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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Dare to Dresden blg hop




Thank-you so much to Christine and Madame Samm for hosting this blog hop at http://www.quiltmonstercloset.com/2013/01/dare-to-dresden-schedule.html and at http://www.sewwequilt.com/. As soon as I heard about, I was “in like Flynn”! Here is my quilt, aptly titled “I really really don’t like Dresdens!”. Of course, there is a story behind that! Oh and that’s my gorgeous husband poking out from behind the quilt in the photo below. The quilt was made in 1998 or 1999. Back then I didn’t even know to date my quilts.



I had been quilting for about 6 years before I took a sampler class series of classes. When I took my very first quilt class, it was 1992 and I did a log cabin class when I was on school holidays down in Brisbane (our capital city, about 1 000km east of the small country town where my DH (dear husband) and I were living. Living in remote Outback country towns as we were then, there weren’t any stores other than a small general store, never mind a fabric store (the closest fabric store was something like 1 200 km away (745 miles) so I had no access to classes whatsoever. I learned more about patchwork and quilting then by what I call osmosis – meaning that I read all the patchwork magazines that I could subscribe to and by teaching myself. There was no Internet back then, not in small isolated country towns at least.

My husband and I moved east closer to the coast and then we were finally close enough to where I could access patchwork classes whilst still living in small rural country towns albeit not so isolated as Wyandra and Birdsville (on the edge of the Simpson Desert). Having not really learned the very basics of patchwork and quilting, I decided to go along to a Sampler quilt series of classes.

One block that I really didn’t like, to the point of hating it, was the Dresden Plate block. I have no idea why I disliked it so strongly but I tried every excuse “in the book” to get out of going to that particular lesson. Being a teacher, I kept telling myself that wasn’t the attitude to have but I still didn’t want to go. What made me finally give in was DH – he really liked this block, so of course I went along. I really didn’t have much choice to make that block for my sampler quilt as this quilt became our (belated) wedding quilt. The sampler quilt echoed  the colours of my wedding bouquet which were purple, yellow and white.

Once I made this block though, I fell in love with the Dresden Plate block and so, a couple of months after making my Wedding Quilt I made the quilt above.

As for our  Wedding Quilt, I have included a photo of it below. By the time I made the sampler quilt, we had been married for 7 years but I had not long before that heard about wedding quilts.

My favourite colour is purple  - who would have guessed? As a teenager I had a crush on Donny Osmond and his favourite colour was purple.  I also am reknowned for my love of bright colours hence the vivacity of the colours in this quilt and many of my other quilts. Luckily for me, DH also loves purple and bright colours.
 
Here's the schedule for the blog hop. Do stop in and have a look at the other bloggers:
 
Thimble Mouse & Spouse* Moving to 1/28..
















January 25th, 2013























Rosemary B @ “that Other Blog”





























January 30th, 2013

Charlotte H @ “that Other Blog”









January 31th, 2013













83 comments:

Christine L said...

Love that those Purples! What beautiful Dresdens!! Thank you so much for sharing and taking part in our Blog Hop.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Pretty purples beautifully set these dresdens! Thank you for sharing them and your story with us today - loved it.

Scrapatches said...

Pretty colors. Thanks for sharing ... :) Pat

Judy B said...

The colors are lovely and I love your Dresden quilt! Thank you for sharing.

Sunshine Girl said...

Very nice - love the colours. Thanks for sharing.

Nati said...

Very nice, thanks for sharing... I also love purple!

Theresa said...

Lovely quilts, I really like the colours you've used.

Sheila said...

Love your quilts, thanks for sharing.

Farm Quilter said...

Beautiful Dresdens!! I love your colors - purple and teal are favorites of mine!!! Thank you for sharing them with us!

Gill said...

Pretty dresdens - I like purple too!
Thank you for sharing!

charlotte said...

Love that you now love the Dresden plate block. Your quilts are both lovely.

Sparky said...

pretty colours ...

Debby said...

