AuraQuilts.com

Here’s a terrific article that I thought all of you should read!

Click here for the article!

I love how these men have picked up quilting as a hobby!  Even I  get jokes and smart remarks when I tell people I am a quilter just because of my very young age (don’t even try to make a comment! haha!).  It’s about time that we all started redefining the image of a quilter from a quiet old lady with 10 cats!  (No offense at all to you silver haired quilting divas out there!!!)

Bravo truckers!  Bravo!

Audra at AuraQuilts.com

I’ve added the border to the Ulu quilt block by using the leftover fabric from cutting the design out for the flower applique.  I basically did “trial and error” like cutting out a snowflake from paper until it finally resulted in something I was happy with.  The corners remind me of Moroccan doorways which I like very much!  I’ve also been contemplating rotating the block on point (yes, I know this isn’t the traditional way to do a Hawaiian quilt but I like to do what I like!     )

It is currently 25″ x 25″.  I have now added a batting and backing and am ready to quilt it.  Once the quilting is done I plan to scallop the edges before binding.  This should bring the quilt down to approximately 22″-24″.  I’m definitely adding beading but am still contemplating what colors, where and how much to add.  (Yes, I am trying not to imagine it completely encrusted with beads…it’s difficult to do but I think I can control myself. haha)

Thanks for reading and Happy Sewing!!

Audra at AuraQuilts.com

I’ve finally appliquéd  (by hand/needle turn technique) the ulu flower onto my background fabric.  It was my first completed applique project so don’t be too critical of the…umm… let’s say ORGANIC look of the petals and leaves.  haha   The lines aren’t perfectly straight, curved and pointed but a flower isn’t exactly perfect in nature anyway, right?!?

Here she is:

I’m pleased with the completed flower and am now working on adding a scalloped border which I made with the extra red fabric from cutting out the ulu flower pattern.  I’m working on basting it onto the background fabric and will be working on appliqué-ing it this week.  I’ll post photos soon!

Thanks for reading and Happy Sewing!

-Audra at AuraQuilts.com

One of the online courses (at QuiltUniversity.com -great place!) I am taking is Hawaiian quilting!  Here is the beginning of my Ulu flower quilt!

     The size is approximately 24″ x 24″.  This could be made into a pillow cover or combined with other blocks into a large quilt.  I plan on making this into a wall hanging.  I’m still debating if I want to use the scrap fabric from the cutout to make a designed border.  We shall see…

     The Hawaiian appliqué technique is done by folding the applique fabric (shown in red here) into fourths and then folding that fourth by 1/2 into a triangle.  The pattern in then placed, traced and cut out.  It is then carefully placed/centered onto the background fabric (shown blue here) and pinned.  The design is then basted onto the background fabric to secure the design while the appliqué process is completed. 

     Currently I am about halfway through completeing the appliqué of the design.  Once completed I will post more photos. 

     I intend to quilt this in red thread so that it blends with the red design but shows contrast on the blue background.  I will also be adding some beading to this wall hanging even though Hawaiian quilts don’t traditionally have beading on them.     I warned you that I was addicted!!

Tomorrow I’ll be posting photos of yet another new addiction…. fabric dying!!!!

Thanks for reading and Happy Sewing!

-Audra at AuraQuilts.com

     I had promised my mother a bag for Christmas also but after the long and drawn out work on my sister’s bag I decided not to make my mother a bag but to make her a purse.  My mother doesn’t really carry much so I thought a small size would be much more appropriate.  I also thought that creating a shape similar to my sister’s Birdie Bag but shorter and smaller would be appropriate.   

     I skyped my mother to show her the fabrics and let her choose which she wanted.  By the way… Skype is AWESOME!  It’s wonderful when you have family living away from you.  It makes you feel as if they are in the room with you.  It was a wonderful tool to use over Christmas so that I could see my family opening their gifts.  I highly recommend it!

