Friday, January 25, 2013

DARE TO DRESDEN

DARE TO DRESDEN

What fun it has been to play with Dresdens again. I have always loved this block but it has been a long time since I stitched one. Thank you to Christine and Madame Samm for all the work they do to allow us to create.

This is a Dresden I made in the 1970's. It is showing its age but is still warm and well used. These blocks are all hand embroidered and while the fabric has aged well  the embroidery thread securing the Dresdens  had literally rotted away and must be replaced. This quilt is special because I was teaching school at the time and a group of senior students were making baby blankets. I brought in the top to demonstrate how a quilt goes together and one student wanted to quilt it. I relented and she took it home. We pinned, basted and marked. I expected she would stitch around one of the plates but she kept working and returned it finished. When I spoke to her mother she said that she stitched on it hours every evening and on weekends until her fingers hurt. This led to many quilts when she graduated.

New methods of stitching and strip piecing mean these blocks become very quick to assemble.

A dear friend passed away many years ago. Her husband gave me some quilt blocks she was working on and they sat on a shelf for almost 20 years. When I looked at them last week I found hand-stitched dresden plates, some attached to backing and other part sections.  It was interesting to work on these because while the dresdens were cotton they were sewn to polycotton blocks. I had to match 20 year old prints to get enough fabric to complete the top.  There was enough fabric for some sashing and a small piece of matching blue to create centers and corner blocks.  Did I say these were hand stitched ? And the stitches are so tiny.

I think I might hand quilt this winter. It sat on a shelf too long to be put away again. And what wonderful memories of Joyce I have had all week. A found treasure indeed.

Dresdens may become baskets, butterflies or flowers. I wanted something cheerful to make me think of spring as we strive to keep warm on these cold days.

Frances

Sew grab a nice  hot cuppa tea and peruse all the other stitchers who "Dare To Dresden".




 

92 comments:

  1. Your wall hanging is to die for! And to think it is made with Dresdens, lovely. Thank you for sharing your stories and your creation.

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  2. Love the flower basket! Sew creative! Thanks for sharing all your pretty dresdens ... :) Pat

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  3. all of your dresdens are very pretty! Thank you for sharing them!

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  4. Love your Dresdens! How cool that you started a student on a quilting journey - very special!

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  5. Love the wall hangings at the end. So cute! Very precious stories you shared. K-

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  6. They are all lovely - what two lovely stories about your friend and your first quilt too - sounds like you have had a lovely week reminiscing! Thanks for sharing.

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  7. I love your basket of Dresden flowers! Super!

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  8. Beautiful works, and your grey background interesting.

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  9. Beautiful Dresdens, especially your basket - so cheerful and bright, just lovely :D

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  10. Very cute projects and so colourful, thanks for sharing

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  11. What a lot of dresdens - I like all the different versions, I especially like the tiny ones used as flowers!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  12. Very pretty Dresdens. They do stand the test of time, don't they?

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  13. I just love your basket of dresdens hanging....so bright and cute! Also glad you rescued the green dresdens and have made them into such a beautiful quilt. Wonderful job!

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  14. Hi Frances from old to new...your dresdens have taken a life of their own...very spring...

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  15. A tisket a tasket...a beautiful dresden basket... :)

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  16. Your spring Dresden is so cute and so much spring. Thanks for sharing your creativity

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  17. Thanks for sharing, Dresdens are so fun! I have a few quilt tops from the 40s that incorporated this design. I have since made a few baby blankets from them, salvaging the best parts. Come visit me in the Valentine hop!

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  18. What wonderful stories - I loved reading them and seeing your vintage quilts. And your bright colorful dresdens are wonderful! blessings, marlene

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  19. What a great teacher you were to let a student have the experience of quilting your quilt! Your Dresdens are all beautiful!

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  20. Great job on your Dresdens..I love all of them; but the last one with the flowers is stunning...

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  21. That's fun to see your history of Dresdens, a timeless classic.

