Quilt to Dress to Pants

 Although I've been doing plenty of quilting during the last 2 years I haven't been posting.  Need to start again.  

This is my latest -- and when I find the pattern I'll tell you the name of it.  But right now I'm working on a new quilting studio and everything is in disarray.  

The front: 

Angel:

Part of front with back and cat that we are cat-sitting making herself at home

I got the idea to add lace.  Needed 11 yards, the place I ordered from had 12!  Just came in the mail and will put that on this weekend.

This is actually what is left-over from the backing!  I think I can make myself a dress and pants!  At least shorts! 

Handkerchief Quilt

I have been given several handkerchiefs and wanted to do something with them.  Here is my first start.  On the outside edge I have appliqued fabric plus machine embroidery.

Although I sewed around the outside of the handkerchiefs there are two that have a fancy corner and I wanted to showcase this somehow.  So I hand embroidered a little surprise underneath each one.

                             I have over 100 handkerchiefs to go!  Need some new ideas!

Panel Quilt

For the last year I have been trying not to buy fabric and using what I have in my studio.  I knew I had a dragon panel, had an idea for using it and thought I knew where it was.  I still haven't found that but did come across this panel that I bought a few years back while visiting a friend in Illinois.  This is one of those pieces that you find buried deep and say to yourself, "What was I thinking?"

So now I have to change my tune and ask, "What can I do with this?"

There is a pattern I've been wanting to use for some time, okay, years, and decided to get a feel for it by making up a few for a border.  I believe the pattern is called "French Roses" and if I could find it out in my studio I'd go check but I seem to have misplaced it for the moment and that was before I put a cat out there who likes to play and knock everything over.  Don't ask.

The instructions call for appliqueing each individual piece down. I did that for the leaves and first 'petal' then decided I wanted a 3-D effect and backed the two middle pieces with left-over batting. Ran a big 'X' thru the middle of these to tack them down and then took the center and appliqued that. I was happy with the results and it was fun to do.  I'll be making more of this block. 

I know the picture doesn't show it but the red material in real life matches beautifully so I used that.  Now what to do with the tree which looks pretty bare by itself.  Hmm, well, hexagons are big right now.  Backed those also with batting and tacked them down with an 'X'.
 

1998 - 1999 Quilt

My quilt is finally done!

The blocks were given to me by five gals when we did a block exchange all those years ago.  From talking to the others this is the first one done. 

On the back a little bit of back art. I did a machine embroidery piece and then using a Sharpie wrote their names on it. 

1998 - 1999 Blocks

About 18 years ago six of us quilters got the bright idea to make blocks once a month for each of us in the group, meaning we would make five blocks each month or six if we wanted one for our self.  Let me just say that 18 years ago I did not feel like making myself one after repeating the same block five times.  Today, I wish I had.  I have no idea what I made and gave away. 

I'm sure we had some general rules.  I have to think that the main one would have been: all blocks have to be the same size.  But apparently the artistic rule of 'anything goes' prevailed.  Of the 33 blocks that were given to me I had eighteen different sizes. 

The largest one was 13".  So to make them all the same I used the Twist and Turn method which was a lot of fun. Not every one of them could be done this way because of their size and some had to be trimmed down.

Here's the one that every block was based on:

Of course being the chocoholic that I am I had 2 blocks given to me with a chocolate motif and I 'wrapped' them in chocolate fabric as well.

Now if you have a block that's already on the diagonal twisting it makes it straight.  Wizened up and did not do that for the second one that was similar.

The longest one I treated as two blocks:

Next up, what shape did I want my quilt?  I basically had 34 blocks which does not a quilt make.  Did I want a 5 x 7 block quilt (35) or square 6 x 6 (36).  I really did not want a square quilt so I only added one of my own.  Lindbergh's Night Flight has become my signature block so:

I then made cornerstones using the fabric I had twisted with:

This project was a lot of fun and certainly brought back the memories.  Now to make the backing and a quilt label.  I pray I remember everybody's name to list. 

A few tips if you decide to do this:

Have them all the same size
Make everyone put their name and date (at least month and year) inside each block so that it doesn't get sewn into the seam.  This way you also have the names of those who participated.
Make one for yourself
Don't let 18 years pass by before you do something with them.  As far as I know everybody else has their blocks still in a box.

Odd Pieces of Fabric

I am working on a quilt right now using different size blocks and am trying to get them all to 13 inches.  I am also trying to use fabric that I haven't used before.  I hate to admit it but the majority of my fabric has been forgotten.  So, while I am sorting through trying to find matches to my already made blocks I have come across some interestingly cut out fabric.

This looks like I was thinking of making an apron (possibly while drinking).  Note the pattern is upside down. I think I'll blame it on one of the kids.

Really don't know what I was thinking here.  The one looks like maybe I cut out leaves?  And the thing is: I can't even find a quilt with these fabrics in it let alone these shapes. 

