Taught this wonderful class on Dresden plates, had lots of fun with my students. We explored the many possibilities of the dresden tool and the many looks you can achieve with it. Now I am working on my very traditional Dresden Plate quilt. There are twenty different fabrics for the blades and a yellow for the centers. There will be a total of twenty blocks.

 This is how I am doing the centers. I draw a circle on the lightweight fusible interfacing then lay it on the right side of my yellow fabric and stitch on the circle. I cut a slit and turn it right side out then when everything is properly placed, I press it to the center of my Dresden.

 This is the first one ready to stitch down, which I am doing by hand.

 Butter yellow and Nile green are my sashing choices. I am thinking yellow inside of the green with maybe a nine patch cornerstone, but to be different it might be a quarter square triangle. Some choices can be made when I get there.

This is what I have left of my reproduction thirties, not much anymore. The pile of white underneath is small leftovers from other projects. Looks like it could be a very nice scrappy log cabin one of these days.
So it was Oregon Coast Shop Hop time not to long ago, and I did make it to a few shops with my sister(insert happy face). We had a great day, two shops in Newport then down to Waldport, worth the extra 16 miles. they also have yarn! Then up to BJ's, Jane's in Tillamook and a quick stop in Wheeler since it was a Sunday afternoon and shops were closing. We missed Cannon Beach and the two shops in Astoria. Maybe we will make a trip just for them, I say we but it is really me since she lives in the lovely town of Astoria.
Keep Quilting and support your local quilt shop!!
Rita

Rainy Day is here again!!

 Has it been forever since I posted? Seems like it! I have not completely fallen off the blog map, instead I decided to purchase a quilt shop!! I am now Whalen Quilt Works, in Centralia WA. These are a few things that I have been up to. Top picture is a new store display that is only laid out so I can see where to start sewing. Those lovely hands are not mine, they belong to Donna who is a wonderful friend and even cut the project you see. Now to get it sewn. I did get the matching apron all finished yesterday!

 OOOOHHHH isn't this beautiful? Shirley Taylor designed this for our beginning applique class! She and her daughter Lynn will be teaching beginners how to needle turn and a few other techniques and tips! Wish you could all come! But I only have so many kits!

And this is the completed dinosaur quilt for my grandsons second birthday, it is a cuddler!
Check out my Facebook "Whalen Quilt Works" to see the latest on what's up at the shop. Come by and say HI sometime if your in the area.
Happy Stitching!
Rita

Rainy Day Quilter: I have done a wee bit of embroidery, this is my ve...

Rainy Day Quilter: I have done a wee bit of embroidery, this is my ve...: I have done a wee bit of embroidery, this is my very first block from Crabapple Hills "Farm Fresh Produce" which, sad to say is ...

I have done a wee bit of embroidery, this is my very first block from Crabapple Hills "Farm Fresh Produce" which, sad to say is no longer a current pattern. I am working on the carrots now, and then all will be put aside for another short term project. No fears though this is one I really would like to get finished, so will work on it between other projects.

I only have the binding to hand stitch, YEAH!! Fabrics were found from six different "local quilt shops" and I love them all! I couldn't use the pattern I originally intended, it was not the right size for my panel, so I made my own pattern!

I even like the back! So this is for my Grandsons 2nd birthday and he really likes dinosaurs. I am thinking it will have his approval.

This is one of my memory quilts, when my DH and I traveled to the Monterey area, I picked up a bundle of Kaffe prints. This is what they became. Have I told you pink is my favorite color?

This is the second time I used this Quilt in a day pattern, works up fast and easy. I have a third one all gathered for and it will be a charity quilt. More on that later.

Binding is on and this one will be going to it's new home before to long, I hope it makes them smile.

This is still being worked on and I can't quite decide if I should just finish it or if it really would like another row or two. The border is bees and I think something with hexagons might be fun, but I don't have to decide today.

Binding is on and it is finished! The current self debate is "do I want to make a table runner with left over fabrics?"

I love the brightness of this quilt so I have decided to send it to someone special who will make sure that it gets an appropriate home. Now doesn't that sound vague?

