What I did on my day off!

This little quilt (about 10" sq) was started about two years ago....worked on it occasionally and decided this week it needed to be finished!  I have Way Too Many quilts that need to be finished but I choose this one that day!  Inspiration is from the Chitra book "Little Bits of Whimsy".......however, I made several changes, mostly the triangle border.  I didn't care for the "spikey" triangles along the outside edge of the original so I made a paper-pieceing pattern for "flying geese" triangles followed by the plain border.  These colors are a bit wild for me!

Now, having said I have Way Too Many quilts in progress, I am off on another tangent!  This always happens when the frenzy of July is over and I can get back to my quiet life!   I was reading An Moonen's "History of Dutch Quilts"

 book the other evening and became enthused to use the panel below along with the other Dutch reproductions drying on the line in the other two photos.   At the Maine quilt show in July a vendor from PA had Dutch fabrics that reminded me that I had some SOMEWHERE but could not find them!!  Off and on for three weeks, I would search various boxes and fabric piles to no avail.  As I was about to leave the sewing room to start a search in a bedroom storage area, I spied two boxes that I hadn't yet checked because I had been too lazy to move the pile of fabric stacked on top of them!  When I moved the fabric and picked up the top box, you guessed it!  There was the bag of fabric in between the two boxes!  Bet this never happens to anyone of you!?!??!?!

I've had this panel for a while, having been bought for me by a friend traveling to Amsterdam.  I knew that I had seen them for sale on an online shop and wanted another.  I thought the shop was in TX so I found a list of TX shops and hoped that when the right one appeared, I would recognize it.  Could not believe my good fortune when I did!  It's here at Happiness Is......

Quilting in McKinney.  I see they also have the History of Dutch Quilts book.

For now I think I will make just a small quilt using the panel surrounded by some quilt blocks and the border fabric strips seen on my clothesline.  The border strips are less than a yard long so that determines the size of my quilt.    I have Petra Prins' lovely "Josephine" fabric that I plan to use in another Dutch reproduction.   From studying the fabric pictures in the book, I think I will be able to find more early 19th century reproductions in my stash because, for me, the more different fabrics in a quilt, the better!!  Looks like stripes and dots were used in the antique Dutch quilts so those will definitely add interest to the mix!

Well, I see the little clock says it's 9pm so that means it is time for handwork while I listen to "Doc Martin" on pbs!  

Can't believe it's been over 2months!!!!

I don't where the time went but it has been a very long time since I sat down to write on my blog!  Between family, two July quilt shows, and a computer upgrade that left me without my main computer for 3 weeks,  I am ready to go back to my quiet life!!  It's been hot here in Maine (I know it is far worse in other parts of the country so I won't complain too loudly!) and since my sewing room is on the second floor, it's been too hot to work there. Really should invest in an air conditioner!!  So, I looked for things to do downstairs where it is quite a bit cooler!  I decided to pin-baste three quilts on my dining room table so I will always have projects in process to pick up in the evenings.  First up is a Basket quilt from an older Jo Morton club.  Her baskets were turned every which way but I just could not do that so mine are all headed in the same direction!  The blocks are 4".....think I will do my usual machine quilting in the ditch and then add hand-quilting.

Second project is my Applecore from Cindy Blackberg's stamp.  Loved every minute hand-piecing this table runner.  Used 147 different fabrics.....all Moda except for two.....one Judie Rothermel and one from "Josephine" by Petra Prins!  They are both visible in the photo.....can you spot them?  When I thought I was done, I read the pattern and discovered it called for two more rows......I like the looks of the seven rows so am leaving it at that!  I pin-basted and then machine-basted and will hand-quilt.  Probably overkill to both pin and machine baste but I feel I get a flatter quilt so it's worth the extra work to me!

Now here is a little quilt that I recently unearthed from a pile of tops from Carol Hopkins "Civil War Legacies" called "Sweet William".  This has been buried a long time! The pink border fabric is from Jo Morton's first line of fabric around 2005!!  (Maybe we could convince Jo to print this fabric again!?!)  The stars could be made as Sawtooth Stars or as LeMoyne stars with diamonds.  My friend Wendy made hers with sawtooth stars and that hung in my shop .......my stars are hand-pieced LeMoyne stars so it didn't get finished as quickly!  Thanks to Wendy I had a sample for the shop!

