Deana: Thursday Linkups

Where has the week gone?  Having Monday off was wonderful and sure helped to advance the week forward.

I finished another sewing machine for the Quilter's Garden BOM.  This little guy started out as green and brown, but I just did not like the busy brown print, so I replaced it with a plain turquoise/blue color.  I think this little machine is happy now. 

The problem with these machines is that I don't want to sew anything else.  I need to get a ton of hand applique done on the horse quilt this month and quilt two other quilts this month.  I am working pretty good, but those sewing machines beg me to sew them up.  I think I am just anxious to see them come alive.

Here is a photo of my horse project.  This is the center of what will be a queen sized quilt.  I want it done for Christmas 2014 as a gift to my son, so I have set up deadlines for each step of the way.  You probably cannot tell from the photo, but I am hand appliqueing down most of it.  There are some pieces that will be three dimensional on the mane.  I did that by fusing fabric to itself and then cutting out the ends.  It was a crazy thing to do time-wise but looks great.  The way the mane sticks up adds so much to the over all effect.

This is not my pattern - no way I could ever do an animal - but I am piecing everything around it from my own design.  This quilt will have a ton more hand applique such as 20 little circles and several silhouettes of horses and cowboys in the final border.  Wish me luck!

I have been busily machine quilting for Mom.  I am loving how it looks but not loving the process.  I am using a beautiful rainbow variegated thread (which Mom loves) but the Juki does not like rainbow threads.  It just keeps breaking and making the process pretty darn slow.  Ugh!   I love my Juki but it only likes good strong, healthy thread.  I may have to switch to my Bernina on this one.

Linking up with:

Let's Bee Social

I Quilt at Pretty Bobbins

Needle and Thread Thursday

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: Swap Questions?

I have had some questions about how the Mystery Row Swap (see more details at this link)  part will work, so I thought I would address it in this post.  I will update the same information to the original swap post.

Here is how the swap will work:

As quilters post their completed blocks I will number each block in the order they are blogged.  So when it is time to  decide which blocks go to Jane Doe, and if Jane made 3 blocks, I will draw out three numbers to determine which ones she gets.  If Deana made 6 blocks I will draw the next 6 numbers for her.  Basically, it will be random.  I will doctor up the randomness if needed such as:

• If you choose to make three identical swap blocks in the same fabrics, I will have you send them to three different people so one person will not have identical blocks in a row.  It is faster and easier to strip sew identical blocks so I anticipate most swappers will do this.
• If you choose to make three blocks that are not identical in fabric then I may have you send them to only one/maybe 2 people ,as needed, to save on postage.

Basically, you could get some blocks from the same person but most likely you will receive blocks from different people.  On the first of each month I will determine as randomly as possible where each block is sent and email everyone a list with addresses.


On the first of the month I will blog about a "maximum" number of blocks you can make.  It will probably be the number of blocks in the row (likely not more then 8).   

Participants will be required to use high quality fabric (no Walmart)  and to match the color scheme.  You can tell the quality by how good it feels and by the price.  Most good quality fabric is around $10 a yard.  I hope participants will purchase enough fabric so they can put bits of the same fabric in each row to blend it all together. 

I hope this post has provided you with some clarification.

Deana: FREE Mystery BOM SWAP - Row Quilt Style

Welcome all quilters who like BOMs, MYSTERY, and SWAPS.  If you love BOMs and MYSTERY  but not so much SWAPS, this will work for you too.  I have the itch to design and swap again and wanted to invite quilters from around the world to participate.   Here is what I have in mind:

I will be designing a ROW QUILT.  It will be queen-sized, but make any size you want because row quilts are easy to adapt.

A new FREE row pattern will be released at the first of each month (via email PDF format).  Participants will make as many blocks as they wish to swap from that pattern and post them to the group blog by the last day of the month.  If you are not much of a swapper, just make one to swap and make the rest for yourself.  Anyone who posts swap blocks will be in on that month's swap.  Non bloggers can email me their photos for me to post. 

Make as many blocks as you want up to a maximum that will be listed.  If you make two, you swap two.  If you make 5, you swap 5.  If the row requires 8 blocks and you only make two to swap, then you will have to make the other 6 blocks on your own to have enough for the row. 

Block patterns may include paper piecing, some appliqué, or regular rotary or strip piecing methods.

