The Gardens Of A King

This week I will be showing a bit more of my work on my latest design. I'm so excited to share this with you! It has been a wonderful road of pondering, drawing and finally sewing. I'll be showing you my finished quilt top next Sunday morning so be sure to check back often this week for more posts about the making of this quilt.

Several years ago I ran across the picture of the King George III Coverlet found on the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum website.

Click on the picture to go to the V&A website and read about the original bed cover. Thanks to the V&A Museum for posting this beautiful bed cover online. It has been such an inspiration for many quilters!

You can also see it in the book titled Quilts 1700-2010 Hidden Histories, Untold Stories from the V&A. This quilt is dated 1803-1805. I am AMAZED that this wonderful quilt was made so long ago. The maker did not have the advantage of our lights, needles, thimbles, scissors, threads, fabrics, rulers, sharp pencils and other supplies that we have today! What a talented woman she must have been!

The desire to make this quilt came about once I figured out that I can piece blocks accurately using my starch method of basting English Paper Piecing. For me, English Paper Piecing is not only about Hexies! Once I gained permission from the V&A to make a pattern based on this quilt, my mind started spinning on how to draw it! The intricate circular designs I saw in the picture were very small. I blew them up on my iPad and began the journey of drafting each of the 16 pieced blocks found in the original quilt. It was quite exciting to complete a block draft and move on to the next! Below is an example of one of the drawings for the pattern. I made a point to draw these with a ruler and pencil similar to the original maker. It has been a wonderful journey to draw these 16 blocks.

I began sewing the blocks in the late spring this year and have been thrilled that even though the blocks look difficult, they really went together very easily! You could say I've Gone Crazy for Starch Basting English Paper Piecing!

I've discovered I have become fond of some of the most difficult looking blocks because they go together so easily! As one was completed, I couldn't wait to go on to the next one!

It has been a wonderful journey using my favorite reproduction fabrics, even though they are not all true to the period of the original bed cover.

It's been a wonderful journey of perfecting my Starch Basting for English Paper Piecing with the addition of my Favorite Starch Brush to my tools I love to use! Click on the picture to see it on the website. You can also read back a bit on my blog to see how I have learned to love using it!

I've had a few ladies do some pattern testing on the pattern and they have been posting about this quilt as well. You can see their work on their blogs A Passion For Appliqué and Faeries And Fiber. I've linked you to their last post as of today about Gardens Of A King blocks. Please be sure to check for newer posts as you read their blogs as they will be posting more also! Carrie and Karen are wonderful quilters and I have been so blessed to have their talents at hand to test my pattern so it will be right for you all! If you have not contacted me yet about being the first to know when the pattern is released, let me know and I will add you to the list to give you first notice about availability.

Be sure to watch the blog this week. I'll post again on Wednesday to tell you a bit more about The Gardens Of A King. I promise some NEW pictures for you to see another sampling of the quilt!

In other topics, I want to suggest that each of you be sure to tell those you love how much you love them and do so often! Our family unexpectedly lost a dear member last week and he will be greatly missed. We all know he's with loved ones who've passed before him, but we will still miss him here on earth. It reminds me of how precious life is...

With that said, I hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks, as always, for stopping by today! See you again Wednesday!

Take care,

Missie

PS... Over the past few weeks I have received several requests to be added to the list about the pattern, but some of you are no reply followers. If you have NOT received a note in reply from me, that means I can not reach you. Please send me your email address. As I get them from today on I will post a reply after your comment on the blog so you are aware that I can't reply to you. Please adjust your settings so that I can see your email or send me your email address. I try very hard to reply to all comments, so if you have not heard from me, I don't think I have your email address. Thanks!

 

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Sharp Scissors!

