GPDU -- MONTH 4: Applique Block and Pieced Block

Garden Party Down Under is the Block of the Month quilt for The Quilt Show. The patterns are FREE all of 2022 for STAR Members. 

 It's Month 4 and once again we have an applique block and a pieced block. Here are mine from the test quilt made last year:

This time I decided not to make this block from the Kit fabrics--I made this same block last year and decided once was enough. 

Important things to remember: the jug is asymmetrical-it has a handle on one side. If using a fusible product, like Print & Piece Fuse Lite, the jug will be reversed unless you draw the pattern in reverse. This is discussed in the Optional Alternative Techniques document found in Month 1 for STAR Members:

Month 1 Additional Instructions

There is also a Video about using Fusibles for Machine Applique found in Month 1 Videos:

Month 1 Videos

I find a window template very helpful for selecting fabrics for the vases/jug:

This jug is different from the preceding vases--it has a "lip" at the top that is the INSIDE of the jug: 

Irene used the WRONG side of the jug fabric for hers. That would probably work fine with this gray 
Bubbles fabric, I chose a different gray--this is the wrong side of a gray print. It will be covered with 4 stems so it won't show a lot. NOTE: the LIP  is the FIRST piece of fabric to be placed on the background:

This pattern has both 1/8" and 1/4" stems. I have seen beautiful 1/8" stems made by students from 1/8" ribbon. The outer edges of ribbon are finished so you can either stitch right down the middle with straight or zigzag stitches. Or couch it by hand or machine. 1/8" wide is pretty narrow so it doesn't need a lot of threadwork.

Once the lip is in place, note that Leaves 2 and 3 are sewn next because they go UNDER stems:

Next add the stems and all remaining leaves and flowers. The jug can be stitched in place after the stems are put on top of the "lip"--one of the heart-shaped leaves goes on top the the jug.

REMEMBER WHEN TRIMMING THE FINISHED BLOCK: trim it to 13.5" Wide x 12.5" High. See the  Month 3  blog and LIVE video for my Cutting Guide Tip:

MONTH 3 BLOG

Month 3 LIVE

The 4-Patch on Point block with the Dresden Plate center is exactly the same as Month 3. The pattern was updated to provide a full size Dresden Plate should you wish to cut your own templates from cardboard or Print & Piece Fuse Lite. The instructions for the 4-Patch on Point were updated to say there are 32 squares cut for the eight 4-Patches, half light, half darker than the light ones. 

Here are Irene's Month 4 blocks:

All of Irene's blocks can be seen on the MONTHLY LAYOUT GUIDE

Next month we will make TWO applique blocks and no pieced blocks. A different pieced block will be introduced in Month 6. 

Be sure to look at and post on the Forum--it is great to see all the progress being made: FORUM  Click on the PHOTOS tab to see just the photos that have been posted in the SHOW YOUR PROGRESS Topic.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Traveling Experiences

I used to fly somewhere at least once a month, to teach quilting at shows and guilds. The last 18 months that has mostly stopped. Recently, I flew to Dallas to tape The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. Here are my thoughts on that trip.

One of the differences this year is how many times Delta has changed my flight schedules on the four trips I have scheduled this Summer/Fall. Sometimes, big changes--like my 7:30 am departure moving to 5:20 am. Sometimes, the changes are only  a few minutes different. All airlines are doing this, even Southwest, so I just have to roll with the punches.  If they make a big change you don't like,  you can call them (expect a 3 hour wait on Hold) and can move to a different flight, even a different day, without a fee--if you call them to make the change. 

This flight was a 7 am departure from Huntsville, a 30 minute drive from my home. I got up at 4:15, we left the house just after 5 am and I was all set at the gate just before 6. Boarding at 6:20. On time departure.

I always have a photo of my checked luggage on my phone in case it gets lost so I can show it to the Baggage assistance people if needed. No problems this trip, my bags made the trip with me. Having the Delta app on my phone means I get a notification as each bag is loaded on each flight, so I knew they were on my plane each flight. That is reassuring.

                                                 

Masks are mandatory at all places in the airports and on the flights, worn correctly, covering the mouth and nose, as frequent reminders are played over the PA. "If you forget, we will gently remind you". And they did, with those who "forgot". 

TSA screening at Huntsville: "Remove all electronics larger than a cell phone from your carryon". And shoes and jackets, too, unless you are lucky enough to the TSA Pre-check on your boarding pass--I didn't this trip. In Dallas, on the return flights, two days later: "Do not remove any electronics from your carryon". Different equipment, different rules.

All four of my flights were full or very close to full. And all were on time, departures and arrivals. The employees were professional and the passengers all behaved themselves, well, mostly. 

Many food vendors in the airports are closed, even in Atlanta and Dallas. Labor shortages are probably the reason since passenger counts have greatly increased. Long lines for those who wanted Chick-fil-A or 5 Guys--I come prepared so no problem for me. 

Once in Dallas I used LYFT to get to the hotel--I am still a little skittish about getting in a stranger's car. They have a very helpful safety feature I use--I text my ride to my husband who can watch the ride in real time--and he knows the vehicle and driver who picked me up. It was only 15 minutes to the hotel. After unpacking my clothes, I used LYFT again to go to the Studio, about 2 miles away, to deliver my quilts. They decorate the set the night before for the next day's taping, since we hope to start taping about 9 am. 

