Dresden Plate Quilt, My Life

Desperately Sewing Dresdens, Lol!

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When I woke early this morning I decided I had plenty of time to start a new quilt & quite possibly even finish it in time for my photographer to photograph it along with my other new quilts later this week…….um…sure!

So, I got to cutting and sewing and before long I had this pile of petals.

 Next I started trimming…

A while back I decided I could quickly cut my string apart with my rotary cutter

as long as I was careful!

And, if I could do that why not also trim the seam allowance???

Sure!

I quickly had a tray of sewn petals and a pile of pretty little corners.

Insert a pause here while we went to church

& ran a few errands then I was right back at it.

Life is changing now that the kids are growing up…

I have more & more time to myself

and it’s nice to be able to fill it with my favorite past time;

QUILTING!!!

Once I pressed the seams,

turned the petals right-side-out,

 & pressed them again I could start making the plates.

Too bad I was too engrossed in my sewing to take a photo of those steps…

Soon I had one third plates sewn & pressed.

Then I had the plates complete & ready to choose the center fabric.

Making just 13 little circles goes quickly.

In case you can’t tell, it’s going to a patriotic quilt & a bonus quilt.

Of course my sewing goes quicker when I pop in a silly movie.

The DVD du jour is Desperately Seeking Susan.

I found it used on Amazon a while back.

It’s funny to see it (or listen anyway) after all these years.

My all-time favorite tune, Into The Groove, is from this movie.

Aren’t you glad to know that tidbit of info about me??

It’s also funny to see Aiden Quinn that I watch now on Elementary so young in this movie.

I didn’t even realize he was in DSS.

Now I guess I’m also showing my age, egad!!!

Anyway…

Here are the plates ready for applique.

And now they’re drying after I wet them to remove the paper templates.

They kind of blend in with my crochet tablecloth, huh?

Don’t worry there’s a piece of glass covering the tablecloth.

Lining up these plates reminds me of how my boss would laugh at me for lining up my m&m’s on my drafting board!

Yup, I used to design office interiors on a drafting table with paper, pencils, parallel bar and lots of triangles & other tools.

That’s a funny memory that I’d forgotten about.

Frequently in the afternoon I’d run down to the the vending machine & get a package of m&m’s for a snack.

I’d empty the package and make a pyramid with rows of each color of m&m’s.

Then I’d eat them row by row.

My brain…

Holy cow, I need to get back to work!

I’ll keep you posted on the quilt progress.

I think there are some Easter m&m’s around here now that I think about it.

Maybe I have time for a pyramid of pastel?

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

Dresden Plates, My Life

How is my Dresden Garden Growing?

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Let me just show you how my Dresden garden is growing.

I worked on Tiny Dresden plates all day yesterday.

First, I selected fabrics with Clare’s help.

I then cut a bunch of petals and chain sewed them into strings.

Thanks to Betsy I was able to keep them wrinkle & tangle free until they were all sewn.

Then in front of the TV last night,

after pressing them all to set the seams,

I turned them all right side out.

This morning I awoke with a mission to start making plates!

First I sewed 2 of each matching petal together.

Then gave them a good press to set that seam.

In case you skip this step,

you should know that pressing any seam at this stage

helps to keep it nice & straight.

Also to help me stay organized, I use a wooden cutlery tray keep all of my petals together so I don’t have to go looking for any strays as I move from my machine to the ironing board & back again!

Nothing is worse than losing a petal then having to re-cut and re-sew it to move to the next step…

Here they are all nicely pressed & awaiting the next step.

Next, I sewed two of each pair together.

I love to see the progression, you?

And here is my pretty garden as I get ready to stitch the black centers to each plate.

What are you doing today?

I hope it’s something in your sewing room!

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

My Life, What I'm binding Wednesday

What Are You Binding Wednesday April 12, 2017?

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So many quilts & only so much time…

It seems I never have time to work on any personal quilt projects.

Remember me showing you Blake’s graduation quilt progress back in December?

Well, I finished the top in January.

Tamara quilted it for us in February & I got the binding on it right away.

Blake loved the way she put the feathers in the stripes.

