The Rabbit Factory

Are there Blooms All Around?

2011-07-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Sharon Noble today for sending us this great photo of her recent quilt she made for the Habitat for Humanity Charity Auction. This quilt really makes me smile...I love the super simple applique border. To purchase the "Blooms All Around" pattern please visit our website by clicking here! Please, please, leave us a comment when you drop by...we'd love to hear from you. Hope you are all enjoying your summer!
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

Be Still my beating Heart...just love batiks, don't you?

2011-06-10T21:32:00.000-07:00

Here's Lydia's latest design, Stars of Wonder! You'll be an expert at making half square triangles when you complete this 84-1/2" x 84-1/2" quilt! Lydia has used all batiks in her new quilt...don't they look scrumptious? To purchase her new pattern visit the website at http://www.therabbitfactory.com
Please, please leave us a comment...we love to hear what you think!
Hope you all have been enjoying this lovely summer weather...load up on lots of sunblock as the forecast is calling for a warm one!
Happy Quilting
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

Is it possible to reduce your stash with this quilt?

2011-05-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

You bet ya! Here's Mary Fawcett's rendition of Lydia's Cactus Rose pattern and I bet her stash went down a little making this large scrappy quilt (94" x 94")! Mary sent us this photo which was taken at the Halton Quilter's Guild show. It was quilted by Lucy Rowntree of the Quilt Rack-Ancaster, On. Thanks again for sending me your photo...it was such a pleasant surprise in my email!

Craving Licorice Allsorts and another Opportunity Quilt

2011-04-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

I remember when Lydia first designed this quilt...the colors she chose reminded us of "Licorice Allsorts"...I just love them and this quilt! Yumm!!!
Kennalee Mattson contacted us recently to let us know her guild the "Santa Monica" guild wanted to make this quilt as an opportunity quilt to benefit the YWCA Santa Monica/Westside. Kennalee says "I was just sure I would have problems with the border but it fit like a dream! I found the perfect backing fabric - an Alexander Henry with beautiful birds of all the colors in the quilt with black background. And one of our members did a fabulous job of machine quilt!" They have called their quilt "Songbirds at Midnight"...what a lovely job they have done!

Old Fashioned and Charming Opportunity Quilt!

2011-02-25T10:14:00.000-08:00

Jill Bowman asked if she could use Lydia's pattern "Old Fashioned Charm" for their Opportunity Quilt for the Heart of the Triad Quilt Show 2011 in Kernersville, NC. The quilt show is May 13-14, 2011 at the Girl Scout Learning Centre behind Magnolia Manor, 1203 Frances Daily Court, Colfax, N.C. 9 am to 5 pm Admission $5.00-- Jill did the piecing (a slight change from the original block) but had lots of help with the applique border. The quilt graces the quilt show poster designed by Nancy Lassiter...aren't those Fig Tree fabrics soooo delicious? Beautifully quilted by Theresa DeWalt. I am sure they will be selling lots and lots of tickets! Thanks for a great team effort and for sharing your time and talent and such a beautiful quilt! Ahhhhh.... a lucky someone will win this quilt!
Lorraine

Beautiful quilts from our beautiful customers!

2011-02-09T08:17:00.000-08:00

Here's Shirley Magee's version of Lydia's Pressed Flowers Pattern. This beauty is hanging in her upstairs hallway. What an entrance! Thanks for sharing Shirley! P.S. Check out that hand quilting done by Linda Hoiko of Pickering, On....dreammmy!

Jennifer Parslow from Canajohaire, New York recently contacted me to ask for permission to use the Summer Day Sampler pattern to make a raffle quilt to help a young girl go on a People to People Student Ambassador program to England and France. What a great neighbour Jennifer is! Jennifer said, "I worked on the quilt when time allowed and it took less than two weeks to complete the top! " This quilt was machine quilted by Cheryl Lee of Galway, New York. Some lucky raffle quilt winner is really going to enjoy this Folk Art style quilt made out of cuddly Maywood Flannels...imagine!

Above is Laura Brandt with her version of "Elizabeth's Sampler"! Laura wrote, "There's a story to the way Elizabeth's Sampler turned out for me. It sure didn't turn out like I was aiming for, but it did turn out! Time was of the essence once I decided to give it to my brother and sister-in-law for Christmas: I made that decision two weeks before Christmas and had to get'er done! So rather than quilt it, I decided to just tie it. This is a pattern I'm hoping to make again." Well done Laura. I have tied a number of quilts over the years as well and I think they look just great! Laura is new to the blogging world, so please drop on over to her blog at http://wentworthcountyquiltworks.blogspot.com/ and say hi!
Welll, that's all for now! Keep those photos coming and thanks everyone for sharing!
Lorraine

Here's Our last free Seasonal Fruit Pattern!

2011-02-02T10:49:00.000-08:00

Here's the last pattern from our Seasonal Fruit Series...Summer! There's a cute little bird ready to peck at an apple sitting on the edge of a watermelon! We will leave the series posted at our website until April, so don't miss downloading. Go to our website right now at www.therabbitfactory.com
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine

Brrrrrrr! Baby It's Cold Outside!

2011-01-27T10:34:00.000-08:00

How fitting to receive these pictures while we are having a bit of a cold spell here in Ontario!

Cindy Brown says: "Here are a couple pictures of the Under the Star Quilt I made for my in laws for Christmas last year. Instead of using a permanent marker for the Snowmen's eyes, I used buttons. I also used prairie points for the border instead of binding. I sewed the whole quilt together by hand and also hand quilted the whole quilt".
Soooo cute! Thanks for sharing Cindy!
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

A Celebration Sampler Quilt that is truly a celebration!

2011-01-11T19:41:00.000-08:00

Judith McNabb recently sent in these photos of her version of Lydia's pattern, Celebration Sampler. What a beautiful quilt! Judith made this quilt with love for her son's wedding in August! Judith's choice of the beautiful hydrangea focus fabric and the various greens and blues are set off beautifully with the larger white setting triangles....sooo pretty!

The lovely quilting is done by Ann Hutcheon! Click here to see Lydia's original quilt (see heading...Our Quilt Patterns and scroll down a little) See how Judith has changed it! Try not to cry when you see her beautiful quilting label (below)...it's so amazing!

Here's our next free pattern!

2010-12-26T11:50:00.000-08:00

Here's our next free pattern...Seasonal Fruit Spring, part of a series of 4 designs! Lemons, strawberries, oranges and a few grapes...sounds like what we all should be eating just after the holiday season! Hope you're all enjoying a little time with your families, a little time sitting at your sewing machine or hand stitching and a whole lot of time pondering your next quilting projects! Go to our website to download your pattern now at www.therabbitfactory.com and remember to scroll down on the front page for all the downloads available. We are keeping them all there for you until March 2011.
Happy Holidays to all and happy stitching,
Lorraine
Here's the complete wallhanging...just one more free pattern but you have to wait until Feb!

Here's our next FREE Wallhanging Pattern!

2010-12-03T21:00:00.000-08:00

Hope you are collecting the patterns for our Seasonal Fruit Series. Last month we posted Seasonal Fruit Winter and here is our next free pattern "Seasonal Fruit Autumn". Each month we are posting a "Seasonal Fruit" pattern...collect all four! Each pattern can be made up as a separate design as shown above or combine them to make your own "Seasonal Fruit Wallhanging" (below). Wouldn't this quilt look pretty in a number of different fabrics....civil war, batiks etc? Can hardly wait to see some of your fabric choices!