    Trip to San Diego was a great success, instead of three shops, I made it to FOUR!, it was my own little mini shop hop. First up was Cozy Quilt shop in El Cajon. They had recently moved and were still working on the ambiance of their shop. It was still wonderful and so was Cynthia that helped us. They have their own line of patterns and they are great, excited to get started on a couple of them. Next up was Rosie's Calico Cupboard, they must have 20,000 bolts, it was rooms and rooms of fabric. One could easily get lost in there for a day, but for their size, I would have like to have seen more reproduction and more samples made up. Next stop, San Marcos for Quilt in a Day.Well they were all having fun down in Paducah. Still nice to see plenty of store displays and they sell some batiks by the pound. Found some Jake the pirate fabric to make grandson a pillowcase. Last stop was Piecemakers in Costa Mesa. This building is a world unto itself, it is not just a quilt shop! You could spend all day, well I spent three and a half hours exploring. If I had gotten hungry I could have had lunch in the tea room. They have all kinds of classes from soap making, dolls, jewelry, felting and much more. This is the place that does the wonderful applique calenders every year, and several of them are on display. The details are beautiful. I would highly recommend a visit if you are ever in their area. So no more travels planned at the moment,but will be attending retreat this weekend and hope to get binding down on not just the dinosaur quilt but two others as well. Not sure what will be worked on after that, taking several projects to fit my mood.I also will be attending The Quilted Trillium's retreat for an afternoon learning how to rug hook later this month. Keep Quilting and visit your local quilt shop. Rita

These lovelies are from Sew Kind of Wonderful and have been sitting in their basket for to long.  Lynn, Donna and I had a wonderful little sew-in and Lynn helped us with our applique. I got the whole suitcase done except for the embroidery that day. And it was wonderful fun! Looking for time to do it again. I am thinking of changing the labels on the suitcase though, to places I have actually been. Most recent trip was to New Orleans, this was an actual vacation. It was wonderful, we did a lot of walking and driving through neighborhoods. Architecture of the old houses throughout New Orleans is really amazing. Garden District was my favorite, even though I wouldn't want to live in those huge homes, they are really fun to look at all the detail that is put into them. I much prefer the shotgun houses with the gingerbread trim. I did visit the two quilt shops, first visit was to Mes Amis Quilt Shop. Small shop almost too small for all of the fabric. Nice little shop with a great selection of New Orleans fabrics. I bought some pink fleur de lis print, and a few others that were adorable. Next shop was the Quilted Owl, this was a wonderful shop which made me just want to stay for a long long long time. The selection of reproduction fabrics was outstanding!! I totally blew my budget!! Just a great shop that I wish was down the road from me. Oh Well Maybe I will go back and visit again!

This is the little project I worked on yesterday. The block is from Barbara Brackman's book Civil War Sampler. I made 12 inch blocks  but I think if I were to make a quilt I would use the  8 inch blocks.I was thinking (dangerous) about putting a border on but have decided that I will just bind it in the same fabric that I used for the baskets, and call it good.

These are four that I have finally quilted, although very simply. That's what happens when the long arm is available for a day! They all have a very simple meander and I will post pics as soon as bindings are finished. That will not be happening this week. Trip to San Diego is in the works. Hoping to check out three quilt shops, Quilt in a Day in San Marcos, Cozy Quilt Shop in San Diego, they also have a great line of patterns, and last shop is in Costa Mesa called Piecemakers, yes they are the ones who make the great calendar every year. We will have to see how time goes. In the mean while, Keep Quilting and visit your local quilt shop. Rita

A good friend and I had a small exchange, 3 1/2 inch squares to be exact. I made some half square triangles from them and then decided to make quarter square triangles. Moved them from place to place in my sewing room and them finally after some months decided to do something with them.  These are finished 4 inch blocks and the Civil War soldier fabric is also from good friend. That wasn't enough yet so I made bigger blocks, each quarter square is four inch finished. I will have two rows of these larger blocks. The only thing about all this scrappiness, is do I have enough scraps?

