Sew Beauty-ful

Sherrie Dillon sent me this beautiful Dresden today in the mail.  Look at these other lovelies!  I'll post a closer-up one soon.

Circles....in time.

Here are the destructions...Better late than never?????
There are 2 GREAT ways to get a perfect center circle for your Dresden.  The first method is using a used dryer sheet  The second a cardboard circle.
#1 Dryer sheet

  

Trace your template on the used dryer sheet. (NO seam allowances.)

Place on RIGHT side of fabric and stitch with a smaller 2mm stitch length ON THE LINE.  Trim  to 1/8".

Separate the two layers and make a snip large enough to turn the fabric through.

The bud is forming into a beautiful flower center.

A center is born!  Now put your finger inside and finger press all the way around.  Take it to the iron and  press it from the fabric side.

 #2. Cardboard template.

 Soooo I cut my circle out awhile ago and lost it, however the negitive space made a great stencil to trace my circle onto my high tech hot dog box.  I suppose you could use ANY cardboard, but my sponsor Oscar Mayer won't allow me to recommend it.

GUESTAMATE a 1/4" seam allowance all the way around and cut on that line.

Use the old needle and thread trick to make a gathering stitch all the way around this bad boy.

Turn the RIGHT side of the fabric DOWN and place the cardboard template on the WRONG side of the fabric.

pull the two ends of your gathering stitch and secure with a knot or stitch, or both.

 Take it to the iron and give it some heat.  Steam or startch or both or dry, doesn't matter just get it flat.

Now carefully take that fancy cardboard out.

Viola'

Here are the two methods back sides side by side so you can compare.

Here is their "better" side.  The top one is the cardboard template the bottom is the dryer sheet.

Secure with pins and sew it down.  You can use a decorative stitch, zig zag or straight.  If straight I would use a longer stitch length.  I LOVE using shinny thread.

Have fun!  I know I did!!!!

Sherrie's Bio and completed blocks-

We have really enjoyed putting together the Jan, Feb, and the March squares.  I am posting for my sister Sherrie T., my mom Vee, and myself.

Sherrie's Bio

The first picture is of my sister, Sherrie Torgerson.  She lives in Dardanelle, AR.  She was so sweet to join our quilting group when I shared with her that we were going to need to fill some vacancies this year.  She's a busy girl.  She works part time for a book distributing company and finds herself traveling many days a week to visit public school libraries across many counties in Arkansas.  She usually holds a couple of callings at the Danville Branch in the North Little Rock stake.  Their branch has just celebrated their 20 year anniversary.  She and her hubby have played an integral part in the existence of that branch since the first meeting or before!  She has her last baby, who's 16, still at home.  February has been an exciting month for her.  She has welcomed her 4th grand baby into the world.  Her daughter, Genevieve, had her first child.  She named him Eric, after a son Sherrie lost to cancer in 2000.  Sherrie is mother to 5, including that special Eric who we will see again when we cross the veil.  Her hubby surprised her with a new brother sewing machine at Christmas (what a good man!).  She has forever sewn, making her kids pj's, costumes, etc.  Having said that she, like the rest of us, feels like she has much to learn from this quilting bee.  But, look at her first two squares!  They are beautiful.... 

Just like my sis!

Sherrie and her Dresden Plate for Jennifer S.

This is Sherrie's Christmas tree block for Marnita.  They are so cute!  I love them.  The zig zag appliqué gives the impression that the trees may be fir or pine.  I've got this square, Marnita... if you find yourself in the area of my house again, please stop by.

Sherrie's Christmas Tree block for Marnita
Vee's March Block

Night and Day

Mom's block was SO fun!  And it was quite easy to put together after a few minutes of study!  Mardie and Sherrie D., your fabric and templates were put into the mail yesterday.  Please let me know if you don't see them by the weekend.

Jennifer R's Block

Mom's Block 

Hope you are all enjoying this as much as I am!  Don't forget to try to come over to my house the morning of the 12th.  Sherrie D.- I know you are a busy momma!  But, if you find yourself needing a road trip from Iowa, you are welcome to stay with me!  Ladies, please don't forget your paper templates and both fabrics.  Oh- I thought I may provide some Chicken Salad Croissants for us to snack on.  If you'd like to bring something, i.e. fruit or something you may, but you don't have to!  

Star Light Star Dark

Here is my square for March. I was really afraid of doing paper piecing but ended up loving this type of quilting.  It was a little like connecting all the dots to get a picture!  The square actually came together really quickly once I figured out the right placement on the paper pattern.





Here is a closeup of the fabric.

I am so glad I got to do this square and learn something new.  It's fun to discover new things and find out that you really like them!

Yummy Yummy Quilts by Julie, square by Emily S.

Prepare to gasp in awe and delishiousness. These are a few of my favorite things.

Inscription:  "Jennifer, The sister I never had.  Twenty-eleven. Love Julie."  I am soooo blessed to have Julie as my sister.

Isn't this pattern gorgeous!  Dainty, modern, timeless.  Thank you Julie!!!!!  Julie has a long-arm Gammel and has the best prices in the country for quilting.  Email her for info today.  

Sooo fun.  I remember going to the fabric store with Julie and picking out my "someday I'll make a quilt out of these yummy fabrics while HUGE pregnant with Joseph."  -Little did I know.

Chocolate and caramel too!

SEW fell in LOVE with this print and style of quilting.  Thank heaven for friends and sisters.  I have both all in one.

Merry Christmas. Twenty-eleven.  Love, Julie

Emily S.  This is beautiful!!!! Or should I say Bloom-a-ful!  Thank You!

It's still February somewhere, right?

I am so glad to get a chance to use my darling little duckies!

I didn't realize how much the facing on the white points would show...darn.
I also hope I did the center circle right. I couldn't find any instructions. But then, it is "just" a circle. LOL




Anybody have a good technique for turning the edges on a circle to keep it a circle?

Jennifer, I hope you like it.  I enjoyed making it and learning a new technique. (Thanks for all the goodies, too!)

There Is Sunshine In My Heart Today

Here is a quick look at my Dresden Plate square.

My mom walked in while I was putting this together and fell in love with the pattern.  Guess who now wants a yellow/blue Dresden Plate quilt?  I wonder if I have it in me to sew one up by Mother's Day?

Here is the Christmas Tree quilt square that I did for myself.  I have contemplated starting over and putting two colors to make the tree.  It's why I haven't posted the pic until now.  I think I will wait until I get the other trees to make a final decision.