Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

A Study in Purple

 


A Study in Purple is all finished! I love how it was quilted by the quilter, and I had the perfect purple in my stash for the binding. I was at my guild meeting on Wednesday night and the guest speaker was talking about the importance of shopping your stash. This project was all from my stash except for the backing which I got on clearance. A lot of love and thought went into this quilt for my friend who has supported me so much over the years.  The pattern is called Scrap Basket Blues and it is out of the Scrap Basket Surprises book by Kim Brackett. I am anxious now to give this quilt to my friend.

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday, TGIFF and Can I Get A Whoop, Whoop.

His and Hers

I made some pillowcases for Christmas for one of my friend's grandchildren. They were fun to make, and my daughter helped me pick out the fabric. It amazes me sometimes how much I love to sew, and how simple pieces of fabric can be turned into useful items. It can be addicting to make these quick gifts, rather than the time and effort it takes to make quilts but I won't be stopping to make quilts any time soon! I think for next year, my New Year's resolution will be to make some clothing.

Life is like a bowl of cherries

Here is one of my Christmas gifts. It is a microwave bowl. When I went on the retreat in November, some of the quilters there made one. They looked great so I tried one out myself. In the end it seemed smaller than I thought, but it did fit a bowl. I looked at quite a few tutorials to make the bowl. Each seemed to have better photos than others for different sections. I did get the 100 % cotton batting and it did say microwave safe. I gave it to my friend, who being with her, feels like getting to have a bowl of cherries. She liked it, and appreciated it. I think I will make another one of these.


Linking up to Finish it Up Friday, and Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop!

The Three of Hearts - Design Wall Monday

 

I had an urge this weekend to work on my Heart Throb quilt. I now have the rows together and need to sew them now together. I got two sections put together  and after I did the third I realized that one of the squares was upside down. Then I looked closer, and realized the whole row was upside down. At least that's a much easier fix than taking out an individual square!

Check out what others have done at Design Wall Monday.

Soft Days

Another one of my Christmas quilts off, of my list. This one is for my daughter. The most important part about this quilt is the backing.

 

You can see the Minkee in the upper right hand corner.

It is made using Minkee. I bought the Minkee fabric last summer and my daughter kept asking me when it is going to be finished. I normally name all my quilts so I was asking for suggestions this morning for it. She has decided on the name Soft Days. I really enjoyed the Twister pattern, though again it was hard for me to cut something up again once it was all together. I did find too that I had to be careful with the cuts to make sure I did not cut too far into the next square.

And as to my wonder last week about my Red/Aqua Swap quilt it has now officially become my son's. Luckily for me I made myself a new Christmas quilt. To me, you can never have too many quilts!

My giveaway winner for the Giving Thanks - Blog Hop Party with Giveaways is #93 - Rhonda D.

Linking up to Finish it Up Friday, TGIFF, and Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop!

Sewing with My Girl!

Yesterday, my daughter and I did some sewing together. We made this bag from fabric from her collection. I think she has almost as most fabric as I do. I also think she will become a much better sewer than me too! I borrowed it last night to put my binding clips in, as I was getting the binding done a quilt I am making. We were also entering some of the Quilting Gallery's Blog Hop Party and Giveaways yesterday. One of the questions on a blog was if you had a name for your sewing machine. I told my daughter that I did not have a name for mine, and she decided that she should name it. My sewing machine is now called Zoey/Sewy. I have not asked her the preferred spelling. It was a lot of fun sewing with her. Next we will be working on a pillowcase together.

Finally Finished Friday - Red/Aqua

My Red/Aqua quilt is finally finished. It was only 4 years in the making. It was a disappearing 9 patch swap that was hosted by Jane's Fabrics and Quilts. I really liked the squares that I got back from the swap, but I was not sure how to put them together. I finally figured that out 2 years ago, and there it sat until this year when I got it quilted by a long-arm quilter.




 





I pieced the back as I had extra blocks. My son and I both really like this quilt and I am not sure who will end up with it. He has been sleeping with it on his bed every night.


