Friday, July 1, 2016

Gwennie Inspired Medallion reveal


It is time for the big reveal of round two in our Gwennie Inspired sew-a-long. If you are just jumping in, here is a recap.

Lori (Humble Quilts) started us off in May with her choice of “baskets” for the center. I have never seen so many creative and beautiful baskets. I love them all!

This month’s choice was made by Cynthia (Wabi-Sabi Quilts). Her theme of “Childhood Memories” was an absolute joy for me. I knew instantly what fabrics I would use as I spent most of my childhood wishing I were a cowboy riding the range! I incorporated vintage cowboy feedsacks and I also printed images of cowboy comic books as I spent hours and hours poring over them as a child.


I am making this in the potholder method, whereby each border was appliqued, hand quilted and bound and then stitched together. The backing fabrics are also special to me. The Little Golden Book fabric is a reproduction and is one of my favorites. I’d like to say that the panels are upside down because I used to read the books while hanging upside down from our apple tree, but the truth is I screwed up! 


When I wasn’t dreaming about being a cowboy, I was making paperdolls so the backing for the corner blocks is quite appropriate. I love the red binding, but I didn’t want it to be too heavy on the corner blocks so I used the background fabric on two sides. I added the little yo-yo’s at the intersections to tie in the striped fabric in the center and also because I loved making them as a kid. 


This one has Tim Holt inside the yellow star. He was one of my favorites. He also did a lot of detective movies, but I loved him as a cowboy!




I was cursing myself halfway through the process for deciding to make this in the potholder method. I’m not sure why it never occurred to me that I would have to applique, quilt, bind and stitch together ALL borders before starting on the next round. In the middle of the summer – really??? But I made it and I am very happy that Cathy (Big LakeQuilter) has chosen “Log Cabin” for the next border. I think I can do it quite quickly if I don’t over think it!

So, check out all the wonderful progress at the linky party (Wabi-Sabi Quilts). And remember, it is never too late to join in the fun!


And, speaking of childhood memories… I rarely post anything not quilt related, but we put up a swing for our grandson last week and, well… weeeee!

32 comments:

  1. I love how your Medallion quilt is coming together. I wasn't sure how it would look when you first described it but wow...it looks great. Glad you like the next theme. Hugs

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  2. Oh I love it! So whimsical and packed with meaning. Vintage cowboy feed sacks - perfect! Fun! I too am happy about the next theme!

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  3. wheeee...nothing like a swing! love your project so far!

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  4. Love your cowboy paper doll round, very fun! Enjoy the log cabin round too. The swing looks like lots of fun.

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  5. Very creative! I grew up with Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans and The Lone Ranger so I completely get your memories of cowboys (and Little Golden Books).

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  6. Oh my ... I can imagine you with a Stetson on a horse ! Wonderful...:)))
    Your border is very original, made with potholders of course ! I love it Wendy ! Bravo !

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  7. What a fantastic interpretation! I'm a cowgirl but that happened after I grew up! LOL
    Love that swing! He is making memories at Grandmas.

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  8. What a darling quilt! The beauty of the assembly method you're using is that you can just quit whenever you want or need to and you'll still have a (nearly) finished product. I love that you incorporated images of your favorite comic books. We had access to some when I was growing up but I don't remember cowboy comic books!

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  9. Very fun interpretation, Wendy!
    Great photo of the grandson in the swing. He looks very happy! : )

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  10. As american as apple pie...Very funny...
    Veronique

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  11. Fantastic "Childhood" border! I grew up loving cowboys too, I had a Roy Rogers pistol and a Rifleman rifle. The pot holder method might take more time now, but you have the backing and quilting all done now. Enjoy your grandson time!

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  12. Love the cowboys theme!!! I have my "Buffalo Gals" in doll form up on a shelf because I wanted to be a Cowgirl so I love that you included this part of your childhood. It is so fun to read everyone's explanations for their border choice.

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  13. Interesting how you've chosen to quilt and bind as you go along. In the long run I may regret not doing this also. Time will tell. The main thing is to have fun with whatever we chose to do right!

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  14. absolutely delightful wendy and so creative. You really embraced the theme and made it your own.
    the photo of your grandson is so cute!

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  15. What a fun interpretation! I always wanted to be Dale Evens--lol!

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  16. Love the quilt, Wendy! So innovative incorporating the comics we all loved as kids.....and paperdolls, too! I am sure Caton will spend many happy hours in the new swing!

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  17. Oh, I LOVE your choice for the border. I too wanted to be a cowboy. I still have a photo of me at 6 with my gun and vest and bandana! Great fun! It's interesting that you're doing your quilt potholder-style. I never would have considered that!

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  18. I think I missed your basket last month, at least I don't remember the striped fabric -- or maybe it just stands out more with the border. Anyway, I love the fabric and I love your basket.

    What a fun idea to find printed fabric to go with your childhood theme. You are awesome to do it in the potholder style and get all those pieces finished and stitched together in a month. Well done!
    --Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrce.blogspot.com)

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  19. You have accomplished so very much with this project and now it is showing itself successful.

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  20. Your quilt is looking lovely Wendy and thankyou for bringing back happy childhood memories for me, as I also loved cowboy books. Audie Murphy was my favourite!
    Your circles are looking vefry pretty, I am wondering about starting one next year when I have my Mimis bloomers quilted and bound.
    Also many congratulations to you and the other girls who won quilt show
    prizes, very well deserved.

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  21. What a fantastic second border with photos of all our cowboy heroes and then adding the paper dolls and golden books. That was me too.

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  22. I remember asking Santa for a toy holster and guns for Christmas one year and I got them.....Roy Rogers brand. I have at least two glass toothpick holders that have Hopalong Cassidy on them. Love your childhood round.

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  23. I love this so much -- the cowboy feedsacks are wonderful! My sisters and I spent hours watching The Lone Ranger when we were kids -- I even have an autographed photo of Clayton Moore. I really want to try this potholder method.

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  24. Oh, YES! This is sooooo much fun even if I didn't want to be a cowgirl!

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  25. Wow! Love, love the cowboy feedsacks and the comics! Making another heirloom, and whimsical too, wonderful. At least with Potholder method you'll be finished with the last round!

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  26. Love, love, love your childhood memories interpretation! I was into cowboys, paperdolls and Golden Books, too. I think your grandson is going to spend a lot of time on that wonderful swing :)

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  27. I remember watching all those shows when I was young - and that was one of the other things we played amongst the bushes - cowboys chasing the rustlers. Great quilt - one nice thing about yours - you can stop at any row and are done.

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  28. Those are great childhood memories, and I love how you put them to fabric! I almost chose to do mine in the hot pad method also, and am so glad that I didn't after I see your time constraints! PS. Love the new swing!

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  29. So pretty, and I do remember the Little Golden Books. What nice fabrics and design you have chosen. This QAL really is a lot of fun.

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  30. Hi guys,
    Thank you so much for this wonderful article! Here we all can learn a lot of useful things and this is not only my opinion!
    Even BLNCK corp. and http://cowboyfashionshop.com confirmed it!

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  31. I love how childhood memories inspired this fun border!! Such fun fabrics and shapes. I had a little cowgirl suit that I lived in, I even wore it to school. Your potholder method might be a little more work now but at least when you get to the end you won't have to think about quilting it :)

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