Flags, times 4

For September, and the second installment 
of Flags of the American Revolution sew-along,
(hosted by Lori of Humble quilts)
we were to do the 
four flags with tree appliques.

This sew-along is from the book: Flags of the American Revolution by Jan Patek.
With each block/flag there is a brief history written by the editor - Edie McGinnis.
I'm really enjoying the history lesson as I do each block!!

Anyway, these were 
FOUR good sized applique blocks,
but, I got them done on time - whew!

Specifics:
Each block finishes at 20 inches by 10 inches.  
I'm using cotton on cotton, 
with YLI silk thread to hand-applique.  
And, I still need to press my blocks (because I don't like my hand-applique smashed flatter than flat and not look like applique, I won't press these until they are together as a quilt-top, ready to quilt).

Appeal to Heaven, Block #2, and Bunker Hill, Block #3:

And Pine Tree Flag, Block #4 and Pine Tree, Block #8:

I did take a few close-up pictures so you can see my fabrics:

For the lettering on the Appeal to Heaven block, 
I used a Valdani pearl cotton, size 12, color O540, a variegated dark green to black.  
I used it single thread, and did a whipped, running-back-stitch
which is my favorite hand-embroidery stitch, 
that my Great-Grandma B taught me long ago.

October's 'assignment' is five flags with pieced stripes! 
Sounds like a lot of blocks for one month, 
but they do look pretty easy (and fun).
Can't wait to get started!

nose job... err, beak-ectomy

Flags of the American Revolution...
The stitch-along (with Lori of Humble Quilts blog) has started.
BUT...
I don't think I can leave it!!!

I thought after I had the entire center eagle medallion stitched in place,
that it wouldn't bother me. 
That is a goose head!

 But I just can't.
I had to get out the scissors.


Off with the beak!!

On with an eagle beak!

OK, I'm feeling better now. :)

new project excitement

I''m always excited to start another project.
Almost too much so.
Are you also eager to get going on a project?

To start my hand-applique stitching on my
Flags of the American Revolution quilt sew-along,
I had to dig out my applique threads bag...
a bag that I passed up the first dig-through
because this is what I saw:

The the jumbled mess of embroidery floss, pearl cotton and bit of wool inside the bag came from an old project... I guess the last time I used it was when I was working on my Snowy Days quilt, in which I hand-appliqued wool on cottons, and then big-stitch quilted with blue hand-quilting thread and snow-like pearl cotton.  The blue hand-quilting thread is what gave me the clue to the project I'd done last with this little bag of threads.

So, my silks, the blue hand-quilting thread, and thimble were on other side of the jumbled mess:

That's what I was looking for!
Excitement is reason that I don't put away stuff before I start the next project, right??
:)

Happy Stitching!