This is one of the flowers in bloom around here now.....Tansy!  Took a loverly photo of some Goldenrod too but the photo would not rotate so will save that for another time!  I love Goldenrod and let it grow wherever it shows up!  Same for New England Fall Asters!  And now I leave the Milkweed since I learned the Monarch butterflies feed from it.  One year we had a chrysalis on a milkweed plant that we watched until the Monarch emerged......my little granddaughter Khaila was enthralled with it!

This too-dark photo is a 9-patch quilt I made with "Comfort" fabric from Moda's "Collection for a Cause" fabric line.  The only thing that resembles the project sheet is the border (I'll try to get a better photo later!).  Used 180 different fabrics in the 90 blocks.....way scrappier than the original and I like it better!  The original setting fabric was light with tiny red figures (maybe dots) but I like my dark selection better......

One of my new fabrics just arrived in the shop......."Ohio Star" from Blue Hill Fabrics.....I Love this Swag design from around 1850's I think.  Wonderful for borders....comes in two other colorways but I believe this is the document colorway.

Here are a few shots of my booth at Maine Quilts 2012!  Each of those little crates holds about 30 half yard cuts and there were over 40 of them.....that's over 1200 half yards to choose from!  

Time to sign off for tonight......gotta make dumplings for my chicken soup for my husband when he gets in from a long day in the hayfield!!  Then I can relax with some handwork......my favorite part of my day!  A note to my customers.......in my upgrade the Address Book came through with single email addresses but the folders containing my Newsletter addresses did not make it so I need to start from scratch again!  If you want to be on my Email List, just let me know!!   Years ago I would have had such Withdrawal from the absence of my computer and would have had a slight fit over losing the email addresses, but that's life......hardly bothered me at all!  I will confess that I now have a laptop so I could read my email and blogs and go on the Net, but all my programs/files were on the other computer so I could not do bookwork!  Will fix that soon as I hate to get too far behind on bookwork.....too hard to catch up!  I'd rather SEW or QUILT!!!

Love to use Leftovers!

Last year in Jo Morton's Little Women Club, we made Courthouse Step Blocks using one inch strips.  I had lots of Leftovers, so I kept them in one of my little sorting boxes (recycled check boxes!) until I could get time to work on these little Four Patch Blocks.  Each block has 4 Half Inch squares so the finished block size is One Inch.  I machine-quilted in the ditch between all the blocks.......may go back and quilt my favorite little wavy line in the borders by hand later.  The batting is wool that has been split in half, making a very thin quilt!  The other half is in 

 this little quilt that I made from the leftover Leftovers!  Can't stand to waste/throw away even the smallest pieces that I know I can use!  The cheddar in the second quilt really makes it Sing!....Whereas the first little quilt is quite subdued, perhaps even drab, but it does look to me like it's old!

 This is a recent Finish of a quilt in Jo Morton's Club for this year......tiny little geese that are 5/8" x 1-1/4".......really not that hard to do when you are sure you have the correct math!  However, it was time-consuming!  I figure that I have about 10 hours in this quilt!  I have made a paper-piecing pattern and we'll see if that makes the quiltmaking process any quicker!  Will let you know!  I used Jo's fabric choices because I really liked them but used a bit darker binding fabric.  My paper-pieced one is going to be very different colors!

 This is what is in my quilting hoop for tonight's work while watching "Hatfields and McCoys" on History Channel.  This little quilt is from Country Threads "Return to Charm School", using elongated Hexagons from Barbara Brackman's "Civil War Homefront" collection.  I will be able to kit this one!

 Lovely weather recently here in New England!  Flowers blooming, breezes blowing in the windows that I will leave open until late Fall.....love the fresh air!  My laundry that I dried outside on my clotheslines smells Heavenly when I fold it!  The photos below are my Bridal Wreath that grows outside my living room windows.  Gorgeous, but of course, will not last long enough!  The Lilacs  were at peak for Mother's Day and are gone now until next year!  Years ago I spent lots more time gardening that I do now....I miss it but there is only so much time in a day and something has to give!

 Oh, one more thing!  I found this Applecore quilt top that I completely forgot I had until I ran across it while looking for another quilt!  It is from the 1930's and is hand-pieced quite nicely.  However, along the edges, some fabrics are fraying and I will likely have to remove them IF I decide to finish the quilt Someday!

