Ohio Stars....Point Perfection

I am desperate for something to blog about. Sew, after the painting workshop last week and questions about getting those all important perfect points, I decided to take some photos and give you some measurements and go over how you construct really lovely Ohio Stars!

This tablerunner was made up of 3 Ohio Stars and 2 - 9 1/2" Squares of the light tan background fabric.  To construct an Ohio Star is fairly straight forward. It is a nine patch with 4 - 3 1/2" squares lt tan background fabric for the 4 corners, a 3 1/2" center square, and last but not last 4 squares that are called a 4 part triangle.  The 4 part triangle is where you need to pay particular attention.

In the above picture my 4-part triangles are made up of 3 colours; green, gold, and lt tan.  Take 1 gold square measuring 4 1/2", 2 green squares measuring 4 1/2" each, and one lt tan background fabric measuring 4 1/2".


Place the lt tan square right side facing the right side of one of the green squares, make sense?  Do the same with the second green square and the gold square. Right sides facing on another.  Now take the two sets of squares and draw your three lines across the diagonal from point to point. Just like the picture to the left.  The middle line is going to be your cutting line so you need to stitch along the two outside lines. Now, here is my trick so pay real close attention; when I stitch along the two out side lines I don't stitch on the line!!!!  I stitch along the line on the seam side, meaning the area closest to the the cutting line.

Cut along the middle line and press toward the dark colour both sets.  You now have 4 half square triangles, 2 are lt tan and green and 2 are gold and green.



Now, take a lt tan and green HST (Half Square Triangles) and a gold and green HST and lay them right sides facing with the two greens facing the opposite colour, huh????

Okay, just pretend that the burgundy is green!! Your next step is to draw your three lines on the diagonal from corner to corner just like you did in the first round of making HST's, only make sure you are going across the square and not along the new seams.  Do your sewing and then cut down the center.

Now here is my second trick, I swear by the Eleanor Burns Square Up ruler. Before I open up the triangle,  I place my square up ruler on the triangle and lay the 3 1/2" line of the ruler on the stitching line. I actually place the line of the ruler slightly above the stitch line.  This gives me a bit of room, a couple of threads of room to be exact! I trim with the rotary cutter on both side of the triangle, this evenly trims the HST so that the dark triangle will be the same size as the light triangle.

See the above picture, isn't that lovely!  After trimming the square you can open it up and give it a light press and measure it up to ensure that the 4 part triangle square is 3 1/2".

Cutting, sewing a straight line and proper pressing are crucial for getting nice sharp points and perfect piecing.  This is a lovely square to make and when it is constructed well you have a gorgeous block, give it a try!

Happy Sewing and don't forget we are having a big sale starting on the 2 September!
Anne Marie

We Have a Winner!

After a super busy two weeks I finally sat down and using a random number generator we have a winner! The winner of the Fat eighth pack is number 7 or rather Elaine Coady. Congrats Elaine and thanks everyone for taking part. Sew, Elaine could you please email me privately with your snail mail address so I can send out your bundle of fat eighths and as a bonus you will be receiving a few yarn dyes from the Anni Downes Christmas Time Collection.

I am relieved to be much quieter this week with the B&B, we had guests from Austria last week (Hi Anne Marie, Franz & Martin).  Anne Marie is a quilter and we had a great time getting to know one another, needless to say we spent time in the shop doing what we all enjoy most and that is picking fabric for a new project. Anne Marie promises to bring some of her Austrian quilting friends with her for a visit, when they do I will have to gather up some of my quilting friends for a little show and tell!

  On Tuesday, 7 August, we are running a fun workshop with a Christmas theme.  I taught this class a couple of times last autumn and it was a big hit!  People who missed out last year are asking me to run it again so here we go.  This is a table runner, quite a big one, with a slight twist to it.  As you can see we have two Ohio Star blocks (the actual runner has three) and in the alternate block is a painted stencil of a Christmas tree just waiting for some embellishments.  The white paper is freezer paper with the shapes of holly leaves cut out and the stencil brushes and paints are waiting for the action to begin.  Painting on fabric!!!!  A great alternative to applique and you look like Michelangelo to family and friends when you tell them that you painted on the Christmas motifs.