YOWZA! I have been sewing nonstop for about 25 years and I keep buying new scissors when my old ones get dull. Thing is, I keep the old ones too of course! Last weekend while at the show in Ft. Dodge, (which was a great "little" show of about 400 quilts!!!), I decided to get some of my scissors sharpened by one of the visiting vendors. He did an awesome job and YOWZA is all I can say! It's so nice to cut with SHARP scissors!! I was a bit nervous, but it was worth every penny. My friend who helps me vend is not a quilter and she laughed and laughed at me as I tried out each pair to see how they worked! She said I was like a kid with a new toy on Christmas morning, only I was excited about scissors! Tee Hee!

Have you waited too long to get your scissors sharpened?

Gardens Of A King is coming along....I'm almost done! Here's another little peek!

Thanks for stopping in today!

Take care,

Missie

 

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Back To Reality!

After a wonderful week in Destin, FL, we are back home and back to work! I'm getting ready for the next show I will setting up house at in Ft. Dodge, IA. The show is at the Fairgrounds in Ft. Dodge and runs Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9am. After having larger spaces the last two shows, I sure hope I can fit back into the 10x10 space!! Come see me if you are nearby! I'll be doing the demo on the starch Brush most of the day. I also love to show folks how to do Punchneedle and Rug Punching! Fun fun!

Here's my spacious booth last time I vended at Threads Across NE! Wow, all that room was nice!

You can see the quilts all have room to spread out and be seen below...yep, that's a full view of Gardens Of A King you see there on the right!! That's before the borders were added. I know I keep saying this, but the finished version will be shown soon...

Traditional Primitives

And here's the other side of the booth. Usually Charmed Beginnings does not have room to be seen, but you can see it on the far left. Ladies love this quilt shown in reproduction prints with lots of cheddar and red. It was also a fresh look to have ivory drapes to frame the booth.

I promised to show some pics from the Des Moines Quilt Show and I've finally had a moment to download some pics! I'll show a few today and a few more in the coming days since there are so many beauties to share!

First, it was lots of fun to be present when the raffle ticket was drawn! My friend Marilyn won the beautiful quilt, Rapsody In Blue. The title of the quilt goes well with our show theme, Whatever Makes Your Heart Sing. The pattern is Jacobs Ladder, you know like the song...We Are Climbing Jacobs Ladder... Lucky lucky Marilyn!

The quilt below belongs to my friend Diann. She loves this friendship quilt. Our small group did a block exchange and she is one of the few who has finished hers!

The next quilt was made quite a few years ago. Look at that perfect quilting! I'm sorry I don't have a full quilt picture!

This quilt was made by a friend, Carol Wilson. She has brought the wool appliqué to small group a few times. What a nice fall quilt!

Here's Gardens Of A King! My version of the King George III Coverlet, made from English Paper Piecing and Appliqué Techniques. A lot of cotton and a wee bit of wool!

This antique reproduction is a beauty! Karen Woten has done it again with another stunning quilt!

And the last picture I'll show today is from my friend Julee Prose ( who also helped me in NE. Thanks Julee!). This is a Kansas City Star Quilt. She loves making their BOMs.

The quilts shown above were all part of the Des Moines Area Quilters Guild side of the AQS show. We hold our own show off to the side of the AQS show. Thanks for stopping by today! I'll post a few more show pics very soon!

Take care,

Missie

 

 

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Life on the Beach...

A little sew'n...a little sunn'n...a little shopp'n...a little walk'n...life on the beach is so relaxing!

If only we lived someplace like this full time...some folks are really lucky!

The Gardens Of A King is coming along...borders are just about finished!

A little bit of English Paper Piecing, a little bit of Wool Appliqué, a little bit of Appliqué...fun fun fun!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Take care,

Missie

 

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Headed to Threads across Nebraska!

I've got the Sequoia packed and ready to travel to Iowa's neighboring state, Nebraska! Threads Across Nebraska will be the destination...if any of you live near there, come and see me! It sounds like a nice show and event with quilts, classes and shopping!!

Let's see...I hope my friend coming along can get her suitcase in there! Tee Hee!

Take care,

Missie

 

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Thanks To My Hometown!

