I was lucky enough to win a copy of Lara Buccella's new book, Crafted Applique...New Possibilities and wanted to try something small to test out Lara's method. Lara Blogs at Buzz in Bumble. Lara did a free tutorial of her Call me Maybe telephone appliqué for this cute rotary dial telephone as a guest blogger on Sew Mama Sew last month*. Of course Lily Tomlin's character, Ernestine the telephone operator came to mind as I was working on this appliqué. (See update at end of this post).
I love both Lara's appliqué method and this cute telephone!
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| I used some tiny rickrack instead of cutting out fabric for the cord. I fused the rickrack down using the same method as the fabrics and it worked great! I think the rickrack looks more like those curly phone cords. Remember how the cord would twist up and you had to drop the receiver to let the cord untangle? |
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| I ended up hand stitching around the dials because my straight stitching on applique just isn't too neat! These were too tiny to machine stitch straight. |
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| I am so pleased how this cute telephone came out. Thanks Lara for writing a wonderful book! There are definitely some new possibilities to explore using your appliqué method. You will be seeing a lot more appliqué from me. *Update: Unfortunately, Sew Mama Sew site appears it is no longer active (as so many bloggers have left their blogs 😢). I am afraid the tutorial where this appliqué telephone was given as a free tutorial is no longer there either. You can try contacting Lara Buccella to see if she will give or sell you the pattern? Also, the Call Me Maybe telephone appliqué is not in her book. |
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Ha, ha... Yes, I remember trying to untangle the curly telephone cord. The stitching around the dials makes your fabulous telephone look 3D.
ReplyDeletePlease let me know where I can find this pattern.
DeleteAnonymous I don't have your email, so hope you return to read this. I updated this posting, so please read the update I included at the end.
DeleteOh my goodness I love it!! The ric-rac is perfect for a phone cord!
ReplyDeletethis is perfection, I love every detail in it. the phone cord is beyond cleaver and your colors are so fun and cheerful. long live Lilly Tomlin for those of us old enough to remember talking to an operator.
ReplyDeleteTara
I will have o read Lara's book to see what magic she uses for applique. Your Rotary phone is really excellent and the ric race really does look just like the old curly cords. Yes, I remember having to drop the receiver to untangle that curly cord. Fabulous Phone Dear... P.S. I loved Lily Tomlin and her characters..
ReplyDeleteYour phone is the best yet Daryl! I really love the ric-rac phone cord and hand stitching! The colors make me fall in love too!
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh because the original name for this pattern was "One Ringy Dingy" but my husband thought a lot of younger quilters would not get the reference. My grandmother used to do a knock out Ernestine impression and have us all holding our sides we'd be laughing so hard.
This is absolutely adorable :)
ReplyDeleteGreat job. I love your use of the ric rac and the special stitching. Excellent!
ReplyDeleteIsn't Lara's method fantastic? Your old-fashion telephone is very lovely. And what a clever idea to use the ric-rac. I still have a phone with a cord and can attest that yours look like the real one, which always find a way to get twisted even when we handle it with care. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for participating to my Fabric, Thread and Yarn link party. Have a good weekend!
This is too cute!
ReplyDeleteThank you Swapna. You are a no-reply, so I couldn't email you directly. Appreciate the nice comment.
DeleteThe ric rac is so cute for the cord. I love your phone.
ReplyDeleteI love this phone! It is perfection! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteNavy Wifey Peters @ The Submarine Sunday Link Party
Thank you so much! Did you know you are a no-reply Navy Wifey Peters? I couldn't email you directly.
DeleteThat is sew cute. LOL I remember Lily Tomlin too.
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