Category Archives: quilts

Antique Lace Crazy Patch Pillow

Posted on February 16, 2010 | Leave a comment

In the crazy quilt of life, I’m glad you’re in my block of friends.  ~Author Unknown

I love crazy patch.  It’s been a while since I’ve done any, since there’s not much call for crazy patch clothing for grandchildren.  But I came across this pillow while plundering through Rebecca’s cedar chest and recalled fondly the fun I had stitching it.

Many years ago, my dear friend  Suzanne Sawko and I sat down one day with bags and bags of scraps, two women on a mission to learn crazy patch.  We sewed for almost 7 hours and each finished a piece about 8″ square.  But we loved it.  Later, Suzanne made hers into a checkbook cover for my birthday.  I treasure and use it still.

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Posted in antique textiles, home dec, quilts

Liberty Tote

Posted on January 25, 2010 | 4 comments
huge Liberty patchwork tote

huge Liberty patchwork tote

 

In Florida, where our day may begin by picking oranges from the back yard and end with walking the dog on the beach, a large tote bag like this is considered essential. It can hold two dozen assorted oranges and grapefruit, 8 yards of quilting fabric from the Presidents’ Day Sale , a sweater, bib, book, diaper and zip lock of cookies  for the grandchildren as well as  a well behaved Labrador puppy who will nap quietly until you are at the beach for his walk. Probably. Maybe more.

Linda McGehee’s Tote, Clutch, Cosmetic Bag #851 pattern was modified for this tote. It required only lengthening the body of the tote to accommodate pleasing placement of the quilt squares.

 

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Posted in bags, machine embroidery, quilts, techniques

Memories in Lace Quilt

Posted on January 10, 2010 | Leave a comment

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present and the promise of the future.~ Author Unknown

This is certainly true of my daughter Rebecca, though she has alrealdy fulfilled all the future promises  for which I had hoped—and more.    This quilt holds happy memories of the past, some mine, some hers, some which she cannot possibly recall. 

Made in the traditional snowball pattern, this quilt is composed of alternate blocks filled with applique’d hearts.  Lace scraps from skirt fancybands and remnants of Rebeca’s little dresses make up the bulk of the hearts.   Continue reading →

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Posted in antique textiles, Binche Lace, heirloom sewing, lace tape, quilts

Blanket of Love

Posted on January 5, 2010 | 2 comments

Those who sleep under a quilt, sleep under a blanket of love. ~Author Unknown

A blanket of love was exactly what I wanted to create for my daughter to sleep under when she arrived as a freshman at the University of Florida. Though it is just 90 miles from our home, it was too far for her to come home for dinner or a quick visit when feeling a little lonely.

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Tiny Scrap Quilt

Posted on December 12, 2009 | 1 comment

 

This little quilt appears misshapen because it is being held in place by a vine stub and a prong on the wrought iron arch and is poked out of shape.

This little quilt appears misshapen because it is being held in place by a vine stub and a prong on the wrought iron arch and is poked out of shape.

When life throws you scraps, make a quilt.  ~Author Unknown

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—I LOVE Liberty of London Tanna Lawn. I buy it greedily, use it sparingly and save every teeny tiny scrap of the precious fabric.

This diminuative single Irish chain quilt, a mere 8 1/4″ x 11 1/2″, is made from ivory Swiss lawn and a bag of Liberty scraps, each measuring 1″ x 3/4″. How you might wonder did I come into possession of such insignificant scraps?

Many years ago, my dear friend Mildred Turner and I held doll schools around the country. Each of the 40 student received an undressed specially made porcelain doll and for 3 or 4 days we sewed the doll’s wardrobe. Continue reading →

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Posted in quilts

Special Angels

Posted on December 12, 2009 | Leave a comment

During the Christmas season, references and images of angels are as pervasive as Santa Claus. They appear on greeting cards, holiday attire, tree ornaments and home decorations. It is not surprising that there are so many embroidery designs and projects that reflect the public’s interest and fascination with these celestial beings.

