Dresdan Plate

After the Sewing Summit I signed up to participate in my first Swap. I've never done anything like this before and wasn't quite sure what to expect. My partner is Amanda from My Sewcial Hour (which is such a cute blog name) and she gave me this description:

"I am currently in a Fall/Autumn kind of mood so pieces with oranges, reds, greens, and gold like the leaves changing color are drawing me in. My Fall Inspiration Pinterest board has a lot of images that are inspiring me these days. I really like new takes on traditional things, for example, I love when people make things like dresden plates in modern fabrics with a little bit of hand quilting. I am not much into intentionally wonky/improv pieces, I usually like symmetry in pieces whether it be a mini-quilt or a bag."

 

You can tell she's participated in swaps before. I loved her clear cut description. (I feel bad for my partner! I really can't remember what I said, but I am sure it was vague ~ something like "Oh, I like pink and cutesy stuff".) When I read Dresdan, I was immediately excited because I have been wanted to try my hand at a Dresdan plate for sometime. I think the best tutorial is from Amy at Stickory Dickory Dock. This is the tutorial I referred to while making my dresdan.

I have been collecting Fall/Thanksgiving/Yellow/Gold/Brown fabrics for about 5 years to make an unbelievably amazing Thanksgiving Quilt. So I had about 60 fabrics to choose from to make her Dresdan plate. I choose a 6 1/2" blade size and searched my stash for modern, fresh, fall-ish fabric to make my dresdan.

Isn't this back perfect? I picked up it at the most modern quilt store in Utah: Whimsy on sale a few years back. It's Japanese from Quilt Gate. I did some very simple machine quilting on the blades (stitch in the ditch) and quilted/traced the dresdan plate in the round.

I am soooo in love with this Dresdan I am going to scrap my original plan of a Log Cabin for my Thanksgiving quilt and change it to Dresdan Plates. I think I'll be very busy during the Quilt Retreat working on this pattern.

Amanda, I hope you love this Dresdan Mini Quilt as much as I loved making it. I hope it brings a little bit of fall to your home and brightens your day.

Linking up with Amylouwho for her Mini Quilt Challenge.

9 Patch on Point

Three weeks ago I was having trouble with my machine. My electronic screen would randomly stop working and so would the needle.  I took it in to the Bernina store where I bought it 5 years ago and they told me there was a recall on a specific part that was causing the problem. They told me the part had to be ordered and it would take a week. ACK! A WEEK! I didn't want to be without my machine for a week?! Me, not having my machine for a week would be like not having my toothbrush, or my shoes. (This is when I realized I really need a back-up sewing machine, in case something like this happens again)

Well, one week turned into two and two weeks turned into THREE! I was beside myself. Three weeks without my machine; I was practically having fits. Giving my friends and family updates on how long it would take before I got my machine back. I was being so obnoxious, looking for sympathy from anyone?! Apparently this recall has caused some pretty major havoc and the part was on back order. Three weeks!

Once I got my machine back, working good as new; thank you! I started working again on my on-point quilt. The nine-patches and black blocks just needed to be sewn into strips. On-point is a little tricky (for me) because your working sideways the whole way until the quilt top is finished and then is comes together and makes sense as a rectangle.

I am thinking I will add a 4" black border and be done. For 2 reasons: I got all the fabric prints from my SIL and I don't have anymore fabric to do a colorful border and I want to machine quilt it myself and it will be much easier to tackle in its current size, rather than 24" bigger.

Anyone out there had machine trouble and no back-up? I can sympathized, tell me your tale!

Utah Blocks

Last May, my quilt group met together for a block exchange. It was based around the theme of Utah. Each member choose an aspect of Utah they loved, admired and/or had special meaning to them. Themes centralized around various topics: pioneers, farming, outdoor life, Mormonism, family. I was so impressed with each block and the creativity of the ladies in this group.

I choose to embroider a block with a quote from Brigham Young:

"...we will make the desert blossom like a rose"

As usual, I waited until the very last minute to finish my blocks (I was so desperate I even bribed my Mom to help me!).  Here are the 12 quilt blocks I recieved from the group.

Left to Right, Top to Bottom

Snail's Trail

Bugle

LDS Block

Family Tree

L-R T-B

Covered Wagon

Relief Society

Beehive

State of Utah

L-R T-B

Snowflake

Fruit Jars

Green Mountains

Tabernacle Pipes

I'd love to show you my block, but sadly I only finished enough blocks to give to the group members.  I recieved 12 blocks ~ which would finish the quilt without even making my block. But, I don't really want to leave it out. I was considering maybe embroidering my quote into the sashing or borders. I haven't decided just yet, but I really can't make a quilt with 13 blocks. Maybe now that my machine is in the shop, I'll work on the emboridery for this quilt..

Linking up:

Todays Creative Blog

Rit Dye Clothes Transformations

Here are a few of my favorite transformation pieces from the Rit Dyeing party. Even though I don't look nearly as cute or have the set up Melissa does for her fashion blog...I tried my best to show off a few outfits and attempt to be a fashion model for a day.

I got this top at Target about 3 years ago. It was originally white and I loved the little puff sleeves. I wore the top in my pregnancy photos and the shirt hit me about mid belly {under the dress}. I don't know what it is, but I loved my clothes from my pregnancy. Most of them weren't actually pregnancy clothes and I can still wear them now, they just need a little pick-me to make me not feel pregnant when I put them on.