To get the free patterns you need to visit our website at www.therabbitfactory.com during the months of Nov 2010 (last month's design is still there), Dec 2010, Jan 2011, and Feb 2011! Be sure to tell all your blogging friends to drop by and collect the series!

Happy Stitching,
Lorraine

Rabbit's Lair has yummy kits!

2010-11-08T13:14:00.000-08:00

Check out these wonderful shop samples of Hare Affair and Folk Art Finery made up by Rabbit's Lair in Rogers, AR. They are certainly doing things right....the sample is made and a kit is available to purchase! Sometimes digging through the stash is such a job and if you are in a hurry to make up your project, a kit can save you TIME and MONEY. Sometimes you don't have "just the right fabric" or having to go out and buy 6 different greens can run you into a little money when you only need a little piece, so kits are the answer! I think you'll be surprised how many great quilt shops out there would be willing to kit up some of the patterns you have sitting in your sewing room, so go ahead and contact your local quilt shop and see what they can do for you!
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine

Our new FREE pattern series!

2010-10-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

The Rabbit Factory has something free and very exciting starting November 1st...for 4 months. Each month we are posting a "Seasonal Fruit" pattern...collect all four! Each pattern can be made up as a separate design as shown below or combine them to make your own "Seasonal Fruit Wallhanging" (above). Wouldn't this quilt look pretty in a number of different fabrics....civil war, batiks etc?

To get the free patterns you need to visit our website at www.therabbitfactory.com during the months of Nov 2010, Dec 2010, Jan 2011, and Feb 2011! Be sure to tell all your blogging friends to drop by and collect the series!

Here's a picture of the first pattern called Seasonal Fruit Winter!

Won't it be fun to dig through your stash or run out to your local quilt shop to buy some fabrics for this project or both! And please leave us a comment and let us know a little about you and your quilting! Or just post "LIKE"!

Happy Stitching from www.therabbitfactory.com

Lorraine

What a few ladies, some sewing machines, and plenty of ambition can achieve!

2010-09-21T19:05:00.000-07:00

Just love this photo Chena Wright sent us of her and her sister Connie showing their quilt group (Material Girls) quilt their version of Lydia's " Summer Day Sampler ". The Material Girls are from West Haven, Utah and this quilt was made for the Primary Children's Medical Center auction/fundraiser put on by the Festival of Trees, in Salt Lake City, Utah in December 2010. Just lovely!!
Quilts featured in the "Quilt Block" will be sold by silent auction. The Festival of Trees relies completely on volunteers to plan and orchestrate this 40 year annual event. It is through the support of a generous community that every penny raised helps children at Primary Children's Medical Center. Their group joins in on trying to make a difference in the lives of children, and other organizations in their community. They have also made and donated "pillow cases" to shelters for men and women, quilts to rest homes for the aged and quilts to hospitals!
Thanks for sharing and making this a world a better place, one quilt at a time!

Amazing quilts by Karen Boe!

2010-08-26T16:57:00.000-07:00

Karen Boe recently sent me photos of 3 of her award winning quilts...wow! Yes, I said "3" quilts...that is quite an accomplishment! She mentioned in her email the "JOY" she was brought making and displaying them...thanks for sharing with us Karen! Just love the colors of the fabrics chosen and the workmanship is outstanding. I especially love the "fresh" look to the Reminiscence quilt...the fabrics are yummy! The quilting was done by Stoneridge Quilting, Barb Simons, Elderlin ND and some by herself. The quilts are in order...Reminiscence, Wildflowers and Spring Beauty! Karen, you will have these lovely heirlooms forever...how great is that!
If you just love these quilts, pop on over to our website and get a pattern ordered right now! Start digging through your stash...I know you probably have a stack of fat quarters just waiting to be cut up!
There's nothing like a good scrap quilt!
Regards,
Lorraine

A visitor in my Garden!

2010-08-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

There's something wonderful about finding a rabbit in your garden! This beautiful "wide" eyed lovely has a rabbit hole just in the far corner of my garden and I just admit that I feel like I'm living in the country instead of my little Brighton town when I find him munching on my plants early morning!
Well, now on to something related to quilting!
I just had a visit on Linda Franz's website "Inklingo". If you haven't been over, please visit her site and order for " free" her new Hexagon Design Book (Value $20.00)...I just ordered it and I am so excited. I haven't even seen it yet but I know the quality of the books and cd's I've purchased from her in the past that there will be amazing detail...what a generous person she is! Don't you just love FREE! She also has a wonderful video on how to piece a Grandmother's Flower Garden Block, so if you've never explored the tradition of english paper piecing, now's the time. There's still plenty of summer evenings to spend on your front porch stitching!
Hope you all are enjoying the lovely summer we are having,
Regards
Lorraine

It's the little touches in a garden that mean so much!

2010-06-27T19:33:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge "gardening" fan and recently attended the Warkworth Garden Show. We visited 7 lovely gardens and each one had it's charm. But it's the little touches that gardeners place emphasis on, that really attract my attention.
Here are a few cute ideas that captured my attention!
I love reusing nature...check our these 3 stump planters! I'm going to put some of these in my garden!

I also think the flowers planted in these boots placed conveniently beside this adorable rocker is really sweet as well.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle..finding another place for flowers!

Or keeping a good part of this damaged tree as a place for birdhouses!

Or using found driftwood to give height to a "three" grouping of planters!

Or planting a picture instead of painting one!

Or using clear netting draped over a lovely old chair that now has a new use for a climbing vine

Or getting some height to a lovely urn by turning over another pot and painting it the same color

How about bring the "indoors" out by adding cool mirrors....reflecting the beauty of your garden!

Or creating a wonderful planter just from some "found" driftwood!
There really were some wonderful tips in the gardens I went to visit and I just couldn't wait to share them with you!
Have a great week and happy quilting,
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

Bring your memories into your quilts!

2010-06-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

Helen Ogden sent me these 3 photo's of the quilt she has just finished for her grandson's graduation from high school. Helen changed the pattern to queen size by adding sashing and a couple borders. The applique border is all about "memories" she shared with her grandson. The fun times at the farm, playing in the leaves in the fall, flying kites at Easter and throwing confetti filled eggs (filled by the grandson's paternal grandmother).
Thank you Helen for sharing your beautiful quilt with us!
Lorraine

Is Bigger Better??

2010-05-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

Wow! Look at Tammy Witwer's Jacobs Garden Quilt designed by Lydia Quigley! This quilt really shows well as a full size quilt...the original pattern is just a wall hanging size! Tammy's fabric choices are outstanding! If you love this design be sure to visit our website to purchase the pattern at www.therabbitfactory.com
Thanks again Tammy for sending us your photos...we just L-O-V-E show and tell!
Have a great week,
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

Denise's Stunning "Flowers Forever"

2010-05-25T10:05:00.000-07:00

What a pleasure it was to open my email and find a photo of Lydia's Flowers Forever sent in by Denise Falgiano! Thought I'd better share this one! I just love her fabric choices and the workmanship is outstanding! Beautiful machine quilting done by Tara Thom of Albion, NY. Don't you just love "show n tell"!!
Have a great week, Lorraine

Here are the Border Blocks for "Once Upon a Garden"!

