Berry Birdy

Watercolour quilting is one of my favourite techniques! I love the blending of the fabrics to create a beautiful fabric masterpiece! Here are a few steps to get you going, but you can also check out my video too, for full instructions! Start off with a selection of light, medium and dark floral or medium print fabrics.  I find florals work best for the blending effect. Cut the fabrics into 2" squares. You may use 2 1/2" squares too, but the blending can become slightly harder with larger pieces. Begin your project by laying out your squares, starting with lights or darks and putting squares together that blend well.  You will find it helpful in some instances to turn your squares so they blend better, so even flipping your fabrics over so you have a lighter piece. You may make your project as big as you like, or blend from dark to light, from top to bottom, or even blend dark to light and then to dark again! Be creative and try it out!  You can even...

Welcome to my blog! If you are joining me with the #20over20berrybirdy sew along on Instagram, you have come to the right place! I have attached the pattern that we will be working on this week as I show the paper piecing steps.  I have chosen this fun Woodland Owl bag to start with as we learn new sewing and quilting techniques. Once we create the Owl, we will make him into a bag so you have something you can save for a gift, or use yourself.     Your Owl image should measure at least 8" square. (To find onto a 8 1/2" X 11" paper) You are welcome to make yours bigger if you wish. Follow along on Instagram for little videos to help get you going! @berry_birdy

With a few small little leftover pieces and this adorable vintage milk white bowl, I made this super easy pincushion for my sewing room!  These instructions are so easy to follow and you will find it come together very quickly! Please note: this pincushion will fit into a 5"- 6" container. Cut 13 pieces from your favourite scraps that measure 1 1/2"X 3". Fold them over lengthwise and sew a 1/4" seam across the top.  Turn the point right side out and press as shown. Sew the pieces together along the sides using a 1/4" seam.  Sew them all in a row. This is the back of the pieces sewn together. Lay on your cutting table and trim them to 2 1/4" from the point. Sew them together to form a complete circle. Using your finger, fold all the seams in the same direction making the fabrics overlap slightly to form the flower shape.  You will need to gently move the pieces so that they all end up folding the same amount.  Press well. Cu...

There are some new and exciting things coming up soon with Berry Birdy! I have just finished a new little pattern that I have added to my shop, with many more to come, I will be starting my own YouTube Channel sharing my ideas, and sewing techniques I have learned over the past (uh-em) 30 years of sewing, and I have my birthday to celebrate! Check out all of this with updates here and on my Instagram Berry_Birdy!

Here is another one of my "micro mini" quilts that I made for the Make Modern Magazine challenge! This one measures at 5 1/2" square, just under the 6" size limit! I hadn't planned on it having the four different colour schemes in it, but I simply love the rainbow look to it.

Over the past year I was introduced to Instagram by a good friend of mine who is also a fellow creator of many things such as myself. I tried to stay away from it, since Facebook, Twitter, Email, my Etsy...etc seem to fill my daily internet allotment.  But, I finally gave in, and now I am pleasantly finding IG one of my fav sharing platforms.  Along with the desire to join numerous swap groups, which can be terribly addicting, a couple months ago I created a few micro mini quilts for the Make Modern Magazine.  This one was the teeny tiniest of them all, measuring at 1" square!  I was thrilled that the "fussy-cut" mushrooms and tulips turned out so well, measuring at only 1/4"! Yikes!  I figured it was so small that displaying it among other "I spy" like items would emphasize the size of it best!

My wonderful friend made the top of this little runner and had it hanging in her sewing room.... After much admiration, she gave it to me and I quilted it for my kitchen table! I even quilted a hidden butterfly in it.