Category: Dresden Plates

Dresden Plates, Workshops

Another Guild Presentation = New Quilting Friends

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I had a great couple of days with some lovely new quilting friends

from the Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Guild in Springfield, MO last week.

I first met many of these ladies at their guild’s quilt show last September.

My daughter & I had a booth there selling my patterns.

Their quilt show helps support the most incredible

& unusual set-up for a quilt guild that I have ever encountered!

They actually rent a storefront in a strip mall 365 days a year.

Their membership is about 300.

They have two business meetings on the same day each month,

one in the morning & another the same evening for their members that work during the day.

They also have a lot of satellite clubs that meet at different times throughout the month; several charity sewing groups, a Featherweight sewing group, a modern sewing group & a group of strippers for heaven’s sake, lol! And that’s just a small sampling.

I’m telling you, they have it all!!!

They invited me to setup my goodies & speak to both groups.

They have a beautiful “In Between” raffle quilt

shown here behind Vicky’s Bonnie Hunter sew-along quilt.

While on my journey there I was able to stop at a few antique malls

including Relics in Springfield.

It’s huge with lots to see!

I found this cool “hanger” for drying tops.

The interesting part is that it’s adjustable.

I’ll probably hang a quilt or two on it.

Between lectures (with suggestions from my lunch pals)

I was also able to visit The Vintage Peddler.

This place is awesome!

They have lots of lovely, thoughtfully displayed booths.

I found several items that I needed there…

including these HUGE display hangers.

That’s a 30″ wide table that they’re hanging on.

I showed these to some of my new quilt friends during our workshop the next day.

One of them asked what I’m going to do with them…

Hang quilts on them of course!

We laughed that I could hang all 12 of my Tiny Dresden quilts on the two of them; one from each clip.

I could also hang one quilt per hanger:

or…

or I could hang one larger quilt like these between the two hangers…

I also found this metal shelving unit that comes apart to store flat.

I’m always looking for display pieces that are durable

& don’t take up a lot of space for travel purposes

whether for quilt shows or trunk shows & workshops like theirs.

I will for sure be taking this to the Kansas City Quilt Festival in June.

(this is where I initially met some of my Ozark Piecemakers friends

who thankfully persuaded me to join their quilt show last year!)

Perhaps I’ll find a purpose for it in my booth

at Spring Quilt Market in May

which is also being held in Kansas City this year.

We’ll see.

Our workshop was a fun day as well,

with 100% of the quilters successfully completing

at least 1 ore more perfect little Dresden plates!

Look at the smiles & the complete plates.

(Some of them are smiling because they think they tricked me into making their center circles while I demonstrated with my Apliquick Bars, Lol!)

Little do they know I love making them.

I’ll make them for your group too if you invite me to teach a workshop.

You can see my lecture & workshop offerings here.

I hope you are all making more plates.

Please send me pics when you do.

It really is all about having the right tools for the right job.

Thanks new quilting friends!

I hope to see you again soon!

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

Dresden Plate Quilt, Dresden Plates, My Life

Mug Rug Swap

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Do you need a little something for a gift?

Do you have any fabric scraps???

I may have the idea you’re looking for!

One of the quilt clubs that I attend

decided to have a mug rug exchange this year

& I decided to join in the fun.

I’m so glad that I did!

Look at my adorable mug rug that was made by Suzanne H. :

It’s perfect for me!

Even the hot cocoa mix inside is my favorite!

Pretty cool considering our names all went into a drawing

then we had to wait until our name was pulled

to choose a mug rug that was wrapped inconspicuously.

Probably 3/4 the ladies (& 1 gentleman) got to choose before I did.

I came right home,

gave it a hanger

& hung it in a place of honor in my sewing atelier.

It now has a home amidst other treasures in and around my new cabinet.

(- the hot cocoa of course.)

It won’t take me very long to think of something to store in that pocket.

Since I spent the entire weekend working on the bazaar for our church’s annual smorgasbord,

which turned out very well thanks to many parishioners,

& our faithful supporters (including some of you, thanks!),

it was Sunday night before I finally had the great idea for my mug rug.

Well, not that I wait until the last minute, but…

1. I’ve been very busy working on 6 new patterns,

who’s covers finally got sent to the printer last week, yay!

&

2. No great ideas would come to me…

…until Sunday night.

I spied 2 small orphan blocks in the “rag bag” that both seemed the perfect size!

I didn’t photograph any of this because first of all I was exhausted,

& second of all, it was getting down to the wire!!!

Then,

I noticed one of the blocks coordinated with my two leftover teeny Tiny Dresden plates

that I’d left on my cutting table after making this beauty.

Alas, 2 centers, 1/2″ in diameter,

a smidgen of batting and backing

(also from the rag bag)

and viola:

Oh what fun it is to make a little quilt!