This yellow and white quilt was made by Alex Anderson. We have a garden party theme and it filled that space nicely:

This is one of my early quilts, made with a group of 6 quilters at a retreat in 1994. It has not been out of the storage closet for 20+ years. Beautifully  hand-appliqued and hand quilted (by a woman who used to do a lot of hand quilting for me). As my best quilts are all currently in Houston for My Joyful Journey Special Exhibit, this one got to come out and shine. It is queen-size and it was used on my bed until I made something less precious to replace it:

Again, I had to scrounge for set decoration pieces--these small wallhangings are from the mid-1990's also, workshop pieces that taught me a lot, both completely  hand made:

Hidden behind the blue curtain--the 2022 Block of the Month Quilt designed exclusively for The Quilt Show by... I can't tell you, and I can't show you:

A big hint is the designer lives in a country from which she currently cannot travel. So I am the fill-in. The Quilt Show folks call me "the BOM Whisperer". I test the pattern--my sample quilt is on-set too but I can't show it yet either. I update/enhance the written instructions. I figure out "Optional Alternative Techniques" where appropriate--there is always more than one way to do anything--so I offer a variety of techniques when appropriate. 

Throughout the year, I write monthly blog posts to supplement the instructions, do a video most months, and a Facebook LIVE broadcast. We really provide a tremendous amount of  extra help and information for our Star Members who choose to make the Block of the Month quilt--the pattern is FREE to them as an added benefit of membership. 

The only problem for me on set is the heat from all the lights. Here the cameraman is behind me as we practice the sewing demo part--I was mortified to see how wet my hair is. The AC was turned down, I mopped up, and we started the taping: 

A bit of fun as Justin does the "cold open"--remember, it's a garden party: 

It takes hours of preparation to make one hour of show go smoothly. I had about 5 hours of phone interview time with the  producer, beginning in June. I write a "script", what I want to convey in the 10 minutes/segment allotted and then practice, practice, practice, to get it all in within that time frame. I  edit, edit, edit, and remember, this quilt is the Star of the Show. 

I thought it went well, and Alex and Ricky did too, after each of the 5 segments we did. But when the amazing producer, Shelly Heesacker, who I adore, came to me after we were done and said simply:  "This exceeded my expectations" I knew we had a winner. Producers have high expectations. She is a top-notch professional who knows how to do her job. I was so happy she was  happy. 

Here we are just before I left the Studio:

A wonderful added bonus was time I got to spend with friends I hadn't seen in a while. Dinner at an authentic Tex-Mex style, non-chain restaurant was great and the visit was a personal highlight of this trip.

All too soon, it was time to pack the luggage and head back to DFW, for the first flight to ATL, and then finally on to HSV. No issues at all on both days of travel make me a happy camper.

Home sweet home. My husband was waiting for me, we grabbed my luggage and went out for a nice dinner:

All in all,  this was a fantastic trip I thoroughly enjoyed. I am eager to show the quilt--in October sometime will come the big REVEAL.  And the show will air in early January, 2022, FREE for all to watch all year. I'll be sure to remind you.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

On the Road Again

 This week I head to Dallas to tape The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. Even though it's my fourth time as the "Guest Artist", there are still butterflies. 

The show will air at the beginning of January as we start the 2022 Block of the Month. The quilt is wonderful, I LOVE my sample quilt made with my own fabrics and think a lot of people are going to love this one.

Here is a teaser--it's still Secret Sewing so I can't show you much:

This is the BACK--of course. When I showed this back fabric some weeks ago, there was a run on the fabric at The Quilt Show store. They got it back in and I see they have run out AGAIN. If you want it, let them know by clicking "Notify Me"--you will get an email when it is back in stock.  108" Quilt Backing 

It has nothing to do with the front of the quilt, it is just great fabric about friendship. Since 9 of my best friends helped me make the sample, it was perfect.

It takes a lot of time and effort to prepare for taping so that the show will look like it took no effort at all. Here are my 3 Segment bags, with everything I need for each Segment we will tape--showing how to prepare, create, and enjoy making this quilt pattern:

I have had four phone conversations with the producer, Shelly Heesacker, for a total of about five hours. She is superb at her job, really knows how to make the shows cohesive, interesting and FUN! She is a delight to work with and I am eager to see her again. 

Clothes are planned--what to wear for the taping is a major thing. Too flashy and all people see is what you're wearing. Too bland--that's no fun. Where will the mic go? No buttons, necklaces, scarves, etc, that can bump against the mic and cause problems. Everything is washed and ready to get packed. 

Here are the set decoration quilts I am taking: 

As I will be in Dallas less than 48 hours, this is my luggage--assuming everything fits. I never know until I start filling up that big purple suitcase. If I have to, I will add an additional smaller piece of luggage for my clothes. Quilts take up more room in luggage than you think:

The quilt is likely to be revealed in October, as usual, so I still won't be able to show it to you until then. It will be a challenge to take photos on the set I CAN show you when I get home.

Let's quilt.

Barbara