Month: October 2016

Mini Dresden Patterns

New Pattern, Dresdens on the Square

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Last but not least,

(actually it’s my favorite of my new 4)

#4, with yes, Tiny & Mini Dresden plates!

Dresdens on the Square

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I used two collections in this quilt;

Gratitude & Preservation both by Moda.

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I love how the two collections worked together to add variety to this quilt with lots of coordinating fabrics.

I could use these fabrics over and over and never get tired of them.

I’m sure it’s the whole low contrast thing that I love about this quilt,

but it was also really fun to make.

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Chain piecing saves a lot of time and thread.

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And every time I was making a Dresden plate I couldn’t wait to see how it turned out.

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Perfect every time!

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I’m not perfect, I just sew with precision!

2 good tips, start with good quality fabric and use Best Press to give the fabrics more body.

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Chris tested this pattern for me.

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She said she loved making the quilt and she helped me decide how to write some of the steps so they would be easy to interpret.

I’m envious of her design wall in her new sewing studio!

Dresdens on the Square is available on my website for $14.00 plus shipping.

Thanks to all of my testers and also to Robin for editing all of my new patterns.

I get by with a lot of help from my quilting friends!

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing what I’ve been making.

Just keep sewing…

Susan

Dresden Plate Quilt, Mini Dresden Patterns, Tiny Dresden quilts

New Pattern, Reflections

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I hope you’re enjoying seeing my new patterns.

#3 if you couldn’t guess has even more little Dresdens.

Reflections

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 I loved using the new Morris collection, Earthly Paradise, by Barbara Brackman.

Remember them?

They were so pretty to work with!

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I did the trimming in front of the TV…

Notice another cutlery tray?

I have several because I have several projects going at once.

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I’m putting matching petals together here.

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Making the reflecting Tiny petals…

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Organizing to keep me on track…

(In yet another little tray!)

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Just look at my pretty garden growing!

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And of course, Betsy helped me to keep on task and untangled…

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This is the quilt that I used all the Dr. Pepper circles on.

Heather tested this one for me.

I offered to help her glue the center circles at a guild meeting since I’m always in a bit of a time crunch to get everything ready for maket.

I usually give my testers the pre-cut freezer paper circles that I cut with the paper cutters.circlepapercutters

They’re so quick to cut and perfectly round each time!

It took us about an hour or so to glue all of the Tiny and Mini circles.

It goes quickly when you’re doing something else at the same time.

I think that’s one of the things that I love about these little Dresdens.

I can watch TV, talk on the phone or watch a quilt program while working and before I know it, I’m done!

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Don’t let the circles scare you.

Apliquick Bars are a big help!

I showed you step-by-step how easy they are here.

The Apliquick Bars and circle cutters are available on my notions page on my website.

Reflections is available on my website too for $10.00 plus shipping.

Back tomorrow with #4!

Just keep sewing…

Susan

Mini Dresden Patterns, New quilt pattern, New tiny Dresden plate quilts, Suzn Quilts Patterns, Tiny Dresden quilts

New Pattern, Spring Fling

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In case you can’t guess,

new pattern #2 also has little Dresden plates!

Spring Fling

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The wings are a combination of Tiny & Mini Dresden petals.

Spring Fling was made using a layer cake and a bit of yardage of Pumpkin Pie.

Remember me showing you those fabrics here?

Using  a layer cake makes it easy to use a rainbow of fabrics without buying a lot of different yardages and having a lot left over.

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I just pop in a movie and the time flies by!

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The wings were fun to make.

I’ve been collecting old cutlery trays to keep my petals corralled.

It makes it easy to transport ALL OF THEM from my cutting table to the sewing machine and ironing board.

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The antennas are really easy to create with baby rick rack.

I have fool-proof instructions for making each antenna perfect and I even give you instructions  on how to sew the buttons on with your sewing machine.

Loraine tested this one for me.

She got the entire top put together in about 2 days!

She is a speed demon!

It was her first experience with the Sulky 12 wt. thread.

I love the way it makes my applique “POP!”.

She probably has it quilted by now on her new long arm machine.

