My sister in law makes good...

Good quilts that is! She is a natural! a savant! But seriously, her work is so lovely. So I am posting some pictures here of what she made for my brother's birthday this year. She really went through the whole process. It began with one good fabric. I love quilts that start that way. You find something you love, or something that speaks to you, or something that means something to someone. That latter is what happened for her. She found a great fabric that would be perfect for my brother, but then what? Well, you have to find a pattern and other fabrics to go with it.

So she came to visit me with her fabric packed secretly away, and asked me what to do next. She we took a trip to the Quilting Frame. We looked through all kinds of colors. I recommended a square based pattern, like an Irish Chain. That was my first pattern, and it was easy, yet beautiful. I love that pattern. When I do yoga moves that require balance, now, I focus on the Irish chain, letting it wind through my mind as I try to keep one leg up and one down.

So she decided on the Irish Chain and picked some beautiful fabrics. We slipped into my work room before she left and used my cutters to get her pieces cut and ready for her to take home and sew. Which she did. She sewed and would call me and we would chat about the process. It was fun. And in the end, she created a beautiful quilt. 

This was so wonderful to me. I did have tears in my eyes when I saw her beautiful work. And she created something that will last, that will warm her family, and will give comfort. And it will be like a story, a memory, of how it is made and what it means. There is love in that quilt. And I love that.

Inspirations...

I was looking through some photos this week and thinking about inspiration.

So many things can bring inspiration. It may be a color, or a contrast between two colors. Also, the way colors fall together or balance each other. Shades and shadow are so important too.

It may be a pattern, or a line. Sometimes it is the small  pattern of a block, or the larger pattern of the way the blocks look when put together. Quilts, like flowers, can be extremely complex, but sometimes it is the most simple pattern or color that gives the longest lasting impression of beauty.

Sometimes we don't even see the beauty right in front of us, and sometimes we stand too close, or too far away to see it. Anything can inspire if our eyes are open.

I know this post isn't extremely earth shattering, just a gentle reminder and a chance for me to post some pretty pics.

Aaah the joy....

I had a cook say to me this week that the greatest joy for her when she cooks is seeing someone truly enjoy the meal she has prepared. And this got me to thinking about my quilts. I have to agree with her. I love to see someone gaining warmth from my quilts, and there is nothing better than knowing that someone got comfort out of them. I mean, I would feel proud if someone told me they hung my quilt on the wall for all to see. But I would rather that they said they wrapped up in it while watching a favorite movie or put it out for guests to use.

So this week I got a real treat when I heard that the new owner of my dear Scrappy Lappy is truly loving it. According to his mother's reports, he cries for it and has been sleeping in his own bed since he has it to wrap up in (that may be unrelated, but I like to think he feel safe with Scrappy at his side).  And the name Scrappy Lappy has totally stuck. I laugh to think that one day, when scrappy Lappy is looking more scrappy than lappy,  he will say to his mom, "Mom, why do we call this blanket Scrappy Lappy?" and maybe she will be able to show him the ancient archives that will be this blog and he will know why.

Finishing touches on the Flag of India

SO I posted about this quilt a while back, when I took the sampler class where I made it. But I FINALLY finished it over the last snowy weekend, but I never posted the final pics. So here it is. I love the fabric of the back of this quilt. I feels it goes so well with the chickees on the front.

A holiday turned snow day

I don't know what it is, but there is something about snow days and quilting that goes hand in hand. Maybe it is some internal drive that says, you better make something warm so that you don't have to be cold in this snowy weather! or maybe it is just the boredom of being stuck inside all day. Whatever the reason, I felt inspired again yesterday. And as all my half done projects got finished last weekend, I am onto new projects.

Last week I got a couple of these pink and turquoise colored fat quarters at a local fabric shop. The store is called Stitcher's Garden, and it is the most incredible collection of fabric I have ever seen. I didn't even know it was there until recently and decided I had better check this little place out. I would much rather buy from a local business than a big JoAnn's if I can. I have also been buying a lot online, so this would save shipping costs. So I must have gone in just after a new shipment arrived, as there were boxes and bolts everywhere. But it was really inspiring to see it all. And the lady behind the counter showed me her latest creation from a pattern called "Oh My Gosh!" This picture came from an online quilter's gallery, but doesn't it just make you want to say "OH MY GOSH!! How did you do it?!?!" In person it is really something to see.