Purple, yellow and teal are a favorite combination and your Dresdens are dressed in those happy colors = I love it! Thanks for showing the quilt. And your story of learning to love the block!

Jeanie said...

Nice quilts! I'm like you, dresdens were not on my radar, but they certainly are now....after only one day of this hop! Thanks for sharing!

Linda said...

I also love bright colors, so I really love your quilt! Great job!

Thearica said...

Well, you may have originally hated it but you aced it! Love your dresden quilt!

And your purple wedding quilt is just gorgeous!

Sowing Stitches said...

Love your color choices!!! :)

Rosa said...

Your dresden quilt is just gorgeous.Thanks for sharing your projects and the story!

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures said...

Drew dens are great...purple is lovely!

StitchinByTheLake said...

What an interesting story! I've never been a huge fan of purple but I think I may be changing my mind - I love your color combination! blessings, marlene

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

A very love post...your dresdens are beautiful

Barb Neiwert said...

That's pretty funny about you - a teacher - not wanting to do a project. And yet they turned out beautifully!

Kristen King said...

You have some lovely finished quilts! :)

Agnes B. Bullock said...

These quilts are gorgeous! Love the teal and yellow one especially!

Tammy said...

Good morning to you from South Carolina, USA. Your dresden block quilts are just amazeing. I must comment on the dog in teh top picture of your blog. My sister has a dog that looks kinda like your dog. Her dog is named Cooper and he is a Morky breed ( cross between a yorkie and a Maltese. And he is her baby...
conn_and_vans_mom(at)yahoo(dot)com

Patty said...

Oh Very pretty dresdens. So many different ways with dresdens today.Can't wait til tomorrow.

JudyCinNC said...

I love your use of the bright colors - so welcome during this gray season of winter. Thank you for your story and inspiration. Judy C

Vicki H said...

I like purples too. Thanks for sharing.
vlhill3459(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

sew.darn.quilt said...

Beautiful dresdens :)

KatieQ said...

Thanks for the great story to go along with your lovely Dresden projects. I think I remember that Donnie used to like wearing purple socks. Of course, as I get older, I remember all sorts of things that never happened.

Vickie said...

Excellent job, and wonderful colors. I'm "sew" glad you did this hop and I got to see them !

tubilinha tiacarminha said...

Apanhei um bocado até minhas placas ficarem apresentáveis,fiz vários moldes em papelão.E até hoje uso o que deu certo,moro longe da cidade grande.Estou te seguindo,GFC 26.Vamos estar sempre em comunicação agora.Seja feliz.

Lisa said...

My husband would say your wedding quilt is really a LSU football fan quilt! Geaux Tigers!

Calicojoan said...

WOW! Purple is one of my favorites too. I love it!

Vivian said...

What a great Dresden journey! I too have learned to "never say never" in quilting because those "nevers" always turn into "lovers" (in a good, clean quilty way, that is)!

Needled Mom said...

Your Dresden came out beautifully.

I have always loved the color purple in quilts too. Very nice.

Rosemary B❤️ said...

Rosemary B here: gorgeous colors. I can see that you are quite accomplished in this. Just gorgeous!
Thank you for sharing your creativity and expertise

Jane's Quilting said...

What pretty colors...It is sooo cool. Thank you for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Love the colors. I love the color purple in my teen years and now its my granddaughter favour color too.
Keep smiling!

The Slow Quilter said...

It nice to have a husban around to hold up those quilts. Love the Dresden.

suemac said...

I too have a husband who loves purple. I just finished up a purple quilt just for him.

Diann said...

I especially like your uses of color. Can you tell I like bright too?

Joyce Carter said...

I absolutely love your quilt. Purple is also one of my favorite colors(after green and pink, of course). Thanks for sharing.

Apple Avenue Quilts said...

Pretty quilts. Thanks for sharing the quilts and the stories.

sandra said...

I love purple too so I adore your quilt and the beautiful Dresdens.

Britt-Inger said...

