This was the second quilt I ever made. I actually hand quilted it. It took forever, but it was great therapy at a difficult time of my life.
I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.
Happy 4th
Happy Sewing
Happy Quilting.
Category: Crafts
Red, White and Blue from the Quilting Widow
In celebration of the fourth, my star spangled baby quilt. I actually made this 12 years ago. It as made from scraps from a charity quilt I made for a local high school. I had the cutest picture of my daughter at about 4 months old laying on the quilt in a little patriotic outfit. I wish I could find that photo and compare it to her now. I did make her hold the quilt, since it was hers. I put it in the cedar chest for that someday when she has a baby of her own (better be a long time from now).
Happy Sewing.
Happy Quilting.
Happy 4th of July.
I love this Quilting Magazine/Book
If you are anything like me, you have purchased tons of quilting magazines and books. For me, I will pick up a magazine just to look at how others coordinate colors and just to get ideas. As a norm they cost form $5.99 to $9.99, which can get quite expensive. I have a graveyard of quilt magazines. Recently, I found Block Magazine. It is quarterly and costs $5.99 each issue. The thing is, it is as beautiful, or more so, that many quilt books I have purchased for 20-40$. Block Magazine is published by The Missouri Start Quilt Company. It has no ads. Imagine that. There are at least 10 projects with very complete instructions. Many use Fabric packs, but we all know that is just a suggestion you can really do anything you want. Honestly, I have not seen a more beautiful magazine for such a small price. No, they did not ask me to write this. I wanted to, just in case fellow quilters/sewers did not know about this magazine. This one is money well spent. I am working on collecting past issues also. As my daughter say “Just sayin”.
Happy Quilting
Happy Sewing
Quilting, Quilting, Quilting
So, I struggle with the process of quilting. This quilt is no exception. I attempted to freehand hearts. When I look at the quilting, I can see how it improved somewhat about half way through, but it is still no where near where I would like t to be. I do like the colors in the quilt and I will give it a young lady for her sixteenth birthday. I need to get another one ready to practice on……
Happy Sewing
Happy Quilting
Yes, one of my dogs photo bombed my picture.
Quilting Small pieces seems easier
I found that quilting this piece was easier than others. I think it is because it is small and it made doing things other than meandering easier. While I feel slightly better about my quilting, I am pretty sure as soon as I go to bigger piece I will have the same issues.
I also like Halloween. I have another embroidered Halloween piece that I need to turn into something. I can’t just sit in front of the TV. My hands must always be occupied. So, I wind up embroidering something that I can put in my quilts.
I know, practice, practice, practice the quilting.
I want to get to a point where I can do the quilting with ease……
Happy Sewing.
Happy Quilting.
Practice the quilting, practice the quilting
As i have mentioned in the past, I fear the quilting… Everyone tells me that it is all about practice, so that is what I am doing. I just get frustrated because I want to do all the beautiful stuff I see and I can’t. Jeez I hope I will get there. I don’t really like this piece much, but I really made it to hang on the front door. I have pieced one other that I am finishing and will show it soon after I get the dreaded quilting done. I like it a lot more because it has a few of my embroidered pieces in it. Someday I will get it right.
Happy Sewing. Happy Quilting.
Embroidered Baby Bibs for my future GrandKid?
So, While I was going through boxes of sewing supplies, fabric etc… I came across these baby bibs. I believe I made them over 20 years ago. I had no children and I was not even thinking about getting married.
Ever since my older sisters had kids and I became an Aunt, I loved making things for babies and kids. My sister Karen’s kids had the greatest Halloween costumes. I made my nephew a dinosaur once. The tail was so long and big he had to tie a roller-skate to it so he did not drag a hole in it. I made my niece Minnie mouse and a belly dancer costume. My daughter has also had a butterfly and a witch costume (with a fancy witch gown). I don’t do much costume making these days, but spend lots of time on quilts and other crafty things.
I remember making these bibs. I used Kona cotton and traced the design with a pencil while I had them taped to the sliding glass door of my single girl condo. Oh the memories. I will put these away for that Grandchild I hope to meet one day.
Happy Sewing.
Needlepoint: Young Girl Reading…A treasure
My mother was from Germany. She had some dear friends that owned a furniture store. They gave my mother several of these beautiful needlepoints.
If I remember correctly, they were made by women in the Black Forest. I can’t imagine the amount of time that it took to make such a piece. It is about 24” x 36”. The face and hands are done in petit point, which is so tiny. But, it shows such detail.
This beautiful piece hangs in my dining room. My research tells me that this is made from a painting titled “Young Girl Reading”. Originally it was done as an oil painting on canvas by Jean-Honore Gragonard. It currently hangs at the National Gallery of Art. It was believed to be painted in 1776. It is one of the many treasured items I have from my mother.
My mother brought back several of these needlepoints. I believe each of my three sisters have one or two. I have many beautiful items from Germany. I am sure you will get a chance to see them along the way.
Red and White with multiple Bindings…
Or at least I think that is what you would call it. I used the same binding on the inside that is on the outside edge. I saw a quilt like this in a magazine many many years ago. I originally made it to hang in my bedroom, but it is currently hanging in our Family Room. I love quilts that are red and white.
Yes, it has a signature mistake as every one of my quilts does. There is always something that I don’t notice until it is complete. This one has one of the inner bindings totally off. It towards the bottom right, but may be hard to see in the photo. It wouldn’t be my quilt unless it had something out of place or not quite right.
Happy Quilting!
Hoarding Fabric…What to do?
What does everyone do with all their Fabric? I have so much. I don’t ever envision that I will have enough. I guess you could call it an obsession. There is something about Fabric that just makes me happy. Maybe it’s the colors, or the feel, or the smell. I am not sure. Nothing stops me from wanting more. I have boxes and boxes stored in my storage area(s), because you know it will not all fit in my sewing room. When I open a box it is like Christmas all over again. It sounds so exciting, which it is, but, that does not solve the fact that I am running out of room for Fabric. Mine is currently occupying two storage rooms at my house, my sewing room, the top of my dresser, the kitchen counter…..I think I need my own warehouse. I am sure I am not the only fabric hoarder out there. What do you all do with yours?
QuiltingNeeds.com 