Off To The Long-Arm...

My version of Anne Sutton's Scrappy Plates quilt is now finished.

I added a skinny border in red fabric and then a final 

border in that yummy cream paisley I used in the main blocks.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed making this quilt and I

can see myself making another at some time in the future.

I'll be taking it to the long-arm quilter to do the custom design now,

and when it comes back and I've bound it, I'll show you the entire quilt. 

I'll also add my photos to the Bunny Hill Flickr group when it's done

so that Anne can see my finished interpretation of her design.

If you're interested in making a quilt like this, you can click here

to go to the free pattern/tutorial on the Bunny Hill website.

Just scroll down to the "Scrappy Plate Club" patterns and you can

download each phase of the tutorial for your own pattern collection.

Another "finish" under my belt this week. (woo hoo!) On to the next one...

Such A Great Idea...

If you're anything at all like me, you have a stack of fabric scraps from projects past. Beautiful, wonderful, colorful fabrics that make you feel happy and full just looking at them. Come on, now. I know you do!

Remember when I tried my hand at applique' the very first time? I was so bummed that the teacher told me it "wasn't good enough" and that I should "do it over"? I know I complained to all of you when it happened, and I said that I'd never make another applique' project, so I took that one appliqued block (reworked it) and made it the centerpiece of a quilt that got an honorable mention at our guild quilt show.

Well, that nasty, demanding, unreasonable teacher and I have been friends now for about over a year. She's one of the women I share coffee with most Saturday mornings at Sandy's Quilt Shop. Her name is Flo. Did I tell you I now love this woman? Yup. I know. I could knock you over with a feather, right?

Not only did I rework that original block, but I have since done more applique' work (that Scrappy Dresden Plate quilt I'm working on requires applique', as do the monthly minis for Sandy's monthly QAL) and now in charge of the design for our next guild Opportunity (raffle) Quilt for 2014. Do you know what I've chosen for us to do? You guessed it if you said, "an applique' quilt"! I'll save that whole story for another day, but for now, I want to tell you about an idea that our friend, Flo shared during our coffee group.

When she has leftover scraps from a project, she spends a little time at the end of her day, takes some of the fabrics, and cuts them into 2 1/2" (or 1 1/2") strips. Then she chooses three different fabric strips, joins them into two different arrangements (light, dark, light and dark, light, dark) strips and cuts them into 2 1/2" (or 1 1/2") strips so that she can make nine-patch blocks. After she makes the blocks, she places them into a basket until she has enough to make a scrappy quilt from those blocks.

She uses a neutral cotton for the sashing and the borders. They're colorful and beautiful, and she usually adds applique' to the borders for an extra special touch. She shared one of her quilts with us last weekend and is was gorgeous. When all her assembly is finished, she usually hand quilts the finished top, making it even more special.

I've decided I want to be like Flo when I grow up. She's a seasoned soul who has seen and done a lot in her life (80+ years) and when she finally goes out (years from now), she'll leave behind people who love her and a pile of quilts that will stagger any imagination.

I can tell you one thing for sure. She's made me a better quilter, and with every project I complete, I strive to meet her high standards. (She's says I've really improved!)

So, I'm going to tackle those scraps (in between my projects), just to catch up on making nine-patch blocks...and when I have a sizeable pile, I'll make my first nine-patch quilt from all my leftover fabric pieces. Thank you, Flo.

You gals are the best! Smooches.

Thank you to everyone who left me a comment about my outfit for the wedding. You're all so considerate and complimentary. I read all of your comments and just want to tell you that I promise to share what I learn at the wedding. I'll tell you what I can about their customs, how the other women dress for the celebration...and all about the food, which I expect to be absolutely fabulous!

Because of your kind remarks, I'm much more comfortable in my clothing choice for the big day. Heck, you'd think I'm the bride with as much thought and preparation I've put into this! At any rate, I promise to tell you all about it next week. Thanks again!

A Scrappy Quilt Gift...

My BFF, Lee recently gifted me a cherished family heirloom. It's a scrappy quilt made by her Grandma Busse. Lee thinks is was made in the 1960s, which makes it about fifty years old. That makes this beautiful quilt an antique. (Funny how I like thinking of things as antique, but my fifty plus years still don't qualify me as antique in my mind!)

Lee said that her grandmother gathered her friends to help hand-quilt the front, batting and backing together. Don't you love the squares, joined to the circles to make the blocks? There aren't many squares where a fabric is repeated within the block. Most change fabrics for each component of each block. I only found a very few that repeated (corner to corner) like this one does.

You don't have to look too hard to see all the tiny stitches that went into this quilt. The fabrics are diverse and colorful - each more interesting than the last.

I think the backing - a red and white print - is perfectly paired with the scrappy front. The front border is a blue and green floral that just makes me smile.

All those hands gathered to make this quilt is a testament to their friendship. Now, it's a generous gift from my dear friend, Lee to me.

I will care for it and think of Lee and her quilting Grandma Busse whenever I look at it. I'll be reminded of generations of warm hugs - handed from grandmother to mother to daughter (Lee) to this friend - whenever I sit beneath its colorful squares. I'm honored to be able to call this scrappy quilt mine.

Thank you, Lee.

PS: Jess asked me to thank all of you for your comments on yesterday's post. She will be listing crowns for boys and girls in her Etsy shop right after Labor Day, so please check back. You can also friend "Granola" on Facebook for her latest updates and newest creations.