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  22. Love all your Dresdens, but the blocks that came from your friend are so touching.

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  23. Rosemary B here: I enjoyed reading your blog today. Lovely story. Love the "old" quilt from the 70's I hope that girl still sews.
    I adore your friends green dresdens. They are beautiful
    LOVE the basket and flowers.
    Thank you for sharing all of this today

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  24. Your quilts are all so great. I like how you showed how versatile the dresden can be.

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  25. Drinking my tea and loving the wonderful memories you shared of your friend through finishing her quilt. I also like the last piece, it's so fun and showcases how versatile Dresdens can be. Really cute!

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  26. I admire anyone who hand quilts. There's such an art to it - and a level of patience I unfortunately don't possess :(
    Thank you so much for sharing your Dresdens - they are beautiful :)

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  27. Love all the eye candy you've offered up. The flowers are especially fun :)

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  28. I am really likin' all the flowers and butterflies. Thanks for giving us a different view.

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  29. Very pretty! Thanks for sharing.

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  30. Whew, your the dresden queen! Love all your projects, but I do have to admit, the flowers in a dresden pot are my fav's. I am really going to have to make some for myself!

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  31. Thank you for sharing your stories and all the Dresdens.

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  32. That was a nice story, thank you for sharing it.

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  33. Everything is beautiful...(everybody sing!) I think you honored your friend's work beautifully. She is smiling I am sure!
    The garden dresdens are so pretty!

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  34. Thanks for sharing your story. I love your Dresden design. Great job!

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  35. Hi!!! Love the green blocks!!! Very sweet to have so many memories in a quilt!!! Love them as baskets and flowers!!! Very pretty!!! WOW!!A

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  36. WOW! Simply awe inspiring- will have to try the flowers myself now!

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  37. sweet story about your friend---the memories you will think about as you finish up her quilt.

    All the projects are lovely!

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  38. Wonderful display of Dresdans Frances , nice story about your friends quilt and will be lovely hand quilted .Really love the last one , so full of fun and pretty colors!

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  39. Your dresdans are all beautiful. But the story of your deceased friends block is very touching. Isn;t it wonderful that even after all this time she is still touching your life in such a wonderful giveing way.
    conn_and_vans_mom(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  40. What a blessing to have those cherished memories. Lovely Dresdens and I love your wallhanging!

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  41. All those Dresdens are gorgeous - the possibilities! Thanks for sharing them with us :o)

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  42. What Beautiful Projects! I love them ALL! Thanks for participating in the Hop... Hugs and Happy Hopping :)

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  43. Awesome projects and very creative! Thank you for sharing!

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  44. Thank you for sharing the different projects. How lovely that you inspired your student, too.

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  45. I am amazied at all the beautiful Dresdens you have made. I LOVE the green quilt(my favorite color). And I really like the Dresden flowers and the butterfly. That is so cute! I like to put butterflies on my projects so I would like to make some of these. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  46. Amazing collection of Dresdens in one Blog post :)

    Great work one matching the older fabrics!

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  47. I loved your collection of Dresdens on this post - and truly you do have a treasure from your dear friend and she would be so happy to know that you are the keeper now. Thanks for your story and sharing from Judy C in NC

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  48. Gostei muito do trabalho e estória por trás ,quando temos amigos não é só para a vida inteira...Obrigada por compartilhar rapidamente.

    tiacarminhapezzuto@gmail.com

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  49. Thanks for sharing your wonderful dresden projects. I am inspired to get back tho my quilt that I had set aside. I also have several old dresden's started by my grandmother that need to be used.

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  50. I just loved your teachers story it is fantastic that you were so inspiring to a student. I love your dresden flowers they look amazing.

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  51. What wonderful dresdens you shared with us today; thank you. Your flower basket of dresden flowers is outstanding. It appeals to me in so many ways - just WOW!

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  52. They are all beautiful, and I love the way they link to memories of your life! Love the basket and flowers!

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  53. What a beautiful story and such a treasure for sure. I love your basket of flowers that is a great idea!

