Completed Quilts--Then and Now

This is a picture of my first completed quilt (June 2004)...


During part of the KC Modern Quilt Guild meeting this week, we shared a bit about our quilting journeys and our first quilt---either the quilt itself or a photo or sketch. It was really interesting and fun seeing the quilts and hearing the stories.

So, I still had mine out from Thursday night and thought I'd photograph it and show you too.

My grandmother was a quilter and I've always loved quilts. I took a quilting class in 1982 to make a quilt for First Daughter's bed. The class taught hand piecing and quilting, fabric pieces were cut with scissors and cardboard templates--very time consuming. I never finished that quilt:(

Fast forward to 2003...my interest in quilts continued. While planning a trip to Charlotte, NC I remembered an aquaintance telling us about the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY! What a wonderful stop that was--exciting designs and vibrant colors--talk about inspiration!!

I started buying quilting magazines and books, including Glorious Patchwork by Kaffe Fassett. I was even more inspired and was especially drawn to scrappy quilts. So in the fall of 2003 I decided that's where I'd start, hand piecing and quilting it since that's all I knew. It took a while to finish, but I did it!

During that same time I found out about rotary cutters and mats and rulers and sewing quilts on a sewing machine--and now I'm hooked!!

Here is my most recent...a baby quilt, finished today, for a baby shower tomorrow;) The baby is a boy due in September (a someday playmate for Liam) and the theme in his nursery is vintage cowboy--cute!

Front (34 x 44 in.)

Back



Marilyn

Craft Day and Babies

We had a craft day at Karla's earlier this week.


Mary brought the "Your Vintage Gluebook" swap ATC's to sort for mailing. What an amazing sight, and how lucky was I to be there to see them all!

These are the beautiful ATC's I received in the swap...

Vintage Figments

rosalieackerson

penny4thoughts

friedaquilter

creativelenna

bleintz

Beth brought her new puppy, Button, with her. Between naps, and other necessities, he found plenty of things to do...here, he's helping Karla choose papers;)


We've missed Shawn and Bethany at recent craft days, but they were back this time with their family's newest addition, Ford! His first craft day and, at 8 weeks old, he too filled the afternoon with naps and other necessities. He's a sweet little boy! I can't believe I hardly took any pictures that day but fortunately Shawn took some, including one of Ford on this quilt I made for him...


The question now is whether he will be the productive crafter his big sister has become--Bethany was busy cutting and glueing before Shawn could unload everything from the car to the studio, lol!

Have a safe and happy July 4th!
Marilyn

June Quilting Bees and Swaps

In Bee Obsessed, one of my virtual quilting bees, June was my month to receive quilt blocks. I requested 12.5" blocks using reds, oranges and blues. Here are some created for me so far:

1. First block-June, 2. Bee Obsessed-June, 3. June "Bee Obsessed" block from Cyndi, 4. Block #2 for Bee Obsessed, 5. Block #1 for Bee Obsessed, 6. June Bee obsessed, 7. June Block - Bee Obsessed, 8. Bee Obsessed block for Marylinkb, 9. Bee Obsessed June Block, 10. Bee Obsessed #6.1, 11. Bee Obsessed #6.2

Aren't they amazing?!


I've had fun making quilt blocks too. For Stash Busting Bee International, Adrienne requested this block in blues and greens:



And in Sew Connected 2, Kristen sent out men's shirting fabrics and asked for Gee's Bend style blocks:



Modern Siggy Swap is something new for me...

I've seen some signature quilts made with blocks signed by members of a group or family, but frankly found them to be kind of ho-hum. They were made with fabrics I considered dull and uninteresting, although I guess my love for vibrant color and/or pattern could be the reason for that.

So when this swap called for fresh, modern fabrics, I was excited...make 101 4.5" blocks (using this tutorial) and receive 100 blocks back! Can't wait:)



Also new is The Bitty Block Committee on Flickr, a group swapping 3.5" quilt blocks with a theme.

June's theme was "Picnic/BBQ"...


...and a "Beach/Underwater" for July/August...



I've also purchased my fabric for Doll Quilt Swap 9.


I have some ideas for it, one I particularly like, but I usually live with an idea for a bit before starting. The deadline is early September so no rush:)

Marilyn

Doll Quilt Swap 9!

Doll Quilt Swap 9 is getting started--sign ups are complete and partners were revealed Sunday!


I'm very excited about my partner! In this swap, our partners are kept secret until the quilts are sent and received---late August/early September for this round. It's really fun to "stalk" Flickr photostreams and blogs to get ideas for the kind of quilt to make for them ;)

And just in case my partner happens to stop by my blog for a stalk, here's a peek at my Inspiration Mosaic--a few quilted works I've seen on Flickr with colors and patterns I love!


1. patchwork for family room, 2. Plain Spoken, 3. baby quilt for Melissa, 4. doll quilt for DQ7, 5. Daisiez quilt, detail, 6. colcha colores aecc, 7. Windmill pillow , 8. Christmas Trees, 9. Synergy - Heather Ross Mini Quilt, 10. DSCN0097, 11. Or maybe this for the doll quilt swap, 12. doll quilt #2, 13. DQS8, 14. Sew2Speak Wonky Neighborhood, 15. Looking up, 16. 18" sofa pillow

But really, dear partner, whatever you make I know I'll love! I hope you'll have fun with it ;)

This will be my sixth round of Doll Quilt Swap, because it's just that FUN! How about a trip down Memory Lane?

