Small quilts are fun to make and display. After going thru my personal library, I realized that there were not many books for small quilts and displaying them. So, I went on a hunt to find books about small quilts. Maybe you are thinking about making small quilts or are already making them. But we always need more ideas, right? I was able to find these three books at a local quilt shop. Books about Small Quilts: Vintage Treasures by…
My goal for Colonial Times 1 was to make a simple patchwork and applique quilt. I wanted to heavily quilt it. And I wanted the quilting to be the real showcase for this quilt. From the comments I get when showing this quilt, the goal was successful. I pieced and quilted this lovely quilt in 2015-16. The piecing was done by machine. And the small section of hexagons was English paper pieced and hand appliqued. I love how blue and…
I needed some inspiration for a small, quilted project this week. This led to going through my scrap books of quilts that I have made or quilted. Which led to “walking” down a memory lane of vintage quilts. Come along with me. Maybe you will get an idea or two for a quilt project. Background for these quilts For many years I had a hand quilting service. It was a great way to make some extra money while being home…
Grandma’s Flower Garden – Many quilters like to do patterns that are vintage or traditional. Some like to use vintage or reproduction fabrics. That is what makes this small quilt fun – it is all 1930’s fabrics. All the fabric in this quilt is from feed sacks or 1930’s fabric my grandma gave me. My grandpa worked at the feed mill and he would watch for several bags that matched. He would buy the feed in those matching bags and…
I love to English paper piece hexagons but not so much diamonds. This Tumbling Blocks (English paper pieced) was pieced using this method in 1990-91. It was an experiment, and I chose three colors to make the diamonds and a floral fabric that coordinated for the background. I found that the diamonds were harder to baste together than I thought they would be – maybe because of the sharp points of the diamonds. Plus, the more I worked on it,…
People ask me what I do while in Maine each year on vacation. Well truthfully – not a lot. When the kids were home, vacations involved activities and places the kids would enjoy. However, now that vacation is solo, my vacation is about quilting, relaxation, and used books. Before the question comes up “why do you vacation solo?”, let me answer it. Hubby does not like to travel anymore, and I still do. So he enjoys the quiet time at…
I have no idea who showed me how to English paper piece hexagons and diamonds. But the years have slid by and I really enjoy this technique. It is portable, easy, and looks great when completed. What research I have done on this technique is that it started in England (well that certainly is obvious) in the 1700’s. The technique showed up in America in the early 1800’s. I have not done enough research that may or may not show…
I was looking for a specific quilt book in my personal library today, and ran across these three applique books that I go to time after time. They are so enjoyable because of the beautiful and unique applique patterns, and for the individual ideas each pattern contains. If you are looking for books on applique for your personal library, I recommend these. Books everywhere Maybe I am the only one, but there was a time I bought so many books…
Background of Flowers & Tumblers quilt: FLOWERS & TUMBLERS (or scraps are taking over my world) part 3 – I have been trying to use only scraps to make quilts this year. I am making a dent in the scrap bins – finally. For FLOWERS & TUMBLERS (or scraps are taking over my world) part 3 I was inspired by a row quilt that I hand quilted for a customer this past summer. I thought that some sort of row…
This fun and pretty quilt, Flowers & Tumblers Part 2, started in July 2019 with the English paper pieced flowers. Here is the continuing saga of this quilt. My goal for this year is to make a dent in the scraps bins which have overflowed. And figure out fun and different ways to use up leftover pieces from other quilts that I have made. Part 1. After completing the two sections of English pieced flowers, I did the tumbler sections….