My hometown is Springfield, MO...the Ozark Piecemakers Guild did a wonderful job at their quilt show and welcomed all of the vendors with a helping hand. It was great fun meeting all the ladies who enjoyed shopping at the vendor mall...so fun to chat with others who love quilting! I also enjoy sharing my passion for English Paper Piecing, Applique, Wool and the tricks I use when making a quilt.

I had to set up most of the booth by myself this time and it took every minute to get thing organized. My mom was my wonderful helper the first day of the show and she did an awesome job for me! It was great fun to have a girls day together, even though we were super busy and didn't have too much time for relaxing. Thanks Mom! Love you! My husband joined me for the weekend days of the show and was also a great help! Thanks Jeff! Love you too! I couldn't do it alone, that's for sure...

Above, you can see my new "department", wool rug punching or rug hooking. Thanks to one of my followers from the blog, Colleen, who helped me out and made two of the rugs you see there! She made the one with the pineapple, "Little Bird Welcome" and the circular chair pad on the bottom right, "Wooly Blossum". She will get them back after my fall shows and I will hate to give them up! I am working on my own to have, but she really helped me get these done in time to show at the hook in a few weeks ago. Thank you Colleen! I still have not had time to add these to the website...if you are interested, please let me know and I'll get you the info!

The booth was a little different size and it was nice to have room to show all the quilts well. Usually things are quite scrunched as I design new projects...things get more crowded!

 

This is the Punchneedle department...crowded and packed, empty towards the end of the show!

 

Here's a small group watching my EPP Demo. My table gets so filled and messy, but I love to be able to grab a project and help people lean something new, so it's all right there within arms length. (Just like at home! Lol, I'm a messy gal!)

 

I'm finished with my (first) Reproduction of the King George III Coverlet, Gardens Of a King! It is quilted and delivered to hang in the Des Moines Quilt Guild Show next week. The pattern will be available soon. I'll show you the entire quilt at that time. If you might be interested in purchasing this pattern, please let me know and I'll make sure you get the info in your inbox. It was so rewarding to finish this one! I may have to make another to hang in my home full time! Most of my quilts are not hanging in my home...they are off at a shop trunk show or packed for a vending trip. I have started making duplicates of my faves so I can enjoy them too! I have a long way to go until I get to enjoy all of them at home!

The AQS/Des Moines Quilt show is next week. Another fun week of beautiful quilts and shopping! Can't wait! Then I'll be headed to Kearney, NE for Threads Nebraska October 9-11! Is anyone headed to this fun event?

Thanks for stopping by today,

Take care,

Missie

 

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Busy Days!

Hello! I am back from the wonderful Hook In from Saltbox Primitives in Warsaw, MO. What a wonderful store and wonderful gathering of rug hookers. It was so much fun. I'm sorry to say I was so busy there was no chance for a picture while my mind was clear. The building was a community building over 100 years old and was stunning. The rugs were stunning, and the people there were all so very nice. It was a wonderful day! Saltbox Primitives in Warsaw, MO is worth the trip...a stunning shop of wool and fabric!

A few weeks back, I quilted the Charity Quilt that my Appliqué Group made for our guild's annual charity Auction. The quilting was pretty simple on this Lori Smith Design. The picture turned out terrible I'm sorry to say! But I am very proud to say it brought $575 for a good cause. Our guild brought in roughly $12,000 for 3 worthy charities. It lots of fun as well as lots of doing good!

 

I've been frantically trying to finish my next quilt! Above is a part of one block...this part measures about 3" across! I am using English Paper Piecing and Applique' techniques, making these intricate blocks Oh So Do-able! It will also have a bit of wool appliqué in the border and center.

And here you can see it as part of the 6" circle... These blocks are so very fun to make! In case you haven't read about these blocks I am making before, this is a reproduction of a quilt from the 1700's, the King George III Coverlet. I am in awe of the original maker who had none of the wonderful tools we have today...amazing! I look forward to showing you the entire quilt very soon! The pattern will be available in the near future.

The picture below is the next block I'm working on today...organized and waiting for some attention! I'm linking up to Kathy's Slow Stitch Sunday today!

Take care and thanks so much for popping by today!

Missie

 

 

 

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