Doll quilts I've sent in previous swaps:


Doll quilts I've received in previous swaps:


F-U-N, right?!

Marilyn

April & May Quilting Bee Blocks

Hope you've had a great holiday weekend; relaxing and safe...I can't believe it's practically summer already!

Which, I guess, means it's about time I show you my virtual quilting bee blocks from April and May.....

In the Stash Busting Bee International group, we made blocks for Kyra's postage stamp quilt with one inch squares:



And for Corey, blocks using a pattern she designed:

(one inch squares in this one too)

In Bee Obsessed, Kathy requested blocks for a music themed quilt for her teenage daughter who plays guitar, piano and keyboard:


And for Katherine, I had tons of fun making blocks for a "transportation/things that go" quilt she is making for her 4 year old son:




One of the great advantages in virtual quilting bees is making blocks I probably wouldn't have made on my own.....and just look at all the fun I would have missed!

Marilyn

KC Modern Quilt Guild

Before I went to the very first KC Modern Quilt Guild meeting in January, the only thing I was pretty certain about was that there would probably be other quilters there.

Yep, quilters--35 of them. And since then, we've averaged about 70 at each meeting and I've experienced more than I ever expected.

I've been inspired by many amazing quilts. I've learned new things because of shared tips and information. We had our first "Sewing Saturday" this month--the hum of a room full of sewing machines + chatter and laughing = so fun!

I heard about the Downy Quilts for Kids project and requested a kit that I completed this weekend and mailed back yesterday...




Several of us sewed a quilt block for a quilt we're making for a member's daughter. We all received the darling owl feature fabric to use in a "square in a square" block. I think it will be a fun quilt:)


I even won a door prize at this month's meeting! Our guest speaker was Tia of Camp Follower Bags and Quilts fame and organizer of the Bushfire Quilt Project. I participated in that project (in early 2009) and it was very interesting to hear her talk about it. She also brought along two different project bags and this darling pincushion to give away...



Now, imagine a bride tossing her bouquet...that's what it looked like when Tia stood with her back to the group and tossed a bag over her head to the first section of chairs, another bag to the next section, then the pincushion, the same way...and lucky me, I got to bring it home!

Marilyn

Don't Be a Square...or a Rectangle

I was never really sure of the official theme name for April's Swap Til You Drop mini quilt swap, but that just added to the fun!

My fabulously good-time-swap-partner, Dolores (deeroo designs), dubbed it "hip to be (not) square, or rectangle". I also saw "Don't Be Square" and "Don't Be a Square" but whatever the official-ity, no doubt you've guessed that our mini's were to take any shape but.....square!

And "square" it isn't---this gorgeous rainbow-shaped, ticker tape style mini that Dolores sent my way:


I'm in love with it...everything about it! Is that binding not perfectly placed?! Amazing!!

And how about these fun gifties she sent too?!


Those four beautiful fat quarters are laying on my ironing board waiting for me to decide what they'll become. I'm leaning towards a tote bag, for summer--wouldn't the fabrics be perfect?

: - : - : - : - : - :

The mini I sewed up for Dolores is, as you can see, octagonal. The 1" squares were cut from a second charm pack of Tula Pink's "Plume" that I ordered after falling in love with it in Project Plume.


And a couple of little extras...


Dolores, you made it the most fun--thanks very much!!!

Marilyn

Project Plume

The KC Modern Quilt Guild meeting last night was so fun! Actually, all of the meetings have been fun...but last night was the runway showing of Project Plume...


Fabric designer, Tula Pink, is a member of the guild--she is everything you would want in a designer--modern, sweet, fun...and also generous in so many ways.


At our February meeting, thanks to Tula and Moda Fabrics, 36 charm packs of her latest line, Plume, were given to members interested in a quilting challenge...oh yes, please and thank you:)

The guidelines were posted:

- use ONE charm pack of Plume fabric
- use only one HALF YARD of additional fabric for the top (any fabric of your choosing, does not have to be Plume)

You do not need to use all of the charm pack pieces or an entire half yard. That's just the maximum you get for the quilt top.

(front)

- any fabric for the back and binding

(back)

- bring it to the April meeting
Not a competition, just a fun challenge. It will be great to see what everyone will come up with!


And it was great to see what everyone came up with. I would say mine was kind of basic next to some of the others, but I like the results and I'm now using it for a table runner.

If I find pics of the challenge quilts, I'll be sure to add the link here so you can enjoy them too!

*04/21/10* Edited to add: Shea (Empty Bobbins) posted these pics--Enjoy!




Have a wonderful weekend!

Marilyn

"Quilting Bee Blocks"..... the Blog

There's a new blog in town (blog-town, that is). It's Quilting Bee Blocks and it is a great source of information about virtual quilting bees all in one spot.

If you're interested in joining a virtual quilting bee, this is your go-to blog.

If you're already in a bee but have questions, this is the place.

Looking for quilt block tutorials? Looking for quilt block inspiration? Yes, and yes, you can find it there.

Quilting Bee Blocks was started by Erin (Two More Seconds). I first learned about it when she contacted me about my photo of a quilt block I recently made for Stash Busting Bee International. My photo is now located in the blog header.....do you recognize this block on the far left of the header?


Exciting, huh?

Also, exciting is the Grand Opening Giveaway going on...read all about it on this post, then have a look around while you're there;)

Marilyn