Prepping Tree of Life

Today's post is not about normal hand applique, it's about what happens before the applique starts.

Prepping Tree of Life is going to be a tedious process but once it's completed, I'll be able to keep appliqueing without stopping to do more prep.

I washed my fabrics in HOT water. Washing is a deceptive word though, never throw your fabrics into a washer to wash them. I put them into a pan of HOT water and swish them around. I keep changing the water until no dye comes out. Not all of the fabrics bled but the red definitely did. After I'm done washing them, I squeeze most of the water out then take them onto the porch, hang on the metal furniture and let them drip. Once they're done dripping, they are carried to the basement and hung on a clothes rack to finish drying. 

After they were dry, I heavily sprayed them with starch then left them to dry. Once the starch is dry, they are ready to be pressed. Once they're pressed, the freezer paper designs can be ironed onto them. 

I'm not going to recommend any certain starch, you use whatever starch you want to use! I've learned over the years that starch brand is a controversial subject.

The original fabrics have the pieces to be appliqued stamped onto the back side of the fabric, the pieces are even numbered to show you the order to applique. You do need to make sure you turn the edge enough that the stamping ink does not show on the outside.

When I prep applique pieces, I normally leave a larger 'turn-under' edge than what this shows, I won't be placing my pieces as close together as they show here. 

I placed the marked fabric on top of my light box then put freezer paper on top and traced the applique design onto the paper. The next step is to cut out the design. 

After the pieces are cut out of the freezer paper, I ironed them onto the back of the new fabric. 

I cut around the pieces making sure there is 'turn under' fabric.

I will have to do some trimming on the applique pieces before they're appliqued. I even wrote the numbers on the back of the pieces, just like the originals were.

My fabrics aren't an exact match for the fabrics from the kit but they're close enough. I know it looks like the new brown fabric has lines in it, it doesn't, it's a solid brown Kona fabric. All the pieces needed for this fabric have been prepped and are bagged together along with the original fabric.

This is a long process but I'm going to have a beautiful quilt when I'm finished. Remember, I'm planning to spend New Year's Day starting the applique on this quilt. I had better get more of the fabric prepped, January 1 is just 4 months away!

Here is something pretty to show you since this post was rather boring.

Autumn is coming soon and most of the perennials in my flowerbeds have finished blooming but the flowers in the pots are going strong!

These fushia flowers in the front are called SunPatiens, I'm definitely growing them again next year. I've saved the label so I know what they are next spring.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Sew & Tell, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday 

Tree of Life & TGIFF Heads Up!

Today I'm going to share the next applique project which is just in the process of prep work.

While at the Jane Stickle retreat back in November 2022, I purchased a Tree of Life Applique kit off of the resale table. I remember my mother appliqueing a Tree of Life kit back in the late 60's, early 70's. The ladies at church quilted it during the monthly 'sewing' then it was donated and sold through the Michiana Mennonite Relief sale. I had to buy this kit when I saw it and now I'm finally ready to start prepping.

This is an old kit, the background fabric is 50% cotton/50% polyester and the applique fabrics are too.  There is some embroidery but not a lot. 

When I opened the package and removed the fabrics, I found this yellow calico had been placed next to a red fabric. The red fabric had bled onto the yellow. A friend said the kit must have been stored in a damp place. The kit fabrics are thin, I can easily see my hand on the backside. I want to use quality fabrics if I'm going to invest hundreds of hours appliqueing this quilt then hand quilting it.

Here is a link to this quilt that has been machine quilted by Judi Madsen. Isn't it beautiful? Obviously the fabrics in that kit didn't bleed.

I purchased new 100% cotton fabrics during my birthday shopping/browsing spree in July 2024.

The new fabrics aren't a perfect match for the previous fabrics but they'll be just fine.

Now I've the process of tracing the designs onto freezer paper, then marking the background fabric because yes, I purchased new 100% cotton background fabric. Because I have new background fabric, my quilt will be larger than the kit. The marking process is going to take a lot of time. My goal is to be able to start the applique on January 1, 2027. 

Tree of Life is definitely going to be a long term project but it will be a stay at home applique project, it's too big to take anywhere!

I'm going to try something new, I'm going to be hosting the TGIFF Linky Party starting at 6PM EST, Thursday August 13. We'll see if it actually happens and I get all the connections correct.

