Finished pics of Ella's Wishes quilt

Finished

The most beautiful baby quilt ever

Even if I do say so myself. The fabric collection is called Ella's Wishes from www.connectingthreads.com. Stitched in the ditch, machine quilted with thick batting and flannel backed. Ready to snuggle with a new baby girl.

Puppy help

Awww my Remy is helping me quilt today

Pumpkins!

I realized I had never posted the completed product! This wallhanging is 3 3 ft by 4 ft, hand and machine pieced, hand appliqued, and hand and machine quilted.

dabbling in crochet

My mother taught me to crochet as her grandmother taught her. I have been able to do basic stitches since I was 8. This summer while I sat with my injured foot propped, I taught myself new crochet skills: including making hats and following patterns. This is a baby afghan I just finished to give to a sweet baby girl.

Fabulous antique store quilt treasure found!

 You will not believe I only paid $6 for this! It is completely hand pieced and hand quilted! It looks like 1930s feedsacks but could be later. It is a full size quilt...with one hole about 5 x 5 inches.

Pumpkins! Appliqued, quilted wallhanging ALMOST finished!!!

Sitting in the recliner propping the fractured foot has its advantages. I hand appliqued this quilt in about a week!

White pumpkins! Apparently they are real! I've never seen one but I hear they grow in California.

I love the "corn cob" fabric: I had to include it even though the pattern did not call for it.

The completed top! I would have finished the machine quilting yesterday if I had not put the machine needle through my thumb. Thankfully no blood on the quilt.

Pumpkins! Appliqued, quilted wallhanging

I recently started a project found in the newest issue of American Patchwork & Quilting. It's my first attempt at reverse applique. I love it! This is one of the white pumpkins. The bottom piece is chocolate brown linen. The top is bleached muslin. Blanket stitched with cream color.

This is the first "P" for pumpkin. These are  other letters in various stages of completion. It's August and 110o here in Oklahoma. This is to the hope that fall will come, and it will cool off. Meanwhile I sit in the airconditioning with my fractured foot propped, doing hand applique.

Roberta's dress

So a few years ago, I ran into my good friend, Roberta, at a conference. I was wearing a dress I had made. So she asked me to make her one. I did. Fast forward four years later, she brings fabric to the next conference we attend. Says, "make me a dress out of this." LOL. What is really funny is that she gave me the exact amount of fabric needed for this dress minus two pieces of flannel for the pockets. 

How to Make Your First Quilt

1. Choose a simple project. A Baby/Crib size is a good start.
Simple squares sewn together work well. You can purchase charm packs at http://www.connectingthreads.com/ or most fabric stores. They are 5" squares already cut.
2. Lay out how you want the finished product to look before you start sewing. The floor, bed, or table works.
3. Pin the squares together before sewing. Quilts usually use a standard 1/4" margin. Look at your sewing machine for those measurements.
4. Iron each seam. You don't have the iron the seam open like clothing, but iron to one side.
5. Sew in rows. Then sew the rows together. Pin at each seam to keep them straight.
6. Choose batting made for quilts.
7. Use 100% cotton muslin for the back. You can buy muslin at fabric stores in 44" and 90" wide. Don't use a bed sheet. Sheets have too high a thread count for ease of quilting.
8. Lay muslin out, batting, and then the finished quilt top. Trim around quilt top, leaving at least 2" excess around each edge.
9. Safety pin together at the edge of each square
10. For handquilting, always use 100% cotton quilting thread, and a small quilting needle. You will probably need a thimble. I use a bandaid on my middle finger, right hand, or a leather quilting thimble.
11. The easiest way to finish edges is to buy prepackaged quilt binding & follow the directions on the package.

You can search Youtube for vidoes on handquilting.

Blue, Green, Pink Star Baby Quilt

Baby quilt made this summer with five inch charm squares.There were different colors, but same pattern. All were decorated with white stars. The quilt has the baby's name after the phrase, "A Star is Born," painted with acrylic paints. If you use acrylic paints, paint thickly or it will wash off in the first few washes.

Instead of the usual batting and back, I used cuddly fleece and machine quilted.

Handquilting time!!!

I finally finished my 1930s reproduction fabric quilt top. I made squares of 25 2" smaller squares of a large variety of colors and patterns. The finished top is 90" by 80". It took me a year to piece it, and now my goal is to have it handquilted in 2011.

Princess Marie is helping me as usual.