 This closeup shows a couple Novelty fabrics that are just darling and too few in the quilt!  The one on the right shows a little girl ironing!  How cute is that!  I have a friend who loves 1930's fabrics/feedsacks and her love for them has rubbed off on me!  Nineteenth century Fabrics are my first love but 1930's is a close Second!  I'm  beginning to like the 1950's too since I have acquired some.....made a String Star Miniature Quilt that I must remember to photo for next time!

One Finish......Many in Progress!!

 Spent many Winter evenings quietly quilting away on this Toile Center Medallion, inspired by one in Gwen Marston's "Liberated Quiltmaking ll".  Now would like to make a bedsize quilt.  One friend suggested I just keep on going with this one, but I think the 12" center toile would be too small proportionately for a fullsize quilt..........so I will sometime start another.  This kind of quilt is one I can easily work on, set aside and pick up again without losing my train of thought!  I did use a quilting hoop with this one and my quilting is so much more even than when I don't use a hoop.  For small Jo Morton-type quilts, I often just quilt in my lap but quilting is not as even.  I still do it, tho, hoping for improvement!  I hung this on my little clothesline that I strung up in my dining room to display quilts just to take this photo, but I think I have decided that it has found a home for now!  I never hung quilts in my home much as I hang them in my shop, but after 30 years of quiltmaking, I have enough for beds, walls, tabletops, cupboard doors, and the shop!  Below the quilt is a scrappy (charm) log cabin runner (my first big-stitch project if I recall correctly) on the limed oak cabinet of my 1956 Pfaff sewing machine that provides a flat surface for such stuff!  There are two detail shots below.....had fun picking out early 1800's fabrics for this quilt!

 There is something wrong with this picture below!  Can you tell what it is?  This is a current Jo Morton Club project of brown/shirting flying geese....very tiny..finish at 5/8" x 1-1/4"!  Made my test block (4 geese at far left).  A few nights later I cut out the remaining parts needed and proceeded to sew ....should not do this after a long day in the shop during shophop month!  I cut, sewed, pressed AND trimmed 44 units without noticing anything was Wrong!  I spread them out to take this photo and it hit me!  I did it backwards!  Geese should be light, not dark! Well Jo made her little quilt from a mistake She had made in the same manner.........she wanted dark geese and ended up with light geese!  I did the same thing, but in reverse!  I like her method of flying geese......don't know exactly who invented it, but this website gives great directions.  Click on "sharing patch" in the bar at the top of the webpage for Flying Geese directions as well as many other free patterns.  Spent last evening doing the prep work (drawing lines on Dark Squares for background!) for a second set.  Now I will have two quilts because I am too frugal to just let these sit around!  

 Leaders and Enders.....another thing I am frugal with is thread.  Had for some reason gotten away from using little blocks to start and end machine sewing thread......using a scrap is fine, but nothing is Accomplished!  Remembered these little pinwheels (actually Found Them buried under other projects.....started these in Fall 2008....it is a smaller version (used the charm pack) of the project from the first Moda Collection for a Cause "Heritage" which I fell in love with the focal fabric that will be the sashing.  The Pinwheel blocks are made into 4-patches alternating with plain blocks if you can pick the block out at the bottom of the photo.  So-o-o-o, I've been using these as my Leaders/Enders.  First in joining two little units together and then by sewing the center seams.  Really made quick work of something I hadn't found time to do!  Not only does using Leaders/Enders help you to make two projects at once, it does it so neatly in that there are no threads hanging all over the backs of patchwork!  Now it's time to retire to the sofa for some handquilting of a small quilt from Country Threads "Back to Charm School" and/or the binding of two small quilts........stay tuned....will show them as soon as I finish them!

Charm Quilts and More

 This is my charm quilt that has been in progress since 1994 (about 1/4 showing)!  It has been my "Carry Along Project" mostly when I visit my Mom.  I have a hard time just sitting and talking so I try to always have something available to work on!  At home this is not a problem as I always have Many Projects in various stages of completion to choose from when I finally sit down in the evening!  I could not remember exactly when I started this Applecore quilt but one day while browsing through back issues of "American Patchwork and Quilting", I found the pattern I used.....think it was Issue #8.  At one point a couple years ago, I thought I would discontinue it as it had older fabrics in it that I did not think really worked with the newer fabrics of today that are so much more wonderful!  Then, I decided that it would be a great "catalog" of fabrics over a span of nearly 20 years!  Originally I planned to make 25 rows of 25 for a total of 625, but I think I will make it a little wider for a nice drop on my bed.  I have always been fascinated with "Charm Quilts" since I first read of them in quilt history books in the 1980's when I became interested in Antique Quilts.   Charm Quilts (a quilt in which each fabric is used Only Once) were a popular fad in the late 19th century when young ladies would strive for 1000 different fabrics in their quilt!  Now I've read of another theory wherein ladies would collect only 999 because 1000 charms would ensure that they would not marry!  