Okay, I've got a problem already, I don't know how to get rid of that box under the TGIFF sign! We'll see what happens!

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Sew & Tell, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

Stonefields, the Last Block

The 121st block for the Stonefields quilt is named Apple Blossom, it is the last block to be made for this quilt!

My apple blossom block are yellow delicious apples, my favorite variety. For fun I fussy cut the leaves.

Here's a picture of the blocks in sections 9 & 10.

The current plan is to put the blocks away until autumn. I'm rather burnt out on Stonefields, it has become an endurance project instead of fun. I'm more excited to be outside mowing green grass and planting flowers! I'll be motivated and ready to start again on Stonefields in the fall.

I've had these fabrics on a small separate table in my sewing studio since last July. My first Stonefields post is dated July 27, 2025.

The larger pieces of fabrics have been refolded and placed back in their tub. Most of the smaller pieces have been cut into strips or squares ready for their respective boxes. I normally cut 2.5", 2" and 1.5" squares.

For hand work I'll spend my evening time hand quilting the relief sale quilt. The quilting started last August, I'm going to try to see if I can have it finished by this August. 

Every month Elaine invites a group of us to her home and we each work on our own handwork projects. I think de-papering the backside of my Carolina Lily blocks will be a good 'handwork project'.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

Applique at Retreat

I appliqued three Stonefield blocks during the evenings at retreat. First are two blocks called Rosehip Tea. 

The pattern had several different views, you could select which views you to use for the blocks. For the first block I choose a single flower.

For the second block I decided on two flowers in the block. I honestly don't think these flowers look like roses but wouldn't blue roses be beautiful in real life?

The third block is named The Open Wreath which makes absolute sense! All of the circles were appliqued during show & tell except two of them, those I did first thing Saturday morning. 

The flower at the bottom doesn't look placed correctly, I wonder if it was appliqued upside down? Oh well, I'm not changing it. 

And a picture of all three blocks.

I have one more block to applique then all the 6" finished blocks for the center of the Stonefields quilt have been completed! 

These blocks will be safely stored for the summer. In the fall I will arrange them on the display floor for at least a week to critique then rearrange. After that the blocks will be sewn together for the center of the quilt. Next step will be foundation paper-piecing the flying geese border.

Stonefields is designed by Susan Smith.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

The Princess & the Pea

The two Stonefield blocks today are called the Princess & the Pea. 

The stars are EPP'd then appliqued onto the background fabric. After that, the circles were added.

Both blocks together.

Stonefields is designed by Susan Smith. 

I just realized that I made a mistake and I've got 2 posts today for handwork! Oh well, enjoy my blocks! Here is a link to Stonefields, Section 10 in case you missed it.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

Stonefields, Section 10

The first four blocks in section ten of Stonefields are these pieced blocks called Fallen Rosebud. 

Foundation paper-piecing was used to piece these blocks.

The next two blocks are called The Dice. They were pieced then appliqued circles were added. 

These blocks remind me of the game, Tic Tac Toe except there are no X's, just O's. 

Just 6 more blocks then all the center blocks are completed!

These blocks were a good way to use up smaller pieces of background fabrics.

I'm home from retreat and playing catch up! I'll try to read missed blog post during the week sometimes but it's impossible to read all of them!

I now realize that somehow I published 2 posts today! Here is a link to the Princess & the Pea.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

Stonefields, Block 109

The Lord is Risen! Have a blessed Easter with whoever you are celebrating with!

Block 109 from the Stonefields quilt is called 'My Bebe'. The star was EPP'd then appliqued. It's another very pretty block, it looked challenging but it didn't take as long as I thought it would.

Here are all the blocks in section 9 on the display wall.

I do have to say the next to the last block, Rollercoaster, is my favorite block of the group.

There is just one more section to stitch for Stonefields, just 12 more blocks! I'm so close to finishing the blocks for the center of the quilt. Stonefields is designed by Susan Smith.

Something totally unrelated to hand sewing is this apron I made for a little girl from church. She requested it from me, she enjoys baking with her grandmother and needed an apron. How could I refuse? The little apron sewed very fast, 3 hours from start to finish. The most time consuming part was when I turned the right side out and needed to pin the edge to press it. That took longer than the stitching!

