I started by digging into my stash and trying to figure out what I was going to make. I had so many ideas at that time. I decided to start with this fabric:
I decided to fussy cut a pretty pink rose fabric to show it off in my Dresden.
I decided to make one full Dresden in the center of my square and partial ones in each corner. I also drew a small rose bud to be embroidered. Here is the patterns that I drew:
After the Dresden was in the center, I added a 3/4 inch dark green boarder and set it diagonally. I sewed pink fabric on each side of that to square. Then added the partial Dresden to each corner. I sewed them all on by hand. When completed, I drew my rose bud pattern in the corners of the center block and hand embroidered them at this time. Then added a 1 1/2 inch pink boarder around it all.
To quilt it, I did echo around all the Dresden's and in the ditch in the dark green boarder and outer boarder.
.THEN, I got another idea. I seen this article in a quilt magazine the other week. (I have a habit of glancing at some of the magazines while waiting in line to get checked out at the local store.) I don't remember what magazine it was, but I did a quick note to myself and wrote down the designers name. Her name is Anelie Belden and she had a great idea of another way to use the Dresden Pattern. Course, like anything else, I have to do it my way. Some say that I can't follow directions. Some say I think "out of the box" too much. Anyway, I came up with this:
Again, I dug into my fabric and I pulled out every red and white fat quarters that I could find.
I also drew my own patterns for what I decided to make:
I cut 1 1/2" squares and 1 1/2" X 3" strips along with my Dresden pattern.
Then sewed them all together to make a heart:
. 
Hay, so far so good, I think! I turned under all the edges and hand sewn my heart to a large white piece of fabric. Then cut out my letters and 3 different sized hearts to go around. I laid them out where I wanted and pressed in place. Those I machine appliqued on. After I had it all on. I cut to the size that I thought looked good and proceeded to layer and quilt.
I machine quilted in an all over random pattern on both the inside and the outside of the heart. I did two lines on the inside of the heart. Well, here it is:
Total size is: 18" X 25"
I had always enjoyed making the Dresden pattern. My first Dresden quilt was actually the second quilt that I had ever made. I did the whole thing by hand, including the quilting.
Well by coincidence, we moved to Dresden, TN. I then made another Dresden quilt. This one was also all done by hand including the quilting.
This one is a total size is 96" X 92". I gave this one to my Mother-in-law.
I can predict more Dresden's in the future. They are a lot of fun to make and you can do so much with them. In Fact.....PLEASE, don't stop here, go see more Dresden's. Below is a list of all the other quilters that blogged today. Just click on their name to see their beautiful projects.
But don't stop there.....here is next weeks schedule. You really don't want to miss a one.
January 28th, 2013
Rosemary B @ “that Other Blog”
Nancy W @ “that Other Blog”
January 30th, 2013
Charlotte H @ “that Other Blog”
January 31th, 2013
Now, all of you know Missouri Quilt Shop, right?? Well, they gave me 6 Great Fat quarters to give to one lucky person.
This is a GREAT quilt shop, that has some really great prices on everything. Check them out at: http://www.missouriquiltco.com/ And keep going back daily to see their daily specials. It will definitely be worth it. You know, you can NEVER have enough fabric.
To enter the giveaway for the above fat quarters is easy. Just be a follower of my blog and leave me a comment. That is it!! Then on the eve of February 1st I will let Random.com pick a lucky winner out. It will be posted right here on February 1st.
So Good luck to you all and till then,
HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE
To get special designed quilts or to see my gallery, check out my site at: http://janesquilting.com
.jpg)