NO, I didn't so I went shopping at Wonderful friends house and gathered a few more fabrics! I came home with a huge bag but more on that at another post. This is not what I had intended on working on this week. I was supposed to pull out my "Some Kind of Wonderful" and work on some more blocks. This is one of the early applique pieces I wanted to do needle-turn on and to be totally honest, I have not practiced much.

I have four blocks appliqued and now need to do the embroidery. Don't forget I have a wonderful dinosaur quilt waiting in the basket also. Happy Quilting. Rita

Quilt Run 101 and more!

This was the start of our early Saturday morning for Quilt Run 101. BJ's in Cloverdale, off the beaten path but well worth the stop. My Dear sister the non-quilter was very impressed with all the made samples. She knows what to be impressed about. Great little shoppe with a whole lot to offer. Next on the agenda was Jane's in Tillamook, very pleasant and helpful, tons of books and a very nice pink exterior on the shoppe so you shouldn't miss it. Third stop for the day was a shoppe in Wheeler called Creative Fabrics, this is more than a quilt shoppe. They also had items for clothing and some upholstery. We went in the back way from another shoppe and down the hallway it was a nice little quilt show, found a pattern  I had to have.

Cannon Beach was the next stop and a need for personal fuel, a great little restaurant called Seasons hit the spot.Center Diamond was the fourth shoppe.  Very nice in all ways, excellent service, great selection, especially of beachy fabrics. I bought a piece blue whale batik.Shoppe has some great samples, is well organized and well lit. They had several bags made up and some table runners of fruits and vegetables that were unique. So, yes, this is me in front of the shoppe. This also shows the lovely hand blown flowers from the shoppe next door. Below is most of my treasures for the day, and my unfinished valentine's day table runner. So stops five and six were both in Astoria. Custom Threads is a small shoppe that also sells yarn and cross stitch supplies. Yes that is where the sock yarn is from. Homespun quilts is a nice little shoppe and is the only shoppe that carried Seahawks and Oregon Ducks fabric. My Sister and I had a great day and I appreciate the time we spent together. 

This is the project that has just sort of started itself with no end in sight or any real clear direction. Good friend Donna and I exchanged 3 1/2 inch squares for a while and when she was in Pennsylvania she picked up these adorable little soldiers. So far the blocks are going to finish at 4inches,this so far should finish at 24x28. I am considering maybe some flying geese all around before the border but might have to throw in some applique somewhere also. It could be awhile before this one tells me it is done.

If a date shows on these pictures it is only because I would rather be sewing than setting dates on my camera, they really were taken February 25th.

These are our fair blocks. Every year quilters purchase fair packets and make up two or three blocks and enter them into the fair. The winners are chosen,( this years surround the bigger block in the center) and are made into a raffle quilt to support the Living Arts Department of the local fair. The top is almost completed, today the team gathered and has sewn all blocks into rows and all rows together. It now awaits me to get my space cleaned up enough to get the last border on, which will be mitered.  It is the sweetest looking quilt I have seen in a long time, really reminds me of Easter. So once I have the border on I will post a picture for you all. In the mean time Support your local quilt shoppe.   Rita

 

 

I wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day!  I bought lovely reds and pinks for a new table runner, hoping to finish tonight. I was waylaid by a few other projects that kept nagging "me,me, me, I want finished, please please please", you know how it is when they just won't stop. So here are some wonderful finishes and one I plan on finishing.

 These two are finished and now on store display at Quilters Junction, as an after thought I also made a 10 minute table runner. It's a nice little vignette.

This is a purchase for $4.99 at the Lacey Goodwill. First stop there and found this lovely top. Colors are one of my favorite combinations. The triangles are hand stitched! but the rest is machine sewn. It has a few tears on the ends so I may take off one end row and fix the other end, haven't decided yet.  So until it is finished it is a nice cheery top.

 This poor little thing, started it with leftovers from my "Among the Stars" quilt. As you can see one row decided it was going to go the other way. Since this is a small quilt, blocks are five inches each and was going to be 9x10 rows. Well, I felt no need to argue with the rebellious row, so I just left it out and now the top is finished squarely, 9x9 and with a border. More to come on this one later.

