Wednesday, July 08, 2009

UFOs, Roswell and Area 51





I brought this cute little project to work on while I am in Arizona. It is the cover project from the book, Remembering Adelia, by Kathleen Tracy.  Such darling projects in this book! I wanted a project to work on by hand, so this one fit the bill. I haven't done any applique for a while so began the preparation by tracing the leaf shape onto freezer paper. I cut out about 10 leaves and pressed them onto the wrong side of the fabric. So far so good. I cut out each shape, leaving a seam allowance. Then I glued the edges over the paper using a glue stick. Whoops. Did I say I glued the edges down? Why yes I did. Wasn't I supposed to starch the edges over? Well, yes I was. Oh no! 
Well, by the time I realized my error I had already sewn several little leaf shapes down. I admit, I wondered why I was having so much trouble forcing the needle through the fabric. Duh!  I soaked each little block in water and gently managed to pull the paper from the slit in the back, and all is well. This does not count as a UFO as I am still working on it!

Now I am backtracking to my Atlanta trip because I haven't mentioned going to one of my very favorite quilt shops:  LITTLE QUILTS!  I have been a Little Quilts fan for years and years, long before they opened the shop. Since my daughter moved to Atlanta I have had the opportunity to visit the shop a few times (actually three). My daughter is unacquainted with the Marietta area, where the shop is located, so we called for directions. Mary Ellen VonHolt, the shop owner, answered and gave Jennie directions. "Look for the Big Chicken on the corner of Roswell Road", she said. We drove back and forth down Marietta Road and somehow we missed seeing the big chicken! I think I was not looking high enough in the air! Seriously, with Roswell on my mind, I felt like we were searching for the illusive Area 51, of UFO fame, which I thought was rather humorous considering how many UFOs I have. Are you getting all this? 

Finally, the Big Chicken hovered over us, so to speak. We turned down Roswell and clapped our hands at the sight of Little Quilts!


So we made it! Of course the shop is wonderful. We arranged to go on a day that Karen was working, so we met again and went to eat together when she was done with work. It was fun to see Karen's own little quilts displayed at the shop along with her patterns! Also, my Williamsburg Medallion pattern that Karen made was displayed right by the front door! 

So that is my final adventure in Atlanta!  Come back again for news from the burning sands of Arizona!

[Marcie_Signature.jpg]

15 comments:

Janet said...

I love your new applique project!! I spied that book a couple of weeks ago at my fav quilt shop and couldn't resist buying it. I sure enjoyed reading the diary exerpts. There a number of little quilts in it I would like to make. That is quite the chicken! How fun to see your pattern displayed at Little Quilts!!

Elin said...

I'm sure this shop is fantastic! As for the book, I have it already, and I love it. I wonder if it would be an idea to put togheter the fourpatches before adding the applique? I want to make this one too some day!

Janet said...

That's a sweet wee quilt pattern. What a treat to go to little quilts.

sewprimitive karen said...

Hi, Marcie, the Remembering Adelia quilt will be so much fun to make. Sorry about that glue thing :-). Good thing that Big Chicken doesn't bite when you drive by it. Glad you finally found the shop, it's a beaut all right.

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

I can't stop laughing, only because I would have undoubtedly driven past that blasted chicken over and over again myself! ha!! That's just the way I am, I'm with ya on the whole Roswell/UFO business, too. ;) I love the Adelia blocks, glad you've abandoned the glue stick. What if you flipped the FP over and just pressed down the edges to the shiny side?

Julie-Ann said...

Gosh! I was laughing so hard when reading your post. My nephew lives in Marietta, not too far from the big chicken. It is used for directions all of the time. Kind of like "turn left at the Waffle House" which is a joke as there are Waffle Houses just about on every corner in Atlanta!

I love your project. I can't wait to get down to Atlanta again and check out all of the shop recommendations. Thank goodness for my GPS and big chickens!

Karen said...

Now where did Area 54 come into this?

Litamora's Quilt & Design said...

That quilt will look just gorgeous! I love that pattern! This one i have to get!
Thanks for the inspiration!
I have some reproduction fabrics, and I'm looking for pattern for them, and I think this one would look so good!
Happy sewing,
Laila

julieQ said...

Oh, I have been eyeing that book at the quilt store...I love that quilt!! Very nice start.

ForestJane said...

Roswell!

Sounds like fun... maybe you can find an alien to give a quilt to. :)

Love the buggy barn quilt in your last post, I like their patterns too.

Christine said...

I just bought the same book this week. I think it will be a great hand project. I haven't done any applique in awhile either. Maybe I'll brush up on the technique before I start. :)

I giant chicken is too funny.

Libby said...

Took me a long time to recognize the chicken *s*

Love your applique. I think some folks glue, slit and soak as a their regular applique method - you knew what you were doing all along *s*

Unknown said...

L:ucky you to get to the Little Quilt shop. Way back when I was making a lot of minis and loves their patterns. Enjoy you visit to Arizonia, You seem to go in the summer. Guess it isn;t hot emough for you along the Atlantic.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm... No wonder you were lost. Roswell in in New Mexico and Area 51 is in Nevada just down the road from me. I do get the Roswell/Area 51 connection though. :o)

~Erin

Wendy said...

I have that book and have been wanting to make something from it, the trouble is there are so many I love in the book. I'm glad you started the applique, I look forward to your progress, don't worry about the goof, it will be a fun memory of that quilt.
What a funny story about the chicken, I'd love to visit that store.