2010-05-05T05:01:00.000-07:00

Sure hope you love the finished quilt!

Here are the border patterns for our "Once Upon a Garden". The Corner Blocks are cut 6-1/2" x 6-1/2" and you will need to make 4 each. This block is rotated in the corners as you'll see on the picture of the completed quilt.

The Side Border Blocks are cut 6-1/2" x 12-1/2" and you will need to make 14 each. It would help to make a clear transparency of the block to help position your applique pieces.

If you've been scrapping up the backgrounds all along, you'll notice the corner & border blocks are scrapped as well! Great way to use up the "stash"!
The weather has been fantastic here in Brighton and I've been spending plenty of time gardening. I've lots of plans for our backyard this year! Summer evenings are a great time to sit and applique after a long day digging in the dirt! Hope you will share with us some of your blocks once they are completed! We'd love to see what you have been up to!
P.S. A number of you have just found our blog and are asking for May, June and July blocks, so please email me at lorraine.rabbitfactory@yahoo.ca and I will send you over a zip file so you don't miss out! Also please feel free to post the above picture of our free BOM "Once Upon a Garden" quilt on your blog and let all your blogging friends share in the fun, as I will keep them posted on the blog until end of August!
Have a great week, Lorraine

Love, love, love those feathers!

2010-04-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

It's true to say that "feathers" drew me to quilting and still do! Whether they are done by hand or machine I truly just melt at the sight of them! Check out the Rabbit Factory's Spring Beauty quilt pieced by Peggie (love your color choices Peggie) and machine quilted by Pam, the Joyful Quilter at (email) PJQuilt@aol.com. Well done to both of you for such a beautiful quilt!
Thanks for sharing and hope everyone has a great day, Lorraine!

Here's our Free April 2010 applique block!

2010-04-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

Here's our last block for our "Once Upon a Garden" quilt! Next month we will have the patterns for the border applique to finally finish this garden adventure...just in time to start our own "real" gardens outside. We've had many visitors to our backyard garden already this year...a couple of rabbits, lots of robins, bluejays, chickadees and cardinals! If you haven't visited our website lately, be sure to drop on over at www.therabbitfactory.com to see our selection of over 50 patterns.

Here's our Free March 2010 Applique Block!

2010-03-05T14:55:00.000-08:00

Spring is in the AIR! We have hardly any snow here in Brighton! I imagine the crocuses and daffodils will start creeping through the ground shortly if we continue having these wonderful warm and sunny days. Here's our free March block for you to enjoy. Happy Stitching,
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

Hometown Memories by Judy Adams

2010-02-22T12:16:00.000-08:00

We just love it when customers send us pictures of their projects! Here's a wonderful variation of Lydia's "Around the Block" pattern! Judy custom designed this project to fit perfectly over the fireplace of some dear friends! Thanks for sharing, Judy! If you'd like to make your very own "Around the Block" click here to visit our website.

Here's our Free Feb 2010 Applique block!

2010-02-03T09:06:00.000-08:00

Here's our February block! As you'll see I've added a little heart to the vase...Valentine's Day is just around the corner! As usual you need to have your background block cut to 12-1/2" x 12-1/2" folded and lightly creased to help with the placement. A number of you have asked me why when you print the applique block not all of the pattern shows. This is because the elements of the design are repeated and once you print the pattern you will have all the necessary templates to create the design. In the case of this block, the bird is repeated, so when you cut your templates, make two of each part of the bird. Here's a great tip: Before cutting out your templates mark a couple "X's" on each piece that get's covered over by another applique piece...that way you will remember not to turn under the fabric at that particular spot and when cutting the fabric be sure to leave a little extra so that it gets covered easily. The placement diagram needs to be printed as well so that you get an idea of where all the pieces go.
While teaching a class, a number of the students were concerned about their applique block being "exactly" the same as the design they were working on. My comment to them was...this is "your" block and you can make it "your" way. If a shape is really bothering you...just change it to make it easier for you to applique rather than "fuss" and delay the fun!
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

Many hands make light work!

2010-01-25T07:45:00.000-08:00

I just love that saying...it is so true! The Farmington Valley Quilters members and friends have put together a lovely Raffle quilt using Lydia's "Celebration Sampler" pattern. What an amazing accomplishment...this guild has about 120 members and at least 54 or more of them participated in the making of this quilt! The quilt was hand quilted by the Parrish Hall Quilters and the fabrics partially donated by Deb Mella and Gone Quilting. Batting was donated by Sew Inspired Quilt Shop. So many hands have helped to make this a truly beautiful Raffle quilt! Thanks again to Pat Hersl for sending me the photos!

Download a free block from our new quilt Baltimore and Bali!

2010-01-04T14:37:00.000-08:00

Download a free sample block from our new quilt, Baltimore and Bali! This beautiful applique quilt will help to reduce your stash of batiks for sure! Lydia has chosen to use a nice dark chocolate brown tone on tone as her background. Click here to visit our website and download your "free sample block" in the "What's New" section. You can also see a full size picture of this quilt there!
Enjoy and Happy Stitching, Lorraine

Here's our Free Jan 2010 applique block!

2010-01-03T11:32:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe the year 2010 is here....surreal! It sounded like a date in the far, far future a few years ago! I have a really good positive feeling about this year...I hope you do too! A really big "Thank You" to everyone who visited our website and purchased some of our patterns...we really appreciate the business! If you haven't been to our website and you have a little time, just click here!
With the cold winter wind and the blowing snow out there, I've just finished designing our new January block and I hope you enjoy it! It may be cold outside, but flowers are blooming here at the Rabbit Factory!
Happy stitching, Lorraine!

Here's our Free Dec 09 Applique Block

2009-12-04T11:05:00.001-08:00

December has finally arrived! I don't know about you, but for me it's always the busiest month of the year. I enjoy preparing small home-baked goodies for friends and family, so with jam making, melting chocolate for truffles to cooking some of my most favorite cookies it seems I spend a lot of time in the kitchen! I'm sure you won't even get a chance to start this free December applique block, so just go ahead and print it and set it aside.
I want to wish you all the best for a fun and enjoyable stress-free holiday!
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

A GALAXY of stars by Lynda Smyth!

2009-11-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

A good friend, Lynda sent me these pictures of her version of Lydia's Galaxy Quilt! Lynda has cleverly used a Jinny Beyer border print to build the size of the quilt to queen size! Can you believe all these stars are made from half square triangles...even the centre medallion! I just love the scrappy look of this quilt...it's a real beauty. Thanks for sharing Lynda! To see Lydia's version go to our website at www.therabbitfactory.com under the heading of "what's new".
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

Free November 09 Applique Block!

2009-11-05T20:23:00.000-08:00

Here's our free November Applique Block! It's getting a little cooler at nights and early mornings...just a sign of things to come! We've had cardinals and woodpeckers at the feeders lately so I thought it was fitting to fit a little bird on our November block! Please don't forget to download both the placement pattern and the applique pattern. As usual, to save paper your applique pattern will print only partially and there is enough of the design showing to obtain your templates to complete the block! Hope you all enjoy this one!
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

Shining Stars by Beth Cameron

2009-10-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

I just love it when customers send me pictures of their projects to post on our website www.therabbitfactory.com
We have a great customer gallery, so please, go check it out! It's great to see your choices of fabrics and the changes you've made to "make it your own". Here's a couple of photos I got from Beth Cameron sharing her version of "Shining Stars" all made with great fabrics shining with gold and silver! It really is "Shining Stars"!! Thanks so much, Beth!

