Polyester Quilt and 1950-1960 Quilt Blocks

1970's QUILT

This full size polyester quilt was made by my sister-in-law Mel's grandmother, Trula Whitlock, from Arkansas.  Mel held on to it for many years and this past fall I took on the task of quilting it.  I found a large piece of teal double knit fabric at my favorite thrift store that matched.   



This quilt is multi-colored, notice the fluorescent orange and yellow in the center!   



Trula did an excellent job hand sewing the squares together.  ALL the points matched perfectly and have stayed secured over the years. 

     

Quilting was a task as polyester moves around.  I had to tape the back to my basement floor, pinned the top on and hold them down with gallon bottles of water.  I'd sit on the floor to tie it, using a running stitch all the way across, then cut and tied it.

To finish, I just folded the back over to make the binding.  I didn't tell Mel that I started quilting it, I just surprised her by mailing it to her and not telling her I'd finished.  

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Mel recently sent me a box full of Trula's blocks and 2 quilt tops last week! 



The incomplete Sunbonnet Sue quilt was make in the 1960's for Mel.   There are lots of extra pieced Sunbonnet Sue's and Mel thinks Trula was going to make one for all the girl cousins.  I really like how frugal our past quilters were.  If there was not enough fabric, they just sewed some small pieces together to make a one large one.   Trula did this on several of the Sunbonnet Sue's.  The circle "dinner plate" blocks are interesting, I've haven't seen it before. 

Thanks Mel and Trula, I will do you both proud and do my best.

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Snow, Snow, Again!

I really enjoyed the snow this year.  This particular day it was an absolutely delightful.  It clung to the trees and fences.  The snow in the picture has melted but now it is snowing again.   

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PROJECTS

This year my goal is to finish lots of the projects that I have started/accumulated over the years.  My problem, (oh I have lots of problems), is that someone is always giving me unfinished items to work on and I can't wait to put them on my shelf.  My sister is always amazed when she comes over and sees what I have added to my "pile".  

So, here is a breakdown:

Quilts

1 Duckling quilt in the quilting frame

1 Fan quilt being hand tied

1 quilt no longer in the quilting frame (I'm not happy with it)

3 quilt tops done, ready to be put together 

9 sets of blocks in various stages of incompleteness (is that a word?)

5 different piles of fabric ready to be cut into blocks

and lots and lots of fabric just waiting....

Rug

1 wool braided rug fabric ready to be cut into strips

Table Runner

2 different piles of fabric picked out ready to be cut 

Needlepoint

3 pillow canvases

Deer antlers

3 antlers to be made into baskets - someday

What will I seriously get completed?

I'll keep you posted,

Thanks for visiting

Cinder

Needlepoint Pillows and Quilt

BUCILLA NEEDLEPOINT

A co-worker gave me 3 needlepoint pillow/chair seat canvas a few weeks ago that her mother bought at an auction.  I thought the wool floral design was so beautiful, the colors so vibrant. 

 Of course I ran right out to Hobby Lobby and bought a skein of mohair yarn.  The color is called biscuit and was soooo soft. 

 

 And it came with instructions!   For only $6.50.

 I'm getting my sofa reupholstered soon and now will have 3 matching pillow to put on it.  Can you image something matching in my house instead of my "interesting" collection of hodgepodge items?  I'll keep you posted on how it all turns out.

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QUILT AS YOU GO

At a family dinner last month, my mother-in-law, Norma, told me how to make a quilt-as-you-go quilt.  I couldn't wait to get started.  I had these yellow and orange fabrics pick out for a future project. 

 

 First I cut strips.  I chose 2 1/2"  wide strips, but they can be any size.   Then I spray starched the strips.  I was thinking that the strips may move around as I'm quilting and starching would make them stiffer and hold in place better.  I cut my batting and back fabric and pinned them together.  I decided to make a crib size.   I laid out the color order that I wanted the strips, then took the plunge....

The first and second strip were placed at the end on top of the batting facing each other and I used my walking foot and sewed all the away across.  Then I ironed the second strip so it laid flat and placed the 3rd strip on top, sewed it down and just repeated the process.

Above picture shows the top strip sewed down and the bottom picture shows the same strip ironed and ready for the next strip.

 This quilt was fun and quick, but I'm not the best machine quilter.  (I prefer hand quilting)  

My lines aren't exactly straight, it looks like I've been drinking while I quilt!   (Honest I don't drink!  Just ask Sherri, she'll vouch for me)  Now all I have to do is put the binding on it.  If I make another one, (and I probably will) I'm thinking about wider strips and having them vertical instead of horizontal.  

Thanks for visiting,
Cinder

Quilting Frame and Quilt

NEW QUILTING FRAME

OMG!  What was I thinking?  Did I take measurement?  NO.  Did I consider the size of my living room?  NO.  Did I consider the weight of the frame just to move it?  NO.  Did I want it?  YES.  Do I like it?  YES, YES, YES!!!  I'm talking about my new quilting frame. 

Look at how much space the frame takes up, but I have the whole Duckling quilt on it and still have some (hum) room to move around in the living room.  My "area" is on the far side of the room and only encroach on my husbands side when I have to work on the the right side.  And... he doesn't seem to mind that its there.  Wow! 

