the hand embroidery has been stitched, the cute bee hive and the body of the bird have both been constructed using the apliquck method - although you can use whatever method of applique you prefer...  ...the bird and wings have then been appliqued into place on the background fabric. Using a fine thread - I'm using Bottomline thread in a neutral colour for this project - along with a fine applique needle - and very small stitches, so they're very hard to see, but the bird is firmly held in place. The cute wooden bee button was supplied with the pattern for this bird, and will be stitched in place once the quilt is completed...
...nestled among the branches and leaves and wool appliqued flowers, this bird is so pretty, and I'm so pleased with how this project is coming along.  Back in 2019 I purchased this block of the month by Lynette Anderson from Cross Patch - called Tree of Life, this is a 5 part BOM. Each month I received a pattern that included all the instructions, a traceable stitchery design, applique templates, and a beautiful hand painted button that is used to embellish each block. Anyway, as is often the case, life was busy with other stitching projects and this was packed away until a few weeks ago, and I was finally able to make a start on it. The fist pattern for this project is Birds of a Feather...  ...these pretty fabrics are also designed by Lynette Anderson and are from a variety of her collections. Although I'd purchased a fabric pack to make this quilt with, I'm also using fabrics from my "Lynette stash" too. These half inch hexies have been made using pre-cut hexagon papers (these are fusible so stay in place) and will be stitched onto the background fabric individually. The leaves have been made using the Apliquick method. I've traced the shape of the leaf onto applique paper, which is then fused onto the wrong side of the fabric, and the edges folded over - these will alsp be stitched in place onto the background fabric once they've been embellished with some hand embroidery...
...I've also used the Apliquick method for the tree trunk and the branches. As I've already the full set of patterns for this project, I've stitched all the branches in place. The background fabric for this project is a beautiful piece of yarn dyed fabric that I'd purchased from Little Quilt Store when it was still owned by Lynette, along with the wool for the appliqued flowers. These wool flowers are stitched in place using blanket sttich and a Suffolk Puff has been stitched to the centre. These flowers are then further embellished with a detached blanket stitch and colonial knots...
...the bird for this block is hand embroidered, asnd I've used a selection of variegated Valdani stranded embroidery threads (as suggested in the pattern instructions) - these are really lovely to sew with. Once the bird wa sembroidered, I fused the applique paper to the back, and prepared the edges so that it's ready to stitch to the background fabric...
...small circles of fabric have been hand embroidered with musical notes then appliqued into place, to give the effect of the bird singing. The beautiful hand painted buttn will be sttched in place once the quilt is completed, so I've just laid it on the bird for the photoshoot...
...and here's the fist completed bird - it really does look so pretty nestled amongst these gorgeous wool appliqued flowers and hexies. I have prepared the rest of the wool flowers and will get them all stitched in place before I start the next bird ready for the next block.  Hand embroidery is probably my favourite hobby, and when I saw this pretty pattern on the Poppy Patch website a few weeks ago I just couldn't resist it! The Perfect Day Pouch is designed by Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse Patchwork Designs, and includes both a pre-printed piece of fabric and a tracable stitchery design so it can be made as many times as you like. I've used pre-cut paper templates from Sew & Quilt along with a selection of Lynette Anderson fabrics from my stash to make the small hexie flowers that adorn the back of the pouch...
...the pattern suggests using Valdani variegated stranded embroidery threads for the hand embroidery, and the colours are really lovely. I've used a small wooden embroidery hoop and a Hiroshima Tulip embroidery needle. The design is made up using very simple embroidery stitches...
...these 3/8" hexagons were an absolute delight to make - once the flowers were made, they have been hand stitched to the back of the pouch. The instructions in the original pattern didn't state to quilt the back of the pouch, but I thought it would give it a bit more structure. Vliseline H640 has been used for the wadding, and a simple cross hatch design has been machine quilted using an Aurifil 40wt thread...
...a small tab has been attached to one side of the pouch next to the zipper, and a strap has been attached to the other side...
...I struggled with the instructions for the construction, so resorted to covering the internal seams with a narrow single fold binding...
...and here's the front of the compeleted pouch. This is a really useful size, and is perfect for keeping sewing bits and bobs, or makeup or toiletries in.  |
 About me...Hi - welcome to my quilting blog! My passions are my family, my dog, my friends and sewing, not necessarily in that order! 
 
 
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