Something a Little Different

Last week I decided it was time to finish the quilt for my newest grandaughter and the doll clothes I was making for the big sister. All the quilt needed was the binding and the doll clothes only needed buttons. Now the baby has a bright "bubbly"quilt and the doll is ready for summer! The package will go in the mail this week!

Bubbles

Ready for Summer

 

 

Next I  wanted to try a new bag pattern and, of course, I never have enough bags. Again I was thinking summer so I chose a bright print coordinated with bright blue polk a dots! I'm lovin' the results!



Lets go shopping!

 

Quilting Retreat

 Last September my quilting group went on a retreat, unfortunately I was away and not able to attend.  Everyone reported having a wonderful time and getting a lot of work done. I saw some of the beautiful results and decided that when the next retreat was planned I wanted to go. Finally, last week I got my chance!

Twenty ladies from Sterling Stitchers arrived at the appointed site on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. with the sole purpose to sew, talk quilting, eat a little and sleep a little for the next forty eight plus hours. I was excited, I had prepared a few projects to work on and was anxious to get started.

The retreat center was located on a lake shaded by many old oak trees. Our work room was large with many windows providing good lighting and a view of the beautiful scenery. Each person had a good amount of working space and we had cutting tables and ironing boards set up. 

After getting my sewing machine set up and workspace organized, I went to work. My main project was a 60"x 80" "braided" quilt top. I had carefully cut my fabric at home so that I could get right to work when I arrived. The pattern I chose came from a McCall's Quilting magazine from September/October 2012. The quilt shown in the magazine was made using batik prints in shades of red. I decided to use batiks in blues and greens. The process required piecing seven vertical braided strips, trimming them, adding sashing between each strip and a border all around.

I worked diligently and by late afternoon on the second day I had all seven strips pieced together:

These are three of the braided strips ready to trimmed, sashed and bordered to make my quilt top. I was pleased to have this much work done on the blue braids but was ready for a change, so I decided to work on a small doll quilt.

Our quilting group makes small doll size quilts for the children's hospital to give to patients. The hospital reports that the children like to cuddle with them and to put them on their wheelchairs, and take with them for tests etc. Like the blue braided quilt I had cut the pieces for this little quilt before I left home. I was able to piece the top together before I left the retreat on Thursday morning:

 

 

During the two and a half days we laughed together, worked together and encouraged one another. Some completed projects and started new ones. Some, like myself did not finish a project but made progress and enjoyed the process. 

 

I left the retreat happy with the work I had done and anxious to complete both projects. I truly enjoyed quilting with my friends and am looking forward to the next retreat set for this fall.

 



 

 

 

This is the quilt that my grandmother made for my children when our first daughter was born in 1971. It has been well used and cherished by all ten of my children.

Just a Little Background

I am a quilter. I love fabric and like most quilters have quite a stash with many unfinished projects. My mother and grandmother taught me to sew as a young child. By the time I was a teenager I made most of my own clothes. When my children were growing up I made most of their clothes until they got to be teenagers and wanted "labels"! Over the years I made dresses, shorts, pants, pajamas, Halloween costumes, prom dresses and wedding dresses. But always in the back of my mind I wanted to make quilts.

My paternal grandmother made quilts. Most of them were scrap quilts made from old clothing. They were made to be utilitarian but they were beautiful. Every winter my grandfather would set the quilting frame up in the middle of the living room floor and Granny Gude would hand quilt the tops she had sewn together over the summer. It was fun to go to her house because the furniture would be pushed back against the wall and you had to walk sideways around the quilt frame. We children liked to crawl under the fram and play cards or monopoly while she quilted.

Granny Gude had a large family, eight children, thirty-three grandchildren, sixty-five great grandchildren and twenty-six great-great grandchildren when she died at age 98. She was constantly making a quilt for someone. As the grandchildren began their families she made a quilt for the first great-grandchild in each family land stated that "since there was a potential for so many great-grands the quilt would have to be shared with the younger siblings". Our family still treasures the beautiful plaid scrap quilt she made for us. It is a bit tattered today from so much use but it has been well loved. (When I learn to post pictures, maybe I'll post a picture of it!)

Beginning a Blog

This is my first attempt at blogging. It will be a lot of trial and error (mostly error). Hopefully, I will come to understand this new adventure.