Free Oct 09 Applique Block

2009-10-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! Here's the latest free applique block for October! It's is the most beautiful time of the year...the rich colors, the smell of "wood burning fires", and the presentation of our fall bounty...pumpkins, apples and squash! I just love the fall! Hope you all are enjoying these free blocks and I do hope some of you will share your applique work with us soon. Please email me at lorraine.rabbitfactory@yahoo.com with your photos. Next month the first 3 blocks from May, June and July will be removed from this blog and are no longer available, so if you haven't printed them just yet, you may want to do so now.
Just came back from an amazing week in Vermont! Everyone needs to visiting this state at least once in their lifetime during the fall...it is glorious!
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine

Let's Use up some more of those left over triangles!

2009-09-20T20:11:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I want half squares triangles with the SAME background fabric and would love to use of some of those left over triangles! Here I'll explain how....lay the two triangles meeting together and measure their size. Cut your background squares just a little big bigger. Pin the triangles scraps to the squares as shown. Chain piece, using the long edge of the triangle as your guide for your 1/4" seam allowance. I usually sew one side first, through a good number of these units, then turn, and sew the other side. Leave them attached and lay them on your cutting mat. Using your rotary cutter cut right through the chain and don't worry if you cut off a little of the corner of the squares because that's part of the dog ear anyway. Then using your regular omnigrid ruler, lay the 1/4" measure on the sewing line and trim. You'll notice there is a little gap showing of the background fabric sometimes between the triangles but that doesn't really matter as it gets trimmed off. Now trim the triangle using the "Triangle Square up Ruler by Quilt in a Day" to square up to the desired size. Don't forget to turn the ruler and trim the dog ears off. Press open and voila...you have multicolor half square triangles on one side and the same consistent background fabric on the other...plus you've used up some of those wonderful scrap triangles!
Enjoy your week,
Lorraine

Trimming triangles instead of squares saves me time

2009-09-19T20:59:00.000-07:00

Here's another way to use the triangle square up ruler! You probably all know how to make half square triangles this way but try using this great ruler to do the squaring up. You can actually be a little "inaccurate" as long as you are sewing a straight line and still make great half square triangles...because....when you square up with the triangle square up ruler you are lining the ruler up on the "sewing" line. I like to use a .01 pigma pen (finest line) to mark the diagonal line...it shows up really well. I found using pencil is sometimes difficult to see. The line gets cut anyways and the pen won't bleed! The other thing you'll notice is that if you don't get the squares exactly on top of each other perfectly you will still have a little extra fabric for the sliver trim! You are only trimming on two sides of a triangle saving you cutting time and increasing accuracy!
Hope you enjoy your week!
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine

Got some odd sized left over triangles?

2009-09-19T15:02:00.000-07:00

Here's another great use for the triangle square up ruler! I just can't throw away little triangles...is this a problem for you too? Cut off triangles regardless of their size get chained pieced through the machine...I like to use a light and a dark fabric for contrast and I'm not really worried if they are they same size or not as you can see in the example above. With the triangle square up ruler you just line up the ruler on the "sewing" line on the shortest side and trim to the largest size you can yield. Sometimes I end up with a number of different sizes, so I just file them away for future use in the storage drawers! Here's an example of how I file in the drawers... in the 2-1/2" drawer you will find 2-1/2" strips, 2-1/2" squares and half square triangles that are 2-1/2" unfinished! All ready and waiting for an upcoming scrappy project! Hope you are enjoying this wonderful fall season!
Lorraine

My favorite ruler...the triangle square up!

2009-09-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share my favorite ruler with you...the triangle square up ruler by Quilt in a Day! I use this ruler more than any other in my ruler book.
Following in order, are pictures of how I use this ruler Way #1....but I have found some additional ways to use this tool, so I want to share them with you as well on my next posting!

Don't you just love half-square triangles!

2009-09-17T17:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a simple tablerunner I made a while ago using just half square triangles...so simple! One package of charm squares and about 1 metre of beige background. I realize there are so many ways to make these units and everyone has their favorites! Won't you leave me a comment on how you prefer to make yours?

My name is Lorraine and I am addicted to rulers.

2009-09-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

I can't resist grabbing a template tool and a box of scraps and just start cutting! You don't even need a pattern with this great 60 degree triangle ruler from EZ. This runner came about as a project by just looking at the attached pamphlet... and those green batiks were multiplying in my sewing room faster than I could cut them.
Hope you are enjoying the lovely cool mornings!
Lorraine

Thank you Bloggers!

2009-09-04T21:18:00.000-07:00

I truly enjoy visiting all your blogs! I especially appreciate all the unbelievable effort put into your blogs...the great photographs, the time you spend sharing your tips and ideas, the free tutorials and patterns, the dedication and diligence. Thank you all!
I also wanted to mention that being a former shop owner, I had the wonderful opportunity to enjoy "show n tell" just about everyday I worked! Once I retired, I truly missed seeing and sharing the quilting experience with students and customers. Then I found BLOGGING! Now I can still experience the same opportunity right from my computer! The only problem I am experiencing now is that I just can't seem to limit my time on the computer...but I sure am having fun!
Anyways, I wanted to mention today about Dorothy's blog...go she what she's been up to...a new free stitchery BOM!
Have a wonderful holiday weekend,
Lorraine

Kaaren's First Friday freebee's!

2009-09-04T04:55:00.000-07:00

Kaaren is so very generous to all us bloggers. If you haven't been to The Painted Quilt blog yet take a click over and see what she is up to!

How come so many scissors when I rotary cut?

2009-09-02T09:22:00.001-07:00

Two bloggers, Kaaren and Ranette have both confessed to having quite a supply of scissors. I thought I'd join in and admit to what I have...or should I say, what I found...perhaps there really are more pairs hidden in my sewing room somewhere!
Happily Cutting,
Lorraine

Free September 09 BOM Applique Block

2009-08-31T15:09:00.001-07:00

Here's our latest free applique block! Follow the same as always cutting a background fabric 12-1/2" x 12-1/2"and folding it into quarters. Print two copies of the pattern this time and use one for making your templates and the other one as a guide for placement. You'll notice only part of the pattern is showing but all the templates you need are there! Enjoy and welcome to the beginning of fall. This is one of my very favorite seasons! Please feel free to leave us a comment and your blog address to let us know if you have posted any of the blocks you have made so far. We can link you to our blog and share with everyone!
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine

Why don't you make a BOO-BOO!

2009-08-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a variation of the flax seed and lavender compresses I mentioned in an earlier post. I call these my "BooBoo's". Hopefully they will bring a smile to a child who has scraped their knee or has a little headache! They finish about 6" x 9" and I just love using up my scraps to make something useful!
Have a great weekend!
Lorraine from the Rabbit Factory!

A Simple Thing!

