Panels are great for a quick quilt

I had purchased this Liberty Bear panel on a clearance sale last year and recently decided that I didn't have to cut it apart to make a pieced quilt. No, I could actually just add a sashing and border and machine quilt it. I am now very happy that I didn't cut the panel apart. This was a fun, quick and easy little quilt to make. Sometimes it really is OK to take the easy road (at least in quilting!). I took the photo this morning before the sun came up and yes it is cloudy out there again. I hope you find something easy and enjoyable to do today. Enjoy the Memorial weekend and be careful if you are going to be on the road. Give someone a smile or better yet, give them a quilt! Until next time.......

Machine quilting this week

Just finished pinning a quilt together and will machine quilt it this weekend. Or rather, I will start machine quilting it this weekend. If the weather clears up enough to work in the yard, I will have to split my time between quilting and gardening. If you haven't been to the Missouri Star Quilt Company's web site, try it out. Jenny Doan gives wonderful tutorials. I have picked up quite a few shortcuts and ideas from her and can't wait to try them out. Purchased the Vine & Curves template from Quilt in a Day to make curved edges on quilts. Another tutorial from the Missouri Star Quilt Company. Keep enjoying each day and do something nice for someone this week for no reason at all.

Busy Quilting

I decided to use some of my red, white and blue scraps to see what I could come up with.  I chose to use my new Dresden Plate die cutter from Accuquilt and one of my favorite die shapes, the Tumbler.  Just by chance I stumbled upon a close out on the red, white and blue striped fabric (dare I say it) for only $1 per yard.  After making sure it was good quality cotton fabric, I bought what was left on the bolt.  Needless to say, the next couple of red, white and blue quilts will likely have the striped fabric somewhere in it.  The Dresden Plate was fun to make.  I used the leftover 9 patch blocks in the backing too.  Quilters really know how to be "green"!