Charlotte Warr Andersen has put together this fabulous tutorial on making one-layer applique with fusible thread. The finished product is light, with no build-up of layers, and can be folded and washed.

I’ve never seen applique done like this before, and must admit I’m very impressed with the technique. The instructions and photos used in the tutorial make it easy to understand.

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends to the south. Hope you have a wonderful day spent with family and loved ones.

Please join me in welcoming a Guest Blogger to the Quilting Gallery. If you’re interested in being a Guest Blogger, please read the info on the submit page then drop me an email.

By: Margaret Bucklew

An epiphany happened to me about twenty years ago. There was a void in my life and I didn’t even know it was happening.

I think an inspiration is like a flash of light in your psyche just waiting for action, and I needed one.

On the wall in a fabric store hung a stunning Oregon Trail Jacket. I bought the pattern and soon realized, even though I had no quilting experience, it had to be very similar to making a quilt. There was piecing, thin batting, matching seams and so on. Whatever it was called, I was hooked.

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Thank you for this opportunity to tell you a little about myself and my endeavors.

I grew up in North Carolina, went to school in Colorado, then lived in Los Angeles for a number of years. During all that time I had not one stitch of quilting heritage. I started in a beginning quilting class about 17 years ago after I got married and we were living in central Ohio.

When I told my instructor that I enjoyed the Dresden Plate the most out of all the blocks in the sampler, she told me, "You just might be an appliqué person." I still wonder whether that observation shaped my destiny, because it turned out to be so true!

From that class on I was gripped with the quilt pox. For a long time I made quilts from patterns or pictures. Then I began to branch out, modifying designs in some way. We moved to Santa Cruz, California, and I got my own computer. When I learned some skills in illustrating, I finally broke through to creating original appliqué designs of my own.

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Bunny Hill Designs is offerring a free Mystery Block of the Month project entitled A Tisket, A Tasket, Twelve Months of Baskets!

I love the first block (below), and I’m sure the rest will be just as whimsical and fun.

Check out the Bunny Tales blog too.

Please join me in welcoming another Guest Blogger to the Quilting Gallery. If you’re interested in being a Guest Blogger, just drop me an email to discuss.

Hi Michele

Thanks for inviting me to blog on your website. I started making ribbon shirts for Aboriginal drummers and dancers about 4 years ago now.

After teaching sewing, quilting and many other applications of sewing for decades (including designing lingerie), I found a new love and appreciation for my skills: custom-made shirts with applique & beading have become my passion. These are worn by Aboriginal drummers and dancers during ceremony and at cultural events.

It started with one shirt for a friend who is a two-spirit fire keeper. I listened to her story with my heart as well as my mind. I was fascinated with learning what the different colours meant to her as well as what animals and birds represented to Aboriginal people. There were also shapes and other symbols important to her personal empowerment.

Now that I am familiar with the basic symbols of local Aboriginal people, I can focus more on listening to the life stories of my clients, and create a visual representation of their life.

Sometimes this process can take several sessions as they tell me about their culture, their spirit names, and their role in the Aboriginal community.

The exciting part to me is to hear their personal stories and interpret the meanig onto a very special garment they can wear with pride.

Strictly by word of mouth, I have women call me to make an appointment to start the process. I have been told by a grandmother that I am very gifted in this area and am starting a second shirt for her. Many of my clients are repeat customers.

I am proud to know that my shirts are worn by some amazing women, and that my work is appreciated by so many people. One of my early shirts was worn by Beverly who drummed the Governor General into Parliament.

It is a pleasure to share my skill with such a great group of women, and I am proud to know they are treasured by those who wear them.

Lois Smith
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

P.S. If you would like to get in contact with Lois, please send me an email and I’ll put you in touch.

I think this quilt pattern has been secretly calling out to me to make it. Several months ago, my mom was given a huge stash of fabric and quilt books & magazines from a friend of a friend who was downsizing. My mom doesn’t sew, she knits and paints, but sewing is not her forte. So, I was the lucky recipient of all these wonderful gifts. I kept some of the fabric, and the rest I donated to Victoria Quilts Canada.

One magazine in particular caught my attention and has lived on my window ledge, on my desk, on the sewing table and on the TV hutch for the past while, calling me to pick it up every time I walk by. It is Quilting Ideas, Fall 2003 issue from Better Homes and Gardens.

See the adorable quilt on the cover? Well, imagine my surprise when I was browsing the All People Quilt web site a week or so ago and discovered this pattern, Hearts & Flowers Appliqué Quilt featured on their home page. Of course, I stared at the picture for a long time, then went in search of the magazine, and sure enough it is exactly the same pattern.

While I don’t have kids of my own, I do have a wonderful 2+ year old niece, Lucy. I’ve had great ambitions to make Lucy her first quilt since before she was even born, yet I still haven’t. I have made her a wall hanging and crocheted her a blanket. I’ve had a few patterns picked out for her, and even the fabric purchased for each, yet still no quilt.

Well, she’ll be getting this one, either for Christmas or her third birthday next February. I’ve already traced and rough cut all 70 pieces of the fusible web. I’ve been going through my stash of fat quarters picking out the various pieces of fabric. I’ll be doing the blanket stitch around each piece by hand. I can’t wait to see how this one comes together.