Follow up from Workshop

It's been awhile since I taught the Dresden Plate workshop. KM brought her finished project to Guild for show and tell this month.

She had several plates made before she came to class.  How fun is this piece??!!  She has used 3 blades for the buds, and has layered up smaller blades over larger ones for added interest in some flowers.

Aren't these fabulous with the stripes?  Oh, how I love this.  Did you notice the inner border on the top pictures? Very liberated, very Gwen Marston inspired.

I don't think these photos will enlarge, but the quilting is terrific on this.  K did lots of circles for a background fill, I just love everything about this piece. 

As for my own work, I'm staying the course on the hand quilting of BTCT, (boring for blogging) I've been working on another block (applique) for my SOS sampler quilt, and have stitched a bit on my Gwen Marston Medallion piece. I'm still a bit away from having the center together, once that is done I can start going around and around and around....

We are having an amazing summer here in the NW.  We will probably break records for lack of rain and for up here, that's pretty crazy.

Hope everyone is staying cool and getting in some stitch time!

Sharon

Big Race Day

Sunday was a big race day for my Dad's horse. Everyone showed up, brought extended family, friends, and co workers. Dad was looking pretty sharp for an old guy.  Yup, he's 78!

But we did not win, nor did we place, and we didn't even show. But we did come 4th. She was in the hunt for the win right up to the last turn on the track. We had such high hopes for my Dad's horse, but "That's Horseracing" There will be more races this summer and beyond, we are just grateful that DiGi is doing well today and she did not hurt herself. (we thought she might have mixed up her feet coming around the last turn).

Not much quilting of my own going on around here. The gardens and yards beckon me. Customer quilts have been finished.  A dear friend has had a hard time the past month, he lost his wife after a very long struggle to recover from being hit by a car 7 years ago, so I've spent a lot of time at their place. The new job required longer than usual days during the first month of start up. Things are settling in there and I seem to be able to leave on time most days. I hope they are 1/2 as happy with me as I am with them.

I hope to post something quilty in the next week. Wow, July 15th already......

Sharon

Banner Quilts

No photos in this post, they are all in the heading.
Left to Right

DeRailed by the Stars - This quilt was pieced before I had a good grasp of value.  I had hundreds of rail fence blocks and made 3 trips to my LQS to use their design wall.  I was using public transit at the time, so each of these trips took a total of an afternoon.  I struggled to get the rail fence design and it just was not coming together.  I went home, made 13 star blocks and started sewing the blocks together however they got pulled out of the bag.  Once I moved to the states, I got this quilted and showed it at a group.  Someone raved about the 13 stars for the 13 original colonies and went on and on.........hmmmm, more like "blocks made out of necessity"  So sometimes when things don't work out as planned, it might be a good thing!

Americana Banner - This is from Yvonne at Crackling Crows  I've purchased a few items from her and I've been very happy with the quality of her work.  Worth checking out!

SOS - you saw this block in my last post, now it has the berries on it

Chain of Stars - This is an oldie from American Patchwork.  It was a cover quilt by Alex Anderson.  I made this back in 05 or 06.  I hand pieced the stars and then machine pieced the balance.  This quilt has a dark blue border and I have done some amazing custom quilting on the border.....but you can't see it because it's a dark printed fabric.  It was so much work; it doesn't show up and I've never done it again!

So that's the scoop on my new header.

Sharon

Spirit of Sacagewea

I'm making headway with my S.O.S. quilt.  Two blocks are finished and we have the 3rd block in the works.  Next up is Crossed Canoes and it's pieced.
While waiting for an appointment this morning, I got the last few circles stitched down.

Happy 4th of July!  I have to work in the early a.m. and then I'm out to enjoy the parade, friends, bbq's and fireworks.  It'll be a fun filled day and I wish the best to everyone on this day.  Take time to reflect on the meaning of today and give thanks to a serviceman or woman when you see them out and about!

Sharon