So after I made some of my main blocks I was try to figure out how to make this quilt special. Then I remembered some old jeans that have been laying around for a while waiting for use. I think they will look really cool with the color pallet of the quilt. Plus the texture will be a cool addition to the quilt. I am really excited to see how it all turns out. Can't wait for another snow day so that I can get it finished!! :)

How did I miss this...?

OK, so I thought I had posted about all my productivity from the snowed in weekend, but somehow I missed this one. It is a "Rag Quilt", and really I did more on this one than any of the other projects I finished this weekend. I had cut all the fabric into squares before, but I put everything together, sewed the blocks, then put the blocks together and sniped ALL the edges. THAT is a job and left my finger numb for about 4 days! Then I washed it and we even got to use it all in the same weekend. I love that!!

Glass art...one last snow project...

So for Christmas my grandparents got me this glass painting kit and I have finally gotten it out and used it while I was snowed in. I really enjoyed this project, but it was very different for me. You had to outline everything for one. I drew my picture and put the paper under the glass, so it was more like tracing. But it was hard to be steady with the black lines. Then I filled in the lines with color. The hummingbird color was my favorite, although it is hard to see. I was able to give the paint texture and sparkle. But the colors are much lighter because they are meant to be translucent, so that makes it different.
I finished by creating texture on the clear background. I love that part. The whole thing has so much texture that you just want to touch it. Now I have to find a way to hang it where light can come through it but where it won't fall and shatter...

A great project and I look forward to doing something a bit more formal with it, as this was just a fun first try.

car cover...almost a year in the making!

The final snow weekend project! I have had this fabric since last year, just after we bought our car. I wanted to make a seat cover so that when we go to work out (which is another habit we need to get back into!!) we could cover the seats and keep our sweat off of them! So I found this beautiful fabric and cut the peices right away. But then I put them away and have so many other projects to work on. But finally I finshed them, and it was so easy after all that. So now to put them in the car and get back to the gym!

Scrappy lappy --finished!

Over the snowy weekend I dug out several old projects that needed finished. This was one of them. I love this pattern, with its flannel spacey backing. There is no batting inside of this one. It is a light lap quilt, perfect for summer...maybe for sitting on the porch sipping tea of an evening. I finished the main quilt in the fall, but added the binding this weekend.

My first commissioned work!!

So this fall I got a call from my sister asking me if I would be willing to make a special quilt for her mother-in-law. "Sure!" I said, not realizing what I was getting myself in for. I mean, your family HAS to like the things you make for them, but this was one step removed from the list of people who owe you a loving acceptence of your best try. So not only was I not guarenteed a postive response, but I wanted to make this my best ever work so that my sister could be proud of her gift to her mother in law. So yes, there was a lot of pressure.



So thanks to the great internet fabric shopping one can do on ebay, my sister was able to pick out the anchor fabric and pattern for the quilt. She then gave me a free hand to create the rest. I found a few more fabrics that matched and got to work. The pattern was not too difficult, but it took time. The colors were exciting, and it started to really take shape.


Unfortunately I was really pushed on time to get this done, and I didn't take any pictures of the final work. DUH! But I was pretty happy with it, although I could list out so many mistakes with it!! But my sister silenced me so fast when I tried to do that when I handed the quilt over to her. And I really appreciate her for that. She seemed to love it and reports that her mother in law does too!



One note I will add for quilters, when doing a red and white quilt, be sure to wash the red fabric BEFORE sewing!! you don't want that white fabric to turn pink!! I waited until after and used a dye grabber and all came out well, but BOY was I nervous!

Whew...working on quilts!

Oh, my it has been so long since I have posted!! But this weekend has been busy so I should have several over the next few days!

My first project of this snowy weekend was finishing my brother's Christmas gift/wedding quilt. I have posted other pics previously of this quilt as table top decorations. But now it is all put together in a quilt that will hopefully remind them of the night of their rehersal dinner. (My sister Deb and brother in law Jeff are pictured enjoying said rehersal dinner).



I am really happy with how this one came out. The back is cool with the bandanas. The colors are great. And I think it will make a nice long lasting memory as well as a useful way to keep warm on a snowy day like today!