Tamara is great at filling in spaces with her awesome quilting.

From the beginning Blake thought it would look neat with tabs on the top.

He helped me design it & they were his idea from the beginning.

I’m not fond of making tabs so I was kind of hoping Blake would like it without them!

What kind of mom am I???

Well, today was finally the day!

I woke & made the tabs.

I unstitched the top of the binding,

sewed the tabs onto the quilt

& tonight I sewed the binding back down.

I can’t wait for him to see it!

Finally a check mark on Blake’s graduation quilt.

What are you binding today???

Just keep sewing…

Susan

Dresden Plates, My Life

End-of-Glue-Bottle-itis Cure!

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Were you raised like me with the adage, “waste not, want not”?

My MIL was routinely jabbed by her daughters for spending $10 on nuts to use up the brown bananas in banana bread instead of throwing away the bananas…

Well, I guess some things are just in our genes.

I can’t stand not getting the last of the glue out of the bottle.

Perhaps it’s because it’s a $9.00 bottle of glue,

or perhaps it’s the way I was raised,

but either way I’ve found a cure!

This morning as I was getting ready to glue up some circles

for my latest Tiny Dresden Quilt when

I realized you might enjoy this tip.

I keep my little Dresden plate supplies in a handy wooden tray

so they are always conveniently together.

Since I use Roxanne Glue-Baste-It VERY FREQUENTLY,

it seems when I get to the end of the bottle I habitually turn it upside down wedged in a corner of the tray with my other supplies so the glue is closer to the tip of the needle when I get ready to use it again very soon.

Of course it would slip or fall over so it was not always as I left it.

Then I would have to wait for the glue to come back to the tip to use it again.

Since I also keep some thread there it dawned on me one day not too long ago that the thread spool was the exact right size to hold the needle of the glue bottle and it keeps it perfectly upright.

The almost-gone-glue is at the tip of the needle always!

Who doesn’t have a spool of thread?

Now I can use up the last drop of glue while making perfect little circles!

But, now my Tiny Dresdens are dry and I must get back to work!

Have a good day &

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

Dresden Plate Quilt, New Pattern Sample

What are you binding Wednesday

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Are you like me and as soon as a new quilt has been quilted

you can’t wait to get the binding on it?

Or… are you one of those that loses steam and it sits for months

or sometimes longer until you get the courage to do the last tedious step???

If you’re the latter, well sorry, but I just don’t understand how your brain works!

When it gets to this stage it’s like Christmas morning for me

& I can’t wait to see the finished product in all its glory!!!

That’s why when I got a call at 5:30 last night,

I hopped into my minivan and headed over to Tamara’s to get my newest family member!

Within 5 minutes of returning home it was trimmed.

By 7:00 I had the binding strips cut, sewn together and sew onto the quilt.

By 7:02 p.m. I was in front of the TV watching my favorite Tuesday night shows.

By 8:50 p.m. it was finished!

Now I just need to get the hanging sleeve on it so I can hang it for photography

(sorry to put you through my poor snap shots!)

& for the upcoming shows; Chicago Festival April 6-8

(which by the way I still have comp. tickets for see my last post)

& International Spring Quilt Market May 19-21.

At least I hope I have the covers ready to go to Chicago.

Those dates are not that far away and I have a lot to accomplish for that to happen,

but my photographer is scheduled and Teresa is working on testing the pattern instructions.

You can pre-order “Dresden Rose of Sharon” on my website today!

So what are you binding this Wednesday?

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

A Giveaway!, My Life

Get Your Chicago Quilt Festival 2017 Complimentary Passes Here!

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Are you planning or considering attending the Chicago Quilt Festival April 6-8?

If so, I have a complimentary pass for the first 20 to request them!

Chloe & I will be there in booth #2006

& my friend, Susan Knapp of The Quilt Branch, will be close by in booth #1907.

I’m working on lots of new patterns &

I’ll be giving demos on my beautiful little Dresden plates!

