Tag Archives: English paper piecing

Celine’s Quilt is in Progress ; )

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So, it looks like Pati has PatiHeadShota definite vision as her First Quilt for her First Grandchild actually begins to take shape!  “With a three-hour drive to Connecticut, it seemed like the perfect time to start Celine’s quilt,” she reported over the weekend.

And are we at all surprised by her choice of English paper pieced hexies?  The mix of a traditional quilt block with bright, contemporary colors of Nancy Rink’s INTRIGUE collection will appeal to each generation of the family.

Here she’s auditioning various backgrounds for the flowers. Personally, I’m not a fan of light grounds, so I vote #1 Orange, then # 2 Pink.  Or maybe alternate orange and pink ground blocks?  What’s your favorite?  —- lisa

Pati baby quilt / Marcus Fabrics

Vicki’s ALS Quilt…Almost Done!

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Vicki Bellino of Bloom CreekFor those keeping track of the Lucy Boston quilt we are donating to Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS by Quilter’s Dream Batting, Vicki Bellino (left) shares this photo and progress report:

Vicki-ALSQuilt

After many days of trying a variety of block layouts, I am happy to say the blocks are all on the wall and I’ve begun sewing the rows together! I’m a very symmetrical designer, so the challenge for me was to maintain a very scrappy feel, in a pleasing, somewhat balanced way.  With the variety of fabrics and colors, and the varying numbers of blocks from each fabric, this stack of blocks did not lend itself well to a “symmetrical” layout!  I can only hope that the quilters who so graciously gave their time and effort to make a block will be pleased with the final quilt.  On Monday the quilt top will be boxed and shipped off to the quilter – yippee!!

It looks beautiful, Vicki, and I think we can all relate to that “Yippee moment”   ; )  and we look forward to seeing the finished-finished quilt.  —  lisa

Check out some of Vicki’s other designs at Bloom Creek.

Last Call for Lucy Boston!

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A big THANK YOU to all of our quilting friends for participating in our Lucy Boston Challenge this weekend at the Road to CA event!  With over 125 blocks completed this weekend, we appreciate your talents, comments and enthusiasm, and we can’t wait to unveil the finished project.  Pati says, “Looks like we will be making a couple of quilts for the ALS donation. Thank you all that participated.  I had the best time seeing how excited you all were to hand in your blocks.” 

Check out our final collection of paper-pieced blocks below …and watch for the announcement of our ten lucky Prize Pack winners, too!

Wishing everyone safe travels home, especially those on the East Coast, in advance of the coming blizzard…including Pati!!

100winner

Amy Tangiguchi brought the 100th block to the booth, which earned her a special prize.

All stacked up - an impressive grouping!

All stacked up – an impressive grouping!

Nancy brings in the 125th and final block!

Nancy brings in the 125th and final block!

Pati and Vicki make it to the end of the show! Congrats, girls!

Pati and Vicki make it to the end of the show! Congrats, girls!

Over 75 Blocks, and Counting…

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The Lucy Boston blocks just keep on coming, and over 75 have been returned to the Marcus booth at Road to CA so far!  Among them is a block made by our youngest quilting friend, Shayla Adams, 11, shown below.  Coming to the show on Sunday?  There’s still time to jion us!  Not only have each of the participants earned a chance to win one of 10 quilter’s prize packs, but all of these pretty blocks will be joined into a quilt to be donated to ALS…stay tuned for further details..

young75Blocks

A Little Bump in the Road (to California)

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PatiVickiRoadCA15It’s time for Road to California, taking place this weekend in Ontario, CA.  Pati (on the left) reports a missing shipment!!

“Even though our shipment didn’t arrive me and Vickie are “making do” with what we have.  We are smiling but we’re not happy about the missing shipment”. Hopefully it will show up, and be the only bump in an otherwise smooth Road Trip.  At least the weather looks good from here, Pati…

To cheer her up, be sure to stop by the Marcus booth, and tell her Lisa sent you  ; )  Pati and Vicki Bellino (of Marcus BOM and Strip-It quilt fame) will demo creative cutting & piecing, paper piecing and more, all weekend long.  And you can create your own Lucy Boston block for the chane to win a Marcus prize pack.  Pick up your free fabric and paper piecing pack, stitch up your block, and return it to be displayed in the Marcus booth during the show.  We’ll be picking TEN winners…Good Luck!

