Monday, December 28, 2020

THE ROSE QUILT AND ROTARY CUTTERS

 The past couple of weeks between Christmas baking and a creative slump in the sewing room left me with little time time spent on doing anything that really was accomplished.  I pulled several projects out, vetoed them and kicked stacks of fabric aside into messy piles in corners.  Finally I took some time to find something interesting to make and happened on to C & T Publishing that offers all sorts of free patterns.  And I found something that finally caught my interest.  

I have tons of scraps in several wire bins and I love appliqué.  This pattern checked all the boxes for a perfect project to make.  No need to shop either, so I felt it was a great solution to getting me back into the sewing/quilting mood.

For me there is great satisfaction in pulling out piles and piles of scraps and blending something together.  This background really ended up being a wonderful several hours of fun.  Cutting, choosing, and getting them all together was just a great adventure.  

Before I knew it I had the center done along with the first border and had laid out the second pieced border.  Now I am off to the appliqué preparations. 

Recently I discovered that when doing a lot of fabric cutting my thumb would ache and throb.  The Fiskars rotary cutter has been my tool of chose for many years.  I have been watching Alex Anderson on her weekly Utube programs and she mentioned the Quilters Select rotary cutter.  It is a good deal heavier than a normal cutter so not as much pressure required to cut through several layers of fabric. I figured I would give it a try.  It has been a real cure for my thumb issue.  I spent several hours over the last day or so cutting fabric and normally would have been headed to the Tylenol bottle for relief.  It really has worked for me.  It has greatly reduced the amount of pressure I have to apply when cutting through four layers of fabric.  A real plus for me.  


Over the week before Christmas I did a good deal of baking with my granddaughter.  These are two samples of baking goodies she gifted us with along with helping me make two large trays of Baklava.  The girl is gifted.  No she is not a professional baker, she teaches Advance Placement English at a local high school.  Just a hobby for her.  

For those of you that have asked about Snowball's recovery after her encounter with a coyote.  Yes, she has been returned to her rooster and sister hens' family.  My daughter spent a good three weeks with her in a cardboard box in the house treating her wounds.  Obviously, as you can see she was not a very appreciative patient.  Never the less she has recovered fully!

 




20 comments:

  1. The pattern doesn't look at all like the Katie P M designs I'm used to seeing -- but I like it. The scrappy background adds a lot of interest. Glad you found a more comfortable rotary cutter!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi DonnaleeQ! So glad Snowball is all recovered from her injuries, even if she wasn't all the appreciative. I'm not sure that chickens are blessed with the most brains in the animal kingdom - not the sharpest knives in the drawer, so to speak. Your new project looks like fun! As long as it is sparking your interest, that's all that matters. It looks like you are all set for the applique phase. SO interesting about the rotary cutter! Sue had been having a similar issue with the muscle on her thumb - maybe we'll have to give that new cutter a short. Happy New Year to you and your family and thanks for linking up. ~smile~ Roseanne

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my goodness -- I would never have guessed that a hen's encounter with a coyote could have a happy ending! I'm so glad she recovered, even if she wasn't a very cooperative or appreciative patient. Thanks for the mention of that rotary cutter, by the way. Would not have suspected that a different cutting tool would make that much of a difference! And your new scrappy appliqué project seems perfect for recapturing your "sewjo" as we head into the New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love your quilts. You're so talented.

    Great news on Snowball. I love a happy ending.

    Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  5. Good to hear Snowball is doing well. I'm impressed with the macarons--I've only tried them once but they didn't turn out so hot. My daughter and I keep saying we're going to try them again over this holiday break. Those are so pretty! Interesting on the Quilter's Select rotary cutter. I love my current one but I also trust Alex and QS to get it right so if I ever switch, I'll certainly consider that one! Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great cutter! I have given up on doing any of that kind of work because of it! (And gotten rid of my stash...I have been doing embroidery instead). The cookies and macaroons look fabulishious! And Hens do prefer their own house.
    Purrs
    Marv, Jo Jo, Kozmo, Cinnamon & Barb

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your Rose Quilt is a perfect project for you. I love it and look forward to seeing your progress on it. The past picture f Snowball in a towel....could be captioned “ madder than a wet hen”, an old southern saying. Happy New Year, Judy

    ReplyDelete
  8. mmmm baklava!!!! that sounds so good!!! I like the layout of the new quilt... looking good!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a lovely pattern, so nice with the pieced background. So pleased the chicken is feeling so much better and back with her chooky family

    ReplyDelete
  10. so, so fun to see your new project!
    love Suren's treats!
    great tip on the rotary cutter!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. That is going to be a pretty quilt! I love applique on a scrappy background. The treats from your granddaughter look yummy! Glad to hear that Snowball has recuperated, too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. looks like a perfect backdrop for the applique

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wonderful post of great news all around! The cookies are too pretty to eat!

    A fantastic addition to 'My Corner of the World' this week! May the new year bring you great things to photograph!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Glad you found a rotary cutter to make the process less painful. It is such an important tool!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your background looks great! I finally invested in an ergonomic cutter after I broken my hand and couldn't grip the regular one properly. It's been fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  16. LOVE the background of your new quilt!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Perfect scrappy background for the applique.
    Happy and safe New Year

    ReplyDelete
  18. That brings back memories - I've had a recuperating hen in a box in the kitchen on more than one occasion! (And some people think that's odd for some reason...)
    Love your new project - enjoy the applique!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anything to make our quilt process easier on our hands deserves applause! Bravo! Bravo! Love your applique project, the background turned out beautiful! So glad the chicken is doing so well and can be with her friends! Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love the colours you've chosen for the Rose Quilt background. Glad to hear Snowball is back in the yard to share her war stories with her fowl family. Thanks for linking to Colour & Inspiration Tuesday.

    ReplyDelete