I will not be having a Wednesday post this week. The Jane Stickle retreat starts Wednesday, I'll have a wrap-up retreat post coming later.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Sew & Tell, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, 

Stonefields

Another Stonefield blocks is completed, #108 titled Rollercoaster. I personally don't think this block has anything to do with a rollercoaster but it's a very lovely block! This block is in contention as the center block in the quilt.

Stonefields is designed by Susan Smith. Susan did give a few instructions for this block but I ignored them and did it my way. I think the center was supposed to be a solid circle with the narrow circle on the edge. I like this better.

We had continual snow from Thanksgiving through February then it all melted and we had false spring. It was nice to have warmer weather but that also meant several days with tornadoes which was not nice. We weren't affected but there were many people who received damage, especially in southern Michigan.

Then we had winter again!

If you look closely at the picture of the applique block, you can see there was a dusting of snow on the little table I use for outside pictures.

Now the snow has melted and we're back to early spring. I guess you could say our weather has been a rollercoaster.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

Stonefields

More blocks from section of Stonefields have been appliqued. The first two are titled The Ring Cycle. Okay, I can understand this name, there are circles on the blocks.

I'm using Karen K. Buckley circles for the Stonefield circles. They aren't always a perfect match but they're close enough.

The patterns were gifted to me by Nanette Chopin. Her blog is no longer online.

Next are two pretty flower blocks named Clemence.

The stems are a double stem stitch stitched next to each other. The pattern didn't have leaves but I think I would prefer them but they're finished, no adding leaves! I am very ready to be done with these blocks!

Next are two blocks titled Mirrored Circles.

There are two more blocks in Section 9 but they are both very labor intensive. They will appear as individual blocks in the future.

 Stonefields is designed by Susan Smith.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

Stonefields

The first four blocks in Section 9 of Stonefields have been appliqued. The blocks are called Finale but they're not the last blocks to be appliqued. Like I've said, I'm not the one who has named these blocks.

These sweet little flowers stitched fast. The Stonefield blocks finish at 6" and were designed by Susan Smith.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

Snowdrops

The last blocks in section 8 of Stonefields are appliqued and are called Snowdrops. Actually it is titled Snowdrop because there was just supposed to be one block of this design but I appliqued two blocks because I like the design.

And the second block.

I made two snowdrops because the last block designed, called Sunflower, for this section is EPP'd. I don't mind EPP but since the blocks finish at 6", the pieces are really tiny! I did print the pattern off onto card stock paper the weight of regular EPP paper. I might be brave someday and attempt the EPP work but then I may not. 

I've run out of room on the display wall! I'm up to 97 blocks with 24 more blocks to be completed. I'll probably remove all these blocks then put newly completed blocks on the wall.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

Stonefields

Section 8 from Stonefields has started. First are these four blocks which are very appropriately called The Hexagons. I'm not the perfectionist that Rebecca is, I didn't spend that much time EPPing my hexies. You can see my stitches but you have to look very closely at them. 

The flower print is border fabric left from the Lady Jane quilt. I really like those flowers!

Another blue floral fabric.

I tried fussy cutting the leaf fabric. It didn't work like I had intended but you can see the leaves.

I also tried fussy cutting the dark blue fabric. Those little flowers aren't quite centered so I sewed them all closer to the center hexie so they would look more symmetrical.

The hexies are the 3/4" size which is the same size as the hexies that belong on the border. I haven't decided if I'm going to make the border the way the pattern says or not. I'll decide that when the blocks are actually sewn into the center flimsy and have the flying geese border.

Next are two blocks called Bull's Eye.

I've added a lot of yellow to these blocks in this section. They'll be interspersed among all the other blocks in the quilt, the yellow will just add some contrast to all the blues.

Here are a group of blocks named Hyde Park. These blocks are the same pattern as the very first four blocks pieced for Stonefields except that these four have little applique circles added.

Of course I had to fussy cut the circles for at least one of the blocks. These circles are the same fabric that I tried to fussy cut for the hexies.

There are several other blocks prepped for section 8 but these are the only blocks completed so far.

Stonefields is designed by Susan Smith.

Except for some of the background fabrics, the fabrics used are from my extensive blue stash.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday