The Pickle Dish is DONE!!

Actually the pattern is called Matrimony but I think each block is called a pickle dish!

It's huge I tell you....huge...70" x 93"!! 

After machine piecing the arcs the rest was all appliqued and hand quilted. 

 Because it was so big I made four sections (3x4 blocks) and quilted each section.

 Wool batting was so much fun to use. It was a little thick on the pickle dishes because I didn't trim away the backs but inside the star shape made by four dishes...super smooth going in and out with the needle!

Sewing two sections together, whipstitching the backing then repeat made working on this monster very doable!

 Look at how nice and puffy it is!

 Love the big chunky quilting. Used some DMC Cebelia thread purchase on clearance at a little shop in Gloucester several years ago.  Didn't know it was for crochet!

 It is twice as thick as size 8 pearl cotton. 

Pulled colors based on the guitar/banjo backing! I will be using wool batting again but first have to try silk then green!!:)

(Need something for that bare wall!)

This was the last finish for the first quarter of the 2015 Finish Along. 

Nothing like getting it done on the last day! 

~d

1st quarter 2015 list.

Stack of Love

Getting them done tooooo close to the end of the first 2015 Finish Along!

Fifth finish...one more to go!!

This is that zippy bag of fun strips.

(This is what it actually looks like in Virginia!)

 Very colorful....not quite what the kiddies like but....

 ...I think they will like that all the strips represent their childhood.

 Hers has a red binding and his is purple.

 This block represents dad.

 This one is me...those are sewing machines above the gardening block!:)

 My pal Kathleen did the quilting and put a music note on the boy's quilt...

 ...a book on the girl's! Awesome!

 See...just fun stuff.  Music, bikes, Batman, Superman, Thomas the Tank Engine, Goodnight Moon...

... London, Dr Seuss, Golden Books, the beach...

...Star Wars, Paddington, The Hulk, Wolverine, Spidey, dinosaurs, elephants....on and on.

The story of our kids!

~d

1st quarter 2015 list.

To honor my pops!

My friend Renelda wrote a quilt book.

From Ensign's Bars to Colonel's Stars is the first in a series called

Making Quilts to Honor Those Who Serve.

Not only has Renelda written a book with patterns it also tells the story of her 25 years in the military.

She put a call out...any one interested in making a quilt from the book...that might be IN the book?

 Oh yes, oh yes, pretty please?!:)  Which one do you want me to make and what colors?

How about LT's Platoon and how about pink, grey and black? OK!

I'm a military kid and proud of it.

(page from the book)

To tell a small bit of  pop's story in a book was an honor.

 I can't wait for the next book.

It's about NCOs....non-commissioned officers.

 I'm looking forward to making the TSgt's quilt!!:)

For my pops!!

xo

~d

Oh yeah...these photos where taken in August 2013...looking forward to those leaves!!

White Stuff

This is what we dealt with last weekend....

 This is what we dealt with this weekend....

At least this time we had help with the shoveling!

 Can you see the name of the Lane on our dirt road?:)

                                                                                 ~d

Pattern tester was I!!

Svetlana of S.O.T.A.K handmade put the call out for anyone interested in testing her latest pattern. I missed out on her first little pouch as it was December busy time but jumped at the chance to try this one...Lucky Me!! Introducing...the Lola Pouch!

Svetlana's patterns are so well written with charts showing your material and cutting needs.

                                                            Tons of great photos.

                          I'll admit here that this was the easiest pouch I have ever made AND...

....there is binding on the zipper!!!

Once you get all your pieces cut,  fusibles ironed on and bindings ironed you never have to leave your sewing machine until it is totally done and no hand stitching!!

 The pattern includes instructions for a 9"x 4" (2" deep) pouch and the larger 12"x 6.5" (4"deep)                            pouch.  Both very useful sizes but what's so very cool about this pattern is...

 ...I totally feel comfortable making it whatever size I want using various size zippers cause once you get the basic sewing technique down you can make it as wide or as tall as you want!!

  I think I could even make the bigger one a little taller and add straps for a truly cute bag!

Go visit Svetlana's blog and see the sweet, sweet pouches made by her and the other lucky tester....then buy the pattern!!!:)

~d

Long time no blog!

Wow...it's been a month since my last post! Been busy, busy, busy and we are trying to stay warm!! Quilting helps!:)

You have already seen the finished Polaroids quilt...I just added a little hand quilting to it but Dance Floor is today's highlight!!

 Dance Floor is from Dana Bolyard's Imagine Quilts. It's the third one I have made from the book having already finished Ampersand and made the zip it! that you see in the actual book!:)

I love the quilting! My pal and coworker Kathleen Imagined it all and it's perfection!

 Love, love, love the backing and the binding and of course the crinkly goodness!  You can see where I hand quilted around the larger Polaroids and tied in the middle of the smaller ones. I love that little extra texture!

(3.5" blocks)

 Was also sucked into another round of Bitty Blocks.  The theme was Folk Art....

(4.5"x 6.5" blocks)

 ...and post cards.  Just waiting to receive from my fellow swappers then I have to put my thinking cap on as to putting them together.

 Finish Along 2015 is still going strong....finished the two tops from the bag-o-strips.  Kathleen now has the two tops for quilting.  Even have the binding all ready!

 The main reason for not quilting those two tops is saving my hands to get the pickle dish finished.  One of the four sections is done...another pin basted.  Loving the wool batting!!

 Woke up to this and 6 degrees (-14.4 C)  Supposed to be colder tomorrow...see why we are trying to keep warm? We sure feel for our friends in New England since they have been getting record snow!!

But this is what has really kept me busy...would you like to hear the story of these 40 and counting Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks? It's really cute!!:)

~d