Road to California – Who’s Going?

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We’re pleased to once again sponsor Road to California  Quilters’ Conference and Showcase, taking place January 22-25, 2015 in Ontario, CA.   This year, in addition to our usual showcase sponsorship of one of the quilt prizes, we’ll be exhibiting as well!

Be sure to stop by the Marcus booth for demos on fussy cutting, English paper piecing (EPP) and more, all featuring our specialty stripe fabrics like PAULA’S BORDER COMPANIONS. Plus giveaways & handouts while supplies last!Pati-EPPsamplesIf you’ve never tried English paper piecing, Lucy Boston blocks and similar techniques, you’ll want to visit with Pati Violick as she demos her techniques using Paper Pieces, as shown in the beginnings of this gorgeous block above.  And if you have tried it, learn how Marcus specialty fabrics can give you rich and intricate results every time.  BTW, Pati is our Director of Marketing — you might remember her love for EPP from last summer’s Designer Sew-Along.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Vicki Bellino Featured in the Jolly Jabber ; )

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Be sure to check out this mini-interview with Vicki Bellino, on The Jolly Jabber, Fat Quarter Shop’s blog.  It’s showing off the talents of one of our favorite designers and owner of of Bloom Creek, and her new Aunt Grace SIMPLER SAMPLER BOM for Marcus.  The fabric collection by Judie Rothermel features pre-printed panels and coordinates that Vicki combines creatively.  She’s inspired by her passion for English paper piecing, but she employs simpler techniques to achieve the same look, which is sure to appeal to a wider range of quilters!Simpler Sampler BOM - MarcusThe quilt requires two of these 24″ wide panels (below), a mix of the coordinates, and a few of Judie’s solids.

Simpler Sampler panel - Marcus

English Paper Piecing vs. Paper Piecing

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One of our comments from WEEK #4 of our SewAlong asked Pati about the difference between English Paper Piecing and Paper Piecing.

“There is always a little confusion with this:

In English Paper Piecing-is a hands on sewing method –no sewing machine required.   Working with paper templates that are die cut from card stock in specific shapes and measurements like hexagons, diamonds, triangles etc…   fabric is cut little larger than the template all around –(I usually cut a generous  ¼”)   then hand stitched around the shape thru the paper  (or new glue pen method is being used a lot).   Then the fabric shapes are whip-stitched together to create you block design like Grandmother’s Flower Garden, Stars etc…  The beauty in English Paper Piecing is always the accuracy of the finished design and the hand work which is I love.  Watch out – very addicting for some.

Paper Piecing is sometimes confused with Foundation Piecing.  In Paper Piecing a design is printed or drawn on paper.   Fabric is placed on top of the paper design and stitched thru paper and fabric to create the design (usually using a sewing machine) after the blocks are sewn together the paper is torn off.  With Foundation Piecing –usually a light weight fabric is used and similar to Paper Piecing a design it can be printed or drawn on to the fabric or Crazy Quilt method where you just piece as you go but in all cases the base fabric is left in place.

Of course there are many other references for “paper piecing” –freeze paper, parchment paper etc..  This is just my spin on it.”

Like English Paper Piecing? You’ll Love This…

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Attention, EPP fans: Vicki Bellino’s new book comes out on May 6! English paper piecing dates back to at least the early 1700s, but no worries—just like Vicki Bellino’s first book about EPP, her latest collection of vintage-vibe quilts relies on 21st-century techniques. Pre-cut papers, rotary cutters, glue pens, and sizing spray take this time-honored handcraft to a new level of ease and speed.Vicki turns hexagons, diamonds, Dresdens, and more into happy handwork. (Martingale, 2014)    Challenge yourself with the quilt on the cover, made with a mind-boggling 2,031 hexies! Congratulations, Vicki!

Here’s a quilt by Susan Gilbert (Click on Comments for info)

SGilbertEPP

“Folk Blossoms” by Vicki Bellino

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Did you see the new issue of McCalls Quilting?  It features a lovely design by Vicki Bellino of Bloom Creek, with her signature English paper peicing, applique techniques, and our folk art-inspired  PROVENCE & BEYOND collection by Faye Burgos!  A wonderfully seasonless look. We love how it mimics the look of the antique dishes in the china hutch.  A kit of the fabrics and paper pieces is available through the magazine for a limited time, or visit your local quilt shop for the fabrics.