And lookey what else you can do!! Yes, the word "Joy" is painted on as well.

This Christmas wall hanging has a painted branch on it, the pathetic pine needles were my attempt at embroidery, I love this piece, it is so unique.

Sew, what do you need?  About a yard of cream/lt tan background fabric, several fat quarters for your three Ohio stars preferably in Christmas colours, and your sewing machine and notions.  I supply the paint brushes and paints as well as the freezer paper.  The price for the day is €40, and as always tea and coffee are on the house. We have a few places still available and I can guarantee this is a very relaxing and fun day and completely different.

Don't forget to mark your calendars, the first week of September is our big sale! Plenty of gorgeous fabrics will be marked down.

Happy Sewing!
Anne Marie

Giveaway!

I have been working several weeks straight without so much as an afternoon off and exhaustion has set in, thank goodness this weekend there are no guests booked and the house is quiet.  We are approaching our three year anniversary and I thought it would be great to have a giveaway! Now, I know that a lot of you read my blog but you never comment so here is what you could win and how you need to enter.

Write a comment telling us what part of quilt making that you enjoy most and why. You have until Monday, 23 July 2012, midnight Irish time. I will use a number generator to pick the winner and here is what you could win! 

A fat eighth bundle (8 fat 1/8's) of Sentiments, Moda's new collection by 3 Sisters. Absolutely scrumptious, don't you agree!

Now stay tuned because there will be other giveaways as we move toward September.

Our Sweet Heart Houses BoM has only one spot left, who will be the fortunate one?  Penelope's Garden has a few spaces left so if you are interested let me know, our BoM programs sell out and so far all of the participants have finished their quilts.  I do my best to encourage and sometimes threaten people into finishing.  Stop in if you would like to see the fabric.

On to other news, we have listed some new classes for the month of August and sew far the free motion quilting class is filling up.  We also are taking names for classes starting this September, with the popularity of patchwork growing our sessions are filling up and I can't emphasize enough the need to get your name in, I hate to see people disappointed.  We are offering a beginner class on Thursday evening and Friday morning. Hop on over to the Workshops and Classes page to see what's on offer.

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather this weekend, goodness knows we deserve a bit of dry sunny weather after all the rain we've had the past month and a half.  We are attempting to do another youtube video, if only my camera operator would stop laughing everytime I start talking!!!  Sew unprofessional for a 12 year old.

Happy Sewing!
Anne Marie

August Workshops

I have been thinking about classes for August and wondering about the types of classes that would be fun and enjoyable.  The weather this summer has been atrocious and all the familiar faces have been popping into the shop looking for projects to keep themselves busy during all these rainy days!

The Workshop page has been updated with a number of classes in August, both weekday classes and a few on Sundays.  Give us a call and reserve your spot or if you have any questions.

Happy Sewing!
Anne Marie

Christmas.....Already!

Believe it or not, Christmas fabric is arriving in the shop and already I am thinking about possible gift ideas and itching to get started.  We received a shipment this morning from Moda of Sentiments by 3 Sisters, it is to die for it is so gorgeous.  I know, I know; I think everything is gorgeous but trust me it is gorgeous!  This just maybe the collection that will disappear into my own precious stash, lol!

 I have an idea for this fabric and will be consulting with my wee helpers on how to really show this off.  I also discovered that the red and greens in this collection work perfectly with the Yarn Dyes that arrived last week that are part of the Anni Downes Collection.

 In choosing Christmas fabric I try to find collections that will work through out the year but when used at Christmas are Christmasey?! Does that make sense?

Hopefully, tomorrow I will have new classes listed for August and the class line up for this autumn.

