Deana: Looking forward to a sew in weekend!

I am getting pretty close on three more little sewing machines.  They still need embellishments - knobs and such.

If you wonder why I am making so many when this row only needs six, it is because I am making other projects with them as well.  I plan to make a little wall hanging for a friend for Christmas as well as a Quilter's Garden Sampler that will feature blocks from all of the Quilter's Garden rows.

The next set I make will all be the more modern looking ones.

If you have questions about this project, click the button on the right sidebar or this link.  Anyone can join.  These are all I have made so far:

My goal for today is to get a ton done on the horse quilt.  I think I can get all of the applique pieces sewn down today and start paper piecing the circle around her tomorrow.  I hope to have something to show soon.

Also, I have been studying my Dear Jane Quilt lately.  I am not sure I am happy with the last color change.  I intended to move into purples and then finally reds.  Now I am wishing I had gone back into blues and maybe greens again.  I am definitely not doing the red, but have not decided if I should remake the purple blocks and replace them with green.  The green and blue section in the upper corner is my favorite, so why not go there again?

Oh decisions!

Linking up today with:

Paper Piecing Friday!

For the above linkup, we need to show paper piecing.  Well, there is a ton of blocks done with paper piecing in Dear Jane.  How else would you EVER get all those little pieces right?  Second, 4 different areas on my "Good Vibrations" sewing machines are paper pieced as well.  They too are small.

Fabric Frenzy Friday over at Forth Worth Studios

Can I get a Woop Woop!

Link a Finish Friday

Weekend Linky Party with Patchouli Moon Studios

Quilting Reader's Garden

Deana: September's Lovely Year of Finishes post

I am setting goals today for "A Lovely Year of Finishes".  It helps me so much to set goals and have to report back.

I have two main goals for this month which is to quilt these two quilts.  They are both basted and ready to get started.

Also, I am letting people know that I am working on a pattern for my Windmill Quilt (below).  I will post a link to my Etsy Shop on this blog when it is ready.  I am aiming for a week from today.  Thank you for all your wonderful comments and interest in getting the pattern. If you would like an email when it is ready, please leave a comment and give me your address. 

Deana: Design Discussion

Val's Quilting Studio is having a discussion about design today.  You should check it out.  This post is my contribution to that discussion.

I have been designing quilts from day 1.  My mother-in-law started me off with a sampler quilt and I chose blocks from pictures in magazines that I wanted to make.  She showed me how to construct them to fit a 12" block, so from the beginning I learned how to create my own.  

I started designing on graph paper with a ruler and compass, but quickly realized that not every block is based off a square grid.  Now, I pretty much just look at a block and make it.

I want to purchase Electric Quilt for my design software but have not yet.  I use Quilt Pro and love it, but it is very old and I am unable to upload it to my new computer.  I use it mainly for paper pieced patterns and to see how a quilt will look when it is finished.

I am hosting a Row Quilt Mystery Swap on my blog.  I love row quilts - perhaps because there is so much variety in the blocks you make.  Here are some row quilts I have designed in the past as well as other non-row quilts:

Americana

Be Thankful - Autumn

 

Spring

a neighborhood with quilts hanging on the clothes line, flowers, butterflies, sunbonnet sues, a picket fence with a fancy gate, watering cans, birdhouses, and umbrellas. 

 

<div align="center">
<a href="http://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/2014/07/deana-free-mystery-bom-swap-row-quilt.html" title="Daughters of Dorinda"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwjmnQYokr6qj-JDEdKkm7D4nuXZ-z2hhKsRz_JoJWbwT1nS2fwV14Z8PyoLYA5fhZaRXH8ftecXS2dDYqZlNFwgZpLn1c_CuxGeKhkYOSg9HTpNa53X3ufFNucdl47EDtaDAtKOwF9k-/s1600/button.png" alt="Daughters of Dorinda" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Below are photos of other quilts I have designed to give you an idea of my design abilities.  The barn quilt below was the result of a Daughters of Dorinda Mystery project where everyone designed their own quilt based on a certain technique and "rule" determined by the group.  It was so much fun but a mental design exhaustion project.  I have yet to finish it, but I love it!

I designed the quilt below with folded inserts.  I like to try every method out there and to incorporate all methods into my designs.

This one was designed for my daughter's hope chest.

Hexagons Pleasure

(Pattern available in my Etsy or Craftsy Shop)

And another one in different colors...

 Lacy Daisies WITH HAND EMBROIDERY

 

The last photo is a miniature quilt I designed for a family mystery quilting project.  I had the group cut fabric into itty bitty pieces and bag them with a block name written on the bag.  It was crazy fun!  The flying geese border is 1" x 1/2" units.  The double Wedding Ring is nuts -- never again.  It is paper pieced.

Deana is slowly making progress

I am still making progress on my March goals.  It is going to be close!  Below is a photo of yesterday's sewing.  I have one windmill that just needs a center and two more pinned. 

Because of all the inquiries I have received over a pattern for this quilt, I am working on a pattern for it and will post it in my Etsy shop soon.  I will post a link on my blog when it is ready.  Please leave a comment with your email if you would like an email when it is ready.
 I also completed three more Dear Jane blocks.  One snuck into the picture this week (don't know what I was thinking), but I made it last week.

Most of the hours I've spent in quilting this week have been on finalizing my yardage calculations for my new design below.  I plan to purchase fabric Thursday and get started on it next week.  If you are interested in 

SEWING ALONG WITH ME 

on this project, click the link for details.  It will be fun!

 I also entered this design in the red and white challenge, hence the second variation.

I am linking up with Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts and Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story.

Deana: Sew along with me - My new design for the Red & White Challenge

Red & White Challenge AND
 a sew along   It will be fun!

I have been sewing this week, but I have also been designing.  Linking up with  Sew Cute, Show N Tell Tuesday, and Fabric Tuesday. 

I am so excited to reveal this quilt I designed for my daughter with her color choices in mind.  I plan to get started on it in April.  If anyone would like to make it with me online and help me test the pattern, please leave a comment or email me at mamiebudgeese@hotmail.com.

I think I have decided to call it "Jessi's Medallion".

I think I will offer the pattern for $12 to anyone who wants to sew along with me.  The price will double after the sew-a-long as we will be getting the kinks out of it for now.  I plan to release the pattern as we go, not all at once.  It will be offered via email in pdf format.  The pattern has some paper piecing, strip piecing, and some regular rotary cutting/piecing.  The quilt is 90" x 90" square to fit a queen sized bed.  The large white circle fits right on top of the bed with the borders hanging down. 

The project will begin in April and end in November of this year.

 I am also submitting this design to the Red and White Quilt Challenge.  I think it will be absolutely stunning in reds and whites!!  I can even picture it in blues and whites (my color choice).  I wish my daughter wanted it in red and white so I would not have to make two quilts.

My daughter wanted a log cabin/blended looking medallion.  She and I think the corner log cabin borders look kind of lacy.  I think I prefer the red version because the other one looks a bit like a Southwestern style.

I flipped a few blocks on this one, so it has a little bit different look in the center.  

I just can't wait to go fabric shopping!

Sparks an idea for a new Row Quilt

I have designed three different row quilts:

Autumn, Spring, and Americana.

When I saw this quilt, design ideas began to spark.  I LOVE the border on this quilt too.   All the birds made me think of the twelve days of Christmas.  I think I want to some day design a 12 row quilt featuring each day of Christmas and a border similar to this one.