I've finally begun!

It was 15 years ago and I had been quilting for just a few years and I HAD to have this book! I really wanted to make the 'Chesapeake Rose' quilt. I seem to recall it was a bit of an obsession.  My Mom and Dad looked everywhere and finally found it for me. I'm not sure now but I think it was a birthday gift.

Well guess who never started the quilt...that's right- me!

Until now.

I decided to do it a bit scrappy. Each block will have one green and one dark rose/red but it will be different for each block. I am using the same background fabric for all the blocks. I may use a different background for the borders though.

Here is my first block done by my prefered method of applique which is freezer paper ironed to the back and basted before I lay my pieces down. I really like to see exactly what it will look like before I start sewing it down. Well this block is big- 24" square and it's a lot of freezer paper between my fingers. I think for the next block I will have to use a different method so I can get rid of the bulky paper.

I am just happy that I am finally working on it.

And now for some show and tell.

I saw Alex Anderson using one of these irons on 'The Quilt Show' and I happened to be in a hobby shop this week and found one. I can't wait until I am home to put it through testing. I love the size. I find those little tiny irons are way too small and don't really press anything well. This one is small enough to sit right beside my sewing machine and big enough to do what I need. The point looks like it will make pressing seams open a breeze. When I am back home in a week or so I'll do a complete test and let you know what I think!

Happy Stitching!

Quilt out of my box with 'The Quilt Show' Challenge - Episode #104 Part 2

I am finally finished! The finished quilt is 22-1/2" square. The fun in this challenge really was the design and to see what you can do with coloring, flipping and rotating. When I had everything cut out and had started sewing I wished I had used a slightly darker green but I didn't have enough red and yellow to recut so I kept it as it was. Now that it is done I like the green just fine! Now I need a design wall where I can take pictures straight on. This quilt was on the floor so it looks a little crooked.

Now I am on to the next challenge - 'The Quilt Show - Episode #105' .

I'll be away from my sewing room for a week or two so this one will take a while. While I'm gone I'll try to post about a few other projects that I have on the go...it's really more than a few!

Happing Stitching!

Quilt out of my box with 'The Quilt Show' Challenge - Episode #104 Part 1

In 'The Quilt Show' episode #104 the challenge is mainly about design and color. I am not sure how Cheryl Malkowski managed to stop making quilts with this simple and versatile block! I started playing on EQ6 and soon found out that the possibilities truly are endless. The challenge turned out to be when to shut my computer down.

I did make sample blocks in both the 6" and 3" size. I really liked how Cheryl constructed them. I often use the same idea to make a block a bit bigger and trim it to size (it only works on the simple blocks though).

Here are just a few of the designs I produced with the help of EQ6. I colored them all in greys mainly because I had to decide on just one to reproduce and I didn't want color to affect my choice.

These are my favourites of the bunch. So which one do you like the best? Which one will I re-create?

Stay tuned for the reveal ! I have all the blocks made now and just need to sew it all together.

Happy quilting!