I am" Breaking Dishes" around here............

Okay, not real dishes......

I have been making these blocks. Traditionally called "Broken Dishes". 

What do you think?? 

The Fabrics are from Joel Dewberry's "Heirloom" .

 I am framing each block in his "Woodgrain".

I am using these babies in bed quilt just for me...{sigh}

 A dream come true.....one for me:)

I knew I would have to choose something fast and simple...........Nobody will ever let Mom do something for herself .........for long anyway.

Can anyone relate?

Here is a quick tutorial on these super easy blocks. This would make a great beginner block!!

Each block uses four fabrics. Cut in Squares. I cut 7 inches.......I wanted a big block. Finished it will be 12 inches.

My border/frame is 2 inches........

So, when all is done.... the framed block is 15".

To begin we will make half square triangles.

Pair up two squares, put them right sides together. Repeat with the other two.

 Draw lines from corner to corner. Use a dark pen so you can really see the line. It will be used as a guide to sew and then cut.

Stich a 1/4 inch from the line... on one side. Turn your block and do the same on the other side of the line. That should leave your pen line with two stitched lines, one on each side. Now do the same with other squares......

Now cut down the pen line. Easy Peasy. Repeat with remaining squares.

  

Open each square and press flat. Trim each one to 6 1/2 inches squared up. This is what you should have.

Arrange Like so........... 

Then stitch squares together to make the block. I sew the top two together , then the bottom two. Match center seams and then sew top to bottom. Just like that...Broken Dishes.

 This one is sewn in a slightly different combo of fabrics.

Here is one with the border/frame.

 I'll be sewing twelve in all...........

To be continued.........

Ooh Ooh .....I am linking here.

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London Called......It was for Brontë.

Remember When I said London was calling?

Well look....It did. And it was for Brontë.

Quilt and pillow ..... Jolly good I'd say.   

    WARNING!!

        Here comes the quilt story....It's a bit long winded.

     When I was 19 I read "Wuthering Heights". Oh, I loved that book! I read it over the summer of 1986. It was a challenge for me. I love to be challenged. It remains as my all time favorite reads. The author of that great tale, Emily Brontë, I found fascinating also. I remember telling myself at the time. If I ever have a daughter. I will name her Brontë. 

     Eight years and two sons later, I did. And she, like the book, has been challenging. In the very best way possible. I have learned so much about who I am by raising her. She is fascinating, complicated, silly, kind, smart, thoughtful, creative, strong-willed and beautiful.

     On tuesday she begins her senior year of high school. She has plans to attend college. She is thinking photo journalism. I am thinking..... I never want her to leave !!!

      Senior years are so tough these days. The stress can be overwhelming for these kids. I have watched some of my son's friends get crushed under the pressure. And some achieve amazing things. I know what lies ahead for her. And it is a lot. The best and most challenging of times. As a mom I can only comfort her. The work and results are all up to her.

      So comfort her I will...

 With this pillow.

                               

 And this quilt.

    This idea came to me a while back.I was going to wait until graduation. 

But for all the reasons I will give. The time was now....

        I know in the days ahead, 

She will come home angry at something some dumb girl said....

"The Boy" will bruise her heart....

The testing will melt her brain....

The teacher just won't understand....

There are sure to be,

Rejection letters......

Failed awards....

Grades that didn't come out as planned......

Plans that seem like they will never succeed.....

But then again there will be,

Great test scores....

Amazing teachers....

Homecoming ........

The Prom .....

The acceptance letter...

Graduation celebrations....

The acceptance letter....

Saying goodbye to friends.....

For each of these moments in time. She can run home and  cuddle up with these gifts of love. She can cry tears of anger, happiness or fear. Scream into the pillow. Hide under the quilt.

But she will know she has a Mom that loves here......

And the goal is to just......

Keep Calm and Graduate on !!!!

More pics....

 If any of you out there have a Senior in your life...... I think this makes a great gift idea. 