Linking up to Finish it Up Friday, TGIFF and Can I Get A Whoop, Whoop.

Blog Hop Party with Giveaways

Hello everyone, and welcome to my blog on the Blog Hop Party with Giveaways hosted by the Quilt Gallery! It is so nice to give back to everyone, when I get so much from all of you. My name is Michelle aka Dresden Quilter. I have been quilting for over 20 years. I also have been knitting, and crocheting for longer. A few years ago I learned how to do red work and I love that as well. Last year, I learned how to knit socks and I have grown a bit of an addiction to them. Yarn and fabric stores are both my favourites and can both be quite expensive! The people I love are my muses. I love to make things for the ones I care about. I always seem to have a "thing" and this year my thing is pillowcases. They are fun, quick to make and can be quite unique. I have five quilts to have bound by Christmas.  So far, I have 1 1/2 finished. I hope to finish up some smaller gifts too!

I am giving away a kit to make a watermelon pin cushion. In the times now of Twitter, I am going to keep the question you must answer short and sweet. In one word, how would you describe yourself, and in one other word tell me something you are working on right now. My answer would be curious, and socks.


The winner will be chosen randomly and you must have a way for me to contact you. I will leave the giveaway open until November 26 at 8:00 PM EST and I will ship internationally from the beautiful country of Canada. If after I have contacted you, I have not heard back from you in one week, I will choose another winner. Good luck with this and the other giveaways at the Quilter's Gallery.

 

WIP Wednesday - What I Would Rather Be Doing

I am a summer quilter and usually for me  I do very little in September, and October. Now that I am getting back into it again, I have all these great ideas for new quilts with fabric that I have, but first I need to finish up my summer quilting which of course are Christmas gifts. As well I would like to make some smaller Christmas gifts too.

So rather than working on this :

or this :

or this:

I am working on binding this quilt. The backing is a Minkee fabric. It is the first time I have used Minkee as a backing. It is quite soft and warm.

I will get it done, and then on to the other three quilts that need to be bound.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at  The Needle and Thread Network and Freshly Pieced.

FNKI not FNSI

Well, my Friday Night Sew In turned into a Friday Night Knit In. I did get my sewing room organized and then decided I had better get working on my second sock if it is going to be a Christmas gift. I love stripe wool but I always find it hard to match up when I start the second sock.

I ended up rolling the yarn into a ball before I got to the right place. I have it started now, have some PVR shows to watch and feel much better now about having it done by Christmas.

Check out what others have done for their Friday Night Sew In.

WIP Wednesday - Heart Throb

I went on my very first ever quilting retreat this past weekend. I had an amazing time. It was fun to have two days to work on projects and have all of your meals provided. I brought a couple of new projects to work on, and one that I have been working on for three years.

I am happy to say that my Heart Throb quilt is almost put together. I have a couple of blocks to fix up and then I can sew it together. Even if I only gotten this done on the weekend, I would have been happy. It is amazing to see so much creativity in one room and how it can help fuel you to continue.

Linking up to The Needle and Thread Network and WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Remembrance Day

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Hot Dog

I posted this quilt last week, but here now in its entirety is its story. One of my closest friends was having a first grandchild at the end of September. I knew I wanted to make her a quilt for the grandson to be. I had asked her about colour schemes without letting her know why. I had decided on a quilt with blues, oranges greens and had a pattern picked out. Then at the end of June, I went to the library to pick up a quilting book I had on hold.

I had was intrigued by the owl on the front cover as my daughter really loves owls. I was perusing the book, when I found the cutest dog baby quilt. My friend loves, loves dog and I knew this would be perfect for her. Luckily I had all of the fabric for it in my stash, including the background which I had bought as a backing in a quilt kit and didn't like. I was so excited that I started working on it right away.

I had it sent out to be quilted. When I went to pick it up, my daughter mentioned that the meandering looked like the shape of dog bones. When I looked closer I could see those bone shapes. I gave the quilt to my friend this week and she was very appreciative and told me how beautiful it is. To me that is the best part about quilting.

