Sampler Quilt, Dresden Plate.

I have not tried this block before, I did use it as a quilting pattern on a previous quilt. Anyway the book gives the option of sewing the petals of the plate by hand or by machine.

I chose by hand so I could watch the TV with my mother at the same time.  If you have been following my sampler quilt posts at all then the materials will be familiar to you.

The petals stitched together quite well and the finished circle laid flat. 

I did have an issue when ironing the seams between petals, well to be more precise when I turned it over to discover there has been tiny fragments of extra dark chocolate on the ironing board. Very small bits, but small bits of dark chocolate ironed in well....

I did not want to wash it will all the raw edges  so turned and tacked them before washing.

It was a fortunate outcome.  Now I have seen many a person on Facebook ask what is best to use to clean various substances  from their projects.  In this instance I used what was to hand, Carex hand wash, it worked!

Once that was done it was time to applique the petals to the block backing.  Ohps, I was not supposed to  iron those tacked seams, to late ironed them.  The idea was not to iron the edges hard so that as it was sewn down onto the block backing small adjustments cold be made to smooth the edges and shapes.

A quick check of the possible block fabrics choices. Choice made and stitching started, this had to be by hand.  How to Train Your Dragon and that was done.

Time to add the circle in the middle, this did not fit as well as I would like, hopefully the slight pucker, puff of the middle will ease out when the quilting happens.

So here it is another finish.

The next block is triangles, oddly the illustration in the book is not reflective of the layouts suggested from the instruction and relates to a pattern further in the book, potentially this was a printing error.

Next block it is suggested be two colours only.

Free style creating from bits...

...I have previously mentioned being the happy recipient of bags of bits from another quilter.  Some large fat quarter size bits and some smaller bits.

Sometimes I just feel like sewing, not measuring or planning just sewing.  Most often that results in work on the current Bits-a-Quilt.

However, in this instance within the gifted fabric were some long thin strips so I started sewing them together, no plan in mind.  Some had a pattern on most were plain cream fabric.

First I was sewing the colours together, then as I sewed I began to think I might make a bag, and the cream was incorporated and a pattern developed.

Once I had sewn a big rectangle, I cut it in half, added a gusset with the cream, added a lining and handles (from the same material scraps) and the result.  Another Bag.

I am quite pleased with the result and what is more important, I very much enjoyed the process.

It was utterly relaxing as the lines did not have to be straight.

The seams did not have to be exact.

The size of the finished item well it would be whatever it turned out to be.

Oh and the lining, well it was made from some sheeting, it started life as a brown fitted sheet.  It was bought as a costume for a charity dress up at work.  The Nativity had been the plan, although puff ball outfits had not, there had been no flat sheets!

I got the sheets after the fact (with a head hole in the middle of each) and they have been living in the scrap bag.


What will I use the bag for? Not sure yet but I guess there will be something in a plastic bag that can be moved into a cloth one.  This bag, unlike the previous one doggy-bag made from gifted material, is mine I am keeping it.

It is not quilted (elephant bag and dragon bag) as some bags previously shared here were, however the seams, being quite numerous give it a padded sort of feeling.

There are still many bits and pieces of donated inspiration still to turn into a finished project, I hope using them up will be as much fun as this.

Sampler quilt Logcabin block

This is, like some of the other blocks made so far, going to need sashing to bring it up to size.  I am holding back on the various sashing as the choice of colour may need to be set to reflect the block colours and needs when I get that far.

Although I am now over half way so finishing at some point feels more of a possibility than not. 

My BFF may not be joining me on this journey after all, which is a little sad but I am learning some new blocks (not this one, this is not new) and have a project for short attention span sort of days.

And hey she still might come back to the idea at some point once her current large QAG is completed, it shouts and nags if it thinks it is being ignored.

Sampler Quilt, Court house steps,

 here is the Court House (or Church) steps block.  I went with the dusk pink for the sashing which did help bring it up to size.  However, it is still falling short of the set size for the fully finished blocks so will require external sashing.

This block has a dusky pink cross in the middle and has thus influenced the layout of the log cabin block   being constructed at the same time. 

Easter Treasure Hunt Blog 2019

Happy Easter and once again it is blog hop time hosted by Serendipitous Stitching, participating blogs share an Easter themed stitch, provide a letter and when you have collected all the letters you go back to Jo, pop in your answer and wait hopefully to see if you have won a prize.

Now if you arrived here directly ans not as part of the hop just click on the link above to start at the beginning.

This year I have again chose a picture of a bunny rabbit, its that word hop. I have previously shared a picture by this designer in the hop of 2018 and having battled with the sky's half stitches two strands and half stitches one strand expected to wait a good while longer before choosing to do this companion piece.

However, as the cross stitching world has sadly lost this ladies wonderful warm talent I  have chosen to complete the duo of designs.

So her is my Easter Bunny, his gardening chores of a year ago completed now he soars into the air a picture of delight.

Now that you have the image time to provide the letter, normally I would find an stock image and share it , this year I am keeping it simple, .
                                           

                                                    R

Now that you have my letter time to hop along to the next blog at jocondine and I hope you have a good weekend.

Gifted gorgeousness link up

A link up to Jo's monthly blog for sewing gifts either in the making or received.

I have been meaning to share this gift I received from my wonderful pen pal.

It is so very me as you will know if you have visited before I love dragons.

(you can enter dragon in the search facility to see individual posts and tails of scales or for pictures try the here be dragons tap at the top of the page)

So this dragon pin/needle cushion.  Bliss!

Now if any of you visiting have previously been followers under Google + you will have vanished from my followers list.  Please re add your self , if you feel so inclined.  Thank you.

Conference cross stitching

an update

so the cough is just about gone, making only an occasional appearance, I have been able to return to my project, that bit of colour my mother was waiting for made an appearance.

She was not impressed, she was after something a bit brighter and bolder...not going to happen with this pattern.

I decided to go for some of the solid stitches or joined up areas of colour and leave the ninja hunting for another time.

Whilst stitching whilst listening to talks enhances both activities for me that would not hold true were it trying to address the issues of those ninjas.

Whilst working on the bottom of the sword I did spot this

Can you make it out, the bottom half of the stitch done and then not crossed...I have a feeling that the required cross stitch is going to be the only bit in this particular blended colour that is left to do!

I have made a not of it and will wait and see, just in case there is another hiding in plain sight so I can do them both at the same time.

There will be many a ninja to see to yet I am sure.

Sampler Quilt, Court House steps

Contemplating 

sashing for this block....dark pink or the lighter pink?

I think the lighter as I have more of that and the bit of remaining dark will balance better in another block.