DASHING ALONG

I will begin by saying...

I seldom get involved with Sew Alongs Challenges

BUT when Kairlie Oaks showed up

on Instagram with the #dashalong

I couldn't resist.

Use 1 precut layer cake

Some backing

and make Churn Dash Blocks.

WIN-WIN-WIN

I had a very old Wrens and Friends layer cake by MODA

And plenty of white in my stash for the background.

The stacks were ready and the chain piecing was easy and fast.

The colors in this layer cake are sew fun and happy!

Then came the HST...this took the most time!

Ahhh, yes....sew pretty!

Before I knew it the Churn Dash Blocks were done.

AND wrapping up Week 3, with a long weekend vaction,

didn't stop my progress

Easy on the eyes as I placed the 30 blocks

on my design wall

Week 4 was sewing all the blocks together.

And here it is...

This top will most likely become a charity top.

And the kicker of it all....I won a prize package that included all this!

Thanks to all the sponsors of the #dashalong

@kairleoaks

@modafabrics

@mandipersell

@heritagethreads

I don't think this will be my last sew along challenge.

Do you ever sew along with these challenges?

TAKING A CHALLENGE

I like a challenge.

I like to try new things.

When my friend Kim Hensley and I decided to make a 

sewcial distance quilt top, my friend Shirley Haller

jumped on the sewing wagon and invited her quilty friends

to give it a try as well.

The block was a 4-patch slice.

I selected WONDER fabrics by Kate & Birdie

and a Spotted GRUNGE for the background.

My pattern was 4-patch slice by Inspiring Creations.

You can find tutorial here.

Here is my finished top...same block but my pattern used

a wider stirp and I selected a more modern layout.

The other 3 makers used the 4-patch Slice block and Lattice Pattern

from Jenny Doan of Missouri Star.

You can see that video tutorial here.

The strips in this pattern were smaller thank mine.

They all used a lattice layout.

Sometimes one as to think outside the box 

to get a quilt hanging for all to see.

Shirley used yard sticks with the flimsy tops draped over them.

Not too much weight as they were NOT quilted.

 

Then a twine string attached to each end of the stick

and yep, some duct tape to secure, then hung on a small nail

already on the trim.

This took some time...lemme say there is NOTHING easy

about putting on a quilt show!

And here there are...hanging along one wall...looking good!

SUCCESS...comes in many ways...

this was totally a hit within the Quilt Show!

FOLDING IT UP!

I was a guest demonstrator at the 

St. Boniface Quilters Show

on July 10, 2021

"Folding Quilts on the Diagonal"

I didn't invent this method, don't know who did...but

If you want to eliminate those deep batting folds.

THIS is the METHOD!

Just google it....lots of videos out there!

My other tip was to store your quilts on the vertical

or side by side vs one on top the other.

This eliminates the extra weight piled into a stack

and possibly gives you more space on a shelve to stack 

and or display your quilts.

Here was my demo station covered with moder quilts!

The quilt hanging in the back is a traditional quilt...

a memory quilt...made from my Mom's House Dresses.

I pieced it and Shirley hand quilted it.

She wanted it to be a special part of the show.

My Plaidish Quilt was an eye catcher

and it ended up as a HUGE topic of discussion...

on how to use up your scraps,

sorting by low, medium and dark values.

A simple method that wont drive you nuts!

The pattern and free tutorial is by Erica Jackman

and you can find it here.

The other table cover was my COLOR DIVE rainbow quilt.

Pattern by Anna Maria Horner and I used mostly Alison Glass fabrics.

I brought several Ghastlie Quilts to "fold" during the demo.

I couldn't believe how many people had NEVER SEEN GHASTLIES!

Oh yes, the traffic was great but 6 hours of demos left

my back muscles sore from folding and feet aching from standing.

I was in my element...talking quilts, scraps, color and Ghastliness1

If you ever need a trunk show or demo...please keep me in mind!

A SHOW TO BEHOLD

I was recently involved with a lovely quilt show.

My BFF, Shirley Haller, lives in Evansville, IN and

for the lasts 2 years she planned, coordinated and executed the show.

ALL THAT during COVID and battling BREAST CANCER !

It wasn’t JUST a quilt show!

The St. Boniface Parish Quilters in Evansville

have members from the 3 Catholic Churches.

This show was held at Sacred Heart Parish.

A highlight of the show was a Quilts of Valor with a

special ceremony to present Veterans of War Recipients.

The quilters did a lovely job making, presenting 

honoring local recipients.

Every pew was covered!

A view from the balcony above was breathtaking. 

View from the front to the back of the church.

View from the back to front of the church.

Shirley asked me to bring some Modern quilts for this Traditional Show.

They played well with all the traditional quilts! 

Here is my PLUS + design and Modern Pumpkins

Wonky Crosses and Churn Dash had their space too!

All behaving well and holding their own !

 It was a privilege to be included in this show, inside a beautiful church,

alongside 100 other traditional quilted beauties. 

This lady right here, Shirley, is so inspirational...

besides my bestie for over 60 years!

Thank you Shirley for including me!

FROGGY KINDA DAY!

I love Quilts in the Wild...

especially mine!

Dawes Arboretum near Newark, OH is a beautiful garden.

And they happen to have frogs, dancing in the park!

Frogs practicing mediation by the water.

Frogs tending to the garden plants.

I could hear some blue grass music!

And who doesn't like a game of LEAP FROG?

But I had the most fun...finding the photo opps for my 

Wonky Crosses quilt made with Zen Chic COMMA fabrics

Sew...if you think you might want to enjoy the great outdoors...

this 24 FROG installation called 'RIBBIT The EXHIBIT'

by Artist J A COBB will be

hopping thru the park til September 8, 2021

My quilt will be gone...but this place is certainly worth the visit.

$10 entrance fee helps keep the garden beautiful

and allows for these wonderful exhibits to happen!