Something Pretty : :

Being creative and making art fills me with peace and hope, and certainly so much comfort and love. After the kids are off to school, that is how I move forward, every single day. It's a blessing I will never take for granted, and the same goes for this amazing community that brings us altogether. Peace, hope and love on any day are beautiful feelings, I think we can all agree on that. So today I'm excited to share my finished Garden Dreamer embroidered pillow. It's one of the prettiest things I've ever made and has me so eager for this collection, which I hear should be arriving any day!



This project began with a blank canvas piece of AGF's new Soft Sand Linen. I enlarged and printed out both the peony sketches and the bumble bee that became two of my new Garden Dreamer prints, Sprinkled Peonies and Bumble Beez. Using a combination of applique and machine & hand embroidery I created a little piece of Garden Dreamer fabric.



For the peonies I mostly used the sweetly colored Solid Smooth Denim in Nectarine Sunrise, using both the right and wrong side of the fabric. The slight color variation from front to back is just enough contrast to recreate the look and faint coloration of my Sprinkled Peonies in Fresh. For the stitching I used a combination of Aurifil threads and a couple of different stitches. I love the texture and style of this raw edge applique, it's so, so pretty!





I first stitched out my bee with just my Janome sewing machine and Aurifil 50wt, using the straight stitch to draw it out and the satin stitch set at different widths to fill my bumble bee in with color. Once finished it looked a little too flat so I added a layer of hand stitching with a heavier embroidery floss and it made all the difference! I can't wait to use my Bumble Beez and Bumble Buzz prints for more hand embroidery projects!



The pillow top was finished with a narrow border of Solid Smooth denim and patchwork, and for the backing and binding I used more of AGF's heavier weight denims.





I recently started using the logo part of selvage from my fabrics as tags, something I've never added to the things I make. Silly, I know! But I thought I'd share a little peek of how that looks.



Wishing all of you wonderful, creative people love, hope and peace today and always! ♡ Maureen

A Dragonfly Stitched Pillow : :

In addition to the Aurifil Stitched Owl pillow I made for next month's Quilt Market show where I'll present my newest fabric collection, Nightfall, I stitched up a second pillow, this time to illustrate my Nox Iridescence dragonfly print!



Just as I created the owl, I used my new Bohemian Garden Aurifil Thread set, choosing colors similar to those in the Moonset colorway of my dragonflies print, Nox Iridescence in Dim.

I actually sewed this pillow top together a few weeks back, before I had even received my strike offs. I used my Quick Quilt As You Go Craftsy class technique to make the pillow top, using a combination of Pure Element solids in Cabernet, Patina Green, and Nocturnal, Solid Smooth Denims in Frosted Sage and Infused Hydrangea, & Soft Sand Linen. For a little extra decoration I added some of the beautiful lace trims I had leftover from my Fall Quilt Market sample making and I top-stitched a few twists of recycled sari silk I had purchased years ago from Anthropologie that have been laying around the sewing room. I love the soft & tattered tassel look!



My plan was to use it to feature my Moon Stories ~ bunny & moon main print in some way, but last week when I decided to "sketch stitch" my Nightfall dragonfly, there my pillow top was hanging & waiting, looking too perfect not to use!



I started by stitching out a large version of the basic dragonfly sketch I created for my Nox Iridecence print, using a dark navy 50wt Aurifil. Once the dragonfly outline was all stitched out, I simple added in layers of additional stitching, changing thread colors and playing with a combination of straight, satin, and decorative machine stitches. It's a lot of fun, just like coloring with Aurifil thread & my Janome sewing machine!

To finish my pillow I used more AGF denim ~ Soft Smooth Wicked Sky for the binding and a large striping of Solid Textured heavy weight in Scarlet Brick & Evergreen Slate for an extra sturdy pillow back!



This 14" x 28" pillow size has become my absolute favorite! There's an ever-growing stack in my sewing room that I hope to offer in a pillow & quilt sale sometime soon!



Hoping to be back with a new photographed quilt to share soon! Unit then... ♡ Maureen

A Little Peek : :

Last week when a delivery of assorted AGF Denims showed up at my door, I knew right away that they'd be perfect to stitch on using my new Aurifil for AGF thread collection, Bohemian Garden. The box of denim included a variety of weights, some 100% cotton, some a cotton/poly mix, along with a beautiful cotton/linen blend!



For my new "sketch stitch" project I pulled from the bundle the lighter tone denims in Infused Hydrangea, Frosted Sage, Adobe Clay, Nectarine Sunrise, plus the Soft Sand Linen. I finally ordered myself the new Olfa Rotary Cutter I've been admiring at Lady Belle Fabrics, I LOVE the aqua blue, and it came just in time! I'm embarrassed to admit how long it's been since I invested in a rotary cutter upgrade. What a difference, it sliced through all five layers of fabric at once!



Using the Herringbone QAYG method I teach in my Quick Quilt As You Go Craftsy class, I made myself a pillow top "canvas" to stitch on! My hope was that by having a defined center it would help to keep symmetry as I stitched away, all while adding to my design.



Using the colorful spools of Aurifil included in my Bohemian Garden thread collection, I started thread sketching! The combination of the 50 weight threads and the quality of denim & linen fabrics was even better than I imagined it would be. Sometimes I run into puckering issues when I stitch on regular quilting cotton, but this denim is just sturdy enough, while still being super soft, that it worked so perfectly!



Here's a peek of the little owl I stitched!