Yes, it was extremely hard for me to part with those 2 teeny plates,

but I wanted to give something that I’d like to receive!

I’m pretty certain the recipient, my new friend, Cathy, will love them as much as I do.

The hard work was done weeks & months ago.

As soon as I get the pattern covers from the printer

I’ll be able to show you how the orphan block came about.

Until then,

Happy holiday prep &

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

Dresden Plates, My Life

Happy Thanksgiving 2018

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Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you’re able to enjoy this day with your loved ones

& also have plenty to be thankful for!

Please enjoy this delightful, fall, TEENY Tiny Dresden plate at my expense…

It’s probably smaller than you first imagined.

I was right, wasn’t I?

And while I was painfully making this teeniest of Tiny Dresden plates,

I was also feeling bad for how I’d treated some of my fellow Tiny Dresden seamstresses these past few months.

REALLY BAD!

I realize now that being out of your comfort zone is hard!

I’ve made so many Tiny & Mini Dresden plates that I can practically make them in my sleep.

These petals are MUCH (MUCH) SMALLER than I’m used to sewing.

Incredibly cute,

but SO…MUCH…SMALLER…

Hard to grasp.

Hard to turn.

The first one turned out so poorly that I decided to try again.

And again.

The 3rd time I decided to elongate the petals so I would have more fabric to hold onto

while they were going through the machine,

then trim them as needed as I sewed them into the plate.

I also tried trimming the seam allowances,

something that I never do while making Tiny Dresden plates.

It’s just not necessary.

At this point it became necessary to trim the center of the plate (the part that I elongated)

and I wasn’t even sure if it was going to come together at all like it should.

The 3rd plate turned out so much better!

While experimenting, I was reminded of several of my TD students from more than one TD workshop.

We would together get that first plate made,

then they’d usually go back to their space & make the second plate by themselves.

It was fun seeing the excitement on their faces as they became more comfortable with the process,

and do a much better job on their second plate, yay!

I now know your frustration and disappointment at not having the success as anticipated.

But with a bit of perseverance,

& the right tools…

thanks to Rosa & her Apliquick Bars,

my 1/2″ diameter center is perfectly round with no trouble at all!

I was finally able to fill this adorable little acorn frame that’s been hanging empty

in my sewing room for more than a decade!

Now I have a new fall decoration, something to display for years to come.

This makes my heart sing.

I hope I’ve inspired you to maybe do something a bit out of your comfort zone too.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

Dresden Plates, Quilt-As-You-Go Quilting, Workshops

Michigan & More Circles

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I had the privilege of being invited to teach in Michigan last weekend.

One might think that Tim The Toolman (Tim Allen) had a part in that because I hear the “Pure Michigan” commercials ALL THE TIME these days, but no!

The Berrien Towne & Country Quilters invited me.

What a wonderful group of quilters!

They requested my Quilt-as-you-go, Little Frosties for Friday’s workshop.

By end of class most everyone had all of the piecing done.

Some even had the applique ready to stitch!

Peri mentioned that their town had spectacular sunsets over Lake Michigan,

& she was right!

This was the view across the street from my hotel!

I’d say they’re just as beautiful if not more so than at Rick’s Cafe overlooking the ocean in Negril, Jamaica.

On Saturday we made Tiny & Mini Dresden plates for my Dresden Heaven pattern.

Everyone worked hard making their little Dresden plates precise.

This was a very dedicated group!

By end of class everyone had at least 2 perfect plates & they were still smiling!

By end of day there was another spectacular sunset!

I shared most of my pre-cut freezer paper templates with them so this morning I decided I had better get cutting…

I want to be able to share more with my next class in a couple of weeks.

It’s quick & easy to cut these with the 1″ & 2″ circle cutters (on my website).

I cut strips of freezer paper & layer 6 of them together,

then snap out 6 perfectly round templates.

I love the perfection of the process!

As luck would have it,

as I pulled off the interstate at my Michigan destination I was led to an estate sale…

where I found this souvenir,

A perfect place to store some Tiny Dresden plates!

Shedd’s peanut butter used to be made in Michigan until the 1980’s apparently.

I love exploring and learning about an area where I’ve never been before.

During a ride to an antique store in the country I also experienced the scent of grapes in the air.

A quilter had asked me if I smelled any & was happy that I had noticed, Lol!

Thanks, Peri, & the rest of The Berrien Towne & Country Quilters.

A fun & memorable trip.

Now, are those quilts finished yet???

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

Dresden Plates, My Sewing Room, New Notion

Sewing In The Sunshine

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I love bright sunny days, especially when they come into my sewing room!

This morning I’m making a Tiny Dresden plate with the sun literally on my shoulder!

