A Special Gift and New Fabrics!

 This gorgeous little Wallhanging is a birthday gift from my friend, Wendy.  Her applique and handquilting are just perfect!  To prove that, she has won many prizes at many quilt shows!  I am honored to have been the recipient of her handwork, and guess what, she made TWO!  The second one is for our mutual friend, Kathryn.  The fabric is the Collections for a Cause "Friendship" line and the pattern is from Lori Smith of From My Heart to Your Hands.  I am going to answer this question about her fine handquilting  in advance......yes, she does use batting...........wool batting!!  

 Now we are on to what's new at the shop for fabric deliveries!  Jo Morton's Simple Charms (that word "Charms" reminds me of a topic I am getting ready to discuss as soon as I get some photos taken!!) fabrics arrived today!    Wonderful homespuns that look terrific in hers and others'  reproduction quilts, Toiles that I can't get enough of, and nice fine Ticking stripes (printed stripes on quilt fabric this time.....not the "real" ticking).  Think I forgot to show Jo's "Bridgeport" when it came in last month; also received "Crimson Bouquet" and "Elizabethtown" with its showstopping Sunflower Stripe!

 These are what is left in the shop for "old" Toiles....also Jo's.

 This is a bit of a departure for me but I love this line from Moda's 3 Sisters, "Papillon".  The lighter colors and airy pattern designs are reminiscent to me of early 1800's fabrics....Remember how we loved the light colors of the 1830's French dressgoods fabrics that Margo Krager did from her fabulous auction find of a catalogue of dress fabric samples in excellent condition?  I made a Framed Medallion Quilt from that line, gave it to my granddaughter, but it is here at my home at the moment......I'll try to get some photos of it one of these Very Fine Spring days we are experiencing, even before the official start of spring!  We had No Winter here in Maine......I missed it, but a lot of folks disagree with me!  My wood stove in the living room keeps me cozy and warm while I do handwork in the evenings!  During the day, I am moving around too much to feel cold!  One of those activities is carrying in the wood to keep that stove fired up!  Of course, if I had to drive in snowstorms, I am sure I would be singing a different tune!

Guess that is it for now......have been working on a few quilt projects.....really I have!  But nothing is quite done enough to bother with photos yet.  One, well actually two, are Jo Morton Club #11 quilts and the third is from Country Threads new book "Back to Charm School"....naturally I chose one of the more complicated ones.......see page 45!  Happened to find that I still had a few "Charity" charm packs left which this little quilt is made from.   Oh, yes, still working on those tiny little blue/brown 4-Patches made from 1" strip leftovers that I mentioned previously.....actually enough for two little quilts!

And, I've had to spend time Learning New Stuff!  IT stuff mostly!  Doesn't come as easily to me as it does the Grands!  Tax program is different and I had to start working with Google browser (getting easier after getting used to it!)  and Thanks to  Lori from Humble Quilts who helped me figure out how to turn off the Word Verification!  One of these days, I'd like to experiment with a new blog layout but for now this simple beginner one suits me just fine!  Finding time to sew/quilt is hard enough without throwing other activities into the mix!

Exciting New Book for Quilt History Lovers!

What Joy today when my friend Pam Weeks' (w/Don Beld) new book "Civil War Quilts" (Schiffer) arrived!....... The 15 known Sanitary Commission quilts in a lovely hardcover book!  Eleven of them are "potholder" quilts  (another book forthcoming from Pam on THAT subject!).  Have been waiting quite a while for this book and certainly find that it is worth the wait!  The photos are wonderful.....always the first thing I do with a new quilt history book......look at all the photos and read the captions.....then go back to read the History! 

Reproduction quiltmakers will love her fabric pages with suggestions as to what are Indigo Blues, Madders, Turkey Reds, Double Pinks, madder browns, bright chrome yellows, poison greens, etc!  Interesting to find that I have many of the fabrics pictured!  But everyone knows the 19th century reproductions are my favorite fabrics!  I did not know that the book was to include patterns and there are many to choose from!  19th century techniques and Edge Finishes chapter is most informative...includes instruction for Potholder quilt style.

A recent quilt discovery that is Most exciting to me is a well-documented Flag Quilt from Belfast Maine that just last fall found its way back to Maine after about 147 years!  The Historical Society knew the quilt was made from reading the Ladies Volunteer Aid Society 1864 records but did not know the whereabouts of the quilt....until a phone call from MT.....you will need the book to read "the rest of the story!"  The quilt will be shown every Flag Day, June 14!

Pam asked me to include the little permission notes for copyright issues.