It's my own way of giving you a tiny hint about my new Spring collection! This afternoon Art Gallery Fabrics and I (instagram.com/maureencracknell) will be sharing a little bit more on our Instagram's, so be sure to stop by to tell us what you think of my collection name & theme! I'm so excited about this one!!

While you're there, be sure to enter my Giveaway right HERE, for the small spool Bohemian Garden thread collection that I'm giving away in celebration of my recent Fleet & Flourish fabrics Blog Tour & the reveal of my new Spring collection!



♡ Maureen  

A New Dreamcatcher Pillow : :

With the welcoming of Fall came a stretch of rainy overcast days, with dark and cozy mornings perfect for all the sewing I've been doing, but not so great for picture-taking. I've been trying to share little snippets of all the things I've been making for Quilt Market, taking just quick iPhone snaps for Instagram and Facebook.



But since I've never been a fan of reposting Instagram photos into the blog, I best get my act together and start taking good photos before sundown, rather than hoping to each morning before I post. Starting today!

This next pillow features a "sketch stitching" I recently did of the dreamcatcher motif found in my Fleet & Flourish Gentle Mantle print. It must be preparing for Quilt Market, the excitement of releasing a new fabric collection, or a combination of both, that brings this kind of creativity out of me. Just like last year, recreating my favorite designs with fabrics and colorful stitching is at the top of my to-make list!





To begin I simply traced a plate with a Hera Tool, marking a center circle onto a new AGF solid in Turmeric basted to a layer of cotton batting. With black Autifil thread I traced the circle and from there stitched out the rest of my drawing, before adding in the rest of the colors, decorative stitching, and details. This kind of embroidery is all freeform and is all about fun! Although I had my original dreamcatcher sketch close by to reference, it's not exact, and that's good. I love having the freedom to make little changes as I sew!









The theme of Fleet & Flourish and my Quilt Market space is Romantic Bohemian. To me that means lots of layers and textures, colors and prints, lace and embroidery. I hope this pillow represents that well!





I'll be back soon with more Fleet & Flourish finishes! Thanks for stopping by!! ♡ Maureen

A Scrappy Arrow Stitched Pillowcase : :

It's been a couple of years now since I've made a pillowcase. I've made them for a pillowcase drive and with a friend, but never have I made any for our very own beds. This morning I pulled this Arrow Sketch Stitch patchwork from my work in progress basket and decided to turn it into a first quilted pillowcase for US!



A quick glance at the Pretty Quick Pillowcase Tutorial with French seam instructions that I've always used for pillowcase-making and I felt confident turning my abandoned patchwork into something fun and useful!

I used some leftover Folk Plaid binding for the trim, easy & perfect!



I found just the right piece of a Honey Pure Element solid in my scrap bin to use for the cuff. The French seams really make a perfect pillowcase finish inside and out!



I love these colors & fabric prints so much together and my Aurifil thread arrow sketch, with all the Janome built-in stitch details, really makes it special!!



Haila approves, hooray!



♥ Maureen

Arrow Stitching : :

For the past few weeks I've been working on my plan for a new Sketch Stitch quilt. I shared the fabrics I'll be using a few weeks back, my Wild & Free collection with Wanderer and Indie, two of my very favorites! Since I haven't done much of this "freehand machine embroidery" since the Fall and because I can't seem to decide on all the details, I thought it would be best to practice a little before diving in.

I started with this gorgeous Spring inspired fabric pull...



Building simple patchwork blocks in aqua, peaches & cream, and my Folk Plaid blue, a current favorite color palette!





Next I gathered up a few spools of Aurifil in coordinating colors and I started stitching up my first arrow. I love arrows, they're so much fun to draw and stitch, and are such a perfect motif to add in layers of stitched patterns!



With these beautiful threads, using a few of the built-in stitches on my Janome, in no time at all I finished my arrow and finally decided on a border plan for that Sketch Stitch quilt!



Here you can see close up of a few of my most favorite stitches to use -- A wide straight satin stitch for pops of color, a vertical triangle satin stitch for a wonderful graphic detail, and an Heirloom triangle stitch to emulate my arrowhead design.





I love how just a few simple stitches can create such a beautiful picture and remind me of how much I enjoy this kind of stitch work! Thanks for stopping to see my ➳ arrow stitching ➳ today, I'll have more to share soon! ♡ Maureen

A Sketch Stitch Quilt Plan : :

This week I plan to begin work on a brand new "sketch stitch" quilt and I'm so excited! Here's a reminder of the first one, An Applique Art Quilt!



This time my plan is to create a throw size quilt-as-you-go quilt, using this block style method, one of my most popular tutorials! I plan to include lots of "sketch stitch" elements to showoff both how creative one can be with this type of "freehand" embroidery and with all the amazing built-in stitches that my Janome sewing machine offers!











I recently had a nice chat with one of the education supervisors at Janome and signed on to create this quilt project to send in to have on display at the Janome education center, as a way to share this type of unique, creative work that's made possible by Janome's amazing machines! Whether you're using the wonderful Horizon Memory Craft 15000 that I use daily, other Memory Craft models, or their newest Skyline machine, in the quilt process posts that I'll be sharing along the way you'll see lots of tips and new ideas to add to your own projects!



For the fabrics I'll be using my very favorites, Art Gallery Fabrics' Indie by Pat Bravo, Wanderer by April Rhodes, and my very own Wild & Free collection!






Just a few more orders and projects to finish up and I'll be ready to begin, I can't wait to share more soon!

♡ Maureen