Ombre Cover-up for the pool. I love the wine color. I stole this ombre idea from Melissa and she helped me with the technique. The cover-up use to be cream and the stitching stayed true to its original cream color. I am not sure why the stitching on most of my fabrics didn't take to the dye? Hummmm. I'll have to think on that one. With a large tub to work in the ombre technique worked great.

I got this skirt at Anthropologie about 4 years ago. It was baby pink and perfect for spring. I also wore this my whole pregnancy because of its elastic waist band. Now, it feels like a whole new skirt! I love the coral color. It looks great on and goes with more shirts in my closet.

One more outfit. A few years back I bought this skirt in white. It was on clearance at Anthropologie for $5. I knew one day I would love to change the color. This orange is perfect for fall and matched with this fab teal sweater...I can hit the church streets this Fall.

Linking Up:

Skip To My Lou

Tip Junkie

Blue Cricket Designs

Rit Dye Party

A couple Saturdays ago, I was invited by Melissa of the lovely blog: I Still Love You to a fabric dyeing party. I until a few weeks ago, I hadn't dyed fabric in about 5 years {way before I started blogging}. In the past I dyed fabric with my friend Jeanette {who by the way, should really have a blog} and we used These Dyes, and their were quite a few steps involved.

Melissa contacted Rit Dye and they were nice enough to send a large assortment of dyes for our "little" party. I brought a {alot of things} few things to dye and had a wonderful afternoon dyeing and getting to know Melissa better. I just have to say, I loved working with Rit Dye. The colors were beautiful. The directions were easy and simple and the results were fantastic. If your looking to venture into dyeing your own fabrics I highly recommending trying Rit Dye.

Here a few tips when working with Rit Dyes.

1: Use a large plastic tub.

Although it uses more dye to fill the tub, you really get a much even-er dye of your fabric(s). When I used a smaller tub the dye didn't coat as evenly and I ending up with more of a tye dye look.

2: Hot water is a must.

My fabrics turned out brighter and truer when I put the fabric directly in hot water. When the water had cooled and I dyed the fabrics had a more sub-dued color.

3: Don't forget the Salt

The directions call for salt and I highly recommend it. The hot water and salt seemed to create the best results.

4: Give yourself space and room to be messy.

I am just a messy crafter/quilter. We worked in Melissa's garage {which I highly encourage}. Also, wear plastic gloves, unless you want your hands stained the colors of the dyes.

5: Garage Bags

After dyeing you need somewhere to set your fabrics. Large garbage bags were perfect, also, easy to transport home.

What I Dyed:

a swimsuit cover up

old riped up sheets {for quilting},

2 skirts

2 shirts

4  burp clothes

To see what Melissa transformed click here.

*My opinions about Rit Dye are entirely my own. Rit Dye did provide the dyes, but my opinions expressed on their products are solely mine.

Japanese Fabric

A few weeks back, my wonderful sister-in-law shared some Japanese Fabric with me from her stash. {Cue Squealing} She is so generous with her scraps/stash fabric and is always surprising me with little fabric gifts.

I have a half yard of each of these fabrics. I think the dark indigo is such a beautiful contrast to the white, red, yellow, blue and green colors used in the images. I have two owls fabrics in cream and red, so those will be a great to add in to mix things up a bit.

I just love these rabbits with their little jackets.

These faces just make me laugh. Are they "angry", no?

What's not to love about these polkadots?

Have a great weekend!

Visit Me

I am guest posting today over at one of my favorite Quilting Blogs: Diary of a Quilter. Amy is such a great gal, we live pretty close and I have had the opportunity to meet and get to know her {in real life!!}. I love her blog, tutorials and her quilts.

I am sharing how to take great everyday paper ideas and turn them into creative note cards. I made this one below using Sarah Jane paper fabric swatches when I attended Quilt Market. Come Visit me over at Amy's Diary today.

Twill Heart Garland

Happy Monday! Today, I am guest posting this adorable Twill Heart Garland at No Biggie. If you've never been to No Biggie ~ you must. Kami is amazing at crafts, cooking and thrifting.

You'll never guess where I found with the twill fabric?!?  So, you must hop on over to No Biggie and find out.

Japanese Strawberry Fabric

If you follow my blog you know I am obsessed with Strawberries. I love them. Everyone who knows me -- knows I love strawberries. My Sister-in-Law recently moved back from Japan and brought me the most wonderful of presents: Japanese Strawberry fabrics. For the last couple years I have been planning to make a strawberry quilt; theses amazing prints will only add to my growing collection!!! thanks Erika.

A Great Idea!

I had a revelation over the weekend about a quilt I have been wanting to make. Typically, once I decide on a Quilt, I go through a process of contemplation, I think about:

• fabric choices
• What is in my stash vs. what I need to pick up at the quilt store
• Maybe adding some embroidery
• Time and effort
• etc.

This particular quilt I hope to show you a glimpse tomorrow and hopefully more the day after. I think I am going to name it: All about the girls!

Japanese Fabric

My sister-in-law lives in Japan and every summer she comes home to the states. While she is home we talk quilts, fabric, patterns, and local shops. This summer she surprised me with some Japanese Fabric! She's got a pretty good feel for my style, but who knew she would be so dead on with what I love....pink, polka dots, cherries and strawberries.Heaven!!!

I can't wait to make something so yummy with these fabrics. Stay Tuned!!