Humble Quilts Antique block challenge

 I opted to do Lori’s (HumbleQuilts) antique block challenge before I realized it was due in May which is always a busy time for me. In my usual form, I waited until the last minute to begin and finished just in time! 

 I love anything with madder prints. I had a few of these antique (c1880) blocks, but chose this one as it was the most “square”. And, look at the different width of these seam allowances. 

It’s funny how we get so hung up on perfection. There are so many 19^th century blocks that are extremely wonky. I often wonder if that is why they were abandoned. 

So… Wendy to the rescue with this sweet piece. I just trimmed it, added a coping strip and bordered it with simple half square triangles. Obviously, I have no shortage of madder reproductions. I only pulled from my scrap bag. No yardage was harmed during the making of this mini!

 Check out Lori’s blog (HumbleQuilts) to see all the little gems.

And, may we all take some time today to remember those who went before us. 

Happy Memorial Day. 

 

Humble Quilts Doll Quilt Swap

 

Time to share Lori’s (HumbleQuilts) doll quilt swap. How lucky am I? I received this adorable little gem made by Carolyn Hansen.

Look at this cute label too. 

 And, if that wasn’t enough, she included a super project bag and gorgeous sewing rollup with notions inside. Thanks a million Carolyn!! 

 Be sure to check out Lori’s “linky party” (Humble Quilts) to see all the adorable little quilts.

10th Annual Sweet Retreat

 This weekend the “Seven Sistahs” celebrated our 10^th year of quilting together. We had a lovely place on Wells Beach that suited our needs perfectly. Maine reached record high temperatures on Saturday, but we stayed nice and cool in our cottage by the sea. 

 We chugged along with our projects, both by hand and machine. 

 I dumped a huge bag of scraps on the floor and watched the sharks circle and then swoop in for the kill. Kathy and Fotini just dove in.

Karen B. covered her body with her colorful choices.

What fun! 

I finished a lot of bindings and was able to baste this little piece and get a start on some of the applique. 

The one thing we all noticed this year is that as we get older, we accomplish more eating, drinking, and chatting than sewing. But, with all the world’s problems now solved, we can get a jump on next year’s projects! 

 Hope you all had a super weekend with friends!

April Monthly Mini

 Really?? Did I actually think I would be able to get a monthly mini done with all I had on my plate? Time to pick up my fork and dig in! 

 I knew it had to be simple. Luckily, I had made a one of these years ago that I gave away so I already had all of the little 9-patches. Just a little pull from the scrap drawers and voila! It measures 8 1/2" x 10 1/2". Fun!

 

 I’m calling this one, “Second Spring”. We haven’t really had a first yet, but I gave all those little 9-patches a new lease on life so…

 Pick up the trowel and dig around in our fellow mini makers sites for signs of Spring!

Quilting Babcia (Amity Quilter)

Randy (Barrister’s Block)

Cathy (Big Lake Quilter) 

Cyndi (Busy Thimble)

Grace (City Mouse Quilter)

Barb (Fun with Barb)

Gladi (Gladi’s Quilts)

Shasta (High Road Quilter)

Nancy (Joy For Grace)

Joy (Joyful Quilter)

Julie (Julie K Quilts)

Kathy (Kathy’s Quilts)

Katy (Katy Quilts)

Sandy (My Material Creations)

Meredithe (Pomegranate and Chintz)

Angie (Quilting on the Crescent)

Barbara (Quilts, Gravestones and Elusive Ancestors)

Janet (Rogue Quilts)

Tazzie (Tazzie Quilts)

Kyle (Timeless Reflections)

Cynthia (Wabi-Sabi Quilts)

A Quilt for the Easter Bunny!

 

I’ve made many quilts for dogs and I’ve made a few quilts for rescue cats, but I had never seen one made for a bunny until now.

 My friend Karen M. made this sweet little quilt for her niece’s rabbit, “Ivy”. It is so adorable!

Ivy 

Karen used a variety of reproduction quilts featuring bunnies. I’m sure Ivy will love every inch! 

 Happy Easter to all!

 

Cecile and Corinne Sampler sew-a-long

 

Finis! 

 The theme for Cecile and Corinne’s quilt-a-long this year was “sampler”. The rules were that it had to be 50% pieced and 50% appliqued with a minimum of 16 blocks.

 My inspiration came from chocolate (of course). I used the soft buttery yellow of the Whitman’s Sampler and added colors and motifs from a few of my old boxes. 

 

 After all the blocks were laid out, I auditioned several border fabrics. I really wanted a lavender, but I just couldn’t find the right one. 

 

This vintage feedsack in a soft pink “cross stitch” look seemed the best fit. 

I was looking for a fabric with chocolates in it for the backing when I found this – more fitting – cross stitch print in the perfect colors.

It is both hand and machine quilted.

 This is my 5^th year of participating in this fun quilt-a-long. In the past I have donated the quilts to the American Quilt Study Group and the Maine State Museum. For this one, I am trying to find a place that is selling or auctioning quilts to raise funds for Ukraine as it really isn't big enough to be of use to refugees. If any of you know of any such sites, please let me know.

 Thanks Cecile and Corinne!!

Spectacular Day at NEQM

 

I have been wanting to get down to see Barb Vedder’s (Fun with Barb) quilts at the New England Museum since it opened in January. Finally, I was able to free up a day and it just happened to be the same day that the American Quilt Study Group was holding its regional quilt study day. Win – win!

 I knew Barb’s quilts were spectacular. I have seen many of them in person, but to see so many hung so beautifully was truly amazing. I photographed every one of them but I am only going to give you a taste because her exhibition doesn’t end until Saturday and I hope to entice those of you in New England to head down now!

 We took our photo in front of my favorite Barb quilt (although it is hard to choose a favorite!), “My Mother’s Garden”. I have loved it since the first time I saw it and I didn’t even know Barb then. 

 I wanted to focus on her Alice Payne quilt to showcase her talent in reproducing an antique quilt, but in the process making it truly her own. This is the gorgeous original antique made by Alice Payne in the mid 19^th century. 

 And, this is Barb’s interpretation.

Some blocks she made close to the original, and in some, she used Alice’s inspiration and added her own fun little elements to make them truly unique. I was so happy to finally see this quilt in person. 

Alice's eagle

 

Barb's eagle

Alice's block 

Barb's block - bullseye or solar system? You decide. 

 

Alice's block

 

Barb's block - her creativity really shows in this one!!

This quilt is also an inspiration to me. I was with her in Vermont when Pepper Cory showed us this quilt. Sorry, I don’t have a photo of the original, but believe me she took the inspiration and then made hers sing with excitement. I love it. 

 I’m not going to show any more of Barb’s quilts. I will let her share the whole thing when the exhibition ends next week.

 As for the quilt study. There were 21 of us and we all brought the earliest quilt in our collection. I can’t share photos of these quilts because people asked that their photos not be published. The one I brought was made around 1840 but of course I was so excited to see all the other quilts, I forgot to take a good photo while it was all laid out. I will show it another time.

I can show you this remarkable bed hanging that belongs to the museum. Marcus Fabrics made reproductions of many of these prints years ago as part of one of JudieRothermel’s collections. Aren’t these amazing? 

 I was so thankful to be able to ride down with my friend Laurie whom I hadn’t seen in ages so it made the whole day truly complete!

 Hope you all had a lovely weekend as well!