I am constantly amazed at the sheer volume of my fabric stash! The bulging cupboards, baskets and boxes make it impossible to function properly and so it is time for the Major Tidy Up!! 

It is also wonderful what you find during the process!  There are those absolute treasures which I haven’t seen for ages - buried under a mountain of accumulated bits and pieces.   And at the other extreme, there are those cringe pieces!  Whatever was I thinking when I bought them!!  

I have been quilting for some time now, and fabric seems to have this remarkable habit of multiplying! Despite all of my efforts at sorting, stacking and classifying, it can be a major undertaking finding the exact piece I have in mind for a current project.  Simply - too much ’stuff’ choking up my work space and storage areas and actually inhibiting my quiltmaking!

I am currently having the biggest purge of fabric - ruthless culling is taking place and together with my good friend Jan, we are conducting a combined Garage Sale of no-longer-needed fabric and things. I now understand that I don’t have to justify my existence and worth based on the volume of ‘textile might’ in my sewing studio!  I have also shed that need to stockpile fabric for my ‘retirement’ and when I may need to be more frugal with the pennies and purchases.  There will be more than enough left to keep me going…

It is truly an uplifting experience clearing the space. It makes my heart skip to see from one side of the sewing room to the other!! And with this comes the most tantalising goal of all: to re-focus, re-invigorate and re-launch into exciting new creative ventures.

I was so delighted to be invited to take part in designing and making a block which will be made into a beautiful quilt for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation “65 Roses Ball” and charity auction in Sydney next year. 

There is an enchanting story of a little boy being unable to pronounce his sister’s condition ‘cystic fibrosis’  -   instead he referred to it as ‘65 Roses’ and with this lovely connection, the name has been adopted by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  

So the brief was to include roses in the blocks and above is a photograph of some delicious roses from my garden which helped provide inspiration for my block. With nine well known quilters taking part in this project, I am so eager to see the other designs AND the finished quilt which I am sure will be just gorgeous!  

The fabrics were selected from Robyn Pandolph’s Somerset range which reflects her gentle, romantic design style. The block designs will be published in Quilters Companion magazine starting in January 2010.  

I have permission to show you a sneak preview of a tiny portion of my block!  

Once a month, we explore some fascinating designs and share ideas in the two classes at Patchwork of Essendon.  Our numbers were a little depleted today due to illness and family commitments and we did miss those who were unable to attend. 

I remembered to take the camera this time!  However, we were so absorbed in creative discussion and activity during the morning class that I completely missed the opportunity to use it!  Sorry girls! 

So the afternoon group was duly coaxed into posing with their work and although reluctant at first, their beaming smiles in these photos indicates the happy mood of the session.  Although eyes and ears were tuned in to the abundance of ideas that were shared today, Annie (above) managed to get some stitches into the precious quilt she is making for her daughter. 

Merideth nervously squared and trimmed all nine finished blocks of this exotic design with a Middle Eastern tile effect.   And below she has arranged them so that we could not only admire her blocks but also the additional designs created when they are butted together. Well done Merideth - you have made some wonderful fabric choices and we will look forward to seeing it stitched together next time. 

Although Mandy has taken just a tad longer than planned, what a gorgeous and generous birthday present (below) she is making for a special friend. Annie could be dropping some hints there too….

For most of my needleturn applique, I love to use templastic for my applique pattern templates. The durability is an advantage if you to trace many shapes, such as identical leaves - or if they are in reverse image, the template can easily be flipped over. As these templates are flexible and long lasting, you can establish an excellent library  upon which to use for future projects. Sort them into categories and store them in folders, stackable containers or your preferred system.

The transparency of plastic templates is also exciting if you are working with lovely large scale fabric prints as you can move the template over the fabrics in a ‘try before you cut’ approach. The opaque plastic allows you to ’see’ the finished applique effect created by the prints and to capture very interesting and dynamic overall results.