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  54. I just love all your quilts! Especially the way you made a basket of flowers from the dresdens! so darling!
    Beth

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  55. I love all your quilts. The basket of flowers is a really neat idea. Thanks for sharing your beautiful work.

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  56. Love the basket with flowers. And how nice to work on something and remember a friend.

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  57. I enjoyed seeing all your Dresdens. You are honoring your friend in a wonderful way by finishing her quilt.

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  58. I certainly enjoyed your lovely old blocks. It is so much fun to gather those old blocks and wonder about the people who made them and what their lives were like at that time. Also, your flowers and butterflies are great--so colorful and whimsical.

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  59. All your Dresdens were a joy to see. They are a joy to see with the colors.

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  60. Your Dresdens are all so nice and the story about your friend's blocks was very sweet,

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  61. What a wonderful way to remember your friend!

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  62. I do so love your Dresden plate quilts!

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  63. Inspiring - Love the bright colors !!!

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  64. Wonderful Dresden designs! I love the flowers and the colors you chose. Thanks for sharing!

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  65. Love the colors and flower, butterfly ideas!! Thanks for sharing.

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  66. Wow. you got some really pretty Dresden's. I think the flowers are the prettiest things. I just adore all the bright colors that you used. Thank you for sharing.

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  67. What beautiful quilts and a beautiful story.

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  68. Oh the Basket Dresden is so wonderful. I love that idea. Thank you for sharing!

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  69. I love your blocks, especially your backet with flowers. Good for you for making Joyces blocks into a quilt. You will have fond memories every time you look at it.

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  70. What a nice example of different Dresdens. I can't wait to see Joyce's quilt finished.

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  71. I loved your story about Joyce and the Dresden's - what wonderful memories and a quilt that will be loved by others. You have made beautiful color choices that match the other fabrics in her quilt- I love the bits of blue you added.
    I also love the sewing machine teapot- what a great pot it would be on a table..
    Thanks for participating in the hop.
    Regards from Alberta,
    Anna

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  72. wow your flower dresdens are very special, absolutely fantastic! Thanks for sharing ☺

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  73. What a great post full of ideas. I never would have thought to make flowers or butterflies etc from Dresden's. That's so cool. Thank you for the wonderful information.

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  74. Love the brights and the flowers. So clever.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  75. Wow - great projects; great designs; many ideas! Very creative. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  76. You did a wonderful job with Joyce's blocks. Beautiful memory quilt. Your wallhanging is super cheerful. Thanks for sharing your memories.

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  77. Love your Dresdens. Thanks for being part of the hop.

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  78. Beautiful Dresden blocks....Joyce is smiling for sure...a keepsake quilt, memories to cherish, and a beautiful story to share. The garden basket is cheery and bright...great job! Thanks for sharing! Happy stitching, Pauline

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  79. Wow, so many different dresdens to look at, I love them! I enjoyed the stories about them too! Thanks for participating and inspiring us today!

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  80. Just when you think you've seen it all - a Dresden basket - how clever! Thanks for sharing your story of your friend. That's a great part of quilt - memories. If only some of the recipients knew of some of the wonderful memories quilters have of making the quilts. I made my first table runner for my brother and SIL for Christmas. When they put it away for next Christmas, they found the label and that touched them as much as just receiving the present. It was the first label, I had made, too. Small things can mean lots. Thank you for taking your precious time to participate and inspire me.

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  81. Wow! Lots of dresdens! Thanks for sharing them all. Love your bright colors.

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  82. What a wonderful tie to your old friend. So glad you are finishing it. Love, love,love your basket of flowers. Thanks so much for sharing

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  83. Great colors.
    The dresden flowers are precious.

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  84. such a wonderful variation of Dresdens. The quilt blocks that belonged to your friend will make the most wonderful memory quilt.

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  85. Lots of beautiful dresdens. Thanks for sharing.

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  86. Wonderful variety of dresdens to delight us, Frances. Thanks so much for sharing them!

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