I am joining the Blogger's Quilt Festival. My quilt is in the baby quilt category! Amy does such an amazing job with the festival. I am always in awe of the quilts I see. 

Hot Dog!

 


The quilt for my friend who is now a grandmother is all finished. I love it so much! I think I say that about all of the quilts I make. This was a fun one for me to make. All of the fabric came from my stash and I happened upon the pattern by accident. The only thing I had to buy was some thread for the binding.




I love too, the quilting that was done by my quilter. My daughter came with me when I picked it up, and she mentioned right away that the meandering was done in the shape of bones. I looked closer and saw she was right! Probably something I would have not have realized. It is wonderful and amazing to have different perspectives to help you out.

I am linking up to Finish it Up Friday, TGIFF and Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 I am very thankful and grateful to my family and friends who support and listen to me! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Pink Swirl

This is another quilt finished and gifted in August, to my new beautiful niece. I enlisted my daughter's help in naming the quilt and she suggested Pink Swirl. I thought it was the perfect name, and showcased the beautiful pink swirl quilting in the middle of the stars. My brother and sister-in-law were very appreciative of the quilt. The pattern is called Unwind from Jaybird Quilts. I really enjoy making quilts for others. It brings so much satisfaction for me.  Linking up to Finish it Up Friday, TGIFF and Can I Get A Whoop, Whoop.

On Their Way!

Well, I got two quilts finished and on their way to the quilter's yesterday. I got a lot accomplished in August and it will be nice to have some finished projects later this year.

I so love this dog quilt, that will be for my friend's first grandchild and it was so easy to do. I am even prouder that all the fabric can from my stash.

I also finally got around to finishing the Twister quilt for my daughter.  I was in a rush to get it done and realized after, I had not taken a photo of the completed top. She had picked out a Minky aqua backing last summer, and kept asking me when it would be in a quilt for her. Well, now it will!

Sunflowers Have Bloomed!

My Sunflower quilt is finished and delivered to my dh's Great-Aunt in the summer. She was very surprised, happy and grateful. I was not happy with my original binding fabric so I went to my LQS and found a great binding and for only $5.00. I really enjoyed making this Taffy pattern from Jaybird Quilts. I can definitely see myself making it again. Linking to Finish it Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts, TGIFF and Can I Get A Whoop, Whoop!

Design Wall Monday - Studying is Over

My blocks are now complete for A Study in Purple. It is time now to start working on the final project and put them all together. It turned out so much better than I had imagined. Check out what others have made for Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.

WIP Wednesday

 

I have the first two columns done for my A Study in Purple quilt. It has been a nice change of pace for me. Usually, I get an idea for a quilt, start it, then have to go back to whatever else I am working on. This time I have stuck with this quilt and I am amazed at how much progress is made when only working on one project. I have eight blocks to go, sew them up and then the quilt top will be done!  Check out what others are working on at The Needle and Thread Network and Freshly Pieced.

Design Wall Monday - Still Studying

 

I have started putting the squares together for my Study in Purple. I am really happy with the organized scrappy decision. I already know this is another one that I am not going to want to give away.
Check out what others have on their Design Walls at Patchwork Times.

Friday Night Sew-In

I spent my Friday Night Sew-In watching Friday Night Lights and working on my A Study in Purple quilt. I have it all laid out now.









My quilt has more shades of colour than the original pattern. I found it a bit busy to my eye and I knew it would be the same for the recipient.  I decided to have the stars scrappy, but the formation of the border to be the same. It will take longer to make but in the end I think well worth it.





Check and see what others did for their Friday Night Sew-In.

A Study in Purple

 

  
I have been wanting for a long time to make a quilt from one of Kim Brackett's books and I finally got the chance to make one for a friend. The one I chose is Scrap Basket Blues from her Scrap-Basket Surprises book, but I am calling mine A Study in Purple. This is another stash project, and I must say I am becoming more impressed with the stash I have. I do like purple quite a bit, and it has been fun going through all my purples and remembering where they came from.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced and The Needle and Thread Network.

Making a Splash!

