Appleton Dance

by Linda Theil Henya is creator and show-runner of the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild small group book club that I attend monthly on Zoom. The group is hosting a "Book Quilt Challenge" with a show of book-themed works on GAAQG Quilt Day from 9 a.m. to noon on March 16, 2024 at the Morris Lawrence Building of Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor. Henya encouraged her book-lovers to accept the challenge, but inspiration didn't hit me until last week when I ordered a "Travelers' Sewing Book" pattern from Arabesque Scissors, and made my little sewing case with scraps.  The mouse in the cathedral window in the cover of my sewing case is from the "Hibernation" collection by Tone Finnanger for Tilda Fabrics. Inside, the five-by-five-inch case has room for a pair of scissors -- secured with a ribbon; a seam ripper; thread; needles; a leather thimble; and a built-in, felt pin-cushion. The book is secured with a riveted, magnetic fastener. The End Update...

by Linda Theil A labyrinth is not a maze. There are many forms of labyrinth, but every one is a path with one-way in and out; there are no dead-ends. This concept is thousands of years old, and remains popular today as a form of meditation. For information about labyrinths, see The Labyrinth Society. In the early years of this century I studied labyrinths and took several workshops on the topic. In one workshop featuring a seven-cycle labyrinth, the instructor introduced us to a form of walking meditation called The Appleton Dance discovered and copywritten in 1997 by Jon Appleton. A seven-cycle labyrinth The Appleton Dance can only be done on a seven-cycle labyrinth; it is a mode in which two people can walk holding hands while one of them is walking toward the center of the labyrinth and one is walking away from the center. Barry Hoon posted a YouTube video animation of the dance with narration by Jon Appleton. The video is titled "The Appleton Dance" . In July of 2007, I c...

  by Linda Theil I just finished my second "Starborn Crossbody" bag, a new design by Diane Spencer-Ogg. Since I previously had some difficulty stitching the final top seam, I used a lighter cotton fabric and cut the interfacing one-half inch from the edge of each pattern piece to cut down on bulk, I used a vinyl faux leather to make the D-ring attachment instead of the multi-layered fabric piece I used in the first bag, but I still had a hard time inserting it cleanly because of the bulk. In the future I would attach a wristlet, or carabiner to the zipper pull instead of adding D-rings for a strap; or I would try to find a 3/4-inch light but tough nylon webbing to hold the D-rings. The cotton I chose to use is from the "Gnome of the Brave" collection by Shelly Comiskey for Henry Glass & Co. as a tribute to baseball fans. The interior features a zip-pocket with credit-cards slots incorporated into the lining. The front of the bag has a zippered pocket with a cov...

by Linda Theil What is better than a bag of kisses on Valentine's Day? Three bags of kisses! I couldn't resist a tiny  fat-quarter bundle featuring pastel images of hearts, rainbows, stars, and unicorns made by Fabric Editions, Inc. I machine quilted two of the fabrics using one that was a "cheater" fabric printed to look like a pieced quilt top. I used the free  Spencer-Ogg "Cos-pod" pattern printed at 85-percent to make two, small, Hershey Kiss-filled, Valentine gifts. Each quilted fat-quarter duo was big enough to cut-out two of the single-pattern-piece pods. Both pods featured a wristlet strap and fancy zip pull; one pull was made from  a red, felt button purchased from JoAnn Fabrics. For my third Valentine, I used a brand new Spencer Ogg "Starburn Crossbody" pattern. The pouch is made from faux waxed canvas purchased from Sally Tomato . The lining is from the "Hibernation" collection by Tone Finnanger for Tilda Fabrics. Resources...

  AppletonDance ginko charm in faux leather and quilted cotton with Tilda brand button accent and twill ribbon attachment by Linda Theil From the Hermes pony to the Tiffany posey, bag charms are the cherry on top of every equipage confection. Create your own signature charm following this process. Choose a symbol of your own preference. Examples include: Geometric: circle, square, triangle, etc Symbol: star, penant/flag, heart, etc Natural: leaf, flower, tree, etc Animal: horse, dog, cat, etc Personal/Individual Draw your symbol and make several patterns in various sizes, none smaller than three-inches in at least one direction -- preferably larger. You can make smaller charms, but larger is easier -- at least to begin with.  Choose your materials -- preferably double-sided materials that are finished on front and back. Or sew, or glue materials wrong sides together to make a double-faced material to use for your charm. Note: Don't forget to reverse your pattern when cutting y...

"Estrella Bag" made by Linda Theil by Linda Theil I made the "Estrella Bag" by Oro Rosa Patterns with cottons from the "Hibernation" collection by Tone Finnenger for Tilda Collection with added cording on the central panel.   The bag is fully lined with and interior slip pocket, and features a magnetic snap closure I made a matching pouch with wristlet using the free Spencer-Ogg "Cos-pod" pattern and video, Resources Tilda's World,  https://www.tildasworld.com/hibernation/ Oro Rosa,  https://ororosapatterns.com/products/estrella-bag-pdf-pattern Spencer-Ogg,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH_HE3X43ws&t=369s