I love to sew, mainly quilts and bags. I am 66, married to Fred and have one son, Matthew, who is 27. I enjoy embroidery and applique and prefer to machine piece and quilt my projects. I love my vintage Singer sewing machines especially my Featherweight 222K. I’m enjoying treadling on my 201K Singer and I collect Miniature Sewing Machines and currently have three Essex , one Singer 20, one Singer 40, two Vulcan Miniatures and my latest, a Grain. My love of sewing I believe comes from my Grandmother - I still have the drawings she made for me to embroider on tea towels many many years ago!

Saturday 24 November 2012

ONCE UPON A TIME.......

THERE WERE FIVE BEARS....

Okay, I know there were only three but in my story there are five!  okay?

and here is the first bear ...

THE BEARY BUNCH
Pattern by Toni Alexander
The Red Boot Quilt Company
link HERE
Poor little thing looks a bit washed out in this pic but in reality he is quite a bright bear!

I have previously made two of these quilts,  both in boy colours:-

This is the quilt I donated to Blair's Wish Foundation
I don't have a photo of the other quilt as it is only a flimsy at present, waiting to be quilted.

So who will be on the receiving end of this quilt you might just ask????     Our beautiful little Maisy of course!   Hey, I'm Aunty Hen and I can make as many quilts as I like for the little darling!  You may recall, Maisy already has three quilts from me (Royal Critters, Lullaby in the Night Sky and just lately the bright orange Toy Twist quilt -Hey Diddle Diddle) plus a stack of little pram quilts I whipped up in a hurry one day, terrible photo ..
Pram quilts (two fat quarters layered, quilted and bound-
great for practicing free motion quilting)

This quilt will be ready for Christmas I hope.

I tried something different with the Applique method this time - I used the "soft or window applique" technique.   This makes for a much softer feel to the applique therefore making it so much easier to blanket stitch the parts where there are lots of layers.  I cut the teddy head and body using the soft window method and I have found that it is certainly much easier to stitch through all of the layers.  It feels kind of strange holding the block as I stitch, as I am used to it feeling much firmer, but I'm getting used to it now.  A good test for this method was the eyes and nose of the teddy -  lots of layers but it was so easy to stitch without the fusible web being behind every piece.  I could have used the soft method on the muzzle too, might try that on the next bear I build.


UPDATE ON FRED:-          He started back on chemo last Monday (same as last time, plugged in for three days - wears the device home).  It seems to be having more of an effect on him this time but that's to be expected following a major surgery I guess.  He's feeling a little woozy and off colour.    The chemo will go on for 12 weeks so we will be having a low key Christmas.



Cheers for now,
Happy Sewing,
Helen






10 comments :

  1. I think spoiling Maisy is a great idea!

    Hope Fred is feeling more human soon xxx

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  2. gorgeous quilts and i hope hubby will start feeling better.xx

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  3. Why not make more than one, good job, my soon to be grandson is going to have more than one if Nana has anything to do with it. Hope Fred feels better soon. xx

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  4. Lovely quilt and glad to hear you are having some time for sewing.... All the best to Fred... I know the treatment can seem very harsh sometimes....
    Hugz

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  5. You are having fun making beautiful quilts for Maisy..
    Thinking of you both while Fred is having his treatment.
    Hugz
    Maria

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  6. Of course she NEEDS all of those quilts too. ;)

    Sorry the chemo is taking such a hit on Fred. I hope the following sessions will be easier on him.

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  7. Thinking about Fred, and hoping that some of those side effects pass quickly. A low key Christmas sounds lovely. Nothing low key happening here this year!

    Little P has about 12 quilts ...they'll always be used. The bears look darling.

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  8. Give Fred all my best... and hugs to you too! LOVE the bear quilts... will steal the idea and make one as a gift if you don't mind! Great work Helen! :)

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  9. The bear quilts are just darling. Lucky Maisy.

    Hope that Fred is feeling better soon and that you are taking good care of yourself.

    Lillian
    lillianscupboard.wordpress.com

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