Month 1 -- Ask Questions Here

[Jane P.]

Does anyone know why I was unable to get Barbara's Live Class on Facebook on my MacBook Air. I was late to class because I waited and then finally went to my old computer and found the class. Thanks for any information.

[Orysia W.]

Just watched the LIVE. Thank you Barbara for all you do. Didn't know how to ask my question during the LIVE so doing it here. As a quilter I consider myself to be a technician, strive for accuracy and love doing intricate work. Picking fabrics is not my forte. I purchased the BOM kit for that reason and find myself struggling to pick the fabrics for the different elements as many are very different from Irene's, which I was aware of before we began. Would you have any suggestions to reduce the stress of this process?

[Ellen L.]

I feel your pain. This is more free form that some of the previous BOM's. Think of this as flower arranging. How would you like this bouquet to look? Choose something you like for each flower that will give you a pleasing bouquet. Find a fabric you really like for the vase. That might be your focal point for the month. Find a good color for the stems and leaves. Then what flowers would look good with those stems? They don't have to look realistic, just pleasing to you. Once you've got your bouquet done, you could use those same fabrics for the diamond border for this month. I just sat down this morning and took a deep breath and made one daisy. It's a blue background with little strawberries. (not from the kit, I put together a bunch of fabrics from my LQS, although I can already see that I'll be pulling little bits and pieces from my stash, and from leftovers of previous BOMs.) You've only got to concentrate on this bouquet right now. Post a pic when you're done! I've got one daisy sewn on and I'll be travelling for the next two weeks. I hope to see your beautiful bouquet when I come home.

[Suzanne C.]

I struggle with that too. I can see a colour in my mind but can’t find it in my stash lol. I have been cutting out different colours for the shapes and then auditioning each one to see which feels good. After I don’t like any of them I just say heck with it and pick one

[Barbara B.]

[QUOTE=owasyleczko;n890868]Just watched the LIVE. Thank you Barbara for all you do. Didn't know how to ask my question during the LIVE so doing it here. As a quilter I consider myself to be a technician, strive for accuracy and love doing intricate work. Picking fabrics is not my forte. I purchased the BOM kit for that reason and find myself struggling to pick the fabrics for the different elements as many are very different from Irene's, which I was aware of before we began. Would you have any suggestions to reduce the stress of this process? [/QUOTE]

Breathe. Don't overthink it. Look at the close up photos of Irene's quilt--there will be more each month--and try to see what you like in the kit that resembles hers. I keep adding some of my own favorites in.

[Kathi B.]

Barbara, did you know your Take 2 Sampler is on display at the Texas Quilt Museum? Come see us!

[Elizabeth A.]

Good show today …. I’m getting ready to make my circles. I’ll watch the Karen Buckley for help. Have I missed what size the corner block is for the saw tooth border? Waiting on my new light box to put it all together. Thank you for making the border template

[Barbara B.]

[QUOTE=LizAnderson;n890875]Good show today …. I’m getting ready to make my circles. I’ll watch the Karen Buckley for help. Have I missed what size the corner block is for the saw tooth border? Waiting on my new light box to put it all together. Thank you for making the border template[/QUOTE]

Yes, the pattern for Border 1 says to cut 4 squares of background 3".

[Barbara C.]

It would be helpful to know the cut sizes of the background fabric for the appliqued vases so I don't end up not having big enough pieces for them. Is that possible?

[Barbara B.]

[QUOTE=drapelady;n890882]It would be helpful to know the cut sizes of the background fabric for the appliqued vases so I don't end up not having big enough pieces for them. Is that possible?[/QUOTE]

You will be safe with 14" (H) x 15" (W) until we get to Months 10 and 11. There are four vases that have backgrounds cut 16" x 8" in Months 10 and 11.

[Barbara B.]

[QUOTE=kathib;n890873]Barbara, did you know your Take 2 Sampler is on display at the Texas Quilt Museum? Come see us! [/QUOTE]

NO, I didn't know that! Thank you. I would love to come see it there--I have been to the Texas Quilt Museum twice and will come by again. Just need to find a guild/shop in Central Texas that wants me to come teach--always open to a Texas visit.

[Delores F.]

Just want to say I used the Karen Kay Buckley perfect stem makers for the 1/8” stem and had a great result. I used the blind hem foot on my Janome and moved the needle to get really close to the rod. Don’t be afraid; go for it!

[Helen W.]

[QUOTE=owasyleczko;n890868]Just watched the LIVE. Thank you Barbara for all you do. Didn't know how to ask my question during the LIVE so doing it here. As a quilter I consider myself to be a technician, strive for accuracy and love doing intricate work. Picking fabrics is not my forte. I purchased the BOM kit for that reason and find myself struggling to pick the fabrics for the different elements as many are very different from Irene's, which I was aware of before we began. Would you have any suggestions to reduce the stress of this process? [/QUOTE]

Orysia, Be sure to read Barbara Vase tip for cutting out the shape and auditioning it on a fabrics til you see one that looks good. You window out
a shape of a flower and move it to different fabrics until you see one you really like. Ellen's suggest was excellent too. HelenW

[Orysia W.]

[QUOTE=HelenW;n890958]

Orysia, Be sure to read Barbara Vase tip for cutting out the shape and auditioning it on a fabrics til you see one that looks good. You window out
a shape of a flower and move it to different fabrics until you see one you really like. Ellen's suggest was excellent too. HelenW[/QUOTE]

Thank you to you and Ellen for your encouraging words. Working away and as Barbara said, BREATHE. Still working on preparing pieces, will post a picture once assembled on the background.

[Orysia W.]

[QUOTE=ellenceleste;n890940]I feel your pain. This is more free form that some of the previous BOM's. Think of this as flower arranging. How would you like this bouquet to look? Choose something you like for each flower that will give you a pleasing bouquet. Find a fabric you really like for the vase. That might be your focal point for the month. Find a good color for the stems and leaves. Then what flowers would look good with those stems? They don't have to look realistic, just pleasing to you. Once you've got your bouquet done, you could use those same fabrics for the diamond border for this month. I just sat down this morning and took a deep breath and made one daisy. It's a blue background with little strawberries. (not from the kit, I put together a bunch of fabrics from my LQS, although I can already see that I'll be pulling little bits and pieces from my stash, and from leftovers of previous BOMs.) You've only got to concentrate on this bouquet right now. Post a pic when you're done! I've got one daisy sewn on and I'll be travelling for the next two weeks. I hope to see your beautiful bouquet when I come home.[/QUOTE]


thank you Ellen for your suggestions. Adding to the kit fabrics from my stash has helped. Safe travels.

[Loretta A.]

Hello Barbara, I just watched a utube video on the sasher tool. It has a 1/8” size and can make the flower stems. Check it out.

[marilyn s.]

Barbara you mentioned someone in your group used pearls 8 thread to make the for the stems will all the berries. I found a pic some place but now can’t find it
so how many strands. ? It looks like 2 rows of embroidery stitch but I can tell what stitch they used. Thank you