C8's Quilt

Finally, it's all done. It was done before Christmas, which I think is pretty good--only 6 months after graduation. :)

We took this picture north of Dallas. Pretty fence on a muddy morning.

And, Caitlin loves it--that's the best part.

Time for a Re-Show...

Do you remember this quilt top?

Well, it just got back from the quilter---
I love it even more. It's amazing what quilting can do for your quilt! It brings it to life!


The nubby minkee on the back looks so soft and comforting.

Good job on this quilt, S! It's beautiful!

E's Show and Tell--Auction Quilt

This is a quilt my cousin, E, made. I love the scrappy look it has and it is an ingenious way to use up lots of little scraps! I also love how the quilting and attaching squares is all-in-one (check out the detail picture below)! It's a fantastic way to put a quilt together! Here's her story:

I made this quilt in March for an auction to benefit a family who's baby daughter was diagnosed with Schizencephaly. This is a syndrome where the two sides of the brain don't communicate with each other and can cause a lot of problems including frequent seizures. Baby M has three older sisters, and was traveling hundreds of miles across four states to a clinic to try and help her little body control the terrible seizures she had, leaving her father and sisters at home. Her grandfather organized an auction to try and help with some of the medical bills. I got an email about little M and knew I could do something to help.

I made this quilt entirely from my scrap box. The front and back are old sheets that I've been saving for a really good project. A lot of these colorful scraps were given to me when I very first decided to sew by two amazing women, who the quilt is named for. They are full of strength and faith and love, and if little M and her family can posess any of those qualities I know they will be able to make it through all the medical issues they will be dealing with. This quilt sold at the auction for $95 and I couldn't be more pleased.

E: I'm in love with how you do so much to help others. You hear of someone in need and don't even think twice about doing something to help--you're the first to sign up! You're a great example to all of us! Thanks for sharing!

M's Show and Tell

This quilt belongs to my husband's nephew's wife! Funny how quilting can bring distant relations together! M is an awesome quilter and has a great sense of style! I love this spring quilt and I love how she was persistent until she got it how she wanted it! Wow! What a difference good quilting makes! Here's her story:

This is a quilt I made from a kit sold in a nearby store which I fell in love with. I love the reds in a spring quilt! It's unexpected - but so cute! I also loved that it has a little bit of everything in it - it has pieced blocks, appliqued blocks, even one paper-piecing block (the basket). All of them have embroidery on them which really adds to the sparkle (and learning) - and when I saw it, I just knew I had to make it.
I spent a couple of months putting the top together and was thrilled with it - it was my best work yet and I love it so much. I knew that I didn't want to quilt it myself because I am not experienced enough at that and did NOT want to ruin my favorite quilt, so I took it to a lady who has done several quilt for me "edge to edge" and has done a beautiful job. I asked her if she could customize this one - do special stuff inside the blocks (a shadow effect on the applique blocks, and some fun stuff on the shoefly blocks) - she said she'd done it before and could do that for me but it would cost extra. I was okay with that because this quilt was special to me (for some reason) and I really wanted it done well.

Anyway, here are some pics of the work she did. I was pretty bummed when I got it back (after paying $96.00 for the quilt work!!) - and it was pretty much a horrible quilting job. I don't know much about quilting, but even I could see that this wasn't a good job. I was really depressed for a couple of days, then, I got myself together and got my unpicker out. I unpicked the whole entire thing and then, took it to a "professional quilter" to try again.

Here are more pics of the finished job. It was absolutely beautiful and exactly what I'd hoped for!! (and I only got charged $24.00 for the whole thing!) - I think she felt bad for me.
So, anyway - just finished binding it last week (and I did the curvy edge this time - for extra perfection) - and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

It was worth every unpicking moment because I wouldn't have ever been as happy looking at it on the wall if I'd left it like it was.
I guess the moral of this story is be careful who quilts your precious quilts!! Make sure they know what they're doing - pictures would be good as evidence!

Bunny from the first quilter.

Bunny after the second quilter.
First quilter

Second quilter.
Love the yo-yo's and the basket!

Here's the back of the quilt. Well done M!!! Love it!

Show and Tell

This is a REAL quilt. (As opposed to a virtual quilt?) This quilt was made by my husband's grandmother probably in the 70's. This was made before quilting became "the thing." She made a quilt for each of her grandchildren. This was made out of scraps, without a rotary cutter, without an Olfa self-healing mat, and without a pattern.

She backed it with snuggly soft flannel and rolled the flannel to the front for the binding.

She handquilted every seam.

This is the most comfortable quilt in the house and the most loved. That's why this quilt stays in its protective cabinet and the children aren't allowed to use it. :) It's a priceless treasure.

Show and Tell

This quilt top stopped at my house on its way to the quilter. My sister-in-law made it and it is so beautiful I had to share! It's a combination of applique and piecing. The detail is amazing and the colors are perfect for spring! I really love it!

It's a twin size and it's going on the extra bed in her little girl's room.

Thanks for sharing!

Show and Tell

This beautiful quilt was made by my co-worker. It's her 4th quilt and she's a pro already! It's a lap size and the pattern she used is "Lasagna Quilt" by Terry Atkinson. It's a basic strip-quilting pattern. The strips are sewn together, off-set, and then the center block is surrounded with a border of more strips. I LOVE all of the bright colors and busy fabrics that she used. It's fun and happy! She backed it with velour which I really love! It's a great weight and makes it snuggly soft on the back. She quilted it on her sewing machine by stitching in the ditch in all of the long seams.

She made this for her grandmother who is 90 years old. A quilt is one of the most treasured gifts there is. Everytime her grandmother uses this quilt, she will be surrounded with the love of her granddaughter.