Rainy days

It's a blustery day outside, and on days like this, it's the very best thing to find ways to make your own sunshine. 

My trusty assistant and I have braved the wind and rain in search of the perfect backing for our scrappy French rooster, and returned again safely home to finish up the log cabining, add the borders and then decide how to quilt this beauty up.

Our rooster needs a good name... I'll dream one up while I stitch away. 

Here he is, all safe and snug in his cabin... Meet Raphael! He looks so happy in his new house. 

Happy quilting :)

Dawn

Building a Cabin

This past weekend a good friend made a reappearance in my life, after years and years on the other side of the state.

Robin is the craftingest, most super-fun friend a gal could ask for, and she came to town wanting to hit a few shops, and so we did. 

I picked up a few bargain fat quarters on our adventure and when I got home, I found they went perfectly well with a panel of roosters I've been hoarding. Yay!

I love it when things work out so accidentally wonderful :)

Tonight, after burning out looking for some inspiration for a new fat quarter bundle, I wanted something simple to get my creative streak flowing again and I decided to break out the roosters. After playing around a little bit I decided do something I never ever in a billion years thought I'd do: log cabin. As a rule, i just don't like them. 

I don't have a reason.... 

Just. 

Ugh. 

But after laying things out and getting a look at it, i thought it best to just go for it, with darks on the bottom right, and light fabrics top left instead of the way I have them here:

Before diving in, I sewed some scrap strings of moda double chocolate in a nice medium grayish-blue to get a more rectangly shape, because somehow, I just didn't want a square cabin, and then I started adding strips! 

Here we are all pinned up on the refrigerator for show. Not a bad start, if I do say so myself. Can't wait to see how it turns out in the end!

Until next time,

Happy Quilting!

Dawn 

Cinderella!

One of the very best things about quilting is the ability to give an only one in the wide world gift. I got that opportunity today. This quilt has been waiting in the wings, all dressed up, for months, and her day finally came. 

This little princess came visiting today around lunch time, and a quick trip home for a pretty package earned this:

Best. Reaction. Ever. 

Makes doing what I do feel infinitely worth it. :)

Dresden, part 2: Progress!!

It's been a really busy week or two, (has it really been that long?) but I've been making slow but steady progress on a few things. I figure it's high time for an update on the Dresden pillow... 

All stitched on the backing and partially quilted. It needs a good pressing after being all squashed up in the hoop, but I think it's looking good :)

I love how the quilting adds dimension to the Dresden. I pressed the seam allowances into the green blades and added some hand quilting in the black which really makes the green pop out. So fun! 

I have a few more projects to update you on, but that's all for tonight. 

Until next time, happy quilting!

Dawn. 

Dresden, part 1

Here's a step by step of the stacked Dresden pillow I'm working on! I'm so excited about this one!! 

First I cut wedges with an 18 degree ruler and sewed them across the wide end, right sides together. 


Turn the pieces and finger press down the center


Pop the points out so they're nice and crisp... I used my appliqué tool. 


Line the seam up with the center and press... 


Here's some of the outer pieces...


Some sunshine in the middle! The pattern called for a stripe, but I like this just as well :) 

Here's the inner Dresden ring coming together!

So far so good!!! 

Nice and scrappy! I'm amazed that I had 20 different bluish fabrics in my hoard. 

Crazy! How does it still seem like I don't have enough fabric?? 

I think scrap quilts are going to be my friend!! 

Until next time,

Happy Quilting!

Dawn. 

Maverick

It's done and given away... 

Congratulations Lindzee :)

Friday Night - Recap

Here's the current goings on! Lots of work in progress.

Hoot quilt top sewn & put aside

I'm finally getting back to hand stitching some hexagons!!  I love doing this when I have a spare minute or two, and I think these new additions will go nicely in my quilt.

I like this one!

Break time at work...

I just picked up some of the new Maverick by Riley Blake.  Lots and lots of baby boys lately! So exciting!
Since this one is a rush, I'm doing a whole cloth quilt with green binding.  I'll post it when it's done!!

Happy quilting!
Dawn

It's still a hoot!

Here's the current state of the "It's a hoot" quilt. I love this collection by Momo! The fabrics are so fun and colorful...

First half down 

I put my remaining strips in order and trimmed them all to the proper length... Here they are all stacked up in order. The pile on the right is what's left over. Perfect for binding or maybe another scrappy quilt. :)

Second half cut and waiting

drat!

Even with all my careful planning, I sewed them in the wrong order. Oops!!
Next time you see this quilt, it'll likely be about my adventures in needle turn appliqué for the very first time. Should be fun!!

Until then, Happy Quilting!

Dawn