I hope you’re enjoying the show of my new patterns.

Spring Fling is available on my website for $10.00 plus shipping.

Back tomorrow with #3.

Just keep sewing…

Susan

My Life, New quilt pattern

New Patterns for You While I’m off to Houston Fall Quilt Market 2016

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On one hand it seems like I’ve been working up to this moment for forever and thought it was never going to get here,

then on the other hand I can’t believe the end of October is already here.

Where did the summer go?

I spent 99% of it indoors designing, sewing and writing patterns.

I have 4 new patterns ready to go.

(Well, I’m waiting on 1 cover that experienced technical difficulty at the printer apparently, because it had to be reprinted and still has not shipped, ugh!)

When having to rely on so many people to get everything together, it’s bound to happen.

While I’m away at quilt market I thought I’d show you the new patterns,

so here goes.

Poppies

Do you remember me showing you the Mini Dresden plates in progress last summer?

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Remember these wonderful reds?

They’re all new Modas with the exception of the far right one.

It’s my all-time favorite fabric I think & it’s from the original “Buttermilk Prints” Thimbleberries collection!

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How can you resist these?

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I was working on them with my new-to-me sewing cabinet before I got the insert for my machine. That seems like eons ago!

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It’s 52″ x 68″.

It will make a nice lap or wall quilt.

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My tester, Theresa, made hers with purples.

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She thought the pattern was easy to follow.

She also thinks it’s the best she has ever done on a quilt.

I think it looks stunning too!

Thanks, Theresa.

I’m pretty sure this quilt will look great in any color combination.

I really like the way the corners of the block resemble an Irish chain block when they’re sewn together.

I literally cannot get enough of my little Dresden plates.

It is now available on my website for $10.00 plus shipping.

3 more new patterns to go.

Just keep sewing…

Susan

Charitable Giving, My Life

Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS 2015-2016

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Again this year I participated in the

Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS.

a.k.a. Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

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In our world where there is so much need,

you might ask why this worthy cause?

Well, oddly enough the reason I first said yes was because of a family friend who suffered with ALS for many years.

I mentioned the friend in this post recently.

I have an antique chair in my living room that reminds me of her often!

And this is why I keep donating each year:

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Can you see this?

1132 donated quilts this past year!

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Many of the quilts go directly to patient who suffer with ALS.

You can see some of their images with quilts here.

They also sell some of the quilts and

100% of the money they receive goes directly to research and a cure for ALS!

I like that.

My donations and the donations of other generous people go to quilters that help them out by making the quilts.

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Seems like a win-win situation to me.

I feel it’s a good way for me to help out because I do not have time to make quilts to give.

Perhaps you’d like to help by making and donating a quilt

or by making a donation of $$$.

Here is their statement & how you can help out if you choose:

“To Give a Handmade Quilt is to Give the Gift of Love.”

The Challenge…

  • To raise awareness of ALS-Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
  • To provide quilts & bring recognition, hope, and warmth to the lives of ALS patients.
  • To raise funds for research for treatment and a cure.

Please give the gift of a quilt to warm the life, the heart and the lap of an ALS patient, and help raise awareness and research money for ALS-Lou Gehrig’s disease.  To be a part of the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge- Simply fill out your entry form and donate your quilts today.

Your donated quilts will be given to ALS patients or used to raise awareness and research money for ALS by being photographed, displayed, auctioned, or raffled.

In addition to contributing your quilt to a wonderful cause- all donated quilts are eligible to win exciting and wonderful prizes.  Our list of generous sponsors, categories and great prizes is growing.!  Hopes & Dreams is a non-juried quit challenge.  All donated quilts will be entered into general prize drawings plus there are incredible prized recognizing the most generous quilter, quilt shop, professional quilter and guild.  Special prize categories for theme quilts and ‘most popular’ quilt.

For the comfort of the patient, we request that quilted or tied quilts be a minimum of 35″ x 44″  Lap and Bed size quilts of all sizes are welcomed.  We look forward to you joining us in this unique quilting event – the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS!

More info here.

Just keep sewing…

(& donating)

Susan