Dogwood Class #2 Fusing, Layering and Backgrounds

I am SO glad you joined me for Dogwood Class #2. This video is going to cover a lot and is 45 minutes with resting spots along the way.  In this video, I will cover:   

• How to fuse large pieces of fabric (like color A in this pattern)  
• Which pieces to cut out first   
• How the layout guide works     
• Adding the lining pieces to color A     
• How to use parchment paper sheets       
• Working with the first layer
• How to choose a background fabric

There is homework for next week, which is to fuse and cut out all your fabric pieces. I discovered a new way to organize all those cut pieces, which I like better than putting pieces in a little baggie. I saw the idea on the Fat Quarter Shop.  Designer Lori Holt made these little design boards covered in batting that hold your appliques while you are working on them.  I also found that they hold my cut fused pieces until I am ready to use them and I can stack them on top of each other so they take up less space while I'm working.

At the Fat Quarter Shop, they have a video on how to make these out of foam core board. I did not have foam core, but I did have lots of cardboard boxes.  

I cut my firm cardboard, my batting, and one piece of fabric all 12” x 12”.  Then I put Steam-A-Seam 2 on the back of the batting and the back of the fabric.  Next, I ironed them, peeled off the release paper, and put the sticky side of the batting on one side of the cardboard and the fabric on the other side and ironed them onto the cardboard.  I then made 2 ¼ inch binding and hot glued it around the edges of the exposed cardboard.  Or you can just buy one pre-made for $12 from the Fat Quarter Shop - they come is all sizes and colors.

I organized the boards by letter - 3 letters (colors) to a board. I put all my red hearts on one board and put that board on the top of the stack. This is going to help me find pieces when we do next week’s class.

Next week,  class #3, we will finish laying all the Dogwood flower pieces down and get it ready for Renegade Thread Play in week #4. 

I hope you are having fun doing this project.  If you have any questions, you can email me at melindabuladesigns@comcast.net or leave a comment below.

If you need supplies, kits, or patterns, you can find them at my Etsy shop - click on the link above this post on the gray bar.

Dogwood class #1 Learning the Pattern

I deleted the first Dogwood class. How and why dont even ask me. 

What can I say but HELP!

So here it video #1 to help get you ready for making the Dogwood quilt or any of my pattern i have.

I want you to feel confident and be successful and maybe learn some new tricks.

You can find supply and patterns on my Etsy shop plus I have fabric kit and fusible web. 

etsy.com/shop/melindabuladesings

Sticky Scissors No More by Melinda Bula

Melinda Bula's Video #1- Using Steam-A-Seam 2

Summer Dogwood

Its been a crazy spring at my house. We are getting ready to sell our house which means packing up your item to stage your house like you don't really live there. I understand the process but when you work and run a business out of that house it get real tricky.  When I need to find all the things I just hid from the people who are on there way over to look at your home, I get a little crazy.
If we sell this house I will be surprised for sure. But we are trying.

In all the commotion I have not been blogging, so sorry for that.  I do have some new videos to show you.   The first is a video that I created is of the building process of my Dogwood flower pattern. My patterns are different than other designers.  So I like to give you more visuals to help you create or just purely entertain you for a moment.
The song is by Darius Ranker and its called Wagon Wheel. I made this video back in December. Enjoy!

Today someone emailed me that forgot to write in the pattern how to do the seeds in the center of the flower.  So here it is. I put the seeds on the flowers, last. So here is the video and the instruction for the flower seeds below.

1.  Fuse your U fabric. 
2. Trace 3-4 seed shape from the large lay out guide.
3. Fold you U fabric in half and pin the traced seed pattern onto the fabric and cut out the 4 shapes out. because the fabric is folded you will have 8 seed shapes. do this again until you have the desired amount.
4.  Now arrange like the photo shows.  
5. Press in place.