There are people in your life who make not just a ripple in your life, but a big splash. I had to say goodbye to this kind of person this week as she moves into a new position at work. She not only made a splash in my life but in many others as well.

I made this boxy bag as a small token of my appreciation. I have started working on a quilt, but I knew it was not going to get done in the small time frame that I had. I wanted to leave her with something to let her know how much she is appreciated.

I went to Fabricland this week and they had a huge sale, including a Splash rotary cutter for less than half of the regular price. I bought one, and must say I love the colour. It has been tested out and it works well.




Linking up to Finish it Up Friday, TGIFF, and Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop.

Hot Dog

We had a cool windy day on Canada Day, so I was able to get some quilting done. I finished up the doggie quilt. I think it looks fabulous! It was a lot of fun to put together. I have been enjoying making quilts from my stash. It makes me realize how much I have, and appreciate what I do. Linking up to Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop.

When life gives you lemons make quilts!

The flooding and the devastation in Calgary has been horrific. Looking at the photos has been difficult to do and knowing fellow quilters who live in the area has been hard. I lived in Calgary for a while, when I was attending school and I found it to be such a beautiful city. I really enjoyed my short time there. They have been looking for quilt top donations and I remembered these blocks that I had tucked away.

These blocks got me started on blogging over 4 years ago. I had been lurking online for about 6 months and kept seeing all the wonderful swapping that had been going on. I decided to start blogging so I could join this rainbow swap. Blogging and the online quilting community have given me so much and it seems right to pass it on.


I am losing another special friend who is going on to another position in my organization. She is an amazing woman and there are so few people who are like her. She is someone that I strife to be. I am so thankful to have quilting to help get me through the stress of losing people that  you you will see again but will never be the same. Quilting also allows me the opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation for everything she has done for me. For me, when life gives me lemons I make quilts!

If you are interested in sending  a quilt top or quilt, the information is available on Lee's blog. As well, if you are interested in sending a block, slab blocks are being made. The information is available at Dining Room Empire. I think I will make some of these with my children.

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Birthday Canada! You look great for 146 years young! I hope you remain strong and free, for centuries to come! Happy Canada Day to all of my fellow Canadians, near and far!

Goodbye Friday

I got my goodbye gifts done. They were well received, which is always a nice feeling.

This was fun to make. I tried a stiffer interfacing than the last one I made. It was a bit more difficult to work with, but I love how it turned out. One of the things I love about making things is how personalized you can make it.

The pillowcase turned out really well too. My son picked out all the fabrics. He has a good eye for it. I was so conscious about it being a directional fabric and I was so happy when it turned out because it was going straight up and done. I forgot of course, that it would be turned on its side, so now the flowers are going sideways.


I am happy to have this Goodbye Friday over with and done. Linking up to Finish it Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts, TGIFF and Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop.

Moments

There are moments that you wait for.  The ones where everything clicks at once. Last weekend I had that moment and it was wonderful. On Saturday, I went out to my LQS to pick up a few brown solids that would go with the quilt I was making for my friend's soon to be grandson. Then I went to the library to pick up a quilting book that I had on hold.

It is called. I was perusing quilting books in the library catalogue last week and I saw this one. It looked interesting, it had an owl on the cover, and my daughter really likes owls. I brought it home, opened it up and saw the most amazing quilt.

 

The dog was so cute, and my friend loves dog. I was so excited that I went through my stash, and I had everything I needed to make the quilt. This is a complete stash project. I love brown and happen to have a lot of brown fabrics. The background fabric was originally a backing for another quilt. I had bought it with a quilt kit years ago, but when it came I did not like it so I set it aside. It was perfect for this quilt. I showed my husband all the fabrics, and I told him that I was a bit embarrassed that it all came from my stash. He told me that, that is what stashes are for! What a great guy! It turned out that I need 3 shades of solid browns for the quilt. I had just bought two of them and had a third at home.

 

I got working on the quilt right away, and had the blocks finished Sunday. Now I need to  make the tail, and sew them together. It was a wonderful project to work on.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network.