Charm patterns could be any One-Patch pattern...squares, triangles, diamonds, hexagons, tumblers, applecores, etc.   I plan to start a second Charm Quilt in the near future using Hexagons in Reproduction fabrics only as I have seen a few antiques in books that really spoke to me!  The following three photos are closeups of some of the applecores.  Oh yes, I have another Applecore in progress....using the Cindy Blackberg stamp (much smaller than this) for a tablerunner in only Moda fabrics.  Both of the charm projects are pieced by hand.  After I join each applecore, I press the seam with my thumbnail....have never touched an iron to my large quilt but it looks like I did from the finger-pressing!

 The next two photos are from a charm quilt I have from the late 19th century....would love to photo each section of the quilt for a photographic record of all the fabrics!  Maybe someday!  This quilt is handquilted in 3" diagonal grid.  One of these days I'll hang it on the clothesline for an overall photo.  I have also a 1000 Pyramid Charm Quilt (again late 19th century) Top that I should photo.  Charm Quilts stayed popular for a long time as I also have a 1930's Top done in triangles.....I  have more Tops than Quilts!

 This is a quilt that is One of my current handquilting projects (yes, there are others too!).....a center medallion (toile) that was inspired by one in Gwen Marston's "Liberated Quiltmaking 2".  Again, would love to make this in a fullsize bed quilt as this one is about a crib/wallhanging size.  This one is a Charm but I do have a lot of different fabrics in it.  I used the 3" grid quilting design from the above antique quilt.  I find it so relaxing to do handwork in the evening all cozy on the couch with my plaid brushed homespun quilt (also a Charm!) and the woodstove across the room........cheery with its glass doors allowing the warm glow of the flames to be seen.

 This little quilt (15" x 19") is from "Back to Charm School" by Country Threads.  I love both of their Charm books!  This is the first quilt I have made from the books and it is probably the most complicated because of all the small half-square triangles.....the rest of the patterns look easier and therefore faster to finish!  I machine-quilted this one in the ditch around the blocks (am not a good machine quilter so I mostly quilt where you can't see it but it holds everything together!).  Then, I just can't leave well enough alone and have started handquilting in the pink setting triangles!

 This photo shows the top before I added the half-square triangle border (see them in the box?)  The box at the top of the photo is my overflowing box of leftovers from this and other current projects that will eventually become strips in another log cabin quilt.  The log cabin in my Header did not provide any handquilting space so I am making another (will take years!) with 3/8" logs so that there will be just that little tiny place with no seam allowance behind it to handquilt!  19th century log cabin quilts were not generally handquilted but I just love the feel of a closely-handquilted quilt!

 Closeup showing the handquilting that I just can't help adding!

 I am not much of a Gadget Queen, preferring to use tools/methods of quiltmakers in days gone by who somehow still managed to produce masterpieces among their Everyday Quilts!  I use the Hera marker to mark the quilting lines on the Medallion quilt in the hoop above.  Just run the Hera along the straight edge of my ruler.....it makes a little crease that is easy to follow with no lines to erase.  Only mark a couple lines at a time as I'm not sure how long the crease will remain visible.  Also pictured is my Roxanne thimble that I Love!  I am allergic to inexpensive metals....even the silver one wreaked havoc on my finger.  The gold-plated one lets me quilt without abusing my finger!  Lastly, I have slight arthritis that is beginning to bother when pulling the needle through the quilt layers.  One of my customers gave me a few of these little "Needle Grip It" dots and they work great!  Place one on my thumb and one on my index finger and it makes gripping the needle much easier!  The dots are clear and smooth and I did not see how they would work being that smooth (as opposed gripping power of little finger cots) but they certainly work for me!  Forget I have them on!   Now it is 9:30 in the Evening and time to go get some handquilting done!!

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.