June Monthly Mini

This month’s mini is thanks to Pam Buda (Homespun Quilts). I used her easy to follow pattern called “Garden Basket”. 

 I started this in May so I wanted the “garden squares” to have some Spring colors. I used Pam’s delicious browns (each triangle is a different fabric) for the basket and her lovely soft pinks as a background.

You can find the pattern and her fabulous fabrics on her website (here).

I'm calling this one "Chin Up"! As much as I loathe talking about medical issues (especially mine!), I feel I must tell all of you why I have not been present in blogland for a while. I have been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Basically, it is a chronic condition that affects how the nerves tell your muscles what to do. Needless to say, it has been a challenge to keep up with daily duties and thus my blog reading and commenting have suffered. I have great hopes that my upcoming surgery will bring me back to my crazy self by the end of the summer.

 It progressed quite quickly and when I realized I would not be able to quilt for quite a while (I can hear your gasps and I truly appreciate your kind thoughts!), I made 3 monthly minis. They are all on automatic posts at the end of each month so you won’t have to miss seeing all the delightful minimaker’s creations.

 Don’t worry about me, I am like a boomerang that always comes back! I know I will be in the pink (and yellow and cheddar and madder and …) again soon.

 A special thank you to all you crazy mini quilters! If you are new and want to jump in, please e-mail me and I will make every effort to get you up on the list.

 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)

Happy Summer to all!

May Monthly Mini - A Tribute to My Mother

 This was my first Mother’s Day without my wonderful mother. It was hard on all of us but especially for my younger sister who was with her almost daily for the past 6 years.

 So, this month’s mini is a gift for my sister. I made it with the (very well worn) fabric from our mother’s favorite skirt. Kathleen would often lay Mum’s clothes out for her the night before and nine times out of ten, she would come out of her room in her favorite skirt. It always made my sister laugh. 

 The mother and child scrap was in a bag of goodies from Carol Younce. I’ve been slowly picking away at these scraps (thank you again Carol!!) and this one seemed perfect for the center. I hand quilted a little heart in the flowers. 

 I hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day. Let’s see what others have stitched in this merry, merry month of May. 

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)

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!