Mowing Around the Violet Patch

With the warm weather and sunshine, its hard to stay inside. The grass is growing and needs a trim so with lawnmower in hand, we are out to tame the lawn.

But, STOP!

There are violets blooming

and more violets blooming.

In fact, there is a whole patch of violets.

How could I possibility mow down these beauties?

They even come in white. 

There is no way that I can mow. I've chosen to simply enjoy the scene. The bits of grass and weeds scattered in my violet patch are safe until another day.

The quilt of the day is

"Mowing Around the Violet Patch"

8"x8" Quilter's Tile

featuring 

silk ribbon embroidery and

machine applique and machine quilting.

Linked to Off the Wall Fridays

Cup and Saucer, Anyone?

Cup and Saucer Pillows

16" x 16"

©2013 Sharon V. Rotz

After working with interior designers and making a vast number of decorator pillows, I know the power of a pillow to renew and define a space. As a reprieve from working on my traditional 30's reproduction quilt, I thought I would finish these contemporary pillows.

The name was taken from the cup and saucer that I used for circle templates for the applique. 

Who doesn't raid the kitchen when looking for the proper size circle? 

Rather than the more traditional satin stitch for the attaching the applique, I used one of my un-used sewing machine decorative stitches, stitch number 203 on my Pfaff, a pseudo satin stitch with one consistent edge and one random edge.

The circles were cut from a powerful orange and the bold background fabric. Placed off-center, these blocks shout contemporary even with the use of a very traditional sounding rick-rack edge.  

I couldn't stop myself from adding a funky edge treatment to the pillow with the use of prairie points and more large rick-rack.

These pillows put a smile on my face, perfect to spice up the mid-winter blues.

Linked to Off the Wall Fridays

Happy Quilted Chocolate Valentines Day

Thinking of those red hearts and sentimental verses?

Try a quilted valentine this year. Here we have a lovely (low calorie) treat. Chocolate hearts decorated with vanilla icing. 

Easy to make. Use a fusible to attach your heart to the backing and stitch around it with your favorite machine stitch (blanket stitch or zigzag works well). Couch down yarn (by zigzagging over it) to decorate.

For those of you who prefer just a touch of chocolate, try it in reverse. Vanilla hearts with chocolate icing.

To double the fun, try free motion quilting (hearts, of course) to finish your piece.

Happy Day to all of you.  

Raspberry Lemonade

Raspberry Lemonade Tablerunner

16" x 44"

Sharon V. Rotz

I love the ever changing seasons in Wisconsin. It has been very warm here and the humidity has been high. I need to get out of my studio and enjoy summer's finest. There are a multitude of things to do in the garden, on the water, or just relaxing on the deck.

I am blaming the joys of summer for my lack of ambition when I think about quilting. I will enjoy touching flannels and cuddle up to some quilt batting when the temperatures dip. Today, when the sun heats up and the flowers begin to droop, I'll lean back in my chair on the back porch. In my hand will be a summertime favorite, raspberry lemonade.

This tablerunner combines delightful raspberry fabrics and soft greens pieced into blocks. With a bit of machine applique, cone flowers are added to the ends of the tablerunner. A bit of rickrack stitched into a seam and machine quilted swags are finishing touches. (This and other patterns are available through my website www.bysher.net)