I love it when the sun comes into my sewing atelier.

It makes me smile.

Much better thoughts than when I’m thinking about summer being almost over and winter on the horizon…ugh.

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts!!!

I have a new fave tool too.

Kimberly Jolly of Fat Quarter Shop mentioned these scissors on one of her IG live sessions a while back so I thought I’d try them.

Very nice!

I know why they’re her favorite now.

They’re perfect for trimming my little Dresdens.

The very small, sharp point gets right up there next to the seam.

No thread tails here!

This morning in the sunshine I also finished sewing the binding onto the two preemie quilts that I demonstrated straight & bias binding on for our guild last night.

I made them quickly yesterday morning with a couple of orphan blocks from my Baby Love book.

Since Sue H. didn’t know I had a “baby” book I’ve added pics of the covers & a link.

It’s on my website’s “Book” page.

Lots of baby quilts including; pieced, appliqued & one of my signature quilt-as-you-go quilts plus a bag perfect for a diaper bag & bonus pillow that the applique is “free” when you make the “Baby” quilt. The letters are the negative shape that results from cutting out “Baby” for the quilt.

The preemie quilts are ready for some TV time.

Do you make charity quilts?

Our guild is very good about making all sizes of charity quilts.

I don’t do as much as I should, but I did make this one and donate it last month.

They can be quick & easy (or not so much)

& fun too when you have nice tools!

I’m so glad I also found this Dritz Might Steam Iron.

It’s so light-weight & HOT!

Perfect for the hours of repetitive ironing on my Tiny Dresden petals.

I just added the scissors ($18.50+ shipping) to my notions page on my website

& the iron ($32.00 + shipping) is there as well.

Back to the sunshine!

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

Dresden Plates, New Pattern Sample

Have I Told You Lately, That I Love Little Dresdens???

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Absolutely, cannot get enough!

I took the weekend off.

OK, at least from sewing & designing.

I still filled orders & chatted about upcoming workshops… & possible workshops.

Would your group like me to come teach for you?

I do that you know?

Check my website for ideas & pricing then send me an email or call to schedule.

Today, it’s back to business!

Betsy’s load became a lot lighter toward the end of last week.

Remember how she looked?

I have enough plates to work on at least one design.

My Flower Garden Gatherings bouquet is growing prettier each day.

So much fun!

What are you working on?

Are you sewing along with me on my Dresden Quilt Workshop Sampler quilt?

It’s not too late to join in the fun.

If you are sewing along, you’ve got one more day until I show you Week #5, so chop, chop!

Back to work for me.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

Dresden Plates, New quilt pattern, Tiny Dresden quilts

New Patterns Spring 2018, #14

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New Pattern #14

is Dresden LOVE.

I L-O-V-E this quilt!

I’ve been enjoying this quilt hanging in my atelier for quite some time…

3 years according to my camera roll

& now I’m sharing it in pattern form so that you can make & enjoy your own!

I had absolutely no indecision on this one.

I saw it in my head,

knew just the right fabrics for it

& got to sewing.

This is my original Tiny Dresden “O” quilt.

The black fabric is from my very own “Vintage Play” fabric line

that I designed with Red Rooster Fabrics a few years ago.

I added the alternating red little half-square triangles & that was it.

Now you can make & enjoy your own!

Meet Dresden LOVE.

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing a bit of the process that I use to create my pattern quilts.

All 14 new patterns, the little Dresden templates,

& the notions that I use & love are available on my website.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

Dresden Plates, My Life

Bedazzling Another Pretty Quilt…

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As I mentioned before… I see Dresden plates… where there are none!

Unfortunately you’ll have to take my word for it because I totally forgot to take a before pic.

This will have to do, sorry.

I picked up the lovely completed (or so Jody thought) quilt last week along with the gorgeous coordinating fabric. I had to buy the fabric to complete this project. Big ideas come with big pieces of fabric. You NEVER know just how much fabric a project may take, so you better get plenty so you don’t run out, REALLY!

I’ve been preoccupied with lots of things since purchasing this last Friday, one those things was having friends over for lunch today.

Well, you know how friends can sometimes be, well, opinionated? (What I have to say about opinions, “They’re like elbows, everyone has at least two!”) so the opinion today as they looked at my sewing table was that I shouldn’t put a Mini Dresden plate in the center of this seemingly complete quilt, but instead a Mini Dresden AND a Tiny Dresden!

They even demonstrated their idea.

I just happen to keep some orphan plates hanging in my sewing room.

They may be know-it-alls, but I agreed!

So after our lunch and a trek back to the same shop (criminals frequently return to the scene of the crime…) what can I say… I forgot these Friday!