In literature, angels are equally prevalent. There are Biblical references, such as, “For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11

And tongue in cheek references, “A baby is an angel whose wings decrease as his legs increase. ~Author Unknown

We just can’t seem to leave angels alone.

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Posted in antique textiles, baby accessories, Holiday Projects, home dec, linen blanks, machine embroidery, quilts

Silk Dupioni Quilt

Posted on October 29, 2009 | 4 comments

 

quilt pattern is a variation of Grandmother's Fan

quilt pattern is a variation of Grandmother’s Fan

Have you ever quilted with silk dupioni? It really is a wonderful fabric for a special use quilt.

Occasionally, you will see an heirloom style dupioni quilt in Sew Beautiful magazine and this one was featured in Creative Needle magazine a few years ago. The only person I have ever known to actually make one was Rebecca Kemp Brent, a frequent and fabulous contributor to machine embroidery magazines. It was a great compliment for her to reproduce this one.

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The reinterpretation of traditional quilt designs by using heirloom fabrics and techniques gives a refreshing and elegant twist to favorite old patterns. Testimony to the popularity of the Grandmother’s Fan pattern is the ready availability of vintage quilts of this design. Continue reading →

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Posted in heirloom sewing, quilts

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Liberty Leaves Quilt

Posted on October 1, 2009 | 2 comments

Libertyleafquilt

The fabrics for this 16″ x 19 1/2″ machine quilted wallhanging were gleaned from my Liberty of London tana lawn scrap bag. There are so many beautiful fall colors in the prints that a leaf quilt seemed to be an appropriate and worthy project for these treasured scraps. Each block is 2 3/4″ square. The solid ivory in each block is Swiss lawn from Capitol Imports.

As for technique, Liberty Leaves is a ho-hum standard quilt, except for the stippling. I love the compressed effect of stippling and discovered some time ago that in order to get really close, tiny stitches, ultra fine thread is required. The triangle on either side of the leaf stem is stippled with 80/2 wt. Madeira Cotona thread and a size 60 needle. This made possible very close stitching without the thread creating bulk and becoming the center of attention in the stippled area. If you enlarge the photo below, you can see how tight the stippling is.

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Posted in quilts

I Spy Quilt

Posted on August 15, 2009 | 4 comments

Grandma quilts have love in every stitch. Author Unknown

 

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Just before his third birthday, Robert became enamored of the I Spy books he checked out of the library. With this in mind, I decided an I Spy quilt would be a great gift for his birthday.

 

Robert spies his quilt.

Robert spies his quilt.

 

Robert was so pleased with his I Spy quilt. After he opened the package, the other children were quite intrigued and began examining the items in each square. Feeling a little overwhelmed by the festivities and his guests’ enthusiastic manhandling of his special quilt, Robert announced that he was going to take a rest. And please would Nana come with him.

With one hand he grabbed a corner of the quilt and with the other he took my hand. We went to his room and snuggled a little while before he was ready to face the bedlam that attends 3 year-old birthday parties. Ahhh…Nana heaven! Continue reading →

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Posted in machine embroidery, quilts

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Harry Potter Nursery

Posted on August 10, 2009 | 6 comments
HarryPotterquilt

More details about the quilt are posted here.

 

When my daughter and son-in-law got the good news that they were to be first time parents, they requested a Harry Potter nursery.  I was at a loss. How was I to make this look soft enough for a baby and yet maintain the requested theme?  I like heirloom style and soft colors.  Harry Potter is neither.

With all the visual fodder in the lengthy 7 book series, it was necessary to narrow the focus.

Keeping in mind that Rebecca specifically requested bright colors, I went to the drawing board.  I like to start a nursery decoration plan with a quilt.  That establishes the color scheme and allows many spin offs and opportunities for accessories.

After deciding on “fantastic creatures” I set to work, looking for designs that could be edited and customized to meet the description of critters from unicorns and fairies (the easy ones) to a thesteral, Pygmy Puff and snidget. Continue reading →

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Posted in baby accessories, machine embroidery, quilts, serger

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