The Secret Garden designed by Esther Aliu 8th March 2017

I all most did not get time to blog today, now 7.30pm in OZ my Wednesday is almost over.

Ive spent most of this week working on Esther’s Secret Garden block 2.

I started by making templates out of washaway freezer paper my

I started by making templates out of washaway freezer paper for my small bluebells. I ironed 3 pieces of freezer paper together then drew the shape of the bluebell on to another piece and ironed this on top of the 3 pieces ironed all  together cut out the shape and then had a good solid shape to pencil around 53 times to make those Bluebells LOL  !!!!

How I made my wee blue bell flowers using washaway free

How I made my wee blue bell flowers using washaway freezer paper.

Playing with laying out the pieces I ahve made so far.

Playing with laying out the pieces I have made so far.

Starting to make my vase, more of a challenge than I thought it

Starting to make my vase, more of a challenge than I thought it would be. Im use to  hand appliqué so machine appliqué is a real challenge for me.

To mark my background fabric I tape it down first then lay the patte on top

To mark my background fabric I tape it down first then lay the patten on top and tape this down to so I have no movement when Im marking.

Isliced through the pattern were all the stems will go and then I can mark the abckgrou

I sliced through the pattern were all the stems will go and then I can mark the back ground fabric with a pencil these lines will be covered by the stems.

My pattern is getting more and more cut in to this is why I print off two patterns.

My pattern is getting more and more cut and sliced in to this is why I print off two patterns.

My other pattern I use now for holding all the peices while I cut slash and mark my back ground.

My other pattern I use now for holding all the pieces while I cut slash and mark my back ground.

Making my vase

Making my vase, pink is paler than it looks and is fine  silk.  First I cut out the shape in wash away freezer paper then cut out the inside of the shape leaving only 1/2 inch wide shape which I ironed on to the back of the fabric I choose for my vase. this was so my vase would not be to stiff.  there is a lot of appliquéing of  stems and leaves that has to go on to the back part of the vase.  I cut out th epink shape in washaway freezer paper then ironed it on to the back of the silk to stop it distorting as its so fine.  This also gave the pink more depth so it did not disappear in to the silver and gold vase fabric. To hold the fine pink silk in place I spot glued it then pinned every 1 1/2inchs with very fine pins.

Hard to decide how to satin stitch which area first this was scary to me as I was going to machine satin stitch so not easy to undo????

Hard to decide were to satin stitch which area first this was scary to me as I was going to machine satin stitch so not easy to undo???? Added the satin stitch around the pink first then pinned it to the back ground fabric to add the rest of the satin stitching.

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Then just kept going LOL  I did satin stitched around the whole of the out side first then the inside part, it was very slow going in all it took me 4 hrs to make my vase and appliqué it on to the back fabric.  I added a light weight fusing facing behind the whole shape before starting the satin stitch.

Placing some of the pieces of the pattern I ahve made or making so far

Placing some of the pieces of the pattern I have made or making so far.

It really is a beautiful design. Now need to amke my stems and sew them on before adding any of these peices.

It really is a beautiful design. Now need to make  my stems and sew them on before adding any of these pieces.

Update adding my bias stems I have been making..

Made bias strips foled the strips and 1/2 and pressed them machine sewed thm on to my block and have rolled them over and will ahnd stitch them down this way they give

Made bias strips fold the strips in 1/2 and pressed them machine sewed them on to my block and have rolled them over and will hand stitch them down this way they give a 3D look. I store my bias on swimming noodles to keep them from getting crushed.

two more main stems to add then I will embroider the small curly stems

two more main stems to add then I will embroider the small curly stems I think?

Update 1am Thursday morning !!!!

I finished machine sewing down the last main stem at 1a

I finished machine sewing down the last main stem at 1am Thursday morning and then had to play around placing the leaves and flowers to see what it was going to look like LOL

Update 9am Thursday morning OZ time in FNQLD

Taken in day light time not midnight time LOL

Taken in day light time just now not midnight time LOL  These colours are truer.  15 more bluebells to make and my bird. 

Off to link up with Esther’s WOW or WiP’s before it is to late to do so for this week. Thank you so much for dropping in.  No garden photo’s as Ive been to busy on the group this week its been such a busy week of new members and lots of lovely photos of work in progress on the two beautiful BOM’s Esther has released this year and Ive been so busy on my own blocks.

