Monday, December 15, 2008

A Joyful Christmas and New Year Greetings Crazy Quilt Blocks















As this year comes to an end, I'd like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here are two easy foundation-pieced crazy quilt blocks, featuring two of my favorite postcards from my personal collection - C202 and NY105. They're just two of the images from my Vintage Postcard CDs.

Print the Christmas block and the New Year block directly onto computer printer fabric or freezer paper backed fabric with your inkjet printer, then use it as the foundation for your crazy quilt block with the center image already in place. If you want to make your block larger or smaller, use this as a guide to piecing.

Enjoy your beautiful blocks...

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Thanksgiving Day Crazy Quilt Block

Gobble, gobble, gobble! Every day is Thanksgiving Day--if you appreciate your family and friends! Here's an easy foundation-pieced crazy quilt block, featuring one of my favorite postcards from my personal collection - T102. It's just one of the images from my Vintage Postcard CDs.

Print this block directly onto computer printer fabric or freezer paper backed fabric with your inkjet printer, then use it as the foundation for your crazy quilt block with the center image already in place. If you want to make your block larger or smaller, use this as a guide to piecing.

Enjoy your beautiful block...

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Ye Halloween Crazy Quilt Block

Candles and pumpkins and black cats--oh my! Here's an easy foundation-pieced crazy quilt block, featuring one of my favorite postcards from my personal collection - P213. It's just one of the images from my Vintage Postcard CDs.

Print this block directly onto computer printer fabric or freezer paper backed fabric with your inkjet printer, then use it as the foundation for your crazy quilt block with the center image already in place. If you want to make your block larger or smaller, use this as a guide to piecing.

Add the Spider Bead finding after piecing and embroidery.

Enjoy your beautiful block...

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Birthday Greeting Crazy Quilt Block

Birthdays are some of my favorite days, and today is mine. Although I'm 55 today, I have an 18-year-old son that keeps me young! If you love birthdays, too, here's an easy foundation-pieced crazy quilt block, featuring one of my favorite postcards from my personal collection - B210. It's just one of the images from my Vintage Postcard CDs.

Print this block directly onto computer printer fabric or freezer paper backed fabric with your inkjet printer, then use it as the foundation for your crazy quilt block with the center image already in place. If you want to make your block larger or smaller, use this as a guide to piecing.

Enjoy your beautiful block...

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Sunny Hours Crazy Quilt Block

"From morn till night may your life be bright, and misfortune never frown. May the sweet content of each day well spent be yours as the sun goes down."

Make every day count...every day.

Here's an easy foundation-pieced crazy quilt block, featuring my favorite postcard from my personal collection - F207. It's just one of the images from my Vintage Postcard CDs.

Print this block directly onto computer printer fabric or freezer paper backed fabric with your inkjet printer, then use it as the foundation for your crazy quilt block with the center image already in place. If you want to make your block larger or smaller, use this as a guide to piecing.

Enjoy your beautiful block...

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Fond Wishes Crazy Quilt Block

Summer is the time for reconnecting with family and friends. If you can't visit in person, here's an easy foundation-pieced crazy quilt block, featuring one of my favorite postcards from my personal collection - F101. It's just one of the images from my Vintage Postcard CDs.

Print this block directly onto computer printer fabric or freezer paper backed fabric with your inkjet printer, then use it as the foundation for your crazy quilt block with the center image already in place. If you want to make your block larger or smaller, use this as a guide to piecing.

Add the Wheelbarrow with Flowers finding after piecing and embroidery.

Enjoy your beautiful block...

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Best Wishes Crazy Quilt Block

June is the month for brides. If you are celebrating a wedding next month, here's an easy foundation-pieced crazy quilt block, featuring one of my favorite postcards from my personal collection - F142. It's just one of the images from my Vintage Postcard CDs.

Print this block directly onto computer printer fabric or freezer paper backed fabric with your inkjet printer, then use it as the foundation for your crazy quilt block with the center image already in place. If you want to make your block larger or smaller, use this as a guide to piecing.

