In February I joined the Stash Bee, hosted by Sunni from Love Affair with my Brother ~ my first quilting bee ever! Our bee leader this month has requested tree blocks. I racked my brain for several days trying to think of something different and thought I had a brilliant idea. I had visions of circle leaves with the centers cut out. So, I cut out lots of little circles and then cut out the centers. Originally, I wanted to interlock the circles but that did not work. I was just not happy with the tree.
I’m really not sure what I was thinking with this design. Some ideas are better off left in my head. How in the world did I plan on stitching around that layered mess of circles?
Am I the only one that always ends up with a sticky mess when I appliqué? I had steam a seam stuck to everything: my iron, the ironing board cover, the fabric. I’m sure you get the picture. I actually had to stop so I could clean my iron and wash the ironing board cover. And yes, I was using an appliqué pressing sheet. I had sticky stuff all over it too! I think I’m just impaired when it comes to appliqué.
I cleaned up my mess and went back to the drawing board. I did a little surfing for some inspiration and I’m pretty happy with tree number 2.
I made a swirly trunk out of Moda Bella Solids ~ Steel and used up some pink and orange scraps for the leaves. I didn’t cut perfect circles. I wanted them to be free form circles. I top stitched the pink leaves with orange thread and the orange leaves with pink thread.
very nice blocks….I was going to suggest the Accu cutter for you circles..much faster; but you didn’t want perfect circles…that I understand for this…great job!
I love the reject tree it is great.
aww, they are both cute, the circles with holes, could you just do a straight stitch down the middle on the circle or rather around in the circle on each one, don’t know how much that would tak
I like both of them! How about just doing a straight line quilting on the first one….tight lines to hold it. Since the circles are on the bias they won’t fray much. I did that on a mug rug.
I like both of them, too. Sorry you had to go to all that work on the first one. It looks really involved.
They both look great!
Wow! Both trees are awesome.
I love them both! I have to say you are so brave to do all those circles!!!! but they look great!!
I absolutely adore tree number 2!
I love both your trees and your inspired use of circles. Very nicely done.
(SimplyMissLuella)
I like both trees but I think the
2nd one is best. Cute colors too.
Great work on the trees! Really loving the swirly trunk on the second one. Just lovely!
where did you find the azure for it? I can’t find it anywhere ;(