Miss Loreen's Schoolhouse

EQ6 - BOM Update - Bolster Pillow

I've uploaded the latest block of the month.  Block #3 has a shamrock on the top of the basket handle and another in the bottom right of the basket.  Once I have the applique stitching done, it will be much easier to see the details of these blocks.  They are lots of fun to do and pretty easy since I used the fusing method.  Just trace, cut and iron.  Everyone seems to be enjoying this BOM project from Bunny Hill. Check out the BOM Album!

EQ Simplified class: I've uploaded the latest pictures from my students' homework project.  You can see all of their projects in the EQ6 Album.  We have a big project to work on in class this week.  Since we seem to do alot of laughing, we're getting an early start so we can be sure to finish it!  I'll get the projects posted as quickly as possible so you can see them.

I made a bolster pillow this weekend from 6 fat quarters from the ovarian cancer fabrics from Blank.  I've had this group of fat quarters for some time and wasn't sure what to do with them though I love the colors.  The bolster pillow is part of a group of projects I'm putting together for a sewing series I will be teaching.  I will post a picture of each project as I finish it.  Click on the Sewing Projects album!  The pillow was pretty easy to sew and the zipper was a breeze. Yes, it really was.  The strips made it especially simple for the zipper insertion.  The piping was made from one of the fat quarters with plenty left over in case of a mistake, which I made!!  I am probably going to change the piping at some point because I used piping cord I had on hand that didn't have much body to it.  As it was running under my piping foot on my sewing machine, it kind of squashed down and didn't hold its shape at all.  No wonder I had this left over in my supplies!  I think a sturdy cording is best especially on a pillow.  I will leave it in for now so my students can see the difference in cordings.

Now onto my next project.  I have a couple of Christmas projects to get done but first I have to work get Caspian's Christening outfit done.  My daughter has gone back and forth on what she wants him to wear.  I told her Caspian would be in first grade by the time she decides!  She's finally come to a decision so now I need to get it done!  I'll post pictures as I progress including a picture of the pattern later this week.

Block of the Month Project

I found a great block of the month one day project while browsing the internet and it was FREE!  I emailed the first month to a few of my friends and students to see if anyone was interested in joining me on this project.  It's all applique and has a different theme for each month's block which seems to go along with the months of the year.  January's block has a snowman and February's block has some hearts. 

There are several ways to applique and for this project I've chosen to fuse the pieces onto the background since the pieces were a bit on the small side.  I am using Steam-A-Seam Lite to fuse the pieces.  Simply tracing the pieces onto the Steam-A-Seam makes it pretty quick.  I just have to remember to print out the pieces using the mirror image on my printer.  It did take me a minute or two to find the mirror image feature in my printer properties.  Now I just have to remember to use mirror image each month!!

One of my sewing friends got her block done before me and here I am the "leader" of the project!!  So, of course, I had to sit down as soon as possible and get going.  We had to get block one done in a two-week time frame though I can't remember exactly when that started.  I'm sure it's been at least that long.  While hanging my head in shame, I sent along block two to everyone along with a picture of my friend Donna's block.

I've now got block one and two cut out and fused to the background fabric.  I've stitched the vines on each block but still need to applique stitch round all those pieces.........those little tiny pieces.  Check out my BOM album to see my progress on my blocks.  I will upload Donna's finished block shortly so you can see block one appliqued as well.  We will be adding some embellishments to each of the blocks and I'll post them to the BOM album as we go along.  Please check back to see our progress.