If you like it put a Dresden on it!

If you like it put a Dresden on it............and then you will love it!

I was at a Stash Bash mini retreat last year when I discovered this "old is new again" phenomenon.  One of the girls whose name was Amy (I didn't really know her yet) was making a Dresden Block and I was curious about it.  All I knew was that Dresdens were probably your grandmother's quilt block.  Not true!  Hers was awesome and it was made with modern fabrics, turquoise, if I remember correctly!  She graciously showed me how to make them.  Then another one shows up, Karie had half Dresdens appliqued on each side of a zip pouch, rainbow - of course.  Stop it! Then, yet another one, made by Teresa out of the coolest Cotton & Steel fabrics that she placed on a tote bag. 
I thought about it for the rest of the weekend and wanted to get started on one immediately.  I already felt so  behind in this Dresden craze!  When the retreat ended, I was able to leave Greenville, South Carolina on a route that could take me past The Cary Quilting Company.  OK, it was a little bit out of the way, but we are talking emergency sewing supplies. Luckily, they had the perfect Tula Pink Fabric (The Eden Tiger head print) that I had in mind for my huge Dresden and they had the ruler too, bonus!  Go big or go home, right? 
I mean I did - I went home and cut out a really BIG one and a medium one too.  Next, I constructed an even bigger low volume tote bag to applique them on.  The finished product made me so happy!   It actually was showcased on Tula Pink's IG feed and I was thrilled.

Rainbow Dresden pillow

Lesson learned - old quilt blocks should not be forgotten, they should just be reinvented with fun new fabrics.  Also noteworthy, I am now fast friends with all these Dresden ladies. Thanks Amy, for letting me in on this fun direction to take my sewing. (We are now like a sewing gang that crosses several states.)
These are easy and addicting!  After making the giant Tula Tiger Tote, I went on to make Christmas gift bags, a rainbow Dresden pillow, and the larger than life Scrappy Dresden Quilt by Red Pepper Quilts that finished at over 50".  Continuing on with this giant Dresden trend, I am working on a Bathing Beauties poolside quilt that is almost as big.
I don't see an end to the possibilities here.



Bathing Beauties in process

Pillow I made for the nana company swap

 

Christmas gift bags for sewing circle gals