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Monday, September 15, 2014

Pineapples Blossoming All Day Long!

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My ladies worked so hard yesterday!  Many of them have taken two or more classes with me this week --- brave souls to have more than one Quiltville UFO going at once!

We really had a great time.

I love hearing the stories on where the fabric came from, who this quilt was for, or why these color choices were made.

One quilter was making memory quilts out of the stash of a friend who had passed a few years prior ---including her house dresses in the blocks along with her fabric.  Lots of memories there, happy, sad, sweet and poignant.
These quilts will go to the family members of the friend that passed away. In talking to this quilter I learned a little bit about her friend, and what she personally went through while cutting up the house dresses in preparation for class:

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pink/peach blocks

The house dresses are the center squares and the flying geese corners.  Such a wonderful way to bring that friend close once again.

We also played with layouts.  These blocks can be set with or without sashing.  Want to see what the difference is?  Take a look:

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Dena’s black & white blocks from 2” strips without sashing.

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Dena’s blocks with sashing and cornerstones.

Isn’t it amazing how things change by that simple addition?  I like the sashing ---it doesn’t interfere with the design, and it brings in that “shoo fly” element where geese meet cornerstone --- but it is also dynamic the other way, without….which I think is what she is leaning toward:

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This is cool too!

Jill was also playing with options while making her blocks from 2.5” strips:

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Brown halves all brought to the center ---

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Two browns in, two browns out!

We really liked the motion this layout gave….but play with your blocks and try every which way – what you choose just might surprise you!

You'll find the free pattern for Pineapple Blossom under the Free Patterns tab at the top of the blog. Instructions include cutting for a 9" finished block from 2" strips, or a 12" finished block from 2.5" strips.

Click the image below if you are unable to view the slide show on your mobile device.  You’ll be taken to the photo album for viewing.
Pineapple Blossom, Ketchikan, AK 2014



It’s been a WONDERFUL visit to Ketchikan, and I’m going to miss these ladies!

Last night we had dinner down along the water ---and this came floating on by:

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The Celebrity Solstice

It was heading up the Narrows on its way toward Juneau.  The sky was beautiful with air brushed clouds ----and later on through our meal I had to get up and capture this bit of Alaska:

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Heaven on earth!

Today will be my longest day on the planet.  It is easier to get to Europe for me than to get to the East Coast from Alaska ---it all starts with a 6:30pm flight to Seattle, and a Red-eye flight to Atlanta, and then a flight to Buffalo NY!  I’m headed to spend several days with the quilters in Amherst, NY!  Oh yes, naps will be a necessity!  And I have plenty of hexies to go yet!


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6 comments:

Lisa said...

Thanks for making the trip to our side of the country, Alaska! I had a great time with you in your classes and out! Safe journeys for the rest of your trip. Lisa

Connie said...

I have six BH quilts in progress. Rectangle Wrangle was started last summer in a class and book purchases led to Pineapple Crazy. Wild and Goosey was in a magazine and I had to do it. Jamestown Landing and Crabapple were started at Pigeon Forge. The small sections for Celtic Solstice are ready to be put together at November retreat - just in time for next mystery to begin!

janequiltsslowly said...

Great slide show. That pattern looks great in all kinds of fabric. Safe travels, Bonnie.

Gretchen Weaver said...

Pineapple Blossoms is one of the the patterns I want to sew someday. Right now I have 4 Bonnie Hunter quilts started. I thought I'd start Jamestown Landing this summer, but it didn't happen. Oh well, 4 is enough for now.

TrulyBlessed said...

Thank you for sharing all of your travels with us and for giving us great descriptions, history and details to go with the wonderful pictures. You make us all feel like family.

All of the quilt squares have their own personalities. Each block is so different and each beautiful. I was drawn to the peach and pink squares even before I heard the story. It touched my heart and brought tears. What a wonderful tribute to a dear friend

Lesley Gilbert said...

Loved all your photos. I'm collecting black & white fabric for a quilt and I love the blocks at the top with the red - great inspiration for me - thanks :)

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