Crafted Applique: New Possibilities Blog Hop!

I am happy to be able to call Lara my friend, we met through QBL when she replied to a post I had written and our friendship blossomed. She is a true friend through and through!
So when Lara asked if I would be a part of her blog hop and review her book I said yes without a moments hesitation. Thank you Lara from Buzzin' Bumble for including me in your wonderful Crafted Applique New possibilities Blog Hop and giving me a chance to review your book.

The book is FANTASTIC and the unique method will change your look on raw edge applique forever! The projects in the book are wonderful and clearly show the talent that Lara has.

Applique and I have gotten along fairly well with my favourite having been fused raw edge with a buttonhole stitch around it in invisible thread. I never could get the turned edge with starch down pat, those little points would always look weird. I took a class from Joyce O'Connell using the appliquick rods and like that method if I want a turned edge.

Once I tried Lara's method I was hooked.  Lara goes into well written details of what to use and how, she covers it all so well in her book.

Want to see a project or two?

the oh not so lovely fabric

Somehow this fabric came to be in my stash, I'm not really sure how or why, maybe I had blinders on who knows for sure. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. But there it sat every time I straightened up my stash it seemed to jump out at me, screaming use me, use me. This had to stop I needed to do something with that fabric. I thought hmmm this piece would work to cut applique pieces from, so as you can see I have indeed cut into it.

alpha pin case

This project was so quick, once the prep work was done which really doesn't take long. I cut that cute little butterfly and the flower out. Followed Lara's excellent directions to fuse them down and then just straight stitched the applique pieces down using rayon thread, added some thread painting details on the flower.  I love the sheen that rayon thread gives. Now I have the perfect place to keep my alpha pins you can read about how I made them here. No fabric was harmed, it was only enhanced and I do say is much better for it.

Alpha pins all neat and tidy in there lovely new needle case

Next up was this little wall hanging. It is 9 1/2'' by 12''.

mini wall hanging

 The flowers are just a whimsical flower I designed and the dragonfly and butterfly are from that oh not so lovely fabric. I just straight stitched around the flower petals and added some thread painting to the dragonfly again using rayon thread. I may have gotten a little carried away with the thread work, but the applique is so easy to sew through and never gums up your needle! Even the long skinny pieces didn't fray. I love this new method of applique.

straight stitched even the skinny little stems

the back

I wish I could tell you her method so you can jump in and try it, BUT I'm sworn to secrecy so if you want to know what her method is you'll have to get a copy of her book. You can win a copy as Lara has generously offered to give a book to one of my readers just make sure to comment below.  Or you can get a copy for yourself at Amazon ( not an affiliate link) or AQS or from Lara herself.

I have more crafted applique in the works. This is one of the borders on a quilt I'm currently working on. I haven't started quilting it yet.

applique border

I also used the Crafted Applique method on my new machine cover, you can read about that here. Yeah I'd say I'm hooked maybe even a little bit addicted, but I love the look and no fraying at all.

Did you see her retro telephone project? Wowers, love it!!

Now for a chance to win a copy for yourself, leave a comment any comment is fine. If you need a topic you can tell me do you like applique. My followers get another chance just tell me how you follow.
I will draw a winner on May 29th , 2016.