Your quilt is so pretty with the purple color. Thanks for sharing

Kim West said...

your dresdens are very pretty! I too, avoided the dresden pattern for a long time!

Katherine said...

Your bright, happy dresdens make me smile! Well done!

Deb C said...

I think that both your quilts are beautiful. You did a very nice job! I love the color purple too.

Day before Michelle said...

Love the purples and yellows!

Very pretty dresdens..and good for you to stick it out and discover you liked them after all!

Bente-I like to QuiltBlog said...

Your dresdens quilt ist so beautiful, lovely colors especially
purple ☺
Liebe Grüße
Bente in Germany

✄ Erin @ Sew at Home Mummy ✄ said...

I love it! And the colors are great. I love the purples with yellows. And your little puppy is so CUTE!!!

Lyn said...

Very nice! Thanks for being part of the hop!

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

Love the colors. So pretty! It's wonderful to share this day with you. I do love my Aussie friends.
xx

Sheila said...

Very pretty quilts with lots of memories to enjoy !

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

So very pretty. Wonderful fabrics and colors.

Cecilia said...

Your Dresdens are beautiful.

MoeWest said...

Your wedding quilt and Dresden quilt are beautiful!

Gmama Jane said...

Nice colors!! I almost didn't find you because it is still Thursday here so I had to Hop Back one day to find your Dresden's!!
Blessings
Gmama Jane

LJ said...

Thanks for your story about dresdens. I used to think it looked so old-fashioned. Now I realize that it is just such a versatile block and this hop is highlighting that aspect of it!

Deb said...

Beautiful Dresden quilt.

Carol Swift said...

I hated the Dresden too until I made one last year. I love them now! Your quilt is beautiful. :O)

Just Quilt It said...

I love your quilts, especially your sampler. Beautiful colors!

Lana said...

The colors are so lovely! That is a perfectly made little cutie!

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing and love the purples also.

VickiT said...

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!!!! I love both but, I really love the bottom quilt. So pretty! Of course, I LOVE purple and my favorite 2 color combinations is purple and blue and then too, my high school colors were purple and gold. And I has a childhood crush on Donny Osmond as well. Are you SURE we're not twins? LOL

DeAnna said...

What a beautiful Dresden sampler. Great job. Love your color choices.

Quilt n Queen said...

Beautiful quilts....the purples, yellows and blues make a great Easter quilt. Thanks for the inspiration and for sharing your quilts with us today. Happy stitching, Pauline

lefuntz said...

I love your use of color in your dresden quilt. Those wheels move.

Nancy in IN said...

I'm glad you took the class. You did a super job.
Thanks for sharing.

Linda C said...

I love them both but would have to say that yellow and purple one just sings!

Scrapbook-ChickADoodle said...

Great story and pretty dresdens! thanks for sharing.

Simone said...

Very nice and I love the purple colors and the way you designed your dresdens. Thank you so much for sharing.

evelyn said...

Thank you for sharing your story. I love both of your quilts. Great to have a hubby who is a fan.

Gina Loomis said...

I love your quilts! Thanks for sharing that story, I enjoyed reading it! I like purple too and Donny Osmond! Thanks for participating!

Suze said...

The purple is striking in both quilts. Strange how somethings we resist come to be a major part of our lives. Very nice projects. Thank your for sharing.

Amy, a redeemed sheep said...

Well done! =D

Wendy said...

Such a lovely story! I couldn't imagine living somewhere that isolated, mind you, I live in England so it would be impossible anyway!

carla said...

Hi!Beautiful quilts!!! Love the purple!!! Thank You

carla said...

Hi!Beautiful quilts!!! Love the purple!!! Thank You

Pam @Threading My Way said...

Two beautiful quilts, with GORGEOUS colours!!! I love the purples in both of them. You really did live in remote parts of Australia!!! I'm the other marker on the map of Australia.

Leah said...

Your dresden quilt is lovely. It is amazing how color placement can change the movement of each dresden. Thank for sharing.

Ellie Q said...

Love the colors both your quilts!