 Dinosaur will be my grandson's future quilt. I now have gathered all fabrics to finish! Last piece was purchased from the Elma Variety store. Good friend and I went to check it out as she had never been. They carry a lot of Blank brand fabrics, Northcott, Timeless Treasures, and tons of animal and guy prints. We also had lunch at an adorable and yummy little local place. Horrible of me but I think it was called Michael's. It was just down the block and around the corner. Ladies from the shop recommended it. Food was most excellent and will go back again.

 These are some close ups of the previous quilt I posted. I really think this is one of my all time favorites. The little squares are from Nancy Rink's Mill Girls, but the rest is all mine. This block shown is my favorite, I just love that fabric in the center.

Off to new and wonderful things, I will be joining my sister in Astoria OR, this weekend and we are going to visit just a few shops that are participating in their Oregon Coast Shop Hop, Quilt Run 101. So when I get back I hope to have great things to tell you.
Support your local quilt shop.
Rita

Good day to you all!
So what are your plans for getting projects finished this year? Some of my projects are totally dependent on the long arm availability. So tomorrow I am hoping to quilt my Ruby Stars and my Baseball top. So here are some photos of what is almost finished, I say that since I still have to sew binding down on the Civil War reproduction quilt. Having finished my socks that is more likely going to get done.

 This is the Baseball quilt going to a nephew, will be quilted very soon!!

 Civil War reproduction just needs binding finished, this quilt was originally going to fit my queen size bed, I now have a king size. There was a large appliqued border on it, BUT just wasn't happy with it so off it came! Actually started this quilt seven years ago, sometimes you just need to make a decision and move on.

 Table runner from one of my beginner classes, these are quick and easy enough for beginners to learn HST(half square triangles) on.

 These are my finished socks, and they are sitting on an entire basket of sock yarns, that await to be used.

I love it! The small blocks in the center were from my Mill girls classes and they were just to cute not to do something with them. They did spend some time on my design wall until I decided to go big. I am happy with my decision. I had thought about having some one else quilt it but in the end I did it myself and messed up a bit on the back. New decision to be made, will it look worse if I take it out, probably, once it is washed, will it show, not so much, in the end I have decided to leave it. Blue ribbon at the fair, maybe not. Do I still love it?Absolutely!
What am I working on now, a whale baby quilt, doing something with a charm pack and itching to start embroidery on Farm Fresh by Crabapple Hill.
Last week I went to visit Fiddlesticks in Vancouver WA. Nice store, large choice of batiks and some wools.Though not as much fabric as I had expected for the size of the shoppe. Not a lot of books, I do love books. Did buy some half yard pieces and a new seam ripper, it has that special type of end and helps remove all the little pieces of thread. I, of course have already put it to the test and can, with all expertize, inform you that it works very well. Would definitely shop there again. 
Have a great day!
Rita

Happy New Year!

Truly I am not ignoring you, just haven't finished the binding on what I wanted to show you. So that will be soon, in the mean time instead of binding, I almost have a pair of socks finished. Perhaps my word for the year should be "FOCUS". There are times when it is nice to slow down a bit and really see where you are, to make sure you are getting, to where you want to be. Today was a good day for that. NO, I have no New Year's resolutions, but I do have some very important goals.

Today's activity was originally going to be some time going through sewing room, setting priorities for the New Year. It is mostly accomplished, BUT good friend called to ask if I would like to accompany her to Ruby St. Quilt Shop. Really, am I likely to say NO. Of course their clearance was 60% off. Backing #1 taken care of! 30% off everything else except batiks. Found the two solids I have been looking for, one is a sashing and other is final border on a different top. Wait, you say Bayside is also having a sale, certainly we should check it out. Backing #2 found! and some lovely Lakehouse fabric. That was a total of 5 yards at $3 a yard. All, in all a pretty good day and lunch at the Spar with a great friend.

This is top for #1 backing!

This is getting back #2.
Now I have 3 that only need batting and then to get them on the long-arm.

Have a wonderful New Year,
Rita