Framed Quilts

Small Framed Quilts

Pamplemousse Makes 

 

 The quilts are all of original designs that are machine pieced (and appliqued), then carefully hand quilted with tiny stitches. I only use 100% cotton fabric, some that's been in my stash for a while, vintage! Some of the framed quilts are for sale at etsy.com/shop/pamplemoussemakes 

I used a piece of map fabric purchased in London

Detail of the hand quilting

To add a rustic touch I use solid wood frames found at thrift stores. I remove the glass and cardboard, then lightly sand off the finish. I then chose a paint color to go with the intended quilt and paint the frames with the chosen acrylic craft paint. I give the painted frame a quick coat of clear spray varnish. I use scraps of mat board (left over from cutting mats for framed pictures, the shops that do this usually will sell these scraps inexpensively). I lightly glue a couple of pieces together then glue them towards the back of the frame. The back is then covered with a piece of old wall paper.

 

Frames ready to paint

The bound quilt can then be easily placed at the front of the frame. It stays where it is, unless you want to take it out to use some other way.
The framed quilts can be hung on the wall (in a collection or in a small space) or displayed on a small easel or propped against a lamp or a stack of books. Lots of places can use a quilt! 

 

Framed Quilt, 8" X 10"

 

The quilt is easily removed from the frame

 

Back of frame covered with a piece of wallpaper

Carrot quilt to be framed

 

etsy.com/shop/pamplemoussemakes 

 

 

 

 

Papier Mache Dolls

Pamplemousse Makes

Pamplemousse is a rabbit. She hops around the world meeting new people. Her friends are creative ladies who have a variety of interests. 

See etsy.com/shop/pamplemoussemakes

 The ladies and Pamplemousse are relatively flat papier mache figures, think thick paper-dolls. I start with just the right weight cardboard (recycled).

Each figure is cut out with an X-acto knife

Several layers of newspaper (white glue and water)

Close-up

I use torn pieces of newspaper and make it into papier mache with inexpensive white glue and water. It helps to soak the paper some, but not enough to get soggy. The hair, shoes and fur colors come from colored tissue paper that is also papier mached on.

Some of the ladies along with their bunny friends

 After the bodies are dry they are dressed. The clothes are sewn on and not removable. I have a lot of fun going through my stashes of fabrics, buttons, trims, threads and other findings to individualize each doll. As you can imagine all are unique, but each one always has a Pamplemousse with her.

Go to my etsy shop to see more dolls, etsy.com/shop/pamplemoussemakes.

Dresden Plates

 

Dresden Plates, 46"X54", Sue Hunt 2017

Please refer to my shop SuQuilt at Craftsy.com for the pattern for this quilt, available for purchase.
This sweet little quilt was started at a fun quilt retreat I attended in Texas. I purchased the floral fabrics on a trip to London in the Spring and paired them with a collection of dotty fabrics. The alternate blocks are redrafted from one I saw somewhere. I was very limited on floral fabrics, so pieced and pieced and pieced with every scrap I had (some from the cut out backs of the appliqued plates). I'm glad I like scrappy quilts!

The pattern at Craftsy.com has all the details along with templates. Here, find hints to make the quilt easier in case you are more of a beginner quilter.

Supplies: buy the amount listed, don't do like I did and worry about how much you have. If you don't like scrappy, then buy larger amounts of fewer fabrics. If you do like scrappy, then go through your fabrics first before heading to the fabric store.
Template plastic: you'll need a 3" X 3" piece. Freezer paper: you'll need a piece 4" X 6". The circle centers can be reused.
Cutting:

   Draw around templates on the back side of fabric. The corners are the most important to mark. Cut 1/4" away from drawn lines. 

Mark dots on piece A from the bottom of template B.

 Pin right sides together, matching top corners and bottom corner B with dot on A. Sew from the top and back stitch at the bottom corner.

 Press seam open.

 Sew in pairs, then sew pairs together.

 Press under seam allowances on ends. For piece A, fold corners diagonally, then fold over sides.

 Make a neat corner to applique later.

