An Abstract Quilt

This small quilt, sized to be a nice table runner, was made to learn a technique. The pieces were layered, then cut freehand with a rotary cutter and re arranged.  Then I hand quilted it, and since it was small, it only got worked on when I traveled.  I enjoyed the colors, the softness of the fabrics and the freedom of the technique!

AYOQ: Bluework Baby Quilt

Starting of course with his Hand Stitched Bluework!  Welcome beautiful baby. I started this quilt, along with another one in redwork, for the baby before I knew if I would be welcoming a boy or a girl. It is hand embroidered and hand quilted. I did a lot of the hand work while staying with my father in Texas.

It's A Boy!

Grandmother's Vintage Blocks

A friend of mine recently sent me these photos of a quilt I made for her way back in 2002.  She brought me some Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks her grandmother had made. I decided rather than trying to attach them and finish the quilt that way I would applique several on a muslin background.  Some repros fabric in the border, and a large stitch hand quilting finished this little memory quilt!

Happy Little Hand Quilted Girly Quilt

Started this one when I learned I was to be a grandma!  Didn't know then if the new baby was a boy or a girls, but for a girl, I certainly wanted something feminine and hand quilted.  Finished it and learned the baby-to-be is to be a BOY!  So now I have my direction and this quilt will be gifted to my niece.

May God Protect You

I found these linens at an estate sale for around 3 or 4 dollars.  I loved their simplicity, the great school bus yellow color, and the foreign language words which I didn't know what they said.  I loved the hand crocheted lace all around as well. I was also delighted by the "signature" of the woman I assume did the cross stitch, who completed it in 1939 at age 73.  Based on the similarity, I assume both were made by the same mystery woman from times past.

I asked around, and learned it is in German, and reads "May God Protect You." So I hand stitched each one to a piece of muslin, washed it in gentle soap, and will use them as table runners.

Flower Pounding and Fabric Painting

This was a fun fun project!  I used regular white muslin for the large blocks, and prepared them by pounding them with geraniums, roses, bougainvilleas, and all sorts of other leaves, grasses and flowers from around my yard.  After they dry and get heat set and washed, they became canvasses for hand drawn and cut stencils (cut from freezer paper) painted with oil based paint sticks.  For a stencil brush I used a toothbrush and brushed the color on in circles. A quilt like this cried for some hand quilting, and the colors suggested bright Mexican colors to m, so I dug into my Mexican Themed scraps for the borders and sashing.

Both flower pounding and the oil sticks technique re learned in a great 6 week class I took at he art museum, taught by Jane LaFazio, (http://www.janelafazio.com) a published quilt artist whose creations are often seen at local and even national quilt exhibits.  

Happy Baby Quilt Split 4-Patch

This quilt is a "split 4 patch" made with a happy charm pack (named Simply Color) and white muslin. I hand quilted the border, but machine quilted in the ditch between the blocks.  I was inspired not by a particular baby, but a beautiful white crib! 

The quilt came together in an afternoon, the borders were about 6 hours of quilting with the TV on in the background.  I really enjoyed this use of a charm pack!  Will do this one again. 

Strawberries for the Table

Reaching WAY back in the archives, to 2001.  My BFF Sprouty (did we even SAY BFF back then???) redecorated her kitchen with strawberries and asked me to make a table topper. 

Quick, simple, fun!  Mostly machine quilted and hand quilted in the border.  Button-hole stitch applique and good old white muslin. 

Civil War Era Charms

A charm pack and a piece of coffee stained muslin were put together to make this great wall quilt.  Each block has 4 charms in it cut into small HST's (Half Square triangles) and muslin squares.  If I did it again I might mix them up more.  I also liked best the blocks that had all similar colors (gold and red) versus more colors per block. (Blue and brown and gold and red.)
The quilt was stitched in the ditch and finished with a hand quilted border. I put a light weight poly bat (easiest for hand quilting) and I love the way it softly drapes.

2013

Drunkards Path

The drunkards Path block has always been one I wanted to make but avoided for fear of piecing the curves.  It actually went together easier than I expected and I really enjoyed making this wall quilt for my husband Pete.  I used 2 different grey/black neutrals for the background space.  One was from the set of  6 fat quarter Civil War Era reproduction fabrics I got in a monthly shipment of Fabric Of The Month Club.   The colors looked masculine, and this quilt is on the wall in my husband's home office.