Cut-out or ‘negative’ applique templates.  I have designed and developed Bon Bon Applique Templates (see Bon Bon Shop and previous entries) to allow applique shapes to be traced directly onto fabric, based on the ‘negative’ or cut-out shape.  This provides wonderful accuracy and speed. There are an assortment of shapes in the collection which can be interpreted in many ways to create leaves and petals and other concepts. The cut-out shape also allows you to ‘flip’ the template over for reverse images and to ‘rehearse’ fabrics to determine if they are suitable for your design. 

                

Quilters freezer paper is certainly an accurate template material and can be used either on the right or wrong side of the fabrics.  I will discuss the application of these methods in a future tutorial. Freezer paper is excellent if the applique shape is long and willowy or delicate and lacy.  Freezer paper can stabilise the fabric well to allow you to trace the shape onto the fabric, unlike plastic which can be rather unruly in this respect.  Although it is reusable to a limited extent, the downside of freezer paper is that you will usually need to cut every single shape required for your pattern including the reverse image shapes. 

Templastic and quilter’s freezer paper are readily available at your local patchwork and quilting shop.

Other template materials can be easily obtainable everyday bits and pieces such as card, paper and the like. When I have been away on holidays, I have frequently had to resort to using whatever is available which may include cutting up magazine pages or using travel brochures, tracing around cardboard drink coasters, cutting up cardboard from packaging, tracing around lids and bottles, etc. This approach stirs a definite affinity with our quilting sisters of past times, and a very strong sense of current satisfaction and accomplishment!

In essence, there is not one perfect template material!  It is a case of trying what is available and deciding which you prefer to use. 

Another tutorial coming soon……

Congratulations to Robyn Fagan on the completion of this large 40″ x 40″ reverse applique block! She has very kindly offered this photo of her block for the Bon Bon blog. 

I am so pleased that I have shared my Pas de Deux  pattern with the Saturday group at Patchwork of Essendon. The design, inspired by a gorgeous mid 19th century quilt,  was a marathon to complete on paper and takes a considerable time to transfer to fabric before a single stitch is placed.  

However, the girls are so prolific with their work and most have finished this centre block and are now working on the even more challenging borders. They all deserve a medal and I cannot wait to see their tops finished and quilted. Mine, of course, is plodding along with obviously too many distractions from other PHD’s impeding my progress! 

I hope that I can include some additional photos of their work soon.

It was a busy few days last week when I travelled to Ballarat in Victoria’s central west to conduct a two day workshop in Applique Design for the Ballarat Branch of the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria “Autumn Leaves” Seminar.

I received such a warm welcome and immediately engaged in happy conversation with everyone as I pinned my sample pieces and works in progresss onto the display board.

Crossing disciplines here, I wondered how the embroiderers would respond to needleturn applique techniques and to my approach to creative applique design.  Kath wasted not one moment as she launched her pencil onto paper and her wonderful tree design emerged! Here she is on hands and knees on Day 2 with her block. 

It was not  surprising to hear that several of the class participants had some experience with applique already including Kay (Treasurer) and Ann (President), below, who had to dart in and out of the class attending to various admin matters!  They, and their committee, deserve a huge pat on the back for all their work in presenting this fabulous event!

Although initially chosen as a Design Class, we did spend some time working through some of the technical aspects of needleturn applique for those with limited experience.  Dulcie, below, was not really convinced that this was for her and she valliantly persevered and was able to take away some additional skills!  Well done Dulcie!

We discussed many sources of inspiration for applique design which the ladies could also explore and apply to their embroidery.  

Great to see everyone embracing the idea of creating their own designs - also the range of ideas being developed.  Above, Kym is happily preparing her garden block.

We all enjoyed Joan’s bewitching Irish accent and below,  she is happy with her urn and flower design which will encompass both surface applique and reverse applique techniques.  Dianne and Trish also in the pic.

There was much to share after two full days and participants from the other classes enjoyed wandering through to view the collective class work as we concluded the second day.  

After a short break, we returned in the evening for an abundant and delicious spit roast dinner after which I was let loose as Guest Speaker!