Add the Bridal Charms after piecing and embroidery.

Enjoy your beautiful block...

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Loving Birthday Greetings Crazy Quilt Block

Everyone loves birthdays! If you do, too, here's an easy foundation-pieced crazy quilt block, featuring one of my favorite postcards from my personal collection - B106. It's just one of the images from my Vintage Postcard CDs.

Print this block directly onto computer printer fabric or freezer paper backed fabric with your inkjet printer, then use it as the foundation for your crazy quilt block with the center image already in place. If you want to make your block larger or smaller, use this as a guide to piecing.

Add the Happy Birthday Package finding after piecing and embroidery.

Enjoy your beautiful block...

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

To Dear Dad Crazy Quilt Block

My heart belongs to Daddy! If yours does also, here's an easy foundation-pieced crazy quilt block, featuring one of my favorite postcards from my personal collection - FF103. It's just one of the images from my Vintage Postcard CDs.

Print this block directly onto computer printer fabric or freezer paper backed fabric with your inkjet printer, then use it as the foundation for your crazy quilt block with the center image already in place. If you want to make your block larger or smaller, use this as a guide to piecing.

Add the My Heart Belongs to Daddy finding after piecing and embroidery.

Enjoy your beautiful block...

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

To Dear Mother Crazy Quilt Block

Mothers...you have to love them! If you love yours, here's an easy foundation-pieced crazy quilt block, featuring one of my favorite postcards from my personal collection - FF102. It's just one of the images from my Vintage Postcard CDs.

Print this block directly onto computer printer fabric or freezer paper backed fabric with your inkjet printer, then use it as the foundation for your crazy quilt block with the center image already in place. If you want to make your block larger or smaller, use this as a guide to piecing.

Add the Mother finding after piecing and embroidery.

Enjoy your beautiful block...

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Ribbon Pansies

This easy technique can be used to make a pansy or viola. Use this as an embellishment on a crazy quilt block. The pansy is made with the fine wire removed from the edge of both the flower’s ribbon and the flower center’s ribbon.

The back petals were made using 5½” of size 3 (5/8” wide) ribbon, the lower petals were made using 8¼” of size 3 (5/8” wide) ribbon, and the flower center was made using 4” of size 3 (5/8” wide) ribbon. Here’s a step-by-step picture, sewn with black thread to make the stitches easier to see. I use a size 10 milliner's needle, Nymo bead thread, and French wired ribbon.

· Cut 5½” of ribbon for the back petals. Remove the wire. Cut this piece in half, and overlap the pieces into a V. If you’re using an ombre ribbon, the color at the top of the ribbon (the inside of the V) will be the top of the back petals. Pin to secure. Starting at the top of the edge about 1/8” in from the cut end, insert the needle, and make a couple of very small tacking stitches to secure the thread. This will keep the knot from pulling through the ribbon, and will help to secure the gathering.

· Using a 1/8” running stitch, sew down the cut edge to the opposite edge. Continue to sew down the edge, across the lapped cut ends, up the other edge, and up the other cut end to the other edge. Do not cut your thread yet. Pull the thread gently to gather, knot off and cut the thread now. Set the back petals aside.

· Cut 8¼” of ribbon for the lower petals. Remove the wire. Divide this piece in thirds (2¾”) with pins. Diagonally fold each end up at the pin to create a U. If you’re using an ombre ribbon, the color at the top of the ribbon (the inside bottom of the U) will be the edge of the bottom of the lower petal.

· Using a 1/8” running stitch, sew down the cut edge to the opposite edge. Continue to sew down the edge, across the fold, down the edge, across the other fold, up the edge, and across the other cut end to the other edge. Do not cut your thread yet. Pull the thread gently but firmly to gather the lower petals tightly, and knot off. Do not cut your thread yet. On the back of the lower petals, sew the beginning and ending knots together with a few small tacking stitches. Knot off, and cut the thread now. There WILL and SHOULD be a small hole in the center of the lower petals. Set the lower petals aside.

