IBTWRC Basket Blocks

Voila!  

(that's my new word, anytime a taxi driver in Paris would drop us off at our desired location they would say "Voila", I just loved it, like they magically transported us to all these amazing places.)

Anyway, I've made 30 Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Ridiculously Cute basket blocks.  I think technically that's all we need for the front, the 31st is for the back.  

I can hardly wait to see the setting options.

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Gone and Back

Bonjour!  While you were stopping by checking out my dresden blocks, I was on my annual Mother/Daughter vacation.  My house was empty for over a week so I decided not to mention on my blog that I was gone. But I'm home now and things are back to normal on my blog and I've even activated the comments section again.

I've yet to really go through the pictures I took while on my vacation, honestly, I've yet to finish unpacking, so for now here's one picture to give you a hint of the location my daughter and I selected for our annual trip.  

The week I spend with my daughter on vacation is one of my favorite weeks of the year, we have nothing but fun regardless of our destination, but this year we really had some fun by traveling to Paris and London.  It was my first trip to Paris and I absolutely fell in love with that city. I can't believe I waited this long to go to Paris but am so thankful I finally decided to go.  The main reason I had never visited Paris was that I thought it would be a challenging trip.  I had heard and believed that the French disliked and were rude to Americans and I was hesitate to visit a country that didn't speak the same language as I.  So while I was excited about going to Paris, I was preparing myself for a trip that would be work and maybe sometimes frustrating. I'm so happy to report that I was wrong, very very wrong.  We met nothing but friendly and helpful people, had no problems with the language difference, ( most everyone speaks English as a second language), and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.  I"ll post more about my trip when I've gone through my pictures and don't have jet lag, so stay tuned.

Before I left on vacation, in addition to piecing those 16 large dresden blocks for Dresden Doilies,  I also started a new project.  Do you ever visit the Stella Rubin Antique Quilts website?  I stop by at least once a week to look at the antique quilts they have for sale.  I am constantly amazed by the workmanship of those old quilts.  A while back I ran across a blue and white quilt that I enjoyed so much I thought I would try to make one of my own.  I seem to be going through a navy stage this summer.

Anyway, as near as I could tell, the quilt was made up of these pieces.  (I'm using a blue from the Indigo Crossing line by Minick and Simpson for Moda)

This is how I sort of figured out the layout.

And here it is with some more pieces and parts.

The quilt I saw online was they type of quilt that depending on how you looked at it, you could see different patterns, I'm not 100% sure I got the size right, but I think I do have the pattern right. 

Have you been keeping up with the Patriotic Quilter's progress on her version of Dresden Doilies?  JoAnne is fussing cutting a medallion print for her center circles that is amazing.  At this rate I think I'm going to like JoAnne's Dresden Doilies project better than my own.  Click on her blog in my Favorites List if you've not seen them.

And again, I've activated the comments section on my blog, feel free to leave a comment, I've missed visiting with you all.

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Dresden Doilies, a finish of sorts

Block 15

Block 16

All the big dresden doilies blocks are done.

I've got a little more work to do, like 25 small blocks and 16 medium blocks,  I'm eager to see how my big blocks look with less red background fabric showing.  I'm also still sticking with my plan of making the little blocks all out of lights and the medium blocks all out of darks.

Just in case you've forgotten, this is the pattern I'm making, Dresden Doilies by Gerri Robinson.  This pattern was in the September/October 2011 issue of McCall's Quilting.

Have you missed chatting?  I sure have, I'm going back to my normal blogging with comments routine on Monday, I look forward to hearing from you then!

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Dresden Doilies, we're almost there!

Block 13

Block 14

I'm not accepting comments for now, but thanks for stopping by, hope you're enjoying my block parade.

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Even More Dresden Doilies

Block 11

Block 12 - thought I needed more dots!

Twelve blocks down, 4 more to go.

  To give you an idea of size, these blocks are on 9 inch square pieces of red fabric.

I'm not accepting comments for now, but thanks for stopping by, hope you're enjoying my block parade.

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More Dresden Doilies

Block 9

Block 10

I thought I needed more yellow in the group, so here are a couple more yellow blocks to add to the mix.  I love yellow and red, don't you?

I'm not accepting comments for now, but thanks for stopping by, hope you're enjoying my block parade.

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Dresden Doilies, halfway there . . .

Block 7

Block 8

I'm halfway there.

So far I love every block, I couldn't pick a favorite, although that polkadot one puts a smile on face.  Around this point in a project I've usually made at least one questionable block that may or may not get in the final quilt, but not this time.  Maybe I'm getting better at this!

If you're stopping by for the first time in a few days, I'm working on Dresden Doilies, I blogged about the pattern on July 17 if you need to catch up.

I'm not accepting comments for now, but thanks for stopping by, hope you're enjoying my block parade.

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How about 20 mini cake stand basket blocks on a cake stand . . .

I've made it to 20 itsy bitsy teenie weenie ridiculously cute mini basket blocks.

