May Monthly Mini

 

Do you remember May Baskets?

The road I grew up on was sparsely populated but it just so happened that ours was one of the four houses that made up the village of East Edgecomb. In the mid 19^th century this was a happening place with commerce coming up the river to Poole’s Landing and then up to the store that was once across the road. However, by the time I came along, we were just 4 little houses.

 Every May 1^st, my mother would help us make May Baskets and sneak up to our neighbor’s doors and hang them on the knobs. After a few years, we were down to 3 families and I finally realized that no one was going to wonder who they came from. Somehow without that element of surprise I lost the desire to participate.

 We rekindled the tradition for a few years when the kids were small. They too found delight in surprising our neighbors. The last time I made one was 2018 for an elderly friend. She told me how someone had made her day by hanging a May Day basket on her door. She truly enjoyed the mystery of it all. I never let on and I now cherish that fond memory.

 I had fun making this little “May Basket” mini. I gave it to a friend last week who has a May birthday and has been going through a rough patch. She was thrilled! 

 Let’s see what you all have been doing this month.

 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)

Julie (Julie K Quilts)

Kathy (Kathy’s Quilts)

Katy (Katy Quilts)

Sandy (My Material Creations)

Angie (Quilting on the Crescent)

Barbara (Quilts, Gravestones and Elusive Ancestors)

Janet (Rogue Quilts)

Kyle (Timeless Reflections)

Cynthia (Wabi-Sabi Quilts)

Mini Memory Quilts

 

My friends Randy (Barrister’sBlock) and Barb (Fun with Barb) and I rented a tiny cottage on Plum Island for a few days last week. We had a marvelous time stitching and chatting and walking the beach each day. I can honestly say I get much more stitching done at home, but it is never this much fun!! 

What we lacked in production, we made up for in mess! 

 We had decided to have a block swap of 4” baskets. We were to make 4 each and swap them. When I got home, I looked at my little lovelies and realized I needed to make 2 little memory quilts to remind me of our special time together.

 When Randy asked me what colors I wanted, I said “surprise me” you know I like brights. I think she nailed it! She also brought Hawaiian fabrics to share so I used this little sandal fabric on the back. 

Barb knows my penchant for reproductions and did a great job of slipping in that chrome yellow! She also brought fabrics to share and so I used a small bit of this fantastic toile on the back of hers. 

 I quilted both of them in wavy lines to represent our walks along the ocean and the waves of communication among friends. We had a fabulous time!

New England Quilt Museum Visit

 

“Why do you quilt?” I’ve often been asked that question and I always pause to reflect. 1) I adore quilts. 2) I need an outlet for my creativity. 3) I love to stitch. 4) I love making quilts for friends, family and those in need. But perhaps most of all, I love to share what I have made with others.

 Seeing my quilts hanging at the New England Quilt Museum last week was a wonderful experience. The gallery space at NEQM is open and inviting. It most often consists of 3 separate invitational exhibitions along with a room for quilts from their collection. 

Photo above by Pam Weeks

 Pamela Weeks did a great job fitting my quilts in with the remarkable antiques from the Pilgrim Roy collection. Laura Lane pulled together a superb sample of NEQM quilts in yellows and cheddars. I love this room because it is often such a cross section of work. 

This was on the slant board in the collections room. Delicious!

This contemporary quilt in the collections was so unique.

I hope you can read the card. 

One of my favorite parts of the collection room is a dresser with plexiglass covers on the drawers that contain tops or other quilts that might be too fragile to hang. 

My only regret is that I was not able to make it down sooner as they all came off the walls on Saturday.

 I’m not a good photographer and I won’t overload you with photos of my quilts since most of them have been posted here before. I'll start with my favorite in the Pilgrim Roy collection. I just love this quilt!

And, this was my second favorite. 

But really, I loved them ALL! 

I'd love to make this one, but I'm afraid it wouldn't hang as straight as this one! 

It is hard to see, but this one is Purple and cheddar. Yum!! 

Here is a close up.

 To make the day complete, I enjoyed a delicious lunch with a few of my New England friends who made the trek to the museum. Life is good!

Humble Quilts Doll Swap

 

I participated in Lori’s (Humble Quilts) doll quilt swap again this year and was the lucky recipient of this little gem from Debra Rammelsberg.

She definitely made it expressly for me because she used the potholder method to put these precious little baskets together. Amazing!

Spot on Deb, I adore it! She wrapped it in this gorgeous print and included these sweet little snips.

I’m a happy camper!

 This is the quilt I made for Pam Losely.

I made it with the blues and pinks in Barbara Brackman’s “Ladies Legacy” line. I had never used a jelly roll before and was amazed at how much fabric is in them. This was the 3^rd quilt I made from one roll!

 Thanks for hosting another great swap Lori!