Quilt Festival Chicago

 April 6-8, 2017

Classes begin April 6

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center

5555 N. River Rd.

Rosemont, Illinois, USA 60018

 HOURS:

Thursday & Friday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

DAILY ADMISSION:

General: $10

Seniors 65+/Students/Military: $8

Children 10 and under free with paid admission

Full Show Pass: $25

If you would like a complimentary pass,

be one of the first 20 to send me an email at:

SuznQuilts@aol.com

Please put “Chicago Festival” in the subject line

& include your snail mail address so I can send it to you.

(If you need one for a friend, have them email me separately.)

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

A Giveaway!

simple, fun & quickly done Winner!

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Yep,

I told you that you knew Terry Atkinson.

I also knew that a lot of you have made at least one Yellow Brick Road quilt.

Now one of you will have no excuse not to make every single project in here!

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If I weren’t so busy with my own quilting projects I would have

“borrowed” the book to make myself one of those sewing supplies roll-ups!

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They’re so cute!

Now for the winner…

#13

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Christine Prager.

I had to show you the random number generator so you would believe me

since #13 is my favorite number & Chris is a good friend & one of my pattern testers.

Trust me, it wasn’t “fixed” or fishy!

However, I will not be giving Chris the book until after she finishes testing my latest pattern Lol!!!

So for those of you that didn’t win simple, fun & quickly done,

go to Terry’s Etsy page to purchase one.

You won’t be disappointed!

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

A Giveaway!, My Life

simple, fun & quickly done book give-away!

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Terry Atkinson has a new book!

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It’s Simple, Fun & Quickly Done and it’s

published by That Patchwork Place.

Even if you think you don’t know Terry, I’m pretty sure you do.

She’s the designer of the most-popular-quilt-pattern-ever;

Yellow Brick Road.

Yellow Brick Road Pattern

Her new book includes 18 adorable little projects

& they all remind me of spring.

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Crazy, I know, but it’s been feeling like spring here even though it’s February.

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These cute Citrus Slices hot pads make me think of Dresden plates.

(I know, what doesn’t remind me of Dresden plates, right?)

suznquiltszipper-pocketgiftwrapThis Zipper-Pocket Gift Wrap is a water bottle wrap, but also a little purse.

Terry is so ingenuous!

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My favorites are these cute little Sewing Supplies Roll-ups.

And she even has a quilt-as-you-go table runner!

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It’s done in the same fashion as all of my quilt-as-you-go patterns.

For those of you that like my quilt-as-you-go projects,

this might be your favorite.

You know it’s quick & easy.

You can get a bunch of these made for Christmas gifts.

As a matter of fact, you could make a lot of Christmas and Birthday gifts from the patterns in Terry’s new book!

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Good news…

I have a copy that could be yours just for leaving me a comment.

Your comment should answer the question,

how many Yellow Brick Road quilts have you made?

It seems if you make one, you’ll make more because they’re so easy.

So, leave me a comment.

I’ll be having a drawing Friday!

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

My Life, New Christmas Quilt Fabric, new fabric collection

Beautiful (fabric) Snowfall

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I think you’ll agree, Snowfall is beautiful!

Of course I’m talking about a new fabric line

not the stuff that comes with cold weather

like what we had a taste of last week,

along with two nearly 70 degree days.

Much to Nemo’s dismay it was so nice I gave him a bath one of those days!

But nope, I’m talking about the new Snowfall fabric line.

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This is Minick & Simpson’s new Christmas line by Moda.

It is scheduled to be delivered to quilt shops near you in April.

It will be here before we know it.

Goodness, it’s Valentine’s Day already tomorrow.

Where does the time go?

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I love these ladies and their beautiful fabrics!

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This line has cute little prints in my favorite Christmas colors.

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I’m pretty sure they designed it just for me ;)

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They’ll make perfect little Dresden plates don’t you think?

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It has some gorgeous woven plaids too.

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I’ve been harboring these beauties since December!

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The iron however, I just bought over the weekend.

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Isn’t it adorable???

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& it looks so cute with Snowfall don’t you think?

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I need to stop procrastinating

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but I hardly know where to start.

The first cut it always the hardest!

I don’t want to waste a single snippet.

I hope your day looks just as bright!

Just keep sewing…

Susan