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!

 

April Monthly Mini

 

Once again, my fellow quilters, Cynthia (Wabi-Sabi Quilts) and Barb (Fun with Barb) have a part in this mini quilt. Cynthia shared this fabulous Japanese “bear with umbrella” fabric with Barb. When I saw Barb’s January mini (here), I raved about how cute that little bear was, so she sent me one (once again, quilters are the best!). 

 We are starting to get busy in the boatyard, so my Spring minis are often very simple. I just Log Cabined around the sweet little bear. I hand quilted around him and then machine quilted in the ditch around the logs. 

I used a cheater log cabin print on the back. 

 I had a difficult time naming this one. My initial thought was, “April Showers” for obvious reasons. Then, realizing that it is still “mud season” in Maine, “Mud in the Cabin” was considered. But, in the end the Covid quarantine won and I decided on “Cabin Fever”. 

I would like to share a link to my friend Shirley Farnsworth's Facebook page. She doesn't have a blog, but she has been posting some wonderful mini quilts of hers and I think you would all enjoy the show (here). 

And, in other "tiny" news; You need to see what Pam Buda has just come up with (here). These are the cutest tiny baskets ever!! Her pattern is now available so you can make your own micro mini any time. So cute!

Now, let's see what our fellow mini makers came up with this month. Kyle (Timeless Traditions) was almost apologetic that she didn't make a mini this month. Make sure to visit her to see why. Amazing!! If I've missed anyone or if you want to jump in, let me know!

 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)

Another Filler Project???

 

If you read my blog regularly you know that I do a lot of hand work. I simply cannot sit and watch TV or listen to radio or even most conversations without a needle in my hand. I usually have 2 or 3 large projects going at one time, but when there is a “gap” between them or I am simply too tired to reach for something big, I pick up one of my “filler projects”.

 These poor things can sit languishing in boxes and tins for ages waiting their turn. I currently have 3 “grab and go” containers. The oldest (started in 2015) is this little potholder quilt with 4” 9-patches and appliqued circles. All the blocks and bindings are done so I am in the assembly process which may take another 6 years! 

 The second box holds the yo-yo’s for this fun little feedsack project. 

No hurry – yo’yo’s don’t expire. 

 Number 3 on the list are my little hexies. These are really long term on going things to pick up when I have no brain function at all. In fact, I keep a tin of them in my car for taking into doctor visits or other appointments or if I am waiting at a long traffic light (just kidding, we only have 2 in our town!). 

 So… with 3 already in the works, why would anyone start a 4^th?? I had amassed quite a collection of Betsy Chutchian fabrics and charm squares and decided it was time to do something with them. There will eventually be 238 four inch blocks with an appliqued circle in the center. Since I am using no repeats, that means there will be at least 476 different fabrics, possibly more if I choose to make borders. 

I am cutting out the centers of the background fabric for - yup, yet a 5th filler project! 

I'd like to know what you do for "filler projects". Hand or machine, I know you have them!

Since it is Monday, I am linking up with Judy's Monday linky party. Do click on (Small Quilts and Doll Quilts) with a morning beverage and enjoy. 

Never Enough Time!

 

I may just be the world’s worst self promoter! Twenty one of my quilts have been hanging at the New England Quilt Museum for nearly a month and I still haven’t been to see them. Nancy (Joy For Grace) kindly e-mailed me that a fellow blogger, Barbara Poole (Life From the Roots) had been to the museum and posted about her visit (here). 

 There is so much going on there this month. Please visit NEQM (here) to see what is in store for you when you arrive. 

 I would love to know if any of you have had a chance to visit. I promise to post photos as soon as I can get down there!