March 30, 2010
Thread Spools Twilt
This post is a shout out to the About.com list that has been talking about my 3D Spools quilt and visiting my Blog. They motivated me to get my Twilts going again. My “Thread Spools” Twilt uses the same three-dimensional method as the Bow Tie block that my method of Cathedral Windows is based on. It uses triangles instead of background squares.
Just for the About.com folks here’s a quick tutorial for a 4 1/2″ spool block.
From fabric that looks like wood and white on white fabric cut strips 2 3/4″ each. From the strip make 45″ cuts to get half square triangles with the straight on grain on the long side. Use the 45 degree line on the ruler. You end up flipping the ruler back and forth. A spinning mat helps.
For the colored fabric that represents the thread cut 4″ squares.
Fold the thread fabric in half , right sides out, with the fold to the right and sandwich between a wood triangle and a white triangle, right sides in, lining up the four raw edge corners. The fold of the square should be towards the center of the seam and you should stitch across it. Stitch the seam leaving the first 1/4″ open. I backstitch at the beginning of the seam. Flip the piece around and sew triangles on the other end in the same order and manner.
Open the center square and pull the seam allowances together. Line up the triangles to the right of the seam allowances and sew in the same manner as the previous two seams. Turn the piece around and sew the final seam.
Pull the piece flat. Press from the back spiraling the seams around the center. The seams in the center with look like a little four patch when flattened.
If you want to press towards the dark fabric then clip the two seams beneath the square and press the outer section towards the dark.
Trim up the blocks as necessary. I know this is a quick set of instructions and I might just write up a pattern but I thought you might want to give it a try now. Let me know how you do.
Thanks for the motivation!!!
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
December 29, 2009
Hearts and Flowers
Black strips of complimentary black fabrics frame the three Cathedral Window Flowers of “Hearts and Flowers”, this weeks Twilt. These flowers can be found in the border of Lotus Lullaby and Easy Cathedral Window Flowers, two of my patterns. Just a touch of a verigated fancy machine stitch adds a little color to the black strips. I used glass buttons for the flower centers. Three hearts hang on rayon ribbon from a big bead with a painted dragonfly. Winter is hardly here and I’m thinking of Spring.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
December 22, 2009
Christmas Tree Twilt
My Christmas decorations are complete. My tree is up and trimmed.
Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Holidays!!!
December 3, 2009
Shelley’s Design Works on Etsy
I have been thinking about a shop on Etsy for over a year and I can’t believe it but my shop, Shelley’s Design Works, is now OPEN! 
If you’re interested in owning one of my designs I encourage you to visit.
Over the next month and on into the next year and maybe beyond I will be posting quilts, table runners, samples from my books and patterns and small items like needlecases, ornaments and my zip bags. 
So, please take a peak.
All of the pictures you see here are items that are available. Above and on the right are two mini quilts that would make wonderful wall or table pieces. 
The pink piece above and the lavender flower below are needle cases. On the right is one of my ornaments.
I am really excited to get this up and going so head on over and check it out. Feedback is welcome! Enjoy!! http://www.etsy.com/shop/sswanland
November 24, 2009
Garden in the Window
I took a really simple approach to this weeks Twilt, “Garden in the Window”. A fused 9″ square of Asian Print was cut into nine 3″ squares and fused in place with even spaces between the squares. I used verigated quilting thread to machine buttonhole stitch the squares in place. I added another decorative stitch around the edge. After binding I sewed little flowers in the corners.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
November 3, 2009
Ode to Fall
I’m busy prepping for a quilt show in Lake Havasu Arizona but I found the time to look through the unfinished box again this week and found this block that was left over from my second book, “Machine Stitched Cathedral Stars”. Floating Windows is the first block in the book and the fall colors just called out to me in this “Ode to Fall”. It’s wonderful that pieces that could sit in the cupboard forever get to shine as Twilts. I particularly liked the batiks I used in this block.
I did need to quilt it out and to do that I used a freezer paper circle and moved it along as I stitched along the edge of it which means marking isn’t necessary.
For info on the book check out the page on my website or on Amazon.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
October 27, 2009
Midnight Blossom
October has been a busy month and I’ve saved up a whole lot of things I want to share but for today, it’s Twilt Tuesday and since I was running out of time, I checked my UFO box and found this little piece. I just trimmed it up and put a binding on. Midnight Blossom is a Cathedral Window Flower set inside more Cathedral Windows that are black on black . I did find out how difficult it is to photograph a piece with so much contrast. 
Do click on the picture and you’ll see the high resolution version on Flickr.
My pattern that this Twilt is based on is called Sweet Strawberries. Check it out on the Pattern Page on my website.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
October 6, 2009
October Sky
I am welcoming October this first Twilt Tuesday with “October Sky”. This Twilt features nine miniature Star Puzzle blocks in blue and purple batiks complimented by an Asian print border. Each block is a three-dimensional square like the knot of a 3D Bow Tie block. The edges of the square are bias so after stitching diagonally through all the squares I rolled and stitched the folds into curves.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
September 22, 2009
In the Strata
There are so many new techniques and products available these days. Art quilting has become the rage and the possibilities have been calling to me for a long time. The Twilt project seems the perfect place to try out some new techniques. For “In the Strata” I used torn strips of painted silk, organza, metallic silk organza and a bit of yarn. I laid the strips over a base of cotton with light fusable web and bonded them to the surface. The strips were then stitched with Rainbow thread from Superior in the same direction, using the stitches on my machine, a flower stitch, a leaf stitch and straight stitch. 
I then bravely cut my piece into three sections, inverting the center and stitched linen in between. I thought the directional cherry print complimented the strata of the experimental piece. I will probably go back and add embellishment to this piece but since it’s Twilt Tuesday here it is, as is.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
September 15, 2009
Hibiscus Flower
Hibiscus Flower features a new block of mine called the Dresden Flower block. It has 3D corners that are rolled during quilting. I have a big quilt using this block in the quilting stage so watch for it in the future. A couple of the fabrics in this piece were picked up during my recent visit to Hawaii.
For more info on the Twilts: Twitter quilts…….Twilts or see all my Twilts : Flickr Twilts Page.
Snips and Bits from Shelley's Studio 