     Ok, back to sewing -  so I finally got a decision from mom.  She chose:

I wasn’t quite sure how to go about the closure of the purse but I knew that I did not want to add any bulky snaps or handles so I decided to add some of my new addiction…beading!!!

Here is the final result:

(Pictures 2,4 and 5 are with the purse turned inside out)

     I added the beaded pullover with a heavy glass bead at the end so that it would act as a closure.  They show a tri-colored ribbon I appliqued (does anyone know how to make the asteric -is that how you spell asteric? haha  above the “e” in applique???  Please post a comment if you do.  I’d appreciate it! ******UPDATE***THANKS Krystle Brown!  here it is!  :     appliqué   !!!!!!!! )  onto the lining in order to hide the beading stitches inside the bag.   I could have done the beading before sewing the lining on but I like the way the beading stitches anchor the lining and outer layers together. 

     I must admit…my second addiction is applique!  Oh how I love it! I could do it all day long.  There is something so relaxing about tactile handwork.  Sewing machines are great and get the job done fast but I find it very calming to have a project in my lap and working away as I watch a good movie.

     Anway,  I found the ribbon at M&J trimming on 6th Ave in Manhattan in the upper 30′s.  They have been in business since 1939 and I know why…because they are FANTASTIC!!!  I could spend days in that store.  So many ribbons and findings that it creates a dreamland for anyone with an itch to create!!  That is also a great area for bead shopping!  They have store after store lined along the street.  Great sales all the time and a nice selection of beads and charms and trinkets (oh my!)

     In case you were wondering…the teal block you see in picture 5 is a label stating my name, location and date it was completed with a personal note to my mother.

I hope she enjoys it as much as I enjoyed making it for her!

Thanks for reading and Happy Sewing!

-Audra at Aura Quilts

This was the first quilt block that I hand pieced for my mother’s quilt.  I hated the fabrics combined so I set it aside for over three years thinking I would never use it, throw it out or use it as scraps at some point.  I’m glad I kept it.  One day I came across it and thought it would be a great scrap piece to practice free motion quilting!  I added a layer of batting and a bottom layer of white muslin, basted it with safety pins and started free motion quilting. 

I didn’t really have an intention of making anything of it but just to practice and have fun on the machine with free motion.  One section I stippled, two others I made long spiral loops and the fourth I made an ocean wave with loops. 

After binding the block I thought it looked very empty!  I had never done beading before in my life so I got out my very first beading video and beading book, studied them thoroughly and finally went to town on that baby!  

I discovered that I LOVE BEADING!!!!   WOW IS IT FUN!  It’s actually scary how much I like beading because now I am afraid that every single project I complete from this point forward will be encrusted with beads! haha!

Here’s some photos of the block.  It is 12″x12″.

I used two different types of beads - a small green glass bugle bead and a clear blue seed bead.  I have no idea how many I used but it was alot.  Maybe I should have a contest to guess how many beads there are on it!  Sadly, I’d have to have my mother count them and I wouldn’t torture her like that.  haha  But it’s certainly a good idea for my next project! 

I made two loops at each top corner so she can hang it on the wall easily.  I thought that I may have to re-enforce the backing due to the weight of the beads but it seems pretty stable with the batting.  If my mother calls to say that the beaded loops broke and it fell to the floor, then I will fix it but until then, I am not worried. 

If I had the patience I would encrust my mother’s entire Queen sized quilt like this but I think it would take me 20 years to complete it!!  I spent three weeks beading this baby after work and on weekends and it was non-stop work at that.  But to me, there is nothing better than putting on a good movie and beading away!

I could have put another backing on the block to hide all the bead stitches but I liked showing them off.  It may be “ugly” or “not neat” but I think it shows the hard work and true character of the piece!

I have it posted on QuiltingArts.com for voting:

http://www.quiltingarts.com/forums/p/3116/16541.aspx#16541

Thank you for reading and Happy Sewing!!

-Audra at AuraQuilts.com

Finally I am posting the finished photos of the Birdie Bag by Amy Butler that I made for my sister for Christmas.  You can’t blame me for the delay when you see this week all the things I have completed since I last posted to you all. (at least I hope you won’t blame me  ha!)

