Vase of Flowers-Raw Edge Applique

April 1, 2020

Good Morning, Quilters!

Today, I would like to share my Vase of Flowers quilt.

But first, I recommend this interesting video on How Soap Kills the Coronavirus. The video is short and explains the importance of soap-not just water–to kill germs.  It includes interesting graphics on how soap destroys germ cells!  Who knew handwashing could be so interesting!

Needed: Keeping Busy

Like many of you, Minnesota is in a two-week stay-at-home lockdown.  I’m mostly a homebody anyway–but tell me I CAN’T go to the gym and guess what–I suddenly WANT to go to the gym!?

(Maybe someone should tell me I’m not allowed to dust!?!–Somehow, I’m pretty sure I’d find the strength to accept my fate.)

But I digress…

I decided I needed something to keep my hands busy besides tootsie rolls and M&Ms.

So I pulled out the brightest colors in my fabric stash.

The Plan

I thought I’d cut out some big shapes and hand applique and embroider them.  I did this several years ago for a quilt called Flower Fantasy.

Flower Fantasy

For this quilt (approximately 24 x 24″),  I layered the fabrics with batting and backing and then embroidered through all the layers.

This was an improv quilt. No planning-not much thinking–perfect!

After layering the quilt sandwich ad the applique shapes, I  randomly chose floss from a bag and began hand embroidering through all the layers.

This project really satisfied my need for color-lots of bright hues and plenty of variety!

Plan Fail

However, sometimes plans fail.

Last week, I created a quilt sandwich and began collaging shapes.

Once I had a composition I liked,  I pinned the pieces in place. (Glue would work too!)

Next came the fun part–I gathered random pieces of embroidery floss and started hand stitching.

Unfortunately, each hand stitch was labored.  I tried several different needles and I pushed on.

Finally, (after it was too late to tear out the hand stitches) I gave up.

It seems the scrap of batting (unsure of the fiber) I chose was too dense for the large eyed needle.

A New Plan:  Machine Quilting Mixed with Hand Quilting

So I left the hand embroidery in place and finished the project by machine quilting it with heavy weight thread.

I LOVE the combination of hand and machine work!

Good News/Bad News

Fortunately or unfortunately, I  finished this raw-edge applique in short order.  While I rather like it, I’m faced with the original problem…

Tootsie Rolls

M & Ms

and

Fritos

OH MY!

What about YOU?

Are YOU still feeling creative?

Do YOU need a little mindless project?

Do YOU find quilting therapeutic?

We’d LOVE to hear!

Signed,

Not-Getting-On-A-Scale in Minnesota,

Lori

Be sure to take advantage of Bluprint’s two weeks FREE!

Use my affiliate link to get my three  classes–what a deal!

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PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts and are intended for personal use only.  Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to Lori Kennedy Quilts.  For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com.  Thanks!!

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