Celestial Star SAL - Month 6 - Peacock Circle Flower June 01 2018

I hope all is well with each of you and that your Celestial Star Quilt is coming together nicely.  Time passes so quickly and here we are with our sixth of nine Color Bursts.

Giulia Severn, our friend from Munich, Germany, has completed her quilt top and posted it on Red Thread Studio's Celestial Star SAL Facebook page.  Giulia has made this quilt her own by making numerous creative changes to my original quilt.  She received her supplies all at one time in order to save on oversea postage. Check it out, it's beautiful! 

With the sewing of this project behind me, I have started to play with different EPP projects, some new, some UFO's.  I'm currently half done with some creepy Halloween EPP Circles for a small quilt.  These are made from Sue Daley's "Round We Go" block of the month, which I purchased from Red Thread Studio.  It seems like it's too hot out (80+ F here) to think about Halloween, but maybe I'll finish it if I don't get distracted by something new, which is usually the case.  At the moment I'm hooked on EPP, but in the past I would switch between appliqué, piecing or embroidery projects on a regular basis. 

I often wonder how disciplined some sewers must be to start and finish one project before starting another.  What is their secret?  However, I really enjoy having numerous EPP projects in progress because I love to play with both new and old fabrics, and I love to watch a new idea come to life.  This process creates many UFOs, but I gain a lot of experience.  The older I get (I'm retired now), the more I find that it's in the "doing" more than in the "having".  But there is nothing like the feeling of accomplishing a finish and the giving or the hanging of a new quilt. 

TIPS: 

• When centering the cut fabric onto the paper piece, I have found it helpful to hold both pieces up to a close light source.  I can see through the paper and fabric to locate my exact fabric placement while I hold it tightly in place; then clover clip a couple of sides.
• Try to keep a perfect point where your two wings meet together with a kite point.  I prefer to work toward the point but sometimes, the bulk of the previously pieced area can get in the way.  So when I start from the point, I am peeking under after every stitch until it has been secured in place. With the first few stitches, I can still move the pieces slightly if necessary to achieve my goal.  Remember, there will be places where you will be joining either six or seven more tight points to these when finishing this quilt. 
• As most of you are already aware Summer, which is approaching soon in the US, is the perfect time to pack up a small bag with your scissors, needle, thread, clover clips, paper pieces and preferably cut fabric.  It's relaxing at the beach, pool or sports games.  If interrupted, it's easy to find where you left off.  I like to always be doing something with my hands, so it is a perfect carry-along.  If traveling by air, be sure to check, in advance, what type of scissors or needles, if any, are allowed on the airplane.  I hate to think of the collection of fine sewing scissors that the airline has "inherited" this way. And not to forget our friends in Australia, sitting by the fire or nice and warm next to a window with beautiful snow scenery doing EPP; this is my preferred place to be. 

DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR MONTH 6 - PEACOCK CIRCLE FLOWER

I've named this month's Color Burst Peacock Circle Flower because this is the second time I have used this particular center medallion, and also, the whole of this Color Burst looks so much like a flower to me with sixteen green "leaves" surrounding what appears to be petals of a flower in each of the eight Custom Jewel shapes.

The exact placement for cutting each motif WITH SEAM ALLOWANCE INCLUDED is outlined below. Be careful when cutting; CUT ONLY AROUND THE DESIGNATED MOTIF.  

Placements have often been selected specifically for you to match motifs, often on both sides of the piece. When cutting and basting fabrics to the papers, PAY attention to the following:

(1) Center Octagon is cut from the red Peacock Circle fabric. This motif is not a directional print.  Notice that it is centered in a swirl of peacock tails in the fabric.  Cut one. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: CUTTING LINE HAS BEEN MARKED WITH MARKER AND FOLD LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN IN PENCIL, TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT. DO NOT USE MARKER FOR CUTTING LINE AND DO NOT MARK YOUR FOLD LINE. 

(2) The first set of Four Pointed Stars are cut from the Pink Medallion fabric.  Cut sixteen identical pieces as shown in the picture below, being careful to keep both long sides of one 4-pointed star identical.  You will be joining eight sets of two matching the long sides.  And, you will be joining the sets into a circle matching the short sides, leaving one side open. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: CUTTING LINE HAS BEEN MARKED WITH MARKER AND FOLD LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN IN PENCIL, TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT. DO NOT USE MARKER FOR CUTTING LINE AND DO NOT MARK YOUR FOLD LINE.

(3) The Custom Jewel is cut from the center of a swirl of peacock tails from the red Peacock Circle fabric.  This red center cut, which resembles a flower, has two sets of points. The pairs of points are situated top and bottom, barely fitting the red flower within the fold lines.  Cut eight. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: CUTTING LINE HAS BEEN MARKED WITH MARKER AND FOLD LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN IN PENCIL, TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT. DO NOT USE MARKER FOR CUTTING LINE AND DO NOT MARK YOUR FOLD LINE. 

(4) The second set of Four Pointed Stars are cut from the Green On Green fabric.  Cut sixteen identical pieces as shown in the picture below being careful to keep both long sides of one 4-pointed star identical.  You will be joining eight sets of two, matching the long side.

IMPORTANT NOTE: CUTTING LINE HAS BEEN MARKED WITH MARKER AND FOLD LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN IN PENCIL, TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT. DO NOT USE MARKER FOR CUTTING LINE AND DO NOT MARK YOUR FOLD LINE.

(5) Kite is cut from the Peacock Twins fabric. Center the birds' heads at the bottom line of the Kite.  Both sides of the Kite are identical.  Notice how the birds' heads are at the FOLD line.  Cut eight.

IMPORTANT NOTE: CUTTING LINE HAS BEEN MARKED WITH MARKER AND FOLD LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN IN PENCIL, TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT. DO NOT USE MARKER FOR CUTTING LINE AND DO NOT MARK YOUR FOLD LINE. 

Remember to keep posting your progress on Instagram and Facebook #CelestialStarSAL.  There are GREAT prizes to win and seeing others' progress can be inspiring. Have a happy sewing-filled month.