2009-08-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

I'm making a number of these cell phone covers and they are so easy! Haven't got the handles attached yet but that's tomorrow's job! These hook over your purse strap so that you don't have to go digging into your purse to find your phone! I got the pattern from That Patchwork Place book called "The New Handmade" by Cassie Barden. Lots of other good things in that book as well! Next time you are in your favorite local quilt shop, be sure to check it out!
Hope you're having a great day,
Lorraine

Here's Show n Tell from Suzanne and Lorraine Gauthier!

2009-08-25T14:51:00.000-07:00

Suzanne Gauthier and her mother Lorraine are quite a team...and they are avid quilters! Here's some photos from a recent quilt show in Northern Ontario as well as Suzanne's favorite rabbit! Please visit our website www.therabbitfactory.com to see more of their quilts in our customer gallery!

Tired of defrosted frozen peas?

2009-08-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

My husband Paul is constantly plagued with a lower back injury that seems to reoccur especially in humid weather! I decided to make him a flax seed and lavender cold compress that can be put in the freezer...we've had enough of defrosted peas! This will fit nicely right across his lower back and my friend Vida who is a physiotherapist suggests cold is always better than warm for this problem.

Check out Tammy's quilt!

2009-08-17T17:46:00.000-07:00

Tammy Spencer emailed me a number of days ago about her lovely Summer Day Sampler quilt she had completed! Here's a sneak peak! She even has a picture of the quilt on her blog heading! So be sure to check out her blog! http://quiltinthingsforyou.blogspot.com/2009/08/summer-day-sampler.html
Tammy has completed a number of other beautiful quilts (her Baltimore Bunnies quilt is amazing), so take a visit, won't you?

Antique quilt...don't you just love Lone Star Style quilts?

2009-08-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

I bought this quilt a number of years ago...unfortunately there wasn't a label on the back but I just couldn't resist bringing it home from an antique fair in Merrickville, Ontario. It didn't cost alot of money and it was poorly faded but I still couldn't leave it alone. There is something so very attractive about the Lone Star quilt...I love the challenge of the piecing--just check out that border...knowing this quilter put a lot of work and love into this quilt...I have a great appreciation for whoever it was!

Amazing Woodcarving FolkArtist Robert Danielis!

2009-08-11T15:04:00.000-07:00

It seems my love of creativity flows from everything around me! While on a "girl's day" out to Picton, Ontario shopping, we dropped into Waring House for a long, leisurely lunch, of course, and came upon Folk Artist Woodcarver, Robert at his workshop located just outside the restaurant. I was touched by his great sense of humor and delightful folky designs! I think all quilters have a great appreciation for all kinds of hobbies and talents especially when it comes to selling our "works"...we don't pay ourselves enough money for the time spent and this was a subject we ended up talking to Robert about. Even woodcarvers who spend hours working on their craft don't get paid enough. Robert logs his hours spent on each project and pays himself "a little per hour". Many quilters I talk to say they price out their quilts the same way. Share your thoughts with me...I'm interested to know how you pay yourself! I also hope you enjoy this small glimpse into true Canadian folkart!
Have a great day,
Lorraine

Show n Tell from Cathy

2009-08-10T15:05:00.000-07:00

It's always nice when one of our customers emails us with a photo of their project from one of Lydia's designs. Cathy Blanchard sent us her scaled down rendition of "Whitework Sampler". What a lovely quilt...thanks Cathy for sharing. If you have a quilt you have made from one of Lydia's patterns please don't hesitate to email me at lorraine.rabbitfactory@yahoo.ca as we would love to see it!
Hope you have your umbrella with you today in Ontario!
Lorraine

The Village Quilt

2009-08-09T07:47:00.000-07:00

Here's another one of my very, very early quilts..."The Village Quilt" that's what I call it but I think the original name was "Around the Town" designed by Thimbleberries. I was drawn to this quilt because I love houses, trees and small villages. And in every village you will always find a church! Wouldn't you know it...the house I've just moved into was build on a lot where there was a beautiful church at one time! Meant to be!
Have a great week,
Lorraine

Piece O Cake

2009-08-04T14:30:00.001-07:00

Piece O Cake
Love applique? Check out Becky's great responses to a wonderful interview at sewn.net.au about what these ladies are up to! (Click on the small words...Piece o Cake to get to the link!)
Shared via AddThis

My "Back to Front" quilt!

2009-08-04T08:07:00.000-07:00

When I first started quilting, Debbie Mumm was all the rage and this Maple Leaf quilt graced my store window for a couple months in the fall for a number of years. I call it my "back to front" quilt...the back of the quilt came first! Has this ever happened to you? I find fabric can be soooooo inspiring!
Hope you find a little inspiration in your day today!
Lorraine

Free August 09 Applique Block!

2009-07-31T04:56:00.000-07:00

Here's our free August applique block! With all the rain and our gardens growing like crazy, I felt it was appropriate to have a flower block that is just bursting with bloom!
Just a quick note to let you know that when you print the patterns you will get only a portion of the applique pattern...it will be just enough to give you the pattern for the applique pieces and the placement guide has template and bias information so be sure to print it as well. It may seem a little unusual, but everything you need to make the block is there.
Enjoy your day and happy stitching,
Lorraine

Checks and Balances Scrap Quilt

2009-07-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

What quilter can resist using up perhaps some of the smallest pieces? Here's a cute pattern Lydia and Elizabeth had in their scrap club...and of course, I just had to make it. Super easy piecing...rail fence, nine patch and an alternating plain block...depending on your scraps you could make this quilt in a variety of different sizes. These blocks finish 3". I just love the name...don't you?

Orient Express!

2009-07-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

Here's another one of my older quilts...I call it "Orient Express" because I made it in such a hurry...I am sure a lot of you will recognize it from the "American Patchwork & Quilting" magazine from a good number of years ago. I really enjoyed making this quilt...I just wish I would have made it bigger and of course, I didn't put enough quilting in it! At the time I was in a "hurry" to get it finished to put on display at my store with a table overflowing of Oriental style fat quarters! I plan on making another paper pieced New York Beauty style quilt some day. Don't you just love these type of fabrics? Do they speak to you like they do me? Leave me a comment won't you?
Enjoy your day,
Lorraine

Warning...Tidying Cupboard can lead to Trouble!

2009-07-25T03:47:00.000-07:00

While quickly organizing my quilting cupboards, I came across this fabric and book that I had tucked away a couple of years ago. I don't know why, but I am just drawn to two color quilts...I have always loved the looked of this particular quilt. I know it's probably the simplicity. Don't you just love the applique border? So I've dropped everything else I have been working on and delved into this project...it was about 10:30 pm the other night...what was I thinking!!! But today I am happy I've started yet another new project. One block done and 15 more to go!
Happy Stitching and be careful cleaning up your sewing room,
Lorraine

Hidden Stars...hah!

2009-07-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

Everytime I bring this quilt out of the cupboard...I get a little chuckle! This was a mystery quilt that Lydia and Elizabeth designed in their "Bits n Pieces" program that ran at my store a number of years ago. Their samples were just great but mine didn't "cut the mustard". Hidden Stars is a great name...the stars are sooooo hidden that you might just have a little problem finding them. I chose fabrics that didn't really show enough contrast and the design got "lost"! Have you ever done that?
I still love the quilt though, (chuckle, chuckle)!
Lorraine

How Old is Antique?

