First Quilt

My grandmother quilted.  She made utility quilts out of anything she had.  Fabric used sometimes was cotton, but it was also made out of poly blends, silky rayon, or other fabrics that were available.  In the center, she used old blankets and cut them to size.  She tied them together with yarn and put them on the bed.  Over the years, I have had to repair mine a few times, but still like to look at it and lay under it because it makes me think of her.  One time, when I was about 12, I was able to help her make one.  I helped with the embroidery and with laying out the blocks.  I am sure she was more than happy to let me do the tying too!

My grandmother later suffered from dementia and she did not make much, if anything, after this quilt.  I cherish this and I believe it sparked a passion for quilts!

After my son was born in 2008, I needed something just for me.  I needed something that didn't have to do with being a mother.  I pulled out a tiny singer sewing machine I bought when I was married and started sewing.  It was a bit of an escape for a new SAHM.  I found a pattern online and used fabric my mother had left after making my son's baby quilt.



I did not know how to rotary cut.  I think I made cardboard templates and cut out each piece.  The pieces were wonky (as you could tell) but even then I had the flair for scrappy!  I wanted the quilt to be bigger so I added sashing from scraps.  I hand quilted fire hydrants in it.  The batting was part of an old flannel sheet.  This ended up being a gift for a friend who was having a baby.  After I was finished with this little quilt, I was so driven to make more and become better!

I think if it weren't for my grandmother, I wouldn't be the quilter I am today.  I am so thankful that I was able to know her the way I did, spending weeks in the summer with her.

Quilting in the 30's!

Using Green Fairy Quilts as an inspiration (aren't many of you inspired by her too?), I threw together a template that had the appearance of a heart.  I then FMQ'd some stippling around it.  What do you think?

4 down, quite a few to go!

I wish it were Spring, but this robin will do!

Two sets of Christmas presents are complete!  Each grandmother gets two Wooden Bear minis with a hanger for the wall.  Here is the robin.  I just LOVE wool batting and the loft it provides.  I finished this with echoing around the bird and a simple viney-leaf around the border.

I finished my birthday shopping today.  I can't wait to show the loot, but I am too lazy today to get the camera out.  I also bought a few black and white prints.  I will save them for an upcoming project.  I now have a lot of incentive to finish my final Christmas gift so I can get back to Charlotte's Baskets!  I need to piece a back (very simple one this time...likely just one seam) and then I can pin.

Happy Quilting!

EQ Charlottes Baskets design

I dont own EQ (I really want it but the 200 price tag is intimidating), so recently I asked a quilter friend to do a few mockups for me.  I am ready to start working on Charlottes Baskets before the end of this year, and wasnt sure of how I wanted to lay out the blocks. 

This layout seems to be the one for me:

I am going to focus on my attention on three colors, green, cheddar, and red when deciding on the sashing colors.  I just need to try things out and see what happens with it.  I havent thought about the borders yet, but I will tie in some scrappy goodness with basket (not sure if it will be applique or pieced) basket blocks for cornerstones.

Of course, I am open to suggestions!!!

Another Wooden Bear Pattern on the way

Just a peek at what I am working on today!  These little quilts are fun!  I look forward to when my final school paper is complete.  I will then have time to start quilting the 30's quilt!  I also turn 30 this weekend and I hope to sneak away to my LQS.  I will then purchase the fabric needed to finish my Charlottes Basket Quilt.  I have not purchased much fabric this year and I dont have much to work with in terms of yardage.  I cannot wait until I can turn those lovelies into a warm quilt.

I hope to get the fusible on the fabric and cut out today. 

Happy Quilting!

Blogger's Quilt Festival: Fall 2011

It is Fall Quilt Festival time!  Amy at Amy's Creative Side is gracious to host such an event with prizes too!  I enjoy them because I often find a new blog to look at.  I always love some good eye candy!

This is my contribution.  In fact, this is what brought me into blogland.  I love traditional quilts and love scrappy-goodness.  I wanted to incorporate crumb blocks into a larger design.  While I love crumb quilts, I like when the busy-ness of the quilt is tamed down into a larger design or pattern.  I think I accomplished this here.

The above quilt ended up about twin sized.  I used warm and white batting and machine quilted it using grey thread.  I have learned that grey thread blends in very well when quilting in a scrappy quilt.  It is my NEUTRAL thread!

Here are closeups of the quilting:

I hope that next year I can come up with another idea of a quilt design using crumbs to share with you!

Below is a second quilt I made with this pattern.  I named this one I-Spy a Crumb Patch.  It uses an I-Spy format and is child sized.  I made prairie point around the outside border.  I hear this was very much enjoyed by the recipient and his older sister.  She was entertained by all of the things she was able to find!

Thank you for allowing me to show this quilt again.  I really love this quilt and it is currently thrown on my bed for extra warmth now that it is getting cold.

Twin Santas

Today I spent the day making two 12" wall hangings.  They are going to be gifts for my two grandmothers.

The snowmen pattern can be found at a great site called The Wooden Bear.  After seeing Stray Stitches make one of their patterns (Junebug), I had it in my to-do list to make one of their patterns myself.  Aren't they fun?!?  The scarf and had has yarn embellishments and the eyes are buttons!  It was really fun to make!  They also sell stands and hangers that are perfect for the mini quilt patterns.  The shipment arrived quickly and I look forward to getting more patterns in the near future!