 SEWING
 Plates:

 Hand appliqued method. Cut out the back after applique especially if hand quilting is in the plans.

X Blocks: 

How to press X block

Hint: I usually cut the outside border wider than I anticipate the finished size to be. After quilting (especially hand quilting) the outside edges are usually frayed and the quilt might not be 'square' any more. The extra on the border can then be trimmed to make everything right again. On the pattern the outer border is cut 1 1/2", but if you'd like to cut it 2", this will give you some room to trim in the end.

Mitered and pieced corners

 I hope these pictures and further explanations help in putting the quilt together. Contact me if you have more questions.

Old Quilt-New Life

 

 My mother gave me an old 'cutter quilt'. I'm glad I snagged it before it made it to the trash! I really would never cut up a quilt unless that was the only way to salvage a bit of it. These projects were made for three friends of mine in Japan. (I spent a couple of weeks there this past January/February, visiting friends and favorite places in and around Tokyo.) I wanted my Japanese friends to have something that was all American.

 I randomly cut the old quilt (about 6" X 7" pieces), not worrying about getting the sides straight. The images were drawn by hand, not worrying about perfection. I chose modern fabric on purpose to be a contrast to the old fabric of the quilt. The applique is hand-needle turn. I then embellished each piece with embroidery, buttons, and a one old snap.

After all the tops were finished I put a back on each and turned the edges to the front to make a self binding. I don't like the look of this on a real quilt (separate binding on those), but I felt these little pieces were thick enough as it was and I did not want to add more bulk to the edges. I used embroidery floss to tie the layers together in a few place.

I really enjoyed making these three little quilts, the recipients seemed to like them too. 

 

Dragonfly

Dragonfly closeup

Bird

Bird, close up

Flower Pot

Flowers, close up

Two Backs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Log Cabins Finished

 

Finished quilt. Yes it is a perfect rectangle, I'm just a better quilter than a photographer.

Close up of the quilted top. Most of the quilting is in the ditch.

The back

Close up of the back

Pre-fab Log Cabins

Pre-Fab Log Cabins

Follow along using the pdf pattern for the quilt found on craftsy.com (suquilt)

By making simple strata the logs used here are easily preassembled before sewing them together on foundation paper.

Rotary cut assorted strips, 1" to 2" wide and 9" to 18" long. The more fabric used the more variety.

 

 

 

 

 

Make three strata sets each 10" to 12" wide. Two sets 18" long and one set 9" long (minimum lengths). Shown here are only two of the sets needed. Rotary cut one end straight, (the tops are straightened here).

Pin the background strips on the strata.

Sew 1/4" seams on one long side of the background pieces. For more variety sew on either the top or the bottom side of the strips,

Cut apart with scissors or rotary cutter

Stack the logs in order of assembly

Sew the logs onto the printed foundation paper

Fold paper out of the way and trim the seam leaving 1/8" to 1/4" seam allowance.

See the pattern for all of the assembly instructions.

Hand quilted (close up). The quilting was done 'in the ditch'.

Halloween Purse

Halloween Purse

Finally! I do decorate my house seasonally and I've been wanting a decoration that I can carry with me all of October. 
I more or less designed the bag as I went, sorry, no pattern!
 

I started by getting out all of my Halloween fabrics (some old some new) and picked out some to make the strata for the hexagon/web on the front. The rest of the bag fabrics were chosen to go with those.

The back has an open pocket. I've had the rat and pumpkin fabric for a while and it's the only fabric here that is truly a Halloween one.

The hexagon/web is a backed pocket with one open side (top side left). Thought I could stick something in there. There is a zipper pocket on the outside. I appliqued little hexagons on the ends of the zipper to hide those bits. Made it really easy to install the zipper that way. I used another hexagon to attach a magnetic closure.

The inside has another zipper pocket for super secret things. Also there is a small elastic topped pocket for a cell phone and a small loop for a pen. Every time I make a purse I think of one more thing I need to put in it. One day I'll make the perfect purse!

Side view. The strap is just folded over and stitched fabric.

One more shot of the front of the bag. 
I'm looking forward to October 1st to start carrying my new purse!