When Carla posted about this blog hop I jumped right on it, as I already had a black and white project in the works (since June 2018)
Back in June I was playing in EQ and came up with this design with hexagons that’s mean to use a charm pack!
I had bought a black and white 5” square pack from connecting threads
and using the 1” paper piecing hexagon die by Accuquilt, I was able to cut out the fabrics and cardstock pieces too! (though I did have a bunch of old pieces already)
I was able to cut 3 from each 5” square
As you may know, English Paper piecing takes a long time, but for this it didn’t take THAT long as it was a small project.
Here is the top all done and with a black border.
It measures 12” x 20” so small but cute
I decided to use a black and white variegated thread and I used my regular sewing machine and walking foot and just did straight lines
after it was done it HIT me that Coats and Clark had sent me these metallic threads to play with and my original plan was to use the silver on this quilt and to even try it on my long arm, but I forgot! OOPS
Have any of you tried these threads?
So I felt bad about not using these threads and then I started thinking about doing a small project where I could use these threads
I had an idea about a black bird on white with silver thread tree branches.
I found this white scrap that was about 7 x 9” I think and I prepped a scrap of black fabric with steam a seam lite2 and cut out this bird with my GO cutter and the bird die
I also found a white scrap for the backing and a scrap of batting to fit
Then with a frixion pen I loosely sketched out how I wanted the tree branch to look
and with the silver Coats thread on top and white on the bobbin I free motion stitched the branches, I went back and forth several times to see if I wanted it thicker or not and the sloppier the better!
It was a tiny bit bunched up when I was done so I should have used a stabilizer on the back, but lesson learned and for such a small piece and with a big bird on top it would be fine, and after pressing with a hot iron it helped a lot too!
here’s a close up of the branches
Then I stitched down the bird in black thread, again with a sloppy double or triple line and then I added a grey binding, just because I felt like it.
Notice how the bird is NOT centered!? I deliberately tried NOT to have it centered, because THEY say that a focal point should be a third up or down on the picture, and diagonal lines are great too.
well now the birdie is hanging over the thermostat upstairs near the kids’ rooms, I guess it’s checking that the temperature is right?!
Thanks to Carla for hosting a great swap!
Here’s the list of other participants
Monday, January 21st
Just Let Me Quilt
Needled Mom
Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Life in Scrapatch
QuiltFabrication
Scrapdash
Bumbleberry Stitches
keepsake moments
Vroomans Quilts
Tuesday, January 22nd
MooseStash Quilting
SewFreshQuilts
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Quilts by Joanne
PamelaQuilts
That Fabric Feeling
Songbird Designs
Two Maker Chicks
Wednesday, January 23
Selina Quilts
Beaquilter (me)
Quilt in a not-Shell
Patchwork Breeze
Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Kathleen McMusing
Cynthia’s Creating Ark
Everyone Deserves a Quilt
Homespun Hannah’s Blog
Thursday, January 24
Quiltscapes
Seams to be Sew
Storied Quilts
Kathy’s Kwilts and More
Ms P Designs USA
Den syende himmel
Melva Loves Scraps
Creatin’ in the Sticks
Both cute projects. I really love that little bird.
Very very nice…The bird was so cute. .tytyty for sharing your talents with us… happyness04431@yahoo.com
Small projects make for quick satisfaction, both are very cute. Love that new thread.
Both your projects are really great! I love EPP and seem to do it with hexagons mostly. Your bird project is so pretty.
Very cute projects, black and white is so striking together!
Nice work. Maybe small projects in size but there’s a lot of detail in both. And I do love the thread.
Both projects are great. You can cut cardstock with the Accuquilt??
Two wonderful quilts – but I must ask how do you get so much done? You are amazing. I saw one very similar to that bird at the museum yesterday; this felt serendiptious.
English paper piecing was my first love when I started quilting. What a pretty hexagon piece. Your little birdie is super cute, too. Thank you, Bea, for joining the B&W hop. Such a unique post to read.