2009-07-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of another one of my older quilts...an Irish chain. Made sometime in the 1980's...can it be considered an "antique" now, ha! ha! It was one of my first machine quilted quilts and you'll notice that it has the minimum of quilting on it. In those days, being a busy quilt shop owner, I just didn't have a lot of time, so many quilts I made never even got quilted...some are still sitting on a shelf in my sewing room! It was made to look like an "old" quilt. I didn't put a border on it as I liked the look of it just bound like a lot of antique quilts I 've seen. And I love the combination of Red and White, don't you? All quilters alike seem to draw their inspiration from many places and things around them, so I've included in one of the photos today a book of local history..."Sisters in Two Worlds"--a visual biography of Susanna Moodie and Catherine Parr Traill that I have been reading. It is of two pioneer sisters who embarked on new lives living in the backwoods of Canada...not far from where I am living now. Catherine's beautifully illustrated books on Canadian plants and wildflowers were the first of their kind and she also wrote "Roughing it in the Bush" and "The Backwoods of Canada" and they represent a remarkable journey of life in early Canada. So I think I'll just cuddle up in my old Irish Chain and continue reading,
Enjoy these lovely summer days,
Lorraine

Sharing through Blogging!

2009-07-21T04:42:00.000-07:00

Be sure to visit these blogs...Janet at Quiltsalott, Cathy at Cabbage Quilts and Kathie at Inspired by Antique quilts. These quilters are so sharing of all their ideas and inspirations! They even inspired me to dig out my sampler I made from the cover of The New Applique Sampler by Piece o Cake . I taught this as a class just after this book came out and I found their book and DVD fantastic. But to get back to Janet, Cathy and Kathie... it's great how each quilter then develops their own special techniques that evolve as they are making their projects and through blogging have been able to share those valuable tips with us! How great is that!
Have a great needle-turn day! Lorraine

Rabbits!

2009-07-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

Couldn't resist posting these amazing paintings by Ron Waddling of RABBITS! Ron has captured the personality of each rabbit on canvas...they are so exquisite!! Ron is a local artist in Brighton, On and I found him on "PIRATE" day at his booth with these adorable giclees...a term I had never before heard of. Giclees are originals that are photographed and reprinted, in this case, on canvas and are just about as wonderful and a lot less expensive than the original. A cute rabbit like the small one can be as inexpensive as $20.00 unframed. Ron also paints sheep as well and has the perfect touch to bring these adorable creatures to life. If you wish to contact Ron and purchase one of these lovely giclees you can call him at 1-613-475-3521 or email him at rabbits@xplornet.com. You can also have a closer look at http://www.spiritofthehills.org/artists/ronwaddling.html
Embrace the day and enjoy!
Lorraine

Like a Yo-Yo!

2009-07-17T18:18:00.000-07:00

RECYCLE an old cd and cut out a really good sized yo-yo circle. I just love my Omnigrid 12-inch rotating mat and my small Olfa cutter to do the job! I've been cutting these out for a couple years, every now and again....who knows if I'll ever get my 30's yo-yo quilt assembled! But every so often, I get in the mood to sit and baste. Hope you are enjoying these lovely summer days,
Lorraine

Trouble-Free Triangles

2009-07-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

Here's another one of my older quilts...I called it "Trouble-Free Triangles" and I used the Marti Michell 60 degree triangle ruler. This quilt usually comes out at Christmas so I pulled it out to photograph it today. I just love the zig-zag border on the two sides. I cut the triangles the exact size of the ruler digging through my stash of Moda Christmas fabrics at the time and it was a fun quilt to make...so easy to cut, easy to sew and really easy to quilt...just in the ditch! If you decide to make one of your own be sure to cut the binding on the bias so that it sews on really easily. Don't you just love scrap quilts?
Have a great day!
Lorraine

Housewarming Quilt

2009-07-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

Thought it was time to show you something I've made! Here's my "Housewarming" quilt which I made a number of years ago. I just love houses...don't you?
Have a great day,
Lorraine

Please share your favorite rabbit with us!

2009-07-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

Just got this lovely rabbit from my wonderful husband Paul..I pointed it out in a store and he went back and got it for me as a surprise! What a great guy! He's just too cute to put in the garden (the rabbit that is, husband is cute too!) so I think it will sit on my desk for a while! The Rabbit Factory does love rabbits... so please share you favorite rabbits with us and email a picture to lorraine.rabbitfactory@yahoo.ca!
Have a wonderful day!
Lorraine

A visit to "Fun with Stitches" quilt shop!

2009-07-08T03:18:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to share a few photos I snapped on my visit to Fun with Stitches quilt shop in Belleville, On yesterday. Good day to get some time in my sewing room today...it's going to rain! Happy Stitching, Lorraine

When you run out of garden space!

2009-07-07T04:03:00.000-07:00

Dropped into a great garden business the other day called "Old Barn Perennials" just outside of Brighton, On. The owner who is very nice invited me to tour her garden...starting with the pond! Lorraine

Here's Stumpy!

2009-07-06T02:31:00.000-07:00

Here's Lynda Smyth, my friend spending a lazy day on the deck hand quilting with her neighbour, Stumpy!
This photo made me smile! Thanks Lynda for sharing with us!
Happy Stitching,
Lorraine

IT'S LONELY AT THE TOP!

2009-07-05T15:08:00.001-07:00

Lazy, hazy days of summer! Don't you just love the feeling of a long, hot summer day...just like when you were a kid...the day lasted forever! We took a trip to Wicklow beach not far from Brighton and I couldn't resist taking this picture! Hope you are enjoying your summer as much as I am. Have a great day, Lorraine!

Here's the FREE July Applique block

2009-07-02T08:59:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Canada Day! The weather cooperated for a change...it was sunny all day here in Brighton! Hurray!
What a busy time it is...what with gardening, golf and exploring the Brighton area, I must say, I've been having a wonderful summer so far. Little quilting has been done but we have a full week of rain coming, starting today, so I'll be off to my sewing room to get my July block ready to applique and perhaps a few other projects will get some of my attention.
Please email me at lorraine.rabbitfactory@yahoo.ca pictures of your May and June blocks if you have them done...I would love to post them on the blog for everyone to see!
Enjoy this FREE July applique block and happy stitching! Lorraine

The Garden Show in Brighton!

2009-06-28T18:35:00.000-07:00

I know many of your out there love gardening! I went with my sister, Lorna, my daughter, Samantha and my friend Stephanie on a garden tour today in Brighton, On! Eleven wonderful gardens with so many different ideas and inspiration...some really breathtaking. Picked up a couple great ideas while there...at one garden home the "gardener" had a photo album type book with all the tags from the plants she had put in her garden (you all know that try as we may...they get lost, moved and buried over time...or as in my case...a crazy squirrel carried one up in my tree...go figure! The picture on the tag, as well as the detail, is a good thing to keep on hand, so the album becomes a great resource. She also had lovely hand drawn diagrams of all the bed layouts marked with each plant in pencil...very well planned and organized and she can erase and move plants as they grow. And guess what also caught our eyes...all the amazing ornamental items gardeners choose to put in their gardens...from sculptures, to tin frogs, and a huge variety of birdhouses! One gardener had large photographs she had taken, placed beside flowering shubs and plants that had recently bloomed but had finished before the garden show. The photos gave us an insight as to what the plants looks like in their real glory! Broken flower pots were used to cover the roots of clematis to keep them cool and moist and were also used to grow rock plants on... a good recycling tip -- adds a little interest to the display and is functional! I do hope you are all enjoying the splendor of summer.
Bye for now, Lorraine

Welcome Home Project Booklet

2009-06-21T11:19:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone! Here's a sneak preview of the "Welcome Home" project booklet that goes with Lydia's newest fabric collection. The book (complied of designs by the staff) and fabrics are available to quilt shops from Clothworks. We are considering adding Lydia's next fabric collection at our Rabbit Factory website for purchase. What do you think? I hope you'll drop us a comment with your thoughts.

