Dogs Never Lie.......

about LOVE

My entry into the bloggers quilt festival.

This quilt was designed and made for my husband (aka design consultant).  It celebrates all the dogs that we have been fortunate to have in our lives. Especially  Prudence (our first dog together) and agent Ninety-Nine. We lost the niner niner a about a year and a half ago but that's when Kyra Kaos entered our lives.

Design consultant and the Kaos

A few more pictures of the quilt

It all started when I ran across this quilt by Tula Pink

Shortly after I read this post on the billboard quilt along by Elizabeth I sat down a drafted a quilt top.  Which I then decided was all the wrong dimensions.  Thus all the scribbles.

While I was surfing the web I ran across Tonya's blog and decided to buy her book.  

She also has a couple of great tutorials on her blog.

The back is based on a quartered log cabin block by Nettie Peterson in this book


Hubby loves color so the back is bright for him.
Quilt stats
Size: 56" x 58"
Quilting:  Practicing my FMQ and a lot of straight line quilting by me.
Fabrics:  Most of the solids are Laura Gunn's painters canvas.  The binding is Kona jade green (selected by the design consultant).

Snappy spring

A blouse I finished recently.  McCalls M5433 a Palmer Pletsch pattern. The pattern walks you through how to fit a shirt and  guides you through the tissue fitting process.  No "muslin" to make. I took a class and purchased the fabric from fabrications a local fabric shop.

I used the snapsetter tool that I purchased a few years ago to put on size 16 open prong ring snaps then affixed a hot fix flatback crystal in the center.  For the size 16 you need the 34ss (7.2mm) crystal.  I was impressed that the crystals stayed attached through the wash and dry cycle.  You also need a rhinestone applicator tool.  I purchased my  swarowski crystals and tool from jewelrysupply.  I really like the white collar and cuffs.  It makes it look fresh and light.

Modern Mini Challenge

Since I saw this quilt over at badskirt I was smitten.  I loved the colors and plus (crosses) style.  I used fabrics entirely from my scraps and stash.  I was going for just shades of gray and red but at the last minute decided to add a few squares of light blue.  I am happy I did as it picks up my sewing room wall color so well.    This mini captures some of my favorite things dogs and bikes.  I just love the dog fabric it was left over from some pj's that I made for my hubby.

I love the way it turned out.  Clicking on the picture will make it bigger

Here is is on my sewing room wall

Finsihed up at about 30"x30" using 2.5" blocks

Close up of the free motion quilting.  I did rows vertical and horizontal.  This was a great way to practive my FMQ skills.

I am really happy with how my mini finished up. I have not washed it yet so I am expecting it to get very crinkly.

I am linking up to 


Thanks Jennifer at ellison lane quilts for putting together the challenge and all the wonderful prizes. So many great quilts posted so I will keep my fingers crossed for the luck of the draw.

Long time since last post

It has been a long time since I posted.

I finished a few items for Christmas but did not get pictures of them.  I did two quilts and some pillowcases.  I have a picture of the pillowcases but not the quilts.  I finished the quilts at the last minute with no time for pictures.

Pillowcases for Mom

I also made some for myself I should snap some pictures as they turned out really cute.

Anyway, I also finished a perfect zip bag using Elizabeth's pattern perfect zip bag.  I got my inspiration from her  in case of emergency bag.  My rendition for knitting.

machine embroidery

the popular cross

Summer Sampler Series

I started this one back in July.  I got a few weeks behind but I have finished all my blocks.  Putting an actual post together requires good pictures which I never seem to get around to taking.

Bloggers BOM Canton Village Quilt works

I am planning to try and keep up with the block of the month

Mod Times Quilt Along Finished

Started this one in April.  Finished the top in the quilt along over at Twin Fibers Mod Times Quilt Along.  It took me a while to decide on the border. This quilt used fabrics entirely from my personal supply (aka "stash").  I quilted this one with some straight lines around the rectangles and used free motion to follow the design of the fabric in the border.  This was my first time using nylon thread in the top and white thread in the bobbin.  I am pleased with the results.  No problems with the tension and very few thread breaks.

Quilt top prior to border

Free motion and straight line quilting