Drum roll please…..

Hollie's Bag. AuraQuilts.com

AuraQuilts.com Hollie’s Bag2

 The third picture is with the bag turned inside out so that you can see the cute cat fabric lining.  Unfortunately the pictures don’t do the outer fabrics justice.  I had planned on taking better photos of the bag, but in the rush to finish it for Christmas I ran out of time!  Oh well, there will be many many more bags and projects to come…

One thing for sure, I doubt that I will ever use a pattern again after this one.  I much prefer making my own!  I don’t like stopping to read instructions and especially the part about gussets.  I just skipped that part altogether!

Thanks for reading and Happy Sewing!!

-Audra at AuraQuilts.com

     Wow, it has been a crazy year and it’s only February!  I’d like to apologize if you have attempted to view my site but could not see any pages other than the HOME page.  I had some technical difficulties but seem to be back on track.  A few things to update all of you on:

-I’m currently taking five (yes, I know – it sounds crazy) online classes through Quilt University.com.  It’s really a great site and I highly recommend it to anyone.  There are even great classes for non quilters for printing photos to fabric and painting / dying your own fabric!  I am also taking 4 short term classes at The City Quilter in Manhattan.  I find that even if you think you know something, there is always something to learn from the teacher and even the other class members.  In my experience most people in the craft communities are more than happy to share and learn from one another.  I’m very grateful to have such great classes to attend.

-I am in the final stages of finishing a purse design of which I will be producing purses and custom purses(fabric choice only) and selling them via Etsy.com and this website.  I’m very excited about this project.  I think universally the design will be liked by many and provides the versatility in fabric choice that can suit any woman’s taste!

-I am planning on keeping you all updated more often (yes, I know I have said this before but I PROMISE!) with information about my projects.

Thank you for reading and feel free to post comments or contact me with any suggestions!

Happy Sewing!

-Audra at AuraQuilts.com

     Sorry this post took so long to get on here.  But better late than never, right???

     Ok, so I know it’s not a quilt and it’s not quilting but I made a bag for my sister, Hollie,  as a Christmas gift.  I don’t like using patterns – at least other peoople’s patterns but I really liked the shape of this Amy Butler bag called “Birdie Sling” so I decided to give it a go.

     A month or so before Christmas I called up my sister who lives in Indiana.  I didn’t tell her at this point that it was a bag, but just asked her to name some colors she would enjoy for me to make her something with.  She chose purple.  I then went on the hunt for fabric.  The pattern requires two fabrics for the outside and one for the lining.   I must say that I am a bit addicted to ebay.  Sad but true.  I know I should be supporting local quilt shops – which I do!  But I found some gorgeous fabric  that I thought my sister would really enjoy.  I chose a beautiful Kona Bay leaf pattern for the base, a Kona Bay geometric for the handle and band and a funny cat fabric for the lining.  The lining fabric has cats in meditative poses wearing sunglasses.  She enjoys meditation and loves her cats so I thought she’d really enjoy this lining as a secret surprise for only her to see each time she opens the bag.

  I have never taken a formal class on patterns, clothing or accessories so I trusted following the instructions and my common sense to get me through this project.  (I also knew I could call my mother as a life-line if needed).

    First,  I can’t believe how much cutting is necessary!!  First you have to cut the pattern out of the paper.  Why don’t companies send it to you pre-cut??  If I’m paying for a pattern, why do I need to also do the labor of cutting it out!  I just don’t get it.  Then I had to cut the fabric.  then I had to cut the iron-0n fusing!  Three steps of cutting in order to finally begin sewing the darn thing.  Maybe this is why I am a quilter and not a tailor.  I’d much rather be free-motion quilting than spending time with a pair of scissors in my hand cutting a paper pattern out!  If I wanted to be a scrap booker (is that a real title?) then I would be scrap booking! (no offense to you scrap bookers out there!)

   To be continued…