The Birdhouse! What a neat place to visit!

2009-06-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

If you ever get to Wooler, Ontario you'll have to take a moment to go the Birdhouse. I couldn't resist in letting you know about this wonderful store. On my first visit a few years ago I was astonished...just as I was walking up to the door of the store...there in a tree close by were 2 woodpeckers at my eye level enjoying some suet and not the least bothered by my proximity. There was also a feeder full of yellow finches and I hadn't even made it into the store's lovely garden to see all the bird action in there! The shop owner, Connie Crowe is wonderful and she knows about every single product she sells in the store. I recently moved to Brighton, On...right near Presquile Park which is know for its huge volume of migratory birds. Little did I know what lovely birds I would have visiting in my own back yard. Needless to say, I just didn't have enough birdhouses...so a visit to the "Birdhouse" was necessary. Here's some photos I took on my last visit.

Perfect Circles!

2009-06-14T07:40:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine, Lynda Smyth, shared this idea with me and it really does make the most fantastic circles! (Lynda is the most amazing appliquer, by the way! ) Washers are readily available at the hardware store...or just perhaps in your husband's tool shed which is were I found mine! They come in a variety of sizes! Once finding the size you need, position on the wrong side of the fabric you want to use and draw a circle around it using a pigma pen. Then cut a generous 1/4" seam allowance around that circle. Using a needle and thread doubled with a good knot, baste around the circle in the 1/4" seam allowance. Lay your washer inside and gather up. Cut a long tail (be sure not to knot the end...you need to be able to remove the washer and the long tail makes it possible to undo without removing your stitching) and turn over and press with the iron. I like to add a little "Best Press" starch as well. Then gently open and remove the washer, re-gather and you will have the most perfect circle...all ready to applique. You can find some really interesting fabrics to choose for flower centers...the little printed flower works just perfect for me and I like that I can see the design on the wrong side of the fabric...it does make it easier to centre the flower with my washer. Happy Stitching, Lorraine

Isn't this just the cutest!

2009-06-09T17:33:00.000-07:00

Check out this amazing pincushion and storage box tutorial at thepaintedquilt.blogspot.com. Thanks Kaaren for sharing it!

A neat tool to help press seams open!

2009-06-08T17:23:00.000-07:00

As promised here's a glimpse of the new quilt design "Cactus Rose" in my color choice...you'll have to wait to see Lydia's version once the pattern is finished! This quilt is sewn diagonally and when you have a lot of half-square triangles meeting together, it can get a little bulky, so when sewing the rows together, we recommend pressing the seams open. I always found this a little frustrating because the iron surface is so large it often re-presses the seams that I "just ironed" in the wrong direction. Elizabeth Lake introduced me to her neat little "PRESSING BAR" and it is just wonderful! I love a good tool... this is a 1" dowel cut through the center and is 12 inches long. You just slide it under the seam you want to press open (rounded side against your quilt) and then using the tip of the iron, press the seams open. Move the pressing bar underneath the quilt as you move along the seam. The heat of the iron gets exactly where I want it and doesn't mess up all the previous seams! Once cutting the dowel you may want to sand the flat side to make it nice and smooth!
As an ending note to my posting today...I'd like to take a moment to thank Rae Ann for her assistance in helping me "the newbie" get the block of the month to download at the blog!

Freezer Paper Applique with the Shiny Side UP

2009-06-07T13:23:00.000-07:00

Here's just a quick little movie I put together to show you some tips on this month's June block. All the simple shapes can be prepared with the freezer paper shiny side up! You'll need a Clover mini iron, a Clover stiletto, and some very fine applique pins without a large head. Prepare your freezer paper templates as shown in my earlier post. Put a few pins to hold the template shiny side up pinned to the fabric, right side down. Cut out a generous 1/4" seam allowance around the template. Then using a sweeping motion, pull the fabric edge over the freezer paper and press with the mini iron. You will be "pleating" along the edge as you go to make it nice and smooth. The great thing about this method is that it really is quick once you master holding the two tools in your hands. Go ahead and pin or use Glue-dab-a-roo to position your pieces under your overlay. You can also EASILY remove the freezer paper just before you finish appliquing around the shape...the freezer paper comes out easily because there is no glue. I've been asked by students...do I really need to use a stiletto? Can't I just use my seam ripper? Well, I guess you could, but the stiletto tip is so sharp and pointy that it makes the perfect tool to pull and sweep the fabric over the edge.
Also another thing I'd like to mention is that some students have remarked how they've had difficulty with certain shapes. Take a look at the June block for the "wavy" leaf...for my sample I will use the freezer paper ironed to the back of the fabric and then use glue from a glue stick (acid free) to fold over the edge to prepare my template. This seam allowance is smaller than the 1/4" that we used for the freezer paper shiny side up method and also I will have to cut from behind and remove the paper after appliquing. I like to combine many different techniques when I applique...whatever makes it EASY! But I could have just changed the shape of the leaf if I wanted to. If a certain leaf shape is giving you difficulty...just change it! A lot of the time I guess we feel that the applique block has to be exactly the same as the pattern...well, it's just not so...it's your block, so change it up when you want to.
Talk to you soon,
Lorraine

2009-06-07T08:36:00.001-07:00

Look who I found in my backyard this morning! It's going to be a rainy day, so I'm off to the sewing room to do an alternation on a prom dress for a friend of my daughter, a little mending for my husband and then finally....time to quilt! I'm finishing off sewing the diagonal seams on a new quilt design of Lydia's and hopefully you will see pictures tommorrow! Hope you all get to do a little quilting today!
Lorraine

Another Binder Idea!

2009-06-03T15:29:00.000-07:00

I love Country Living Magazine...it never ceases to amaze me that I can find such wonderful, inspiring quilts on display in the beautiful pictures of their magazine. I started a "INSPIRATION" Binder to hold ideas for colors, pictures of quilts, how they are displayed in the home and so much more. I found that when I moved I had to purge...I'd been holding on to magazines for years and so I took the plunge and decided that I deserved to keep the really great pictures I loved and tore them out of the book. I know some of you are cringing right now. I donated them even though a few pictures were gone and I am sure they have still been loved! My "INSPIRATION" binder stays in my sewing room most times and I often refer to it to give myself ideas on how to arrange and display quilts in my home. I get inspired when I look at it and I hope you will take the time to make yourself an "INSPIRATION" binder as well! It's a good thing!

Free June Applique Block!

2009-06-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

Here's our new June Applique Block!

Download directly by clicking on the 2 pictures of the block on the right ABOVE (one contains the pattern and the other is a placement guide) or email me at lorraine.rabbitfactory@yahoo.ca for a copy! Thanks for following our blog and welcome to all the new followers! Your comments are thoughtful and well appreciated.
A number of you have asked how many blocks we have planned...so here goes, there are 12 blocks in all but some will be pieced with applique and some will be appliqued only....don't want to spoil the surprise! Dig through your scraps...this is a great opportunity to use up little pieces and the scrappier the better!
Talk to you later,
Lorraine at the Rabbit Factory

The Ruler Binder!

