Winter to Spring

Ok, I confess. 
I just took my Christmas tree down this week.

The plan was to change the decorations for Valentine’s Day and then again for Easter as I did last year. Well that didn't happen, so I’ve decided to show last years Easter tree. As I didn’t start blogging until May of last year, it is new to all of you.



The tree was decorated with a variety of eggs, ribbon, pink hummingbirds, pastel masks and of course – Bunnies!



One of my favorite vintage Bunnies by Bunnies by the Bay sits on a branch in the center of the tree.



She wears a chenille jumpsuit accented with silk ribbon and flowers.



Eggs hang next to pastel masks from Pier 1.





A fluffy ceramic bunny hides at the bottom of the tree.



Spring is coming, or so they say. But in the Antelope Valley, the month of February has had daily temps ranging from 40 to 70 degrees.

As Easter is early this year I think I better get out my bunnies now. Since the tree is no longer up I’ll have to find somewhere else to hang the eggs. Stay tuned.

Stitch at you Soon,

Dawna
Partying with :
From My Front Porch to Yours - Treasure Hunt Thursday 
Common Ground - Be Inspired Friday

Studio Sunday #10 - Candy Kisses Quilt

I haven’t posted for Studio Sunday in a while, so to start back up I have a quilt pattern for you that I recently designed.

I made a new Valentine’s quilt for this year out of a Sandy Gervais line from a few years ago. It coordinates with the Candy kisses tablescape here.



I drew up a sketch on a piece of paper. Then did a small mock up.  To have a complete picture I designed the quilt in EQ7. I downloaded the fabric images from the United Notions web page.

Blocks measure 12” when finished. The quilt is 60” square. Yardage for quilt is at the bottom of post.



Fussy cut 9 – 6 1/2” squares for the center of the blocks from the panel. 



Cut  18 – 1 1/2” x 6 1/2” rectangles.
Sew to top & bottom of fussy cut squares. Press away from square.

Cut 18  - 1 1/2” x 8 1/2” rectangles
Sew to sides of  fussy cut squares. Press away from square.



Make 72 Flying Geese units that are 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” before sewing into block (2” x 4” finished). I use the Nifty Notions Half Square and Quarter Square rulers. 

I don’t cut the thread between units until after I press. This gives stability to the seam.



Flying geese units are sewn into sets of two



and pressed open. The units should measure 2 1/2” x 8 1/2”.



Sew units onto top



and bottom of  blocks. 





Press towards center of block.



Sew cream  2 1/2” squares to ends of remaining flying geese units.



Sew to sides of blocks. Press seams open to reduce bulk.



I get really flat seams by placing a clapper on them after pressing. I have had my clapper since college. Although Bolts is a quilt store,we carry them for quilting more than clothing construction.



A finished block. I actually sewed the flying geese units on the opposite direction from the mock up. I decided this was much stronger.



Choosing block placement  for the quilt.



Cut 38 – 2 1/2” x 12 1/2” rectangles for sashings  and 24 – 2 1/2” squares for cornerstones.
Sew sashing strips to blocks vertically.



Pay close attention while piecing or you may end up with this: Oops!



So you have to rip before having corrected row.



Sew 4 sashing and cornerstones units.



Inner borders – cut 5 – 1 1/2” x WOF
Outer borders were cut 7 1/2” by 72” from length of fabric.
Measure your quilt to find your border lengths. I sewed my two borders together and mitered the corners. You can choose not to go that route. My friend Tiffany at Needle in a Hayes Stack did the quilting as I like to quilt by hand. (I write the check).



I  wonder what other panels Bolts in the Bathtub  has with 6” squares. I’m pretty sure we still have a panel with shells….

Have a great day creating.

Stitch at you Soon,
Dawna

Partying with : 
Boogieboard Cottage - Masterpiece Monday
A Humble Creation - A New Creation
Quilt Story - Fabric Tuesday
I Gotta Create - Wildly Original Link Party 
Sew Many Ways - Sew Darn Crafty Linky Party

Quilt Yardage :
1 Panel

1 7/8 yard red

3/8 yard cream

1 yard pink

7/8 yard dots on pink

1yard plaid

1/4 yard vine on cream

2 yards Kisses

Candy Kisses Valentine’s Table

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope everyone is enjoying a day filled with much love. And lots of hugs and kisses.



I’ve set the table to celebrate the day with red, white  and hearts.



The quilted table runner is one I made many years ago for a class I taught. If you are a quilter the pattern is Queen of Hearts by Thimbleberries. I’m not sure if it is still available.



I layered three heart shaped plates on top of my square white chargers set on point. I used the  chargers last summer here for my Watermelon and Ants table.



The dinner plate I picked up last month at Target. It’s melamine and was only $2.99. The salad heart is Longaberger from many years ago.



The cute heart lace edged bread plates are soap dishes from Crabtree & ?Evelyn. They are almost vintage as I’ve had them for about 25 years. The only soap they have ever seen is when I wash them after a meal. The red heart Kisses are also from Target – they open to hold about four Hersey Kisses. I used pink ones on my buffet  with Cloches. 



The  napkins were made from the Candy Kisses line of fabric by Sandy Gervais for Moda.



The line is a few years old, but we still had some at Bolts in the Bathtub. I made a quilt from the fabric as well, you can see it and get the directions - Candy Kisses Quilt.

 

I also used it for the border in my new Valentine’s quilt. I’ll post about that late tonight or tomorrow morning.



The perfect beverage will be chocolate kiss martinis. I’ll be sure to remove the foil.



The glasses were given to me as a gift from my friend Lynn. I love how each one has a different etched design.



Who has the key to  your heart?



It is only with the heart  
that one can see rightly;
what is essential
is invisible to the eye.
       - Antoine de Saint-Exupery



Happy Valentine’s Day.

Stitch at you Soon,

Dawna
Partying with:
A Stroll Thru Life -Tabletop Tuesday
Between Naps on the Porch - Tablescape Thursday
Sew Many Ways Sew Darn Crafty
The Tablescaper - Seasonal Sundays
French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday 

It’s Cloche to Valentines Day

I know, I know the title is awful. But somehow I couldn’t resist.

Marty at A Stoll Thru Life is hosting a Cloche Party and I decided to try my hand at using a cloche setting on my dining room buffet. I put out a romantic theme for Valentine’s Day.



I found these large Kisses at Target. Each one holds four wrapped Hershey Kisses inside.



What is your favorite flavor of Kisses?  Milk chocolate, dark, with almonds? My current favorite is the Hersey Hugs Raspberry flavored Kisses available for Valentine’s Day.

A selection of chocolate is truly necessary for the holiday – don’t you agree? The antique cut glass dish holds multiple types of M&M’s and some dark chocolate from Trader Joes’.



My bust of Beethoven I’ve had since high school rests atop a Parisian  styled decorative box. I used it Here for the Princess Party.



I find his music amazing, the fact that he continued to write after becoming deaf inspirational.



A little candle light



and some roses. 

Now all that’s left to do is set the table for tomorrow.
Happy Almost Valentine’s Day.


















Stitch at you Soon,

Dawna

Partying with:
Marty’s  @ A Stroll Thru Life -  It's a Cloche Party