Saturday, July 26, 2014

A bit of red!

 Since I finished by pickledish and wonky star blocks  for RSC2014, all I have to show for this week that has a bit of red is my Baltimore Garden Block.  Yes, block 22 out of 25 is complete! 

 The flower above is done in six layers. Layer numbers four and five were quite challenging, but I must say they are getting easier each time I come across them in a block. All that practice must be paying off!
 This is a simple tulip, they are like a breath of fresh air since the applique shape is bigger and has gentle curves.


Then I took a bit of a vacation from my regular projects.  The final photo is a picture of my bed.  The Double Irish Chain is pulled back to show the row of orphan blocks that I added to the top of the top sheet.  I recently was making up my guest bed with sheets I bought many years ago.  I realized that sheets purchased today are shorter than they used to be.  You know how they change the sizes of packaging at the grocery store so you don't realize the price is going up. Well, they have done it with sheets too!  So by adding a band of blocks, it not only looks great, but hopefully the sheet will stay tucked in at the bottom of the bed. Working on this project was like taking a little vacation from my regular projects.  But, come Monday it will be time to start another applique block.


25 comments:

  1. amazing that you have finished that many blocks for this quilt, what a major accomplishment! love the layered flower, just beautiful….
    tulips my favorite flower, looks great!
    great solution for the sheets and looks nice.
    Kathie

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    1. Thanks! I have amazed myself with my progress on Baltimore Garden. I am more confident that I will complete it. I thinking wanting to hand quilt it has given me the drive to put in all those applique stitches.

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  2. good idea on the sheets - I too have noticed that. I am down to just a couple sets of sheets and one fits my bed great where as the newer set is short and I'm constantly fixing it - I wish they would just stop short changing us already. Love your flowers

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    1. Thanks Karen! Anything to cut costs, I guess more of us need to complain, but I am not sure it would help.

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  3. Great idea in your last picture, although it wouldn't work for my nephew. It seems the bed isn't ready for sleeping in until he has pulled the top sheet free from the bottom so he can sleep freely.
    Lovely Baltimore block.

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    1. I had a brother that would do that, and of course his sisters were in charge of making his bed everyday. LOL Maybe that is why I hate when the sheet is too short. LOL Thanks for stopping by

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  4. 22 out of 25 -- WOW!!! Can't wait to see the whole quilt complete! What an accomplishment. Keep up the fun work.

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    1. Yeah, I had to recount the blank blocks left. I was never sure I would ever make it this far! Still have those borders ahead of me but at least I am on the downhill side of the mountain.

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  5. Your work is always so inspirational. (Probably not doable by mere mortals...but inspirational none the less).

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    1. Sally, you underestimate your ability. It is just one stitch at a time with applique. Oh yeah and there are a gazillion stitches! LOL

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  6. Wow! I can't believe you are knocking off those blocks so quickly! Lovely job.
    You know, I knew the sheets did not fit as well but never thought to measure them! Might have to try that with some of ours.... so sick of remaking it every single morning.

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    1. Me too! So happy to be at this point, but still have those borders. As for short sheets, I guess they know we don't measure. I am surprised we still get a dozen eggs and a dozen donuts.

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  7. What gorgeous applique ... I know I say that every time you share your applique work, but it's so beautiful ... you do such a fabulous job.

    And great idea on the sheets ... even if sheets fit properly, what a wonderful idea to make the sheets as exciting as the quilt.

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    1. I did feel kind of special having exclusive sheets. I guess I need to do some pillow cases now.

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  8. Wow. I'm always in awe of complex applique. Your work is just beautiful.

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    1. Thanks Mari! It's really all about practice and desire. Thanks for you kind words.

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  9. That is such a clever idea. The blocks look great on the sheet. And you appliqué blocks are turning out lovely.

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  10. Great progress on your appliqué! Fabulous use of orphans too.

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    1. Thanks! It is nice to make a project that is useful. I hope to try some of your zippered bags soon! I just got a walking foot for my machine and I am taking a walking foot quilting class on craftsy. Hopefully I can make up some nice quilted fabric to use in my zippered bags.

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    1. Thanks Carla! It made a big difference and I feel so special to have custom sheets on my bed. I think some pillow cases are in the future.

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  12. Your block is beautiful, dear.
    What an excellent idea to make the bed sheet longer. They seem to shrink more every time I wash them. This would solve the problem.

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  13. Replies
    1. I love all the vases in this quilt. They are fun to do too! Although it takes a lot of stitches to applique that lattice work down. The alternate layout of this quilt centralizes all of the vase blocks and I think is the one I will use when the blocks all come together.

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