Cheers Glenda

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16 Responses to The Secret Garden designed by Esther Aliu 8th March 2017

  1. Elaine says:

    This is so pretty Glenda! I love all your fussy cut flowers 🙂

    • glenda says:

      Elaine it is such a beautiful block to work on, I tossed up about doing any new projects this year as I want to work on my 17 UFO challengers but here I am doing two new ones LOL But oh boy they are both so much fun!!!!!!!! Hugs Glenda

  2. Karen says:

    Beautiful work Glenda – I have never appliqued by machine and don’t know if I would want to, I would need a different machine for sure. Thanks for showing how you do your work I’m sure it will help some quilters to see methods used by others.

    • glenda says:

      Hi Karen I have never appliquéd by machine either, but Im trying to finish off some of my UFO’s this year but Esther’s new designs keep calling me so the only way I can do both is to use the machine for my new projects if possible, it’s a huge learning curve but Im enjoying the challenge, I must admit to doing hand and machine appliqué as some parts of the blocks I think the hand gives a gentler look. Like those lovely lovely Blue Bells. Still taking a lot of time but Im managing to squeeze them in to my sewing time LOL Hugs Glenda

  3. Pam Marbourg says:

    Your block is beyond beautiful! I love everything about it. i loved seeing your process of creating this. The broderie perse is spectular!

    • glenda says:

      Hi Pam thanks so much for the encouraging words. I find hand appliquéing down the Broderie Perse so relaxing, depending on the piece my stitches are closer or spaced but it is all very relaxing repeating the same stitch over and over again. Cheers Glenda

  4. Fiona says:

    this is going to be gorgeous… all your work will pay off. I love the vase with the sheen and the cut flowers….
    Hugz

    • glenda says:

      Hi Fiona and thank you for visiting it all ways makes me feel good to see mail in my box. Like walking down the drive as a child to clear the mail box you never knew if there would be any mail to collect. My vase fabric has been in some of my quilts the last 20 years it was a stunning jacket that went with a black dress for evening, and was accidentally burnt by some ones cigarette ash!!!!, Its silver and gold threads interwoven so has the sheen and reflections of silk, it went in to my fabric stash that was very limited back then, it made the most amazing dragon once LOL Cheers Glenda

  5. Karen stephens says:

    Simply beautiful Glenda! I love the vase and have not located the right fabric yet but am going to keep looking!!! I love the satin stitch and am going to try the bias cut stems …always so much to learn and improve my skills.

    • glenda says:

      Thanks Karen, Ive just been visiting your blog, it’s a lovely blog to visit, and was nice to get to know a little about you and your life. Cheers Glenda

  6. Maggie says:

    Dear Glenda

    It is looking beautiful! Time for sewing at the moment is a rare thing for me. I am painting a bedroom, so I am not in the sewing room. Foe a few moments in the evening, Diamond Hill part II is getting some attention.

    • glenda says:

      Dear Maggie was visiting you yesterday and your Diamond Hill block is looking so lovely, a stitch a day keeps it growing. Im about to go down in to my sewing room as I had some sad news and I find sewing is my best healer. Have fun with the paint brush my DGD did a weeks painting for me in her UNI break over Christmas for uni fees as I can not hod a paint brush for more than 15 mins now. Hugs Glenda

    • glenda says:

      Dear Maggie, I went in to visit your blog and your Dimond Hill block is beautiful, very very cleaver play with those soft petals and bell flowers then you added those bursts of red flowers and its magical, WOW what impact that block has on me, just love it. Hope you get all your painting done soon and can find time for your garden again and a little sewing Hugs Glenda

  7. Pamela says:

    Amazing! This is wonderful.

  8. Eleanor Smith in Spain says:

    Glenda, so enjoyed your lovely insight into how you work. Love the idea of the swimming noodles, what a great idea, l noticed our local Chinese shop did 2 sizes.
    So love your block and its such an exciting block to make, l am loving mine

    • glenda says:

      Hi Ellie its all ways nice to be working on the same quilting project as others especially when its international, I find that countires have a huge influence on peoples colours they work in, so its interesting to see the same design made from sutle taupe from Japan to exotic colours from Brazil spain and Italy. Plus me of too of course LOL Id like to be able to get those noodles in a smaller size but we only have the one size here, we will be using them in the pool in an hours time as my DGD is coming for the day Im baby sitting. Im the lucky one. Next year she will be at school so no more fun days togehter. Hugs Glenda

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