Happy Start to June!

Finished
Raspberry Truffle top.



Finished Baltimore Album-Style
Block



Mulling over whether to hand guilt the top, I'm thinking of a Baptist fan design.

Another cool thing I learned in Elly's class: how to make a 1/8 inch bias stem by folding a 3/4 inch strip in half, placing the raw edge against the line, hand stitching down the middle of it, then bringing the fold up over the seam allowance and tack stitching it down.

Almost Have a Baltimore Album-Style Block

Hand Stitching the itsy-bitsy pussy willow buds. Elly gave us a swatch of ultra-suede to use and it works great - no seam to turn under and no fraying. Embroidered the stem with her idea of using floss, one strand of one color and a second strand of another. (I used black and gray.)

More From Applique Class

This is a photo of Marian Brockschmidt from Springfield, with a couple of her quilts that she brought to show us in class. She has made eight (I think she said) Baltimore Album Style quilts.

Applique Class

On Monday, the guild had teacher Elly Sienkiewicz for a class and lecture. I took the class on a Baltimore Album style applique block; "Victorian Vase of Flowers." I enjoyed her friendly personality, and the lecture was very informative on the history and symbolism of the original Baltimore Album quilters. I had taken a class from her when she came to our guild about 10 years ago; on making flowers for album blocks (ruched, etc.) I even found them in my sewing room the other day, still in the little plastic bag that I brought home from that class.
I've been working on finishing the block started in Monday's class; am determined not to have another UFO.  I got the stem, vase, a leaf and a bud needleturned; and am finishing the applique by fusing and machine blanket stitch. (The pins are holding stabilizer onto the back.)  Am using Shades Soft Fuse that I bought from Elly. I'll probably frame it or make a pillow (with apologies to "Aunt Atha").