And one might say, “Is that blue?” yes, temporary insanity? I don’t know why I bought a blue fabric. I never buy blue unless it’s for a patriotic quilt. But it caught my eye and it was on the $5 sale table. Actually it was all on sale.

Unfortunately, Mini Mall in Staunton is going out of business. Jody is retiring  :(

Anyway, I set to cutting.

I first made the Mini Dresden plate.

Then I cut and sewed the Tiny Dresden petals.

 It sure saves a lot of time to trim the seam allowance with a rotary cutter!

Before long I had the Tiny Dresden plate finished.

Then I made the center with a pretty green fabric.

I glued then stitched the center to the Tiny Dresden plate.

I got it wet to release the glue on the template so I could remove it.

Next I pressed it nice & flat again with Mary Ellen’s Best Press and glued it to the center of the Mini Dresden plate and stitched it down.

Then I glued that to the completed quilt & started to stitch it down.

This is where I remembered that I hadn’t taken a pic of the original quilt!

I sure miss my memory!

And isn’t it pretty?

Now you see what I kind of saw when I first laid eyes on the pretty quilt for sale.

Careful, you may just catch whatever I have!

Just Keep Sewing… Dresden plates!

Susan

Dresden Plates, My Life

Patriotic Runner Bedazzled

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I found this lovely, 100% complete

red & white table runner for sale at my local quilt shop this morning

after our club meeting.

It caught my eye because of course as soon as I saw the stars,

my brain instantly started seeing little Dresden plates inside them.

I just can’t help myself!

I could tell the centers were a bit too small for one of my Tiny Dresden plates

(they’re usually appliqued onto a 4 1/2″ finished square)

but I knew I could make something work.

So, I bought the runner and a fat 1/4 of a pretty blue.

If you know me, you know my blue stash is VERY SMALL!

The only time I use blue is in patriotic quilts.

This afternoon I cut a couple strips of the blue fabric.

I decided on 1 3/4″ strips not knowing exactly what the finished size of the plate would be,

I just wanted the challenge of playing with the concept.

Notice I used the narrow end of the template.

This is the end that goes to the inside of the plate.

Had I cut with the outside edge of the template,

I would have only been making the center hole larger,

not the outside diameter smaller.

Since there are 3 stars on the runner,

I cut 36 petals to make 3 Dresden plates.

Of course I had plenty of reds to choose from for the centers.

Aren’t the 3 3/8″ Dresdens adorable???

The perfect addition to Tamara’s perfect stars!

I think they’re perfect for my new patriotic table runner.

What a fun project this afternoon.

I hope Tamara doesn’t want it back!

What are you sewing this summer?

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

Dresden Plates, My Life, New Pattern Sample

My Rainbow Progress

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It has been fun sewing my Grunge, Seeing Stars rainbow these past two days.

I finished the plates, then made the centers at our guild meeting yesterday.

When I got home I appliqued the centers in place

(after I replaced Mr. Too Dark Blue… he’ll have to wait for a different project)

You can see for yourself that there was no contrast between him & the pretty black center fabric.

So, I replaced him with a grey plate,

then I stitched the centers in place & dampened the centers to remove the paper templates.

During dinner we got to watch them dry.

I put them on our kitchen table & turn on the ceiling fan.

It makes the drying time quick!

(An advantage of the kids growing up & moving on is that

we don’t need the whole kitchen table for dinner anymore.

I also spend less money on food… but at times the quiet is deafening!)

After our dinner was cleaned up I glued the plates to the background squares

then got out my box of Sulky threads & played the matching game.

That was fun!

Typically I use one spool of thread, Sulky Medium Taupe #1180.

It blends with all of my “muddy” colors so well,

but these bright fabrics read as solids & all 12 petals are the same

so I wanted to match them as closely as possible.

Did you know that if your thread color is a little darker than your fabric that it actually matches better?

Try it!

Next, I stitched the plates in place.

Theresa asked about my applique stitch,

so I’ve added a couple of close-up pics here:

It’s a tiny blind hem stitch.

It takes a few straight stitches, then a zag to the left.

I adjust the stitch length really short & the width really narrow.

I had a hard time getting a pic where you could actually see the stitches

because they’re so small & the thread matches so well.

That’s the reason I use this stitch.

In my opinion it resembles a hand stitch.

In fact I’ve had multiple quilters with their noses close to my quilt adamant that I’d done the stitching by hand!

(Obviously they don’t know me at all! They just see my work!)

The stitch shows up better on this aqua plate

where the color of the fabric changes to a lighter shade.

BTW, the Sulky thread is 30 wt. cotton.

Now this morning I’m ready to assemble the rest of the blocks.

I can’t wait to see them all come together.

Must get off computer & go sew lol!!!

I hope you’re doing some stitching today too.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan