Joining the Quilt Fest!
Hi All, I’ve shown off this quilt before, but I wanted to join in with the Bloggers Quilt Festival that is starting today, so I’m going to put up a new post about this little gem.
My Dresden Plate quilt started off as an experiment. I wanted to stitch along in the Bunny Hill Scrappy Plate happening, but I wasn’t sure I had a good idea for one. So, wanting to just try my hand at making a block or two, I got out my template and a charm pack.
I realized that if I pressed a charm in half I could cut 2 wedges out of each one. So before I knew it I had enough from one charm pack for four pretty plates. Then I put them on some big squares of plain fabric and realized what a great opportunity this was of free motion quilting some pretty wild feathers.
Finally, I’d always wanted to make a scalloped border but had never done it. I managed that too. This quilt grew organically and was a real expression of me playing with my skills and tools and just having fun.
I hope you like it!
Charming Pachyderms Free Pattern
I’m pleased to announce a new free pattern for a quick and darling child’s wall hanging or baby quilt. Don’t forget to read the pattern for a great binding tip!
Hope you enjoy!
-Letty
Boardwalk Quilt
If this quilt ever gets a label it will be called Laura and I go under the Boardwalk. A few times, just for kicks, as little girls my best friend Laura T and I would go down to the shopping area in town called The Boardwalk. The shopping area still exists much the same today. Little, often posh shops that
are the cozy, upscale version of a strip mall. On one end was Embee’s the grocery, and on the other the pharmacy and bank. A courtyard lead to Neville’s cafe where they had the best burgers ever.
Well actually we went to the Boardwalk all the time! But these few times we went UNDER the boardwalk. It was amazing how many coins people would drop through the large slots between the big wooden boards while walking between the shops. We would scurry under (in our secret access spot), and then crawl around and find our treasure. Ugh, when I think of it now, the dirt, the…rodents?, and who knows what else… wow – I was a different person then. Now I’m very persnickety about dirt. Anyway, Laura and I had such fun together, and these random treasure hunts were something I remember fondly. So as I worked on my Fig Tree Boardwalk quilt, with California Girl fabrics, I couldn’t help think of those days…
Also showing 
my finished Fat Quarter QAL top, and some outdoor cushions I made with this fab video tutorial technique. Couldn’t have been easier!
Bee(n) Busy
Okay, I know I owe you all a post – but when it comes to blogging or sewing, guess which I choose with my spare free time right this second? Right!
I’m just finishing up quilting a Fig Tree Boardwalk Quilt. I haven’t done a stellar job on it – but it is pretty.
Best news: I’ve been invited to participate in my first Virtual bee! I’m so excited. Thanks for the invite Leslie – I hope I make ya proud!
Doing a Scrappy Happy Dance!
I finished putting the binding on this quilt last night. I’ve never done scalloped borders before so I carefully watched Jenny on the Missouri Star Quilt Company video (see below) and then used the Quilt in a Day template and… voila! It worked and I love love love the result. It is a lot fussier to have to use bias binding and all, but worth it!
I love my Scrappy Plate quilt - thank you Anne at Bunny Hill. I’m also doing a happy dance because I am now clear to Swoon!
Happy Quilting
-Letty
My Eight Needle Quilt
My Eight Needle Quilt
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I like to name my quilts even if I never put a label on them. This quilt had two strong contenders for its name. I ended up with my Eight Needle Quilt because that is how many needles broke during my quilting on it! Don’t ask me why… I’ve quilted much bigger, heavier, more intricate quilts on the same machine, and I just cannot for the life of me figure out why this one was so darned hard to do. The other name I considered was my Perseverance Quilt. It really nearly didn’t get finished at all.Yesterday as I wrestled with the beast, I broke yet another needle and felt so discouraged and cross I just folded it up, stuck it in a closet, and changed all my machine settings back to normal (from the free motion settings I was using). But after a cup of tea and the very real picture in my head of that quilt remaining in the closet until it was dusty and thoroughly hated was in my head.
I thought “hang it! I’m going to finish it if it kills me, and no matter how badly it turns out.” So, down went my feed-dogs, tension, pressure, stitch length… back on went the invisible thread. (No, I don’t think it was about the thread, I used the same spool to do a big quilt before.) I went slowly, did some sailor talking to the thing… and finished.
After washing it, I don’t even think it looks too bad. Even if I hated the quilt, I beat the problem by persevering. So, that would have been a good name for it too. Perhaps a hybrid name is called for… My Eight Needle Perseverance Quilt.
-Letty
P.S. Happy Quilting (if you can manage it) and check out my cool helper. These little office supply clips come with a waxy substance on the back. Stick them anywhere and they can hold up a pattern or an inspiration picture like mine!
Little bit of this, little bit of that…
Little bit of this, little bit of that…
Oh I have just loved being home and indulging my crafting, cooking, and quilting inclinations. I’ve made so many fun things. Quite a few little buntings using the quick and fun technique as shown on this video from the Missouri Star Quilt Company. They are awesome!
The little pillow is one that holds a ‘magical key’. You’re supposed to do a good deed and leave it behind, then the recipient of your good deed does one in the ‘passing it on’ format, and leaves the key there. 
This was a project that was demonstrated at my local quilt shop Gathering Fabrics. I made fun edible treats; these are mincemeat pies – no there is no meat in them! I put a marzipan top on and then glazed them. Yum!
The orange pillow was for my eldest daughter. She was very appreciative and sent this pic. I was rather proud of the nice piping I made.
I’ve knitted, and stitched, and done a lot of other fun things. AND… last but not least, I’m keeping up with my quilt along block of the months! Yay!
I’m working on tutorial ideas and will have one up soon.
Happy quilting!
By the way, check out this free BOM with video instruction!
