Dresden bag, part 2

Yesterday we finished the Opportunity quilt top. I'm very happy with the work we have all put into this quilt. It is defiantly an eye catcher.
Yesterdays fuel, was pina colada cupcakes. Pineapple and coconut. Yummy! Now we can all go back on our diets and back to our own projects, like Dresden bags.

So on to the bag.

You will need a zipper. I used a 9" zipper in my bags. You could probably use a 12", but I wouldn't go any bigger.

So cut 2, 1 1/2" strip, one inch longer than your zipper. Sew each strip to either side of the zipper, like in the picture. This is so you cover the raw edge with the next step.

Next, sew those strips open on each side, again like the pic.

Then cut a 2" X 5 1/2" piece, for either end of you zipper (if you are using a 9"zipper). You can see it in the pic.

Then you are going to sew that zipper gusset to each side of the plate. Put right sides together and sew very closely to the tips of the fans (I used my finger nail to feel for the tips), while leaving a 1/4" of the zipper gusset hanging past your pressure foot. Again, like the pic. Sorry if this sounds like gibberish, I just did it and made it work. Somebody may come up with a better, easier way.

The end result it to keep those tips exposed, like in the pic. I have one side sewn down, now do the other side the same way, lining up the seams of each plate, as you sew the other side of the zipper down.

It's all about those points. I wanted those to be the focus. Just remember, if I can do it, it can be done. I'll help in any way I can, just ask.

Now you could just sew up the bottom and be done, but I put in a lining and batting to cover all the seams. Maybe later today, I'll come back and post the last step.

Good luck...

Take care, Brandie

How to make a Dresden bag, part1

I'm going to start this post with a disclaimer. I'm not a professional and I may make some mistakes and then pass them on to you. Forgive me please.
So I was told that I should give a tutorial on how I made my Dresden bags. So here it is. I hope I give you enough information and I don't leave out any steps. If you have any questions, please ask. It is all very confusing, specially to load the pictures onto blogger, as you have to add them backwards.
So here we go.
Your first step is to find fabrics to use. In this bag I used 7 different fabrics. Cut each fabric into a 2 1/2" strip. Each fan will be made of a 2 1/2 X 5 1/2 piece. Now I used a 18 degree fan ruler to make each piece fan shape. Save all your scraps, you may be able to use them for the centers.

So that they look like this.

Then take each fan shape to the sewing machine and make a point, by folding right side together and sewing straight across the top.

Turn them right side out and press. They should look like this.

Then I take 2 fans and sew them together, and so on and so forth. To start building the complete fan. Finger press open each seam, than iron.

After all the fan units are sew together (I used 11), repeat for the other side. You should have 2 sides, each with 11 fan units. (Please ignore my very stained ironing board)

Next you'll want to cover each of the holes in your plate. So I found a candlestick that was the perfect size. You can use anything, just make that half circle piece for the centers.

Next applique, or machine sew it down. You could probably even leave it raw edge and it would still be nice. Your choice, I just hand applique everything.

And when you are done, you should have 2 of these completed fan shapes.

I'll have more later, I've got to go to the last Opp.quilt get together. Really I mean it. I'm not leaving till it's done. So good luck with the bag...

Take care, Brandie

Garden tour

Unfortunately, none of these picture came form my garden. This weekend, cousin Linda and I took the "Garden Tour" in our local city, Paradise. There were 6 gardens this year. As usual, some were more our taste than others. There was a ranch, complete with farm animals, and their smells. One thing most had in common, artichoke plants.

This one was growing at the ranch. It was in full sun and it was the smallest.

We found our favorite garden just down the street from us. It was a small yard that the owners had taken and made into several different rooms with seating. No matter where you were, there was a place to sit. They had even Incorporated old building materials into their design. Pillars, old fences and several estate sale finds. Cousin Linda and I were jealous. Apparently, this owner gets to all the yard and estates sale before us and buys all the cool stuff. This was a view into one of their rooms. I believe this room is mainly their veggie garden, but beautiful none the less.

They also had an artichoke. It was in a more mature state.

There were foxglove, don't worry I didn't pick any. I wish I could get it to grow in my yard. But alas, I don't have enough sun.

Here is a full blown choke. This one grew on the other side of the canyon and it was almost spent.

This hosta was amazing! The leaves were as watermelons! I know it is hard to see, but they were gigantic. Cousin Linda put her foot in as reference. I tried, but I keep tipping over. I had a sinus headache and wasn't to steady on my feet. They had several of these hostas. Lovely!

The man of the house made this waterfall out of found objects. It was a little one, but it wasn't over done. That's not a real lizard. But that is a real plant. It looks very happy right there.