I decided to "tie" this quilt to make it look like an old utility quilt.

Reproductions Kaleidoscope

This wall quilt was an experiment with altering color placement in a single block to make the design quilt wide rather than block specific.  So it's a simple kaleidoscope block made with a set of 6 fat quarters.  The fabrics were late 1800's reproduction, and I set them within a beige neutral from the "Neutral Box."

It was then hand quilted and a sleeve sewn on the back for hanging.

1920's Baby Nine Patch

Everyone has seen the pastel fabric reproduction fabrics.  They have small motifs on them and are so well suited for a baby quilt.  I chose a good steady nine patch, and made the block with 2 1/2" pieces for a 6" block.  The coloration was random so I could use a zillion fabrics.  Set on point, alternated with plain white blocks.  I decided to hand quilt this one and put a little design in the plain blocks.

This quilt will be for a grandchild of mine............

A wall quilt in black and solids

This wall quilt was inspired by my desire to design the border that twisted and crossed.  I made geese in solid colors and button hole appliqued teardrops.  It is hand quilted.

My Mom's Last Quilt

In her last years, my Mother suffered macular degeneration, so her vision was severly limited.  She could still manage her 40-year old Bernina by feel and smell.  When I went to visit she had me take her shopping for fabrics and cut the strips.  Several months later on a visit she asked me to hand-quilt the lap quilt, and attach the binding.  This is a very special quilt, since it is the last one Mom completed.

You can see where my quilting obsession had it's roots.  One of my earliest childhood memories is playing with fabric scraps on the floor under my mother's sewing table!  I would use the scraps to make little dresses for my troll dolls and Barbies!

My Mother's Scarf

I hand quilted this scarf of my Mom's after she died.  I have simply pinned on many of her costume jewelry and pins and crosses.  I like it on the wall.

Prayer Quilt for my Dad

Many years ago, my Dad faced kidney cancer, and it's been nearly 10 years.  Hehas had a recurrence, but is again in a solid remission, enjoying a great, active life in his late 80's.  Whooping It Up, even!
When first diagnosed, I made this quilt from scraps that included scraps my Mom had given me when they retired and left California.  I took it to church where it was blessed.  Members of the congregation tied knots in the quilt with each knot signifying a prayer someone offered for my Dad.  Later on, my Mom hand quilted the quilt to strengthen the fibers and fabric of this quilt. 

I took it to him in Texas, while he was in ICU after surgery.  He used it during his stay and after as he healed and recovered at home.  He still keeps it at the foot of his bed.

Stenciled Hawaiian Quilt

The background was dyed onto white muslin with acrylic watered down paints (my favorite, cheap fabric staining method!)  with peach, yellow and a little gold.  Cut the stencil and used the oil based paint sticks to stencil with a toothbrush.  The border is a great piece I bought on a trip to Texas to visit my Dad.  Hand quilted in the echo style (represents the water lapping around the islands of Hawaii) and gifted to my friend and quilt companion Sharon.  Sharon's husband was born and raised in Hawaii.

Hibiscus is Hawaii's State flower, and is seen as a sign of hospitality. 

Hawaiian Applique

Worked on this quilt off and on for around 9 months.  Bought the fabrics for the applique at a quilt show in San Diego.  Patterns enlarged and traced from a Hawaiian Applique book.  Needle turn applique, hand quilted.  Spilled a cup of coffee on it near the end....... so some stains add to the authenticity..... (or so I tell myself!) Actually they only show on the back.

Celtic Symbols

I made this little quilt to learn/practice several techniques.  Cutting paper stencils; using oil based wax paint sticks on a toothbrush to stencil on hand-dyed fabrics, dyed with watered down acrylic paints, and hand quilting.  I made it for my husband's brother Chris.

4 Little Quilts

This was a Facebook challenge; I post an invitation that I will make "something" for the first 4 people who respond, and in turn THEY must post the same invite.  meanwhile the person I reposted from made me a gift.

For these tiny treats I flower pounded the white muslin then dripped watered down acrylic paints on them. I used stamps to stamp flower designs, then water-color ink pencils to color them in.  Scraps from other projects; buttons, and some hand quilting completed each design.  They are about the size of a place mat.