Monthly Archives: July 2022

Show and tell… Bullseye!

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Marie Johansen post this comment on my blog. The first photo shows her Bullseye quilt top which is amazing!

Hello! I finished my Bullseye and it one of my favorites in 40 years of making quilts! I want to make another! Is there a mathematical formula that I could use to make it even larger than 60”? I am math challenged, but would love an even larger Bullseye! Thank you for this wonderful pattern!

Bullseye made by Maria Johansen

The answer to the math question is yes… I’m pretty sure that you can enlarge all the foundation paper piecing shapes, and the corner template, by the same percentage and they should fit together.

Marie also sent a photo of her finished quilt on the bed, photobombed by her cat, Tizzy :-).

Bullseye made by Maria Johansen

Thank you, Marie, for sharing your quilt with us! You did a marvelous job and I look forward to hearing how the enlargement works out.

If you would like to make your own Bullseye quilt. click here to find the book.

Wednesday Giveaway – Yazzii!!

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Sydna Gordon has won One Yazzii Aqua Zippered Pouch, measuring 5.5″ x 8″, and a pack of Clover Gold Eye Applique Size 12 needles! We love Yazzii organizers and carry a great selection of different sizes with different purposes. Check them out here. And the Gold Eye Applique Needles are easy to thread and are a little more rigid than the Tulip Applique Needles. We carry both Clover and Tulip varieties, of course, as well as needles by Bohin, Hemming and Roxanne. Follow this link to see all our needles and pins.

I’ll be back with another Giveaway next Wednesday. Until then you can shop for all sorts of sewing notions, books, and other fun stuff at pieceocake.com!

More from NYC…

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I got so busy I forgot to post! I’m home now but here are some more images from my trip.

I looked up at buildings a lot. Don’t you love the way the tall one almost disappears into the sky?

After a while, you can stop looking for nuance. But if you pay attention, there are wonderful things to notice. The reflections off the glass can be truly wonderful!

And then there are little details that you miss if you aren’t mindful as you walk.

Planter, behind bars.
Chocolate — Vanilla

I walked along the Hudson River. There is a wonderful trail for both pedestrians and cyclists.

This could be art, but it’s not.

I found an amazing gluten-free bakery at 83rd and Columbus — Modern Bread and Bagel. If you are GF, I recommend going and/or ordering bagels‚—the plain ones. The other breads are also good but the bagels… so amazing. It is worth what it costs for shipping.

I di walk to Times Square, just because.

And I walked the Length of the High Line down to the Whitney Museum to see the Biennial exhibit.

High Line… lot’s of flowers and trees
Near the Whitney, very interesting sculpture/fountain
Outdoor sculpture, at the Whitney

At both the Whitney and the NY Historical Society Museum I saw work from more female artists on display. It’s about time! In fact, did you know that a woman, Clara Wolcott Driscoll, designed most of the Tiffany glass lampshades? I did not know that but, seriously, that shouldn’t be a surprise.

I took a last photo of Columbus, standing above the trees…

I did do quite a bit of sewing. You will hear more about this 20˝ hand pieced 8-point star block…

And then Ted and I parted company. I miss that silly boy!

Wednesday Giveaway – Congrats to Eva!

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Eva has won this week’s extra-special giveaway – Super Bobs Bright Collection – 25 bobbins wound with 50 wt. Superior’s Masterpiece 100% cotton, 2-ply thread in bright colors! This thread is perfect for hand applique and having it wound on bobbins makes it easy to carry a number of colors with you.

Super Bobs come in bright and soft sets. Click here to see both sets, color names and a video with a useful organizational tip.

I’ll be back with another Giveaway next Wednesday. Until then you can shop for all sorts of sewing notions, books, and other fun stuff at pieceocake.com!

NYC in July…

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I’m here in the big city to take care of Ted, Jeff’s cat. He and I are getting along very well because I feed him on schedule. He would like to be fed more often but he’s a big guy (18 lbs) and he really should not be snacking. He does not believe that is true 🤣.

I’ve been out in Central Park and in the area west and south of there. I’ve walked many of these streets before but it’s not hard to find something new to notice.

Notice all the pigeons!
Just around the corner of the monument, this guy had zero pigeons. Maybe he smells bad :-).
Between rain showers.

Made to Bethesda Fountain…

I’ve not seen plants in the pool before. Nice!

There were lots of people out and about on Sunday. Lots of people sitting on the grassy areas. I live where just the idea of sitting in grass makes me itch. Chiggers. If you don’t have them where you live, count yourself blessed.

I cannot imagine stilton on grass.
A bench, or a big rock… I would sit there :-).

And then there are the random fun things…

Chris Columbus, perched above the traffic circle that bears his name.
Copper weather vane of a gazelle(?) on top of a maintenance building at the zoo. Notice the bird on its nose.
Conservatory Water pond in Central Park
A Strand Bookstore kiosk outside the park.
Love this giant disco ball that is part of something at Lincoln Center. I do not have tickets so this is the best view I found.

This morning I got to an amazing gluten free bakery, Modern Bread and Bagel. I came home with a slice of cinnamon bread and a bagel. Oh, my, the cinnamon bread is amazing. I’m going to do something with the bagel for dinner.

The icing is not necessary—but it’s good :-).

I will be out and about more through the rest of the week and will post more photos here and on Instagram and FB :-). Right now I have to get back to work!

Grow some Joy :-)!

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A few days ago I ran across my box of 1/2″ EPP hex flowers. I make these when I run out of other hand sewing because they are so cute and easy to sew on the go. Each side of the hex paper is 1/2″. EPP papers come in other sizes to make different sizes of flowers.

And then I looked over and saw my Piece O’ Cake Travel Pouches that were woefully unadorned. What a perfect combo!!!

I decided to stitch these hexie flowers to my red pouch, with a single hex spacer in between. 

It works best to attach and sew one flower at a time. I pressed the flowers to make sure the creases stayed put and removed the basting thread. I used the Quilters Select glue pen. It works better if you hold the flower in place near the cent and fold back one petal at a time. Add glue to the underside of the outer edge of the petal and press it in place. Repeat for all petals and let the glue dry. 

You will still need to add pins because the Yazzii fabric has a finish the glue doesn’t love. I used the 3/4″ Little House applique pins.

I’m still sewing the red pouch but I finished my blue one. Here’s what I learned:

  • The closer the applique is to the top of the pouch, the easier it is to sew.
  • I used my regular applique thread (Superior’s Masterpiece on the bobbin) and an invisible applique stitch. 
  • I hid my stitch between the quilted layers of fabric.
  • You will have to be creative with the way you hold the fabric and you work around the flower. Take your time and focus on sewing the edges down. If it isn’t perfect, that’s OK. It just needs to be sturdy enough to hold up to the wear you give it.

I could add embroidery. I could add felted wool… maybe leaves, or a bee! But I have other hand projects that are calling me with a louder voice so I am going to call these finished (for now), because they are plenty cute as is :-).

Hexie flowers… you should make some and plant them where you need a spot of joy!