Thursday, January 24, 2013

Dare to Dresden Blog Hop

Welcome to my blog! I'm so glad you stopped by. I'm delighted to participate in the Dare to Dresden Blog Hop. Be sure to check the end of the post for giveaways.


Lacy Dresden
7.5" square
Original design
Completed 1/23/2013

While reviewing images of Dresden Plates for inspiration, I got the idea to make a block from lace. I love blue and white pottery, and so I decided to use a blue background against white lace.

Below are a couple of Electric Quilt sketches for the lacy Dresden blocks. Whether the blades were angular or rounded depended on the lace I used.



Two big piles of lace trim given to me by quilter friend Judy P.
The trims are leftovers from dresses she made for her granddaughters, now grown, when they were very young.

These are just a few of the possibilities that I pulled from the piles of lace. Note the wide widths to provide enough length for the blades.

After auditioning many lace trims, I chose this one.

Above. original trim; below, gathers removed.

Using Electric Quilt I printed Dresden blocks in several sizes. I created a template from a size that worked well with the lace.

Frixion pen for tracing. Purple ink disappears with heat of the iron.

Chose an area of the lace with a raised top edge. Decided not to go with the rose, as I was afraid the end result with look too solid.

Tracing on lace

Three blades

Three blades sewn together, seam allowances trimmed

Liked the idea of leaving a good amount of space around the blades

Four sets of blades arranged, with rose in center

Like this look

Four sections

Sections sewn together

Auditioning the rose as center

Like the blue center better

Trying my broken needles and pins bottle for size


After two failed attempts at making a faced center, free-cut this circle

Zigzagged around circle with invisible thread

Chose backing and batting

Quilted "rays" with invisible thread

Back

Quilted around perimeter of lace with a combination of straight stitching and zigzag

Straight stitched over top curves of blades, but zigzagged in "valleys" between blades to cover the gaps where the thick lines did not meet.

Once again, the finished quilt

Back

Now for the giveaways. You could win one of the two fat quarters below.


White-on-white                      Blue

For a chance to win one of the fat quarters, simply leave a comment by the last day of the Blog Hop (end of Thursday, January 31). Be sure to mention whether you prefer White or Blue. For an extra chance to win one of the fabrics, leave another comment mentioning that you are a new or existing follower OR that you have Liked my Facebook Page. Two winners will be drawn on Friday, February 1.

Be sure to stop by and see today's other Blog Hop participants:
January 25th, 2013
Traveling Quilter (you're here)


Full Schedule

Thanks to Madame Samm and Christine L. for the blog hop.

Debbie
Like my new Facebook page Traveling Quilter and get more updates on my quilting and my travels.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Make It Monday 1/21/2013

I haven't done much quilting during the past few days. I experimented a bit with my project for the upcoming Dare to Dresden blog hop. I'll work on it more during the next day or two.

The travel-themed fabric arrived. The large center square and two of the smaller squares are pretty generic, which I like. The two other small squares are definitely New York City, so I probably won't use them. I haven't worked on a design yet. I'll do that when I finish the Dresden project.

Travel-themed fabric

What are your quilting plans this week? Please leave a comment. I'd love to hear about them.

Debbie
Like my new Facebook page Traveling Quilter and get more updates on my quilting and my travels.

Sacramento and a Quilt Show

I had quite a busy weekend. On Saturday I traveled to Sacramento, CA for the monthly Sacramento Modern Quilt Guild meeting. There were lots of new faces and plenty of fantastic projects shared.

After the meeting I took a short drive to Cafe Rolle in downtown Sacramento, a French restaurant seen on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Cafe Rolle in downtown Sacramento

Small restaurant, about a dozen tables total

I chose to eat on the patio, where it was quieter, and springlike weather.

Croque monsieur (ham and cheese sandwich), salad and ice tea. For dessert, blackberry creme broulee. All delicious. I'd go again.

On Sunday, quilter friend Judy P. and I went to a quilt show put on by the local quilt guild. We saw many beautiful quilts, and sat in on a free art quilt lecture. Here are some of my favorite quilts:

Woman is the quilt maker






Selvage quilt





Contrast is striking




Love the blue against orange



This photo is for my daughter-in-law Laurie, who loves I Love Lucy.

Close-up

Quilt shop owner and Facebook friend Connie L. made this quilt from ties that belonged to a friend who passed away. Colorful and comical, there is even a Campbell's Soup tie. Connie's friend must have been a fun man.

Debbie
Like my new Facebook page Traveling Quilter and get more updates on my quilting and my travels.