I really need to use my stash up.

Some Old Blocks to Remember

I have pretty much finished up most of my quilt projects and decided to start a new one.  Years ago a group of us decided to make blocks, once a month, for each one.  There were seven or eight of us so you had to make that many each month.  As far as I know, nobody has done anything with these.

I decided I have to.  Enter the box:

Now my friend was impressed that I remembered where these blocks were but they're in a chocolate chip cookie box.  Couldn't forget that!  I was impressed that I found the book I had bought to go with it.  It was in an entirely different spot in my studio.

I felt I needed this book because of the fact that my squares range anywhere from 3 1/2 inches all the way to 15 inches.

And one that is rectangular:

Sometimes we were trying out something new to see if we liked the process:

I have 35 blocks or possibly 34.  For some reason I have two of the same.  Was there an extra one I was given for some reason? Or, what really bothers me, was it given to me to hand to someone else and I forgot?

Perhaps one of my quilt sisters could tell me if they are missing a block that looks like this.

Fortunately two people wrote their names (meaning just on two blocks) and one gave a date -- 1998.   For the most part I don't remember who did what block however there are those that I recognize immediately.  One loves batiks, one enjoys paper piecing.  If you ever decide to do this make it a rule that everyone has to put their name and date on their block.  And make sure it's in the design, not along the edge where it will be sewn under.

Looking back, I wish I had also made a block for myself.  I gave all of mine away and now have no remembrance of what I did.

Hand Quilted Top

Am putting the final touches in my writing room.  My bay window is finished off complete with cordless shades, and the walls have been painted.  Today I hung pictures.  Still need to finish the curtain for the closet and then I will be done!

My mother's aunt hand pieced this quilt top.  It even has some of her basting stitches still in it.  It is exquisitely done and my mother always wanted a way to show off both sides.  She thought putting it in between two pieces of glass would work and that's as far as she went with the idea.  I got it away from her one day and took it to a framer who did just that.  My brother and I paid for it and gave it to her as a birthday present.

It hung on her wall for years until it finally came to me.  Unfortunately, until now I had no place to properly hang it.

Today it is proudly back up on the wall where it should be. 

Machine Embroidery - Animals

I have been playing with my embroidery machine and just picking random animals.  I had fun making up these six on the left but what to do with them?  I could make them into a baby quilt but there are no little ones on the horizon.  As I looked at each individual one I heard, "Well, there's Grampa, his picture on the mantel staring down at everyone." "There's Homer out fishing.  Hope he doesn't catch those three seahorses."  

 

 

 

 

Why don't I make this into a story?  I could write above each block, sew them together and then . . . what?  Save it for someone who will show up in the future?  Raffle it off?  Any suggestions?

 

Daughter's Graduation Quilt

My oldest daughter has graduated from college.  Hurrah!  She is now a Funeral Director!

While I was in Florida this past March I naturally stopped in the local quilt store.  There I found a panel of eight horses.

 My daughter spent many a summer at horse camp and still dreams of owning her own horse.  Since she would be graduating in another few months I thought this would be the springboard for a quilt. 

When my husband and I drove from Michigan to North Carolina for her graduation I brought the panel along.  Knowing that I hit every quilt shop along the way she already had a few lined up for us to go  visit.  The second shop was a gold mine.  The owner had a fabric estate sale going on and her shop was loaded with material plus sale prices. 

My daughter found two pieces of fabric that she loved but worried that they wouldn't go together.  They were both bubble fabrics so I figured we'd see what happened.  I could always take one out.

Next we found some fabric with variations of blue with a little bit of purple thrown in and a hint of green.  Okay, there was some of that going on in the panels.

Now how much to buy?  I had no idea what pattern I was going to use so I guessed.  And boy, as you'll see I lucked out.

I came home and found a pattern that I thought would show off the panels nicely in the 100th issue of QuiltMania entitled Eleanor, which I had also purchased in Florida.  Slight problem though, the panels were too small.  Hence, the black line that you see.  The quilt also needed something bright.  Going through my stash I found the yellow/orange piece.

And then -- what do you do with eight blocks?  I needed one more but what?  I went through many ideas and eventually decided to quit this quilt for awhile and go on to my fairy quilt that I had lined up next.  I actually had backing for this one: huge flowers that I found in a shop a few years back. And that's where I found my last block to do. Since my daughter's middle name is Rose I thought that would be apropos.  

The banner that runs along the bottom was ALL that I had.  I have one inch left over.

I have a little of the other fabrics and hopefully enough of the blue left for binding.  My daughter also liked a panel of foxes with matching fox fabric.  That will go on the back.

Hope to have this done for Christmas!

Dragon Quilt Done!

                                           Finally, it's done!  Quilting done and binding on.

                 Next up: a fairy quilt and my daughter's graduation present quilt.  Both, almost done.

