More Dresdens

Beautiful Dresden's made by Kerri.  

'Echoed Flowers' panto with a medium gray So Fine thread

Go here to see Marylou's Dresden quilt

Marylou's Dredens

 Lots of feathers...Perhaps with all the bright Dresden Plates it should be called 'Peacock'

Dresden Center Circles Tutorial

 A super easy way to make those center circles

 The trick is to double the freezer paper.  Using an acrylic template for my longarm quilting, i trace around it onto the dull side of the freezer paper. Next, place a second piece of freezer paper underneath.  Both pieces have the shiny side down.  Find anything round, bottle lid, flashlight, plate, whatever is available to trace around.

Iron the 2 pieces of freezer paper together.  Both pieces should have the shiny sides down and don't worry about it sticking to the ironing cover.

Cut out along the drawn line

 Place the shiny side down on the wrong side of the fabric and press

 Trim the fabric approximately 1/4" larger than your template...

...and press the edges over the freezer paper.

 Use a bit of my favorite Best Press.  The freezer paper will curl up a bit, but nothing to worry about.

Leaving the freezer paper in place, flip over to the top side and press again

 let it cool completely then remove the freezer paper and gently press one more time

 I use a small amount of Roxanne Glue Baste-It to hold the center circle in place.  I'm a huge fan of hand applique, but since i will be making 12 of these Dresden's with 2 center circles, I'm trying my hand at machine applique.  For this i am using Superior Mono Poly thread on top with a So Fine thread in the bobbin.  Slick and Quick!

Sent this home with Cheri today and from this

quilted Dresden...she will make a pillow. 

 

Taught my friend Cheri who is visiting from the Seattle area how to make a Dresden Plate.  Cheri lost her mom recently. She needed to get out of town, take a break and hang out with me....

so of course, I took total advantage of her and made her quilt!

Today she heads home but not until I stitch something fun onto her Dresden!

Last January a group of my friends and I gathered to make a forest posted here...just finished quilting this for Cheryl while Cheri was making her Dresden

Simple loops with a few stars stitched in 

here and there

The Paisley Pincushion

 Yesterday at our monthly quilt gathering I introduced everyone to a

 line of apron patterns from 

The Paisley Pincushion. 

This pattern company is owned by my high school friend, Katie. 

Katie was always known in high school for her art and her smile.  I thought apron making would be a great diversion from quilting and there would be  plenty of time to make one or two for Christmas parties or as gifts. Katie brought samples and here they are modeled by my quilt'n friends!

 Laura wearing Bloomin' Apron.  

This one is my favorite!!  

My friend Cindy has some old Dresden's from her grandmother that would be perfect!

 and here is Jean wearing Queen of Hearts

My favorite neighbor Sue showing off the Shopkeeper Apron

(she had surgery on her foot...therefore the black sock) 

Cindy modeling the Short Stack Apron

(love my friend Cindy!)

Me...with my Blue Plate Special

Miss Jan look'n all sassy wearing the Shopkeeper (pattern shown above)

 My high school friend Cheryl in the 

Busy Bias Apron

 Toni and her son Avi modeling 

The Worker Bee Aprons

Some aprons come with mother/daughter sets and even doll size aprons!

A couple more aprons: 

 Reversible Apron Pattern

and the Scalloped Apron,

 another one of my favorites!

If you are interested in purchasing any of these apron patterns or other fun patterns by:

Click HERE for the official website.

Now, I would like to proudly introduce my niece Hayley.  Hayley lives just a couple blocks from me and expressed an interest in having a quilt made.   I think she thought i would make it, (and i totally would) but how much more fun for me if she wanted to learn??!!  So this past week Hayley has been cutting out her blocks to make the pattern 

'Hip to be Square' and joined me yesterday at the Trinity Quilt Gathering.  I think she may be catching a bug...quilting bug that is.  She already has a keen eye for color and blessed with artistic talent.  She is 19, the youngest in our quilt club!!

Welcome Hayley!

Nothing but FUN

I ended my week with a quilt retreat at church. To begin, my friend Cindy showed me her grandmother's hand pieced Dresden's...35 in all! It is amazing how many treasures are just stored away but given to the right person...

these treasures come alive again.

At the retreat, I finished all my Cowgirl quarter circles, too many to count! Now the fun of sewing them all together, adding the inner and outer borders!

my last stack of blues....seam ripper never far away!

This is Jan's quilt. She simply saw a small photograph in a magazine a year ago and figured out how to construct this beautiful quilt. She's almost finished!

Our new addition to the quilt club. Little Rafe born two months ago. Six days after a c-section delivery, Kora brought Rafe to our last monthly quilt gathering to show him off. Here they are at the quilt retreat. He already has that look "pleeease, not another quilt shop!" on his face.

Marylou and Jan....serious business!

Diane, Susan and Laura. The last sewing machine with the empty plate is mine...someone brought carrot cake. Yep, I ate most of it! You can see a bit of wool flowers laying around. Vicki who claims she can not sew, brought wool appliqué.

Cheryl and Judith....Cheryl is working on a secret quilt...Judith is working on a beautiful alter cloth. I should have taken a picture of that!!! Oh, Judith...what about beading on the cross for embellishment?

At the beginning of my week, I found myself in Marysville, Washington buying a car from this man. And he was so proud of the personalized plates he made for my new car. This man is my little brother David...need I say more?

So, I'm leaving the dealership with my friend Cindy and this noise started up...I thought perhaps it was just another vehicle so I kept heading down the road. Just before I entered I-5 south bound, the high pitched screech continued. Okay, my new car is a 2007 Subaru with 21,000 miles. Great deal...but still used. My heart sank thinking I needed to turn around and take this lemon back.

Fortunately I did not drive it back to the lot. I discovered the emergency break was on. Ooops

Next, I headed east to Snohomish with my friends Cindy and Marcia. Lots and lots of antique stores. My favorite was the

Speckled Hen Country Store

complete with a tiny little room full of fabric.

This was a find! Rather on the loved side but worthy of a photo or two.

My two purchases.... #1. This old suitcase. Ever feel like running away from home? Like Laura in Little House on the Prairie?

Needs a bit of cleaning up...but thought it's a good home for my wool projects

#2...this bobbin. It stands 16" high and the ends measure 7" in diameter. I think it might find it's way on my wall with a runner hanging from it.

Week Twenty Nine: July 19th-25th

1. Heading to my Promised Land. Bend, Oregon for a few days

2. My aunt and cousins from Texas arrive

3. Leah comes for a second visit

4. Quilting....always