And of course, there were California poppies, and the bumble bees that go with them. I was smitten with these cute chubby guys. They would spin themselves around the stamens. I was captivated, and a little scared.

It was a beautiful day and we saw many beautiful flowers. Great weekend!

How was your weekend?

Take care, Brandie

Community sew night

Last night was our guilds annual community sew night. Unfortunately, not a lot of people show up for it. But here is a picture of a few of the groups setting up.

See this little basket of cherries, this is a wall hanging my friend Gail is working on. Several people thought that was going to be part of our quilt.

No, this is our quilt is pictured below. We needed boy quilts, so that's what we made.

I think this will keep a child from sleeping. Can you see the crazy prints? There was one with zebras and rainbows. Flames, pink elephants, psychedelic plaids and a crazy colorful stripe. Can you tell I had nothing to do with the picking of the fabric? But now that's all done, maybe it's not so bad.
I joined this small group 4 years ago on this very same night. They had leftover round the world block that they were trying to put together. I stepped in and bullied them around and placed those non matching blocks into the least ugliest layout. Then because I knew I was being a witch, I took that quilt home and quilted it for them. All these years later, they haven't kicked me out of the group, even though I complain about almost everything.
We made a disappearing 9 patch. I complained that none of our blues matched. Then they cut them up and I really had a fit. I had to leave the room when they put the blocks together. I couldn't see the pattern and it really confused my eyes. But, when that quilt was quilted and all finished, I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. So I'm still learning. Hanging out with these ladies will make me like color, someday! Who knows, I may even start using Kaffe Fasset in every quilt. That would really surprise cousin Linda. She has said for years that I'm color challenged. It's true, but it is me. I do try to add a new color to my wardrobe every year and also to my quilting.
Have a great weekend!
Take care, Brandie

Wow

I am so excite with our progress! This is what we accomplished yesterday. At this moment, 4 of us are working on appliqueing down the larger row of flying geese. We still have the quilt in 4 pieces. This weekend I hope to sew and the quarters together. I'm just sitting here patting my self on the back and tooting my own horn, but I think the quilt is FABULOUS!
We had more problems with this little row of geese. We could not make it fit! In the end, we ended up removing 5 geese. It fits now! We roughed it up some and made it want to behave.

Sitting around the tables, made me think of an old fashioned quilting bee. Here are some of the girls basting down those geese.

I'm still just so excited and happy! We really have accomplished quite a lot. I'm so proud of "my" girls. They have done a wonderful job. If this is what it's like to be boss, I need to be one more often (with the same group). These girls are wonderful! Thank you all.

Have a great day!

Take care, Brandie

Weekend report

I'm so happy! I met Parker this weekend. He is a little over a month old and around 10 pounds. He was still so little. It has been a long time since I've been around a newborn. I was a little nervous.

He is as cute and cuddly as most babies are. I don't think we heard him cry once. He grumbled a few times for Mom to feed him, but all together a great baby. Unfortunately, our trip wasn't long enough. Next time it will be a longer trip!

So today is, hopefully, our last sew day on the opportunity quilt. Today I'm bringing "Lemon Cupcakes". I made my own lemon curd to put in the middle, just like a "Twinkie", but lemon flavored.

Diane, from Side road Stitcher, had put this recipe on her blog. It was a very easy recipe. If you enjoy lemon anything, try it out. I use to buy lemon curd from specialty shops, but not anymore! I will use this recipe and save some money. It's probably better for you than a jar of unknown ingredients. So if you are looking for a lemony treat, check it out.

Take care, Brandie

Tired eyes

I finished the book! Boy was it a great book. I really had a hard time putting it down. Like I said before, this book really grabbed you. I feel that everything but one detail was explained. That one thing, maybe it is not important. For a while I was afraid that there was going to be a huge part left out. But it was solved on nearly the last page. I thought I was the only one to remember about it.(it's really hard to talk about something without giving anything away.)

Last night I did get that baby quilt pinned, finally. That is my weekend job. I'm also travelling to see my great-nephew, Parker. I've only seen picture and I am very excited to meet him. Of course that will just make it hard for me to leave him. I really wish he lived closer.

Also I wanted to show you an impromptu apron I made using an antique pillowcase. I used every bit and I cried a little cutting into it. But I would never use the pillowcase and I wanted to enjoy the linen. So I made it into something I would use.

It already had the eyelet at the bottom. I added the pleats and another linen as a pocket. I used this at the wedding shower. I keep my smaller camera in the pocket. I wore the big camera around my neck. I was so ready to catch any crazy candid moment. Were there any? No not really, that because I was ready for them. If I didn't have a camera, there would have been a moment and I would have missed it.

Have a great 3 day weekend!

Take care, Brandie