 I will most certainly have some lovely sweet dreams tonight.  Speaking of Sweet, the Sweet Heart Houses Block of the Month is almost sold out. As of this evening there were only two places remaining.  Penelope's Garden has several sign ups.  If you are interested please give me a call or email, I would hate to disappoint anyone but I am limiting the numbers and there is a limit with the fabric as well.

Happy Sewing!
Anne Marie

New Block of the Months

Starting in September we will be offering two Block of the Months.  Both quilts draw their fabrics from the new Penelope range from Lake House Fabrics and they are gorgeous!  The first program is almost sold out, we are making up 12 kits and are keeping the program limited.  It involves a good deal of applique and was designed by Jennifer Bosworth of Shabby Fabrics, the applique will be completed doing the spray starch method that Jennifer uses.  We will have silk threads available for hand sewing the applique, we have also brought in the industrial freezer paper that Jennifer uses!  The BoM includes the pattern, embellishment kit and all the fabric for the quilt top and binding; the wadding and backing are not included.  All the participants are invited to meet at the shop on one Sunday each month to review that month's block and share any tips or ask questions with all the other participants. There are only 4 places remaining, if you are interested please give us a call for more information.

This is a photo of the pattern cover, most of the fabric has arrived in the shop and the last few bolts will be shipped around the first week of August. I am so excited for it all to be here so I can start working on it.

The second Block of the Month is a beautiful and striking quilt that consists of 12 distinct blocks and 4 applique blocks in the centre.  The applique blocks can be constructed using your favorite method. The program is the perfect project to undertake if you wish to improve your skills; we will review precision cutting techniques and perfecting our sewing and block construction skills. This Block of the Month includes the pattern and all the fabric for the quilt top and binding; the wadding and backing are not included.  We will be meeting at the shop on the same Sunday as the other BoM, but at a different time.  By running the meetings on the same Sunday we can dedicate the classroom space for people  wishing to work on their projects and their is no pressure on time.  A few places have been taken up and just like Sweetheart Houses, there will only be 12 kits made up.

Having made a quilt similiar to this colour scheme I can honestly say don't be put off by the black, it is incredibly striking and really makes the other colours pop!  I am waiting for the last few bolts to arrive and then the sewing will begin, my patience is being truly tested right now.

Happy Sewing 

Anne Marie

Summer Holidays

Absent as always, never a very consistent blogger but those of you who know me know how crazy things are in our home!  My niece was visiting for a week, she arrived from Bellingham Washington and here is one of her "little cousins" greeting her at the airport.
This summer I have been spending time with my kids; we took time to enjoy my niece will she was here. She was particularly impressed with Dublin and loved walking the narrow streets of Wexford town shopping.  We moved back to Ireland in Jan 2002 so it is fun to see our home through the eyes of a visitor.

The B&B has been chugging along keeping me busy and thanks to our fabulous weather the quilt shop has seen quite a bit of activity the past two weeks.

We have a lot of gorgeous fabrics arriving, some of them are for Christmas and we have the Lake House Fabrics arriving for the Block of the Month that we will be doing this September. Both of the BoMs are designed by Shabby Fabrics, Sweetheart Houses is mostly applique and is a gorgeous quilt for that special little girl in your life or as some of the women have said it is the perfect wall hanging for your sewing room.  The second BoM is Penelope's Garden which is pieced blocks with an applique centre.  I will post pictures soon.

Sew, I know you need to see something quilty and I haven't done much the past few weeks in quilty department.  These two quilts are called the "Twins" and they were done by my sidekick Jackie.  It is the Boston Commons block and they are fabulous when you see them side by side. I love these quilts so much, Jackie dropped off the pattern to me and I am itching to do it. Another idea for a class maybe, need to talk to Jackie about the construction.  Working on a few class ideas for August and preparing for September.

It has been a lousy summer weather wise here in Ireland but it has been a lovely to spend time with my niece and kids. Stay tuned will be back shortly with lots to share!

Happy Sewing!
Anne Marie