UPDATE: Soon I will have the PDF template for the the letters and cap. Also included will be cutting and finishing instructions.  So keep a look out.......

Until then have some fun,
Make your own " Keep Calm" poster at

The Keep Calm-o-matic

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I Took My Quilt for a Walk.......

I would have to say...........She is a bit of a ham!!   
She insisted I shoot her from every angle. 
And that I show off her color and scrumptious texture.She knows it's the texture that really gets us all to snuggle up to her. She even got a little naughty and showed off her backside. Scandalous .............
Just the way I like it. Pin It

The Beginning .........

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I Have Been Framed.....

Yes, I have been framed..........And I like it!!!


Does anyone out there shop on Craigslist ? The Hubs does, all the time. Who knew he would find me a quilting frame?!?!?! Cheap.... (Cheap was the only way I was going to get one) gotta love my guy!!


I am not sure if it will work for all quilts.  Because you use a pantograph method and I have a mid-arm machine. So, I can only work in 5 inch rows. Which worked well on the quilt bags. I think they are pretty and it was quick!! 


Now for this " Bricks and Mortar " quilt.... The jury is still out. 


This is a blurry photo but if you look at the top shelf of the frame .... Brontë Made a stone pattern pantograph for me to follow along. I sewed around each stone 3 times hoping that 
after it washes the stones will pop up some....we'll see.

We wanted the end result to look kinda like this.....

I think we aimed kinda high since I am a newbie.... big time!!!!


Here is how it went,

 And here is what I ended up with (sorry pics are yellow, monsoon season makes for strange lighting).....

And the back.....

I made more mistakes than I care to mention. There are birds nests and missed stitches galore. It took hours and hours.......... 
And I love it!! Totally worth it and I can only get better......I hope!!
Now to bind this beast. I was thinking either gray, orange or pieced with the prints. Can't decide. What do you think?
I would love to hear any advice y'all might have on quilting!
I need all the help I can get.
In the meantime.
I can't wait to bind , wash , the cuddle this one!!

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Snappy Sleepover Set...

Wow! I finally finished the girlies Sleepover quilts. I am so excited!! They have actually been finished for a while. But, getting the girls to go out in this hideous heat and take a few photos......well it  took a while. It has been hot in the hood people. 117 today. Ouch, can you feel the burn? Getting outside and getting wrapped up in a quilt. HAHAHAHAHA I am surprised I got any shots at all. 

 Quilt Bag Fronts.....

Quilt Bag Backs...........

Matching Personalized Pillows.........

How We Roll.......

Inside of the Bag.......

What Makes it Snappy.......

You have to squint and look really hard on this one...

I used KAM plastic snaps all around the bottom and sides to 

make "the bag". They are white also.  

The next shot is an extreme close-up. Sad and blurry it is.....

Can you see the snaps?

Girlies in the Bag.......

Girlies exiting fast....... Because it's HOT!!

Shameless Photos of Cuteness.......

A Few Last Thoughts......

This was a pretty easy project. I still have a couple issues to work out. I would like to come up with a better way to keep the roll together while traveling. And a bag to carry sleepover stuff in........ 

I think I made a good call on using plastic snaps. They are the greatest thing since quilting!!! They are fun to press on. Way more fun than a zipper!!!!! Fun to find different ways to snap a quilt on ya....You can even go "Snuggie" style just by 

unsnapping a few snaps and wearing it upside down. 

This is most excellent fun for the lil's.

I had so much fun making them. I am doing one more for the very envious 11 year old sister. 

She is requesting red and aqua ( love this child!!!). We ordered her fabric on Monday:)

My 28 year old son asked for one also. He also loved the idea of snapping up "snuggie" style and watching football. It would be fun to sew one up to represent his beloved Cowboys.....

Sooooooo....... Tutorial to come!!!

In the mean time here a a couple photos of this project's process .

Embroidery.........

Piecing front to back........

Using the same fabric as the binding to connect......

Quilted inside......

Quilted outside......

Some instagrams

quilts

snap press

ruffling 

Stay tuned......................

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