"WINGS OF SUNSHINE AND POSEY PINK"

I watched my grandniece and nephews today so their mother could teach a class. I thought it would be a good time to post the quilt I made for Vanessa in February, 2006. She is now 7 and quite the young lady. We sat down at the sewing machine and together made a pinafore for Nellie, her American Girl doll. She was really very good at cutting and controlling the sewing machine.

Vanessa loves her quilt as do her brothers (Flying in Formation and Geckos). The butterflies came from on-line free patterns. This was my first project to free motion quilt by machine. The antennas were embroidered by hand.

Sarah (her mother) asked for pink, yellow and plaid to match the sponged painted plaid on Vanessa's walls. Her room is all girl and fits her to a "T".

Slow but Steady

Between the kids (large and small) and friends, I've found some time to start piecing . . .


And hand quilt. I've made some progress but I'm amazed how my blog friends start and finish so many projects and post/comment at the same time.

"POWDER ROOM"

The guest bathroom in Andy and Melissa's new place is one of 3 doors down the hallway. My son jokingly said the door needed a restroom sign. My DIL's color is purple so . . .
If you haven't tried free pieced letters, check out Tonya's Alphabet Tutorial.

Country Garden Stage 3

I have now cut and laid out on my "design floor" the sashing. I think it looks pretty good. The border squares have been cut but that layout will come latter.

Grandma Sarah

My Grandmother would have been 130 this month. She lived with us during most of my childhood and died at 87. I took this picture with my "Brownie" at age 12 and Grandma 81. She moved to LA, California by herself at 21 in 1900. As a seamstress and shop owner, she would travel to wealthy families sewing dresses for all the women in the family. She was a very independant woman until she met my Grandfather and married at age 30. Being her youngest grandchild, I would sit at her feet where she read to me, told me stories, made doll clothes and taught me to sew. I was fascinated with her Hat Needle Case so at age 12 she helped me make one.

As a college student, I worked at Singer teaching teenage girls to sew. The full time teacher was a self educated woman from Kentucky. She shared from her vast experience with this college "smart" kid. The "Sue Bonnet Sue" needle case below is a replica of hers.

Christmas in June

I thought you might be inspired to start a Christmas project to be finished in time for the Holidays. (Actually, I'm kind of stuck with the garden quilt below, so I'm stalling.)

Tree Skirt #1
"PURPLE POINSETTIAS"

My Daughter-in-Law is my purple gal. Everything in their home has some purple so . . . she asked for a purple tree skirt. In the after Christmas sale I actually found this pale purple poinsettia pattern not knowing what I'd do.


While I was visiting our friends in Ariz., there on the dining table was still their Christmas poinsettia plant. I traced the leaves and started the applique. Kathi and I went shopping for beads. When it was time to quilt, I tried free motion and followed the subtle outline of the print.


Tree skirt #2
"GINGERBREAD KIDS"

This one was for me. The "gingerbread kids" was introduced in my Monday class as a block quilt. I modified it to have the kids join hands around my Christmas tree. I used a round table cloth as the base which made it a lot easier.


It was so much fun to "dress" the kids, vary their hairdos and decorate the trees.

Tree skirt # 3
"WINTER WONDERLAND"

This one was for my other Daughter-in-Law. She had asked for snowflakes. I started by needle turning the applique during my summer travels. I had no idea how I was going to put it together.




When I returned, I found the tree pattern on white and immediately visualized trees around the edge. The quilting is done in silver metallic thread (I challenge to work with).

Country Garden Stage 2

Here's the squares that I finally picked. Tell me honestly if any should be thrown out or the layout changed.