I enjoyed seeing how you approached creating the branch with the specialty threads in the stitching. Thnaks
That little bird is so cute and using the silver thread was a great idea. The hexagons look really pretty in black and white!
Your black and white hexies look so nice and that little bird is so sweet. I love the idea of using the metallic threads for the branch.
Both your projects are wonderful. I love the branches. And I think the little bit of bunching is a wonderful addition. Thanks for sharing and for inspiring. quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net
Both projects are great. Nicely done.
Love the quilting on your hexie quilt. I don't have the patience for hand stitching myself, so it's nice to admire it from afar! LOL!! That little birdie is just too cute. Nice to know that the metallics run thru the long arm nicely. I love using them in my domestic machine for free motion quilting.
Both projects are so cute, Bea. I haven't tried EPP but this may be the year to start!
You always come up with cute stuff! Your line quilting is so perfect.
Nice projects – I especially like your little bird!
Ah, I just finished a hexagon quilt top in low volume plaids. Waiting for the UFO Challenge hop to post the linkup at month's end.
Love your little quilt and your little birdie!
Congrats in completing not one, but TWO projects for the Black and White Blog Hop!!
I really like both of your projects but have to admit to liking the bird the best. Just something about it really speaks to me….maybe because I love birds? 😉 Thanks so much for sharing.
Cute projects.
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I like both projects, but LOVE the bird. I have not used that thread, but think it would work well for many of my projects. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Just lovely! You're also ahead of the next hop for something with wings!! Well done!
love everything you do
Very cute projects, Bea! Thanks for sharing!
A lovely hexagon quilt, and that little birdie is soooo cute.
Wow, I absolutely love that little bird!!!! The stitched branch is genius. Beautiful!
I do love your Hexies but I'm swooning over the bird on the branch. So sweet.
Great mini quilts!!! I especially love how you used the metallic thread for the branch! AWESOME!!!
Bea, I love your EPP project. I have yet to give one a try. Everyone who posts an EpP project does a super job and I am encouraged by each one. They all look fantastic. I don't know if there are those who don't do well and just don't post them, or not? I love the bird and your creativity on the branches. I had never heard the rules of thumb about placement for an object. That's great to know. I love that the bird is checking the temperature over the children. My "baby" was just home for the first time in 2 1/2 years and I could have used a bird to check on her. It was a short visit and nice to see her. She took Friday off from teaching and then had Monday off, so it was a very short trip. She thought she needed to come check on Mom. Thanks for sharing all your cute projects.Susan
You may have nudged me closer to buying a die cutter…and that birdie is ADORABLE and looks happy in its new home on the wall guarding the thermostat.
Love both projects Bea, but especially the birdie ….. he’s so cute!Barbara x
Seeing those hexies and finding out there is a cutter. I am putting that on my wish list to go with my Go! Cutter, thanks for sharing your lovely projects!
Great projects! I love the thread art with the birdie. Sweet. Thanks for sharing!
I like your work. The vision turned into a bird on a branch is great. I have used metallic thread. Following suggestions on making it successful helped. I like that B & W hexy quilt. pretty.
I love black and white quilts! Your Hexie piece is sweet and your bird is awesome! Great work! Thanks for being a hop stop.Carol Andrewshttps://quiltschmilt.wordpress.com/
Bea, your projects are gorgeous! I like the bird's branch stitched out in metallic thread. AccuQuilt dies are the best. I hadn't seen the new hexagon die, but wow, what a time saver to be able to cut out multiples of both the foundations and the fabrics.
I love both projects Bea. I'll never have the patience to do an EPP project, but I really love them. Perhaps one day someone will gift me one. 🙂 The bird on the branch with the new thread is also lovely. I do wish I could see the metallic thread a little bit more, but the branches are obvious also.
Love both of your projects! I've also been dying to try that metallic thread, but my previous experience with metallic thread made me say some naughty words out of frustration when the thread kept shredding and breaking every few inches. Perhaps next time will be better. . .
Love the little birdie! So cute!
Love both of your projects. Octagons and birds are some of my favorites. The little bird on a branch is so sweet.