Here are some row quilts I have designed in the past:

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. 

 

Additional Rules:

•  Participants will suggest a theme for the row quilt.  I will choose one that inspires me and design the quilt based on that theme.   

• You must participate in the SWAP the prior month to get the next pattern for FREE.  The cost for non-swap participants will be $6.75 a month payable via paypal.  Once the quilt project is finished the pattern will become available for sale, so participate now and get it for FREE.

• You can make EXTRA blocks for a drawing; you will get one entry per extra block.  Just specify how many blocks are for the swap and how many are for the drawing.   If enough people participate in making "drawing blocks", someone may have enough for a separate quilt just out of the winning blocks. 

• All participants will be asked to follow the fabric/color guidelines for each month's instructions so the blocks will look good together after we swap them.

• Late comers are welcome but they will need to purchase the patterns they missed or come up with their own rows. 

 Who do you swap with?

As quilters post their completed blocks I will number each block in the order they are blogged.  So when it is time to  decide which blocks go to Jane Doe, and if Jane made 3 blocks, I will draw out three numbers to determine which ones she gets.  If Deana made 6 blocks I will draw the next 6 numbers for her.  Basically, it will be random.  I will doctor up the randomness if needed such as:

• If you choose to make three identical swap blocks in the same fabrics, I will have you send them to three different people so one person will not have identical blocks in a row.  It is faster and easier to strip sew identical blocks so I anticipate most swappers will do this.
• If you choose to make three blocks that are not identical in fabric then I may have you send them to only one/maybe 2 people ,as needed, to save on postage.

Basically, you could get some blocks from the same person but most likely you will receive blocks from different people.  On the first of each month I will determine as randomly as possible where each block is sent and email everyone a list with addresses.


On the first of the month I will blog about a "maximum" number of blocks you can make.  It will probably be the number of blocks in the row (likely not more then 8).   

Participants will be required to use high quality fabric (no Walmart)  and to match the color scheme.  You can tell the quality by how good it feels and by the price.  Most good quality fabric is around $10 a yard.  I hope participants will purchase enough fabric so they can put bits of the same fabric in each row to blend the whole quilt together.

Deana’s Designs is not liable for blocks that get lost in the mail.  Participate at your own risk.

INTERESTED IN JOINING?  
Leave a comment with your email address or email me at mamiebudgeese@hotmail.com.  In the subject line put "BOM swap mystery" so I know you are not a spammer.  Also, list your "theme" idea.

I am leaning toward starting either September 1st or October 1st to allow time to recruit swappers.  We need a pretty good sized group for this to work.  I anticipate the swap to go for 6-7 months.  

Grab a button and let your friends and internet groups know. 

<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.  This BOM swap will not be an art quilt or extremely difficult project like the photo below.  Think intermediate or a beginner who is particular.

The quilt below is made with folded inserts.

Hexagons in Rotation

And another one in different colors...

 Lacy Daisies WITH HAND EMBROIDERY

A darling row quilt I discovered online.
And another one. 
A winter one getting started... 
And yet another...Just love them all! 
Moda Bake Shop posted one too.

Spring Row by Row

I designed and completed this quilt somewhere around 2001-2004.  It was the second one in my set of row quilts.  The quilting in it has a neat story.  My good friend and longarm operator, Hazel McMullin, was quilting it for me when her husband suddenly had to have emergency surgery.  I was in a HUGE hurry to complete it because I was planning to show it along with my other row quilts and patterns at a spring guild meeting in St. George.  Hazel had completed the top border with a beautiful Chantily Lace pattern and the house row.  She allowed me to use her machine to finish the quilt, and I did some outline stitching and the "Sunbonnet Sue Row".  This was my first ever experience to touch a longarm and as we all know, that takes some time to master.  Anyway, I didn't do a very good job (her longarm did not have a regulated stitch on it to boot).  Sharon Schamber, a famous quilter who has won many awards, happened to be teaching a local quilt class.  I was basically hosting/feeding her, and she offered to finish the quilting.  I pulled it off Hazel's frames and Sharon performed her magic.  She quilted raindrops in the umberella blocks and beautiful birds and bees in the birdhouse row.  My wonderful friend, Linda Johnson, helped me bind it.  Many years later Hazel asked to borrow my quilt.  It was returned to me with the beautiful Chantily Lace pattern completed in the other borders.

Below are some closeups.