Walk in the Woods quilt

The Walk in the Woods pattern is one of my favorites.  In fact, I have another one in the making.  The blocks are easy to do and it only takes two different fabrics.  Whenever I am going through my stash and I see two that look good together I immediately put them aside. I made this quilt a few years ago however the yo-yo's attached with thread were too delicate and we would catch them on things and break them.  Needed a solution.  I decided to string them on ribbon and one day I was walking through Costco, came around the corner and there it was.  A wide, gold, wired ribbon.  I spent 3 days sewing the yo-yo-s in place, making new ones for the ones that were lost and now I have my quilt back.  Hopefully this has made it secure enough to last.  Now, what to do with the remaining 35 yards of ribbon . . .

Dragon Quilt

Being snowed in and going a little nuts I decided to get out a new project.  I went out to my studio and found a box where I had started putting fabrics together to make a small quilt.  Using the book:  Prairie-Point Pizzazz by Karen Sievert this is what I made. 

Close up of the 120 prairie points that I made from 2 different fabrics:

After I was all done it dawned on me that I have an embroidery machine and that I had recently purchased a design package full of dragons.  Why not put those in the corners? 

I made this on a separate piece of cloth to see how well it stitched up.  I was impressed and have 3 other upright dragons picked out.  I will probably carefully cut these out and applique them on.

I found my yellow quilt that has been missing for a few years and then realized it was a perfect fit for my book signing table.  Tried it out last week and found several people came over to look at it and talk to me about quilting and my books.  

This quilt was from a Block of the Month probably dating from the early 1990's.

American Quilt Show

Quilt Week in Grand Rapids, MI has arrived.  A friend and I went yesterday for opening day.  There were free magazines on the table when we walked in, checked out all the quilts (some wonderful, some not so wonderful) and hit the vendors (my favorite part).  I tried to stay away from fabric since there are several quilt shops in my area and instead focused on items I don't normally see.  However, I did have to buy a black and white piece: white background with black skeletons seeing as how my daughter is studying mortuary science. 

Of course, I had to hit the sale books.  All books in the back were $5.00.  I actually found a book I have been looking at for some time.  Also found three other books that I'd never looked at but had to have.  We also sat in on a talk about natural fabric dyeing.  And ran into some people I knew but hadn't seen in a long time. 

We were there almost to closing, were winding up on our purchases when my friend looked at the two bills in my hand,  "Is that all you've got left?" she asked.  "Yeah."  She pulled out her money and counted what little she had and then looked at me.  "What's the problem?" I asked.  "We agreed neither one of us wanted dinner."  "Yeah, but we still need to get out of the parking garage."  Oh, we have a problem.

Fortunately they took charge cards.

Phoenix Quilts

A few months back I came home to find 2 quilts hanging over a chair in my dining room.  Upon inquiring I discovered that my brother had dropped them off.  He had been using these "old rags" for years to cover up furniture out in the barn.  Having come across them again while cleaning out and getting rid of said furniture he wondered if maybe I would like them.  If I didn't want them he would find other uses for them.  I kept them. 

I would hate to think that for all my hard work (and I'm using a ruler, rotary cutter and a sewing machine) my quilts ended up being used as cushions for people to haul or store their belongings.  I would much rather they were used, loved, even dragged around the house as a favorite, treasured item. 

I think of the hand stitching that was done on these two quilts, the material possibly cut from articles of clothing when there was nothing else around.  Did some famous person sleep under this that we'll never know about?  Unfortunately there are no names on here.  But I gave them new life by washing them and although it doesn't look it I did manage to remove some stains. 

Smoking Quilt, Part 2

As I was looking around for the smoke, for the smell was getting stronger, I happened to notice that my batting on the sides of the quilt were bunched up around my lamp.  Now my lamp is hot.  I've burned myself several times on it.  I immediately knocked the batting down away from the heat.  Oh, look, little wisps of smoke.  

It was a big round dark circle that had tiny colors running through it.  Actually kind of neat looking when suddenly it went 'poof' and I had a nice little fire started on my quilt. I'm looking around frantically trying to find something to put it out.  Wait, I've got a drink with me but I have to think about this.  What is it that I have with me?  A coke? Tea? I'm worried about staining my basically black quilt here  (Alcohol?)  No, I've got water!  I grab up my glass and pour it on.  

Who says quilting can't be exciting? 

Fortunately this did not touch the quilt itself and I was able to finish it.  For the corners I wanted a certain look: a fan.  The only way I could see to do this was to sandwich the pieces in.  My quilting group tried to dissuade me from this but I was happy with the results.  

On the back I used hand dyed fabric that I picked up in my travels but it wasn't quite big enough.  Needed to add so I did a 'brick' look and in the bricks I added the ties manufacturing label.  

 I do a lot of back art for my quilts.  The extra 'brick' fabric that I cut off from here went for the binding on another quilt.