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 SMALL CRIB QUILT

This small quilt I made last year.  I only had small amounts of each of the fabrics and this is what I ended up with.  The colors go well together and I used a light purple for the back.

 

What I did differently was add some of the fabric to the binding and I really like it.

 

 I machine quilted this one, but I'm not very good at it.  I prefer hand quilting.

 

 This quilt is going to a 4 month old little girl.  Her mother is a Physical Therapist Assistant student that I have been working with on her first clinical affiliation at my facility, which is skilled therapy in a nursing home.  She's been with me for the whole month of January and tomorrow is her last day.  What a good therapist she will be.  Her patience, communication skills and knowledge base is very good.  I know our patients have enjoyed working with her and so have I.  Best wishes to her on her continued studies and next clinical experience.

Thanks for visiting

Cinder

Baskets

 DEER ANTLER BASKET

Here is a collection of some of my baskets that I use every day.  This basket was one of the first deer antler baskets that I made around 2001.  It was very different then regular handled basket, as I had to make sure that it was balanced and would sit without falling to one side.  I helped this out by adding the stone with a hole in it that I got from my friend Sherri.  The ribs are willow and the reed was dyed in walnut hulls.

 This basket is in my bathroom holding wash clothes. 

 

 POTATO BASKET

This basket was made in 2004 from reed that was dyed in walnut hulls and yellow ritz dye.  I also used sunflower fabric for weaving.  The rim is an old embroidery hoop that was my grandmother's.

 This is where I keep my curlers. (Yes there are some of us out there that sleep in curlers!)

  

WILLOW BASKET

I purchased some bamboo handles in the mid 1990's and made this fun basket from willow and dyed reed.  To dress it up I added a green satin ribbon.

 

 

 This basket holds my makeup.  It's getting pretty beat up from daily use and some of the ribs are getting broken.  I'll use it until it wears out and enjoy every minute of it.

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UPDATE:  I'm soooo excited.  I just purchased a new quilting frame this week and can't wait till it arrives.  NOW I'll be able to hand quilt crib to queen size quilts!  Up to now my frame only allows full size as the largest and that would put a strain on it.  Oh what fun I'm going to have.  And my husband is sooo happy to have it in the living room!!!!

 Thanks for visiting

 

Flying Geese and Receiving Blanket Quilt

FLYING GEESE QUILT

I had fun making this small lap quilt from miscellaneous scraps.  It is one of the quilts I hope to give to the local women's shelter.

I hand tied it and wanted to keep it simple. 

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RECEIVING BLANKET QUILTS

My niece, Virginia, had a sack full of receiving blankets from her 3 girls and asked if I would like them.  At first I said no, then I got to thinking (sometimes that can be dangerous for me!).  Why not!  So this is what I was able to make.  A twin size soft flannel hand tied quilt.  When I was done with it, I gave it to my sister, Dawn, to be used at her house when the girls come to stay the night.  Now the girls can continue to use their blankets in a blanket.

  

Can you see the stain on the white block in the last row!  I left the receiving blankets just like they were, stains and all.  I bought a pink/brown polka dot flannel for the back.

And then.....from bits left over I was able to make this small lap quilt.  What fun and so soft.   I don't remember what this cross pattern is call but its cute.

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The Duckling quilt is really coming along.  I have all the blocks done and have added the blue border and sash.  Now I have to find some fabric for the back.  Then on to the quilting frame!

Oh yes, I started another braided rug!  Fun, fun, fun.

Thanks for visiting,

Cinder

Scrappy Wool Rug and Iris Wall Hanging

SCRAPPY WOOL RUG

What an interesting rug this turned out to be.  I was working on the braided rug, when I looked down in the trash and saw many small triangles.   These were trimmed from the stripes that I sewed together.   I had a brilliant idea and pulled them all out of the trash.  (Well, maybe not brilliant.)

I overlapped them and sewed them on denim.  Then I trimmed the rug edges with left over black wool.

 Here it is!  My 3 foot by 1 1/2 foot Scrappy Wool Rug.  It looks like mountain peaks.  I have it by the back door and it matches the large braided rug, two rugs in one!

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IRIS WALL HANGING 

I was given this unfinished, beautiful hand stitched wall hanging from my friend Sherri.  It was made by her mother.  Her fine needle work amazed me and I was honored to work on it and give it a place in my home.

I tried to get a close up picture of the small, neat stitches that were done, but the picture doesn't do it justice.  I added batting and plain white fabric for the back and hand quilted around the flower and leaves to give them more dimension.  Then I finished the background by quilting a diamond background.

It is so pretty hanging on my white wall.

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Happy New Year to one and all!
may you sort of, kind of, get close to, it's almost possible, meet one of your resolutions.   
And be sure to have fun too!

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Thanks for visiting,

Cinder

Happy Holidays to all

May You Have a Merry Christmas

Hope your holiday season is fun filled and memorable.
  Cinder 

PS: the fudge turned out "OK".  I think next year I'll stick to salads.