Cheryl Brickey (Ferris Bueller) You're My Hero.

The title reference is for those that may have not seen the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off and maybe a few that are young enough to not even know what it is.....cough cough.

Getting older is a natural progression of life, but remembering things from my teen years helps keep the youth in me.

And with age comes wisdom...and a little bit of insanity I suppose, thinking that every time you see fabric you like...thinking that would make a pretty quilt...that you can easily justify the expense.

So it goes....I found some fabric that I liked once upon a time and mentioned it to Tish  and she took note.  It was a set of fabrics that I felt screamed...Civil War. Although they really didn't, that was the way that my mind interpreted it.

Enter this selection by Marcus Fabrics

Some of these colors were not in my bag :(

Not being content with all of the colors, I had I added these to the group.  Being the usual me and not sticking to the pattern completely with the lay out...These are in-fact Civil War repros.. I obtained these at the good old local in Morgantown, WV. Country Roads Quilt Shop

Put it together and what have you got...Bippity Boppty Boo....

Oh sorry...cart before the horse.  So, I got my fabrics....now what to do with them??? I like the dark/dirty look of the civil war colors.  However, when you start looking at Civil War Quilts you get one of two things...Either small wall hanging and single blocks or super large quilts.  I didn't want to commit to a large quilt yet....but I didn't want to do something "modern" with the fabrics. It just didn't make sense.  So I thought...what is something that could translate....

A small back story...I see "plus" quilts everywhere...and I ask Tish "what's up with all the pluses?" She said it was kinda the "in" thing and I thought...yeah I am not going to do the "in" or popular thing....little did I know.

In walks Cheryl Brickey of Meadow Mist Designs....back into my life through the happen-stance of looking at a quilting magazine...her first published pattern Check Plus

Here was her first entry into my life....

So, I jumped in....hook line a sinker, committed to make a non-civil war...Civil War-esque quilt.

CUTS

PIECING

 Daddy's little helper

 If it fits I sits (not just for boxes)

LAYOUT (and there were alot of replacing processes)

Once I settled on a final lay out I began creating rows....this is not for the faint of heart and I am glad that I had another quilt or two under my belt.  This is by far not a hard pattern to put together, but a little experience helped.  This is certainly a beginner friendly quilt. However, I don't recommend going crazy with the colors like I did.

I didn't want to leave the quilt just pluses. I felt mine needed a border..especially with the fact I was going for that Civil War(ish) look. So back to the local shop to get border fabrics and a binding color.

Border colors... The way it is actually done...and you will see Darkest closest to the top, then the lighter brown and the bottom color which kinda looks brown is actually a Dijon mustard yellow.

and Viola!!!!

Artsy Fartsy ^

I feel like it could have turned out better and I have one corner (all mitered) that turned out like poopy....I had every intent of giving this one away, but the person I was going to give it to was not enamored by it so I guess I will keep it.  I have a few ideas for quilting this one and I CAN NOT wait to get the binding on it. I think the binding will tie it all together.

Needless to say, when it is completed I will do a follow up short blog on it.  I love the pattern and may do another one of this with other colors.  Cheryl has a real knack for designing. Though I have not done alot of her patterns. I love the simplicity of the design and the complexity of the look! Cheryl has been kind enough to allow me to do a giveaway of her pattern.  She offered to allow me to do a giveaway for this pattern which is now available in multiple sizes and another pattern she recently released.  I think I will take her up on the check plus, however, I will decline on the second one as I want to see Cheryl excel and make some money from her designs.  PLEASE, go over and visit Cheryl. Pick a design...they are available through Craftsy too....and support her with a "financial gift" in which you will in-turn receive the gift of a wonderful pattern....Reap what you sow, Karma, Give and take....etc.

Like Tish...here is how to win!

1)  Leave a comment below... any comment.  Maybe tell me if you've made one of Cheryl's patterns   before or participated in one of her QAL's.

2)  Leave a comment letting me know you visited Meadow Mist Designs and left Cheryl a comment to celebrate Check Plus's release.

3)  Leave a comment if you are a follower of DavetheQuiltEngineer and let me know how you enjoy following me.

4)  If you are a no reply blogger please make sure you also leave your email address to that I can contact you to let you know you have won.  I do my very best to respond to every comment, so if you do not hear back from me, that is probably why...I can't contact you :(

On Sunday, I  along with Tish will pick one winner.  The winner will recieve a PDF copy of Cheryl's Check Plus.

This is the giveaway pattern!

 This is another pattern available from Cheryl

 Thanks for stopping by and please support my friend Cheryl in her quilting escapades!

Thanks again to Cheryl for doing what she does...and it seems to be what she does best :)

Today I am linking up with Main Crush Monday