The month's almost over, but I think I'll make it to 31.  I'm very happy with that background fabric, I almost went with a plain off white background, now I'm glad I didn't.   I don't this background is too busy or overpowers the basket prints at all, what a relief!

The details and pattern for this sew along are on the Temecula Quilt Co blog.

I'm not accepting comments right now but thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the change of pace from the dresden blocks.  I aim to please!

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Dresden Doilies

Block 5

Block 6

I'm not accepting comments for now, but thanks for stopping by, hope you're enjoying my block parade.

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Dresden Doilies, Blocks 3 and 4

Block 3

and Block 4

Blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4.

4 big blocks down, 12 more to go.

JoAnne at the Patriotic quilter has started this project too.  She's going to be using nothing but French General fabric for her quilt, and you know me and French General,  that quilt is going to be nothing but beautiful.  I've added JoAnne to my Favorites Blog List so you can follow her progress too.  Although, she has a jump on me.

No comments for now, drop me an email if you need to contact me, I'll be checking it daily.

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Dresden Doilies

This is Dresden Doilies.  This quilt was in the September/October issue of McCall's Quilting.  The pattern is designed by Gerri Robinson.  It finishes at almost 60" x 60".

I've been wanting to add a dresden plate quilt to my Lifetime List for ages, once I saw this pattern I knew I had found the perfect project for me.  

I never did get around to collecting enough lights to make this top, but I'm in the mood to make a dresden project and have decided to keep the red background but to use my happy fabric for the plates. I've set up a table in the loft right outside my sewing studio with all my happy fabric bins for easy access. I'm thinking I'll make the 16 big blocks out of lights and darks, the 16 medium blocks out of darks, and the 25 small blocks out of lights.  

I'm starting with the large blocks and plan to just pull one light piece of fabric and one dark piece of fabric and make a block.

Here's my first one,

and my second one.

I plan to use invisible thread to stitch the blades to the red background and hand appliqué  the red center circles.

For the next few posts I'll just be showing pictures of my blocks, and since they don't require much in the way of explanation, I'll be keeping the posts short and sweet.  And since I won't really have much to say, I'll spare you the painful experience of trying to come up with 16 different ways to say, "great blocks", and turn off my comments.  

If you have any questions or need to get in touch with me just drop me an email, I'll be checking it daily.

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Number 108

All done!  

This quilt started out as Jubilee Celebration and ended up as something else.  I need to come up with a better name than Not Jubilee Celebration, maybe Summer Celebration or Sister's Celebration.

I love outdoor quilt pictures I see on other blogs so I thought I would give it a try.  We've had a wonderful summer of  rain, cool nights, and warm not hot days, which has resulted in a very green, very pretty lawn at my house.  What a perfect time to take some pictures.

Why do other bloggers outdoor quilt pictures look so neat, so serene, so perfect?  I didn't even notice the light breeze until I tried to get my quilt to lay flat.

And what's up with all those lumps and bumps?  I guess I have green but clumpy grass.

The colors sure are nice though.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 108

The pattern is Jubilee Celebration by Bonnie Blue Quilts

The pattern finished at 91" x 108", my version finished at 76" x 90"

It has approximately 1,767 pieces from 67 different fabrics.

I would have to say this project was definitely a joint effort, the pattern by Paula Barnes, the kit by Country Sampler, and a few modifications by me.

My sewcation is officially over, but I took advantage of every free minute I had, back to my normal routine, which is pretty quilter friendly too.

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It's a Sew-cation!

So we've decided my at home retreat should be called a sew-cation.  Regardless of what it's called I hope you get to have one soon, even if it's only for one day.

I had a little set back on Wednesday, a storm blew through Wednesday afternoon knocking out the power for 3 hours!  I used the time to do some picking up around the house, sort some laundry, and eat some ice cream.  (I wasn't sure how long the power would be out and I didn't want it to go to waste)

But I still managed to accomplish a lot.

Know what you get when you add this, 

to this?

You get this!

Three borders and this one will be done!

I'm still working on my mini basket blocks and clown pants, look for updates next week.

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And Then . . .

And then, 

there were 10.

10 teenie weenie itsy bitsy ridiculously cute mini cake stand basket blocks.  I'm not tired of making these blocks, yet!  10 down 20 more to go.

It's just Cooper and I at home this week, so I thought it would be the perfect time to have a sewing retreat, at home.  Is that called an advance, a stay-cation? Whatever it's called all I'm doing is sewing and walking the dog.  I'm not doing laundry, running errands, or cooking.  I'm living off of cereal, sandwiches, and Lean Cuisines, and so far it's been nothing but fun

I've decided to go with 32 Sister's Choice blocks for Not Jubilee Celebration, these 32 blocks.  I think I made 35, 3 didn't make the final cut.  I like the looks, variation and shading of these blocks.

It's amazing how much I can accomplish with days of 14 hours of sewing time.

Now I'm working on the sashing.

I hope to have that sashing done and on those blocks by Friday, should be a piece of cake. 

 I recommend this retreat at home thing, now if I could just come up with the perfect name for it, besides great.

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