· Pin the upper petals to a small piece of crinoline. Cut 4” of ribbon for the pansy center. Remove the wire. Tie a knot in the center of the ribbon. Pull the knot tight. Fold the cut edges of the center together, and push them through the hole in the center of the lower petals. Do not push the knot all the way through the center. Pull the tails of the center ribbon down.

· Lay the lower petals on top of the upper petals that are pinned to the crinoline. Adjust the upper petals if necessary. Sew the pansy to the crinoline, using very small stitches in the folds of the ribbon. Sew all around the center to hold the center knot securely. Be sure to catch the back petals in the stitching also. Carefully trim the excess crinoline away from the pansy, being careful not to cut any stitches or the ribbon.

Enjoy your beautiful pansies…

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.

Friday, February 29, 2008

Easter Greetings Crazy Quilt Block

If you celebrate the season, here's an easy foundation-pieced crazy quilt block, featuring one of my favorite postcards from my personal collection - E204. It's just one of the images from my Vintage Postcard CDs.

Print this block directly onto computer printer fabric or freezer paper backed fabric with your inkjet printer, then use it as the foundation for your crazy quilt block with the center image already in place. If you want to make your block larger or smaller, use this as a guide to piecing.

Enjoy your beautiful block...

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Antiquing Brass Findings

I often use antique gold or antique silver plated findings in my work, but occasionally there's a piece that's only available in raw brass.

To give a brass finding like this bird (used in my Nostalgic NeedleART Crazy Quilt Block) more dimension and an older look, use acrylic paint and a sponge to quickly "antique" the piece.

· It's easy to get a fine film of paint if you use a soft cosmetic sponge. These are sold at drug and grocery stores. I buy the ones that are cut into triangular wedges. Wet a cosmetic sponge, then squeeze most of the water out. You'll want the sponge to be damp, but not dripping wet.

· Squeeze a drop of dark gray acrylic paint onto a saucer. Dark gray paint, rather than black, gives the highlights a softer look. Dip one corner of the sponge into the paint. You don't need to use much. Squeeze the sponge a few times to distribute the paint throughout the sponge.

· Brush a fine wash of paint over the finding with the sponge. Set it aside to let the paint dry. Wipe off the excess paint with an old washcloth when the paint is dry. If needed, apply another wash of paint, and repeat the process. I never seal the findings when they're dry because I like the tarnished look, buth they can be sealed with an acrylic sealer if you prefer.

Enjoy your beautiful findings...

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Nostalgic NeedleART Crazy Quilt Block

Over the years, I've had many requests for a pattern for this block that I made back in 1996.

Featured on my website on the Crazy Quilting page and also in the banner here, it has as its centerpiece one of my favorite vintage postcards from my 600-piece personal collection - FL101.

When Vintage Vogue went online in 1996, the vintage postcards printed on fabric were one of my best-selling products. I no longer print the images for sale, but have the images available on CDs.

This block was made in all cottons, with bits of lace and trim added to some of the seams. There's a small amount of embroidery, some odd bits and pieces of motifs, and some beading and ribbonwork scattered over the block.

The silver bird finding is surrounded by ribbon embroidery in my signature style. You can see more examples of my embroidery at this tutorial. The gold bird is brass, and will need to be "antiqued" to give it this look.

The checkerboard edge is just a simple quilt binding, not a frame.

Print this block directly onto computer printer fabric with your inkjet printer, then use it as the foundation for your crazy quilt block with the center image already in place. If you want to make your block larger with a full-size postcard image or make a smaller block, use this as a guide to piecing. The pieces are numbered in the sewing order, using a traditional flip-and-sew format.

Here's a larger view of the finished block. Use similar fabrics to copy my block, or use your favorites to make it your own!

Enjoy your beautiful block...

When you have time to browse, please visit Vintage Vogue.