WIP # 1 FINISHED!

Contemporary Dresden Plate Quilt

On the first day of June, I had my DH choose a slip of paper from the bowl of all of these WIPs (Works in Progress).  This would be the project for the month to have finished by June 30.

The number he chose was #1 and this corresponded to the list in my binder.

#1 on the list was Dresden Plate.  I started working on it.

I took it with me to Retreat with my quilty buddies.

I worked on it diligently until I had the top finished.
I brought it home and started working on the back.  I wanted to use up all my 30s scraps.

I had some components left from making the Dresden Plates that I wanted to use up so I made the label from these.  The label tells the observer that this quilt was started two years ago with my friend, Linda Meck, who completed hers that first summer.

The original traditional pattern I started with called for 30 blocks to be set in straight set with sashing and 9-patch cornerstones.  After I made 15 of the Plate blocks, I decided I was finished with making Dresden Plates.
I still had all of the white squares that I cut to put the appliques on.  It seemed to me that I could use those and the 15 completed blocks I had and get that top finished.
I chose to set these on point simply to gain the extra inches to make the quilt a good sized twin.

I still had fabric left.  Since I had given up on a traditional setting I began to play with strata strips to make the borders.  I opted for borders only on 3 sides and one of those was one-third the width of the other two.
I liked all of the negative space that was left on this quilt.
It is quilted in an overall side to side pattern in medium density.
It is great to be able to say that the June WIP is now complete!!!

-sandi

LIFE'S ORCHARD

I have always loved the "Tree of Life" block.  I have seen it done in many ways.  This little quilt I am calling "Life's Orchard" because it is a Tree of Life block in an orchard setting.  This pattern came from Bonnie Hunter's book called "Leaders and Enders".   She titled this quilt "Crabapples".  I changed the name of mine to Life's Orchard to keep the word Life in it.  I made a few changes, but, overall, it is by the pattern.

I started with lots of 1.5" squares and started making them into 9-patch blocks.  I did not count how many there were.  What I do know is that I have used up some very ugly fabrics.

I started this project as a leader/ender while I worked on another quilt top.  Eventually, I was ready to get serious about finishing this one so this is what it looked like as I started connecting all those leader/enders.

The tree bases are paper pieced.  I used many of the dull greens that I have had for a while.

The sashing and cornerstones came from my stash too.  The red/white dot (it is not quite this bright) fabric is very old and the gold cornerstone fabric is from a Jinny Beyer first collection I purchased in the 80s when I first started quilting.  I bought the complete line of her fabric at that time in fat quarters.  I think it was something like 108 fat quarters.   I am still using them.

On-point settings are my favorites .

Put it all together and add borders.  A small inner border,

then a pieced middle border,

and finish it off with a wide outer border of chocolate brown. 

Another finished quilt top for March.  It will be quilted as soon as I can get it on the machine.


                                       -sandi

FRIDAY:: WHAT I AM WORKING ON

I wanted to post  picture of my Bonnie Hunter Orca Bay Mystery quilt after I put the borders on it.  It is ready to be quilted and bound. 

                                  -sandi