2009-05-25T05:58:00.000-07:00

A good thing...here's a picture of my RULER binder. I'm a real gadget girl and can't resist buying a new ruler! I created this binder so that I can keep all my smaller rulers in one place. I put them in plastic page protectors and slide both the ruler and the instructions for the ruler. No more looking around my sewing room! If your sewing room gets as busy as mine you'll appreciate finding "it" when you need "it"!

Making Overlay for May Applique Block

2009-05-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

Once all your applique pieces have been basted and bias stems have been made, it is now time to prepare your background block. Cut a 12-1/2" x 12-1/2" square and fold it in half and then half again and lightly press to crease. Because this block is repeated quarterly, pressing it into quarters will make the placement easier.
Using a page protector sheet and a fine Sharpie marker (both available from Staples) trace the block as shown. Let it dry well before putting it anywhere near your fabric...it just takes a minute but you need to make sure you don't smudge it. Now pin it to one quarter of your fabric block at the top. Take note where I put my pins. Lift the overlay to position your fabric pieces underneath. Once again I use the Fons and Porter glue stick and apply a little glue to my basted piece at the back and position under the overlay. Lay your stems down first and your flower bud and then the rest of the pieces can follow. If you make a mistake...no problem...the pieces can just be pulled off and reapplied. Once one quarter is done...re-pin the overlay to the next quarter and repeat the process. Once you are completely done pin well with Clover Applique pins. I just love these sharp little applique pins. The white head of the pin makes it easy to see. You could easily just start appliquing either by hand or machine. If you decide to hand applique I like to reposition the pins at the back of the block so my thread doesn't catch in it as I applique.
*The bonus of using the page protector sheet is that it also keeps all my stuff organized. Once the applique is done, I slide the original pattern inside with my templates in case I decide to make this block again.
If a block is much bigger than the page protector you can purchase rolls of clear overlay.

Making Bias Stems...super fast and easy!

2009-05-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

MAKING BIAS STEMS SO EASILY!
After all your pieces have been basted you are ready to prepare your bias stems. Choose a fabric that is large enough to yield the longest stem...measure the fabric on the diagonal to see if it will make the size of strip or strips you need. Lay your stem fabric on your cutting mat and line up your omnigrid ruler's 45 degree angle along the bottom edge of your fabric. Cut along the diagonal and then cut 3/4" wide strips. I then take these strips to my ironing board and spray them with my favorite starch "Best Press" and fold them into thirds. Fold 1/4" along the long side first. Then fold the other side over top...so fast and easy. Trim them to the desired length . I like to use the Fons and Porter glue stick to fold the end of the bias strip so that it is turned under at the one end that isn't tucked under anything before I start appliquing. Apply some glue and fold over...yes, it's that easy and it's ready to applique!
P.S. By the way, my ironing board cover always looks like this...this is the second one this year!

Making Applique Templates...fast and accurate!

2009-05-22T12:40:00.000-07:00

In regards to my free May applique block, I thought I'd share a few tips with you to help you speed up the process. After teaching classes for so many years, I found my students always thanked me for sharing these techniques and tips with them. Many of these ideas have arrived from trial and error! I just love making mistakes...it teaches me something every time! So here goes at my first attempt to explain some of these tips to help you save time and become more productive and organized.

Once you print off the block from my email you will need to cut 4 pieces of freezer paper about the size of block. Stack these up with the "shiny" side up. Grab a stapler and staple through just one leaf. Then cut it out. Repeat for all the leaves. This will save you time tracing and it will be more accurate creating your templates. The reason for the freezer paper stacked "shiny" side up is that I want to iron the freezer paper to the wrong side of the fabric and need to have the template a mirror image of the original. Once the freezer paper is ironed to the wrong side of the fabric I cut around it and leave a 1/4" seam allowance. Don't make your seam allowance too small for the basting method as you will have difficulty basting it.
Next prepare the templates for the flower. This time staple both the bottom and the top of the flower and cut out carefully.

Because the top part of the flower is meant to sit behind the bottom part, mark it with some "x" s to remind yourself to leave this area unturned when basting. Iron your freezer paper to the wrong side of the fabric and cut out. Remember to leave extra fabric on items that need to be "tucked" under.

The Clover Needle Threader!

2009-05-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

I just love my clover needle threader...the best thing since sliced bread as they say. As we get older our eyes are not what they used to be and this tool is really slick and it really works. I am really surprised I haven't broken it yet! I also love DMC thread for basting my applique and I use it with Applique "Sharps" by Jeanna Kimball...they are the best needles for applique basting...they penetrate the freezer paper and fabric so easily and the needle is nice and thin so it gets into thicker areas where we have folded many layers of fabric. You put your needle in upside down in the hole indicated. The threader also has a built in cutter. Lay the thread in the slot.
Press the button and you have your needle threaded.

Free May Applique Block

2009-05-20T09:33:00.001-07:00

Here is our first free Applique Block for the month of May 2009. Click on the block on the right hand side of my blog to download the pattern and the placement guide.
Enjoy and thanks for visiting our blog!
Lorraine

Four Patch with Stars

2009-05-19T21:26:00.001-07:00

Four Patch with Stars
Originally uploaded by The Rabbit Factory

Dig out your scraps to make this favorite quilt. Can you find the hidden stars? In this pattern we use a basic four-patch unit which is made into a double four-patch block, then triangles are added to the sides to complete the block. If you watch the placement of the Dark triangles, stars will "shine" across the surface of your quilt!
Pattern available at http://www.therabbitfactory.com

Beyond the Basics Sampler

2009-05-19T13:53:00.001-07:00

Beyond the Basics Sampler
Originally uploaded by The Rabbit Factory

Beyond the Basics Sampler quilt is just the quilt you need to make once you've made your first sampler. This quilt has 4 applique blocks that are all the same in the four corners that creates a great balance and 8 pieced blocks with a unique lattice sashing. Size of quilt is 67" x 82".
To purchase the pattern, go to http://www.therabbitfactory.com

Tree of Life

2009-05-19T13:42:00.001-07:00

test 087
Originally uploaded by The Rabbit Factory

Express the "joy of nature" with this delightful applique quilt that celebrates it's bounty with a variety of flowers, fruit, birds, bugs and animals. Finished size 49-1/2"x 53-1/2".
Visit http://www.therabbitfactory.com to purchase the pattern!

Blooms All Around

2009-05-19T12:58:00.001-07:00

bloomsallaround
Originally uploaded by The Rabbit Factory

A blooming appliqued border accentuates simple pieced half-square triangle blocks that are sewn together in patches. It is very easy to increase the size of this quilt as you can see by simply adding more rows and more blooms!
Pattern available at http://www.therabbitfactory.com

Flowers Forever

2009-05-19T12:28:00.001-07:00

This lovely quilt expresses "romance" all the way!
Four large applique blocks with a simple pieced
sashing and a lovely scallop board make this quilt
visually interesting. Size of quilt is 91" x 91".
Pattern available at http://www.therabbitfactory.com

flowersforever
Originally uploaded by The Rabbit Factory