Sunday---Precious Promises

He that gives unto the poor shall not lack; but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse.  Proverbs 28:27

Friday Flowers

Need a Break

Sometimes I just need a break from quilting.  How about you?  My break usually involves some type of stitching and of course a project.  Hubby and I travel to north central Missouri in the spring to do a little antique show.  We usually display vintage paper, quilts, fabric and primitive odds and ends.  To add some different items for interest I make little primitive pillows.  That is my break for a little while.

Last night while watching TV, I put together a little pillow top.  I have a few more ideas for pillows and maybe a bunny wall hanging (still thinking about that one).  Have a great Wednesday---we are enjoying much needed rain.  As always, Happy Quilting!

Quilts & The Foyer---Completed

With the help of quilts I had on hand from my collection and some quick quilt making, the foyer wall is complete.  I was in a little rush to complete this project because this afternoon I have friends coming over for lunch and a game of cards.  I always seem to start projects at the last minute.  Maybe that's my motivation.  Anyway, here is your tour of "the foyer wall".  Civil War 9-Patch and Hannah Lou's Hearts stayed in the same spot.  I added a little 5 x 9 inch strip pieced art quilt, that I originally planned for AAQI.  But, as I looked at the spot on the wall, decided it would go well there.  The fabric you see behind the center quilts is a silk, with a burlap look that I put there to had some texture.  The wood you see are from an old house:  I also added two vintage framed dog prints.

This little quilt was just stripped pieced on a foundation then I appliqued it on the quilt top---adding some raw edge fabric and beads. It is hand quilted by following the pattern in the green upholstery fabric.

This could be another AAQI quilt.  Reproduction 1930's fabric and some paper piecing made the center panel.  Thought the black and white would set off the panel.  Then machine quilted.  This little quilt measures 7 1/2 x 12 inches.  

This little Liberated Star is only 11 inches square and was made to fill a spot at the top of the wall.  Machine pieced and machine quilted, it only took me about 2 hours to put together.  I used scrap from my box of bits and pieces.
Finally, the last two quilts I had on hand.  A few years ago a quilt shop was going out of business in a small town west of us in Missouri.  They had an auction and auctioned hundreds of quilts, quilt tops, shop displays, I could go on and on.  Anyway, I came home with a few quilts and tops.  These two were from that sale and fit perfect on the wall.

Broken Dishes is 30" square.

Snowballs and Squares is 31" square.  Both have been machine quilted (I think that was one of the shop's services).  The workmanship in both quilts is excellent.  All my quilts have been pinned to the wall.  You can see the pins on the Broken Dishes quilt.   This is a great way to hang pictures too.  The straight pins hold a large amount of weight and do very little damage to the wall when removed.  Use the ones with the little ball heads and they are easy to remove.

Drum roll-----Now the Big Reveal!!!!

This wall may change as time goes by, but for now it adds some interest to an otherwise boring entry hall.  Wishing everyone a great Monday and Happy Quilting!

Sunday---Precious Promises

A man's pride shall bring him low; but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.  Proverbs 29:23

Quilts & The Foyer

We have a foyer wall in our home that has always been a challenge.  It seems wider than the furniture I have available to place on the wall.  Or maybe it is just me, I want a change.  Not sure, but I have been doing some different arrangements, just to try to make it interesting.  First I put a grouping of things, sorry no photo, but basically a hodge-podge of things.  It was ok for a while---to quote hubby "it grows on you".  I don't think that is a positive comment???   Anyway, I really didn't like it, wasn't me, but it was different.  The other day I started looking at the wall and thought "quilts".  Maybe if I take down some of the things and add a couple of my little quilts.  So that is what I'm going to do.  Far from complete, my goal will be a total of about 5 or 6 quilts.  To start off, Civil War Nine Patch and Hannah Lou's Hearts has been added.

Hannah Lou's Hearts

I made this quilt a few years ago.  It was inspired by Jude Hill's technique of layering fabrics.  The little quilt is 11 x 12 inches and has appliqued hearts from the Dear Jane pattern book, charms and lots and lots of hand quilting.  This little quilt was a real joy to make, a break from traditional quilting techniques.

This  photo---shows just a small of the foyer wall.  May look strange, but I'll explain as more quilts are added and things are removed.  Stay tuned!  Happy Quilting!

Civil War Nine-Patch

I usually don't make quilts with an established block and name, but I couldn't resist a Civil War Nine-Patch doll quilt.

I'm trying new quilting ideas for a while, and doll quilts came to mind.  Now, I don't own dolls and I don't have a daughter or grand daughter, but doll quilts are easy to make and a great way to discover a block and see what it would look like if you wanted to go bigger.  In my case I think this little doll quilt is going on the wall with other small quilts.  The quilt has been machine pieced and hand quilted.  I used some reproduction Civil War and homespun fabrics. It measures 11 1/2 x 16 inches and hand quilted.  The block came from the Dear Jane book I purchased years ago.  I have another quilt totally different waiting in the wings that was inspired by the Dear Jane block patterns.  Have a wonderful Monday and Happy Quilting!

Sunday---Precious Promises

But if from then you shall seek the Lord your God, you shall find him, if you seek him with all your heart and all your soul.  Deuteronomy 4:29

Friday Flowers

We are enjoying an early morning rain.  Nothing great, but lately any precipitation is welcomed.  The color this year in our garden and yard has been shades of dry---greens and brown.  But with the rain we have had the past few weeks and this morning's rain and cool temps, some color is starting to show.

I was expecting these to be huge by now, but I'll take what ever I can get.  Hope your summer gardens are more colorful than mine and have a great weekend.  Happy Quilting!

Much Loved and In Disrepair

It's hard for me to walk by a quilt without wanting to touch the fabrics, look at the workmanship and wonder "What is it's story".  A few weeks ago, I came upon a quilt draped over a railing at an estate sale.  It was bright in color, but in sad shape.  Pieces were frayed, some totally missing.  But the bones of the quilt were in good condition.  The quilt looked old and tired, it had been used and washed many times.  This was a well loved quilt.

 I have a collection of quilts all over the house.  Some are folded on bookshelves.

Some are in baskets.

On the back of chairs.

Or hanging on a antique drying rack.

Most made by my Mom or Grandmother.  Some have been collected from estate sales at old family farms in our area, at tag sales, or a country auction.  But, all have been loved, and all have a story.  I just couldn't pass up this little yellow quilt.  So she is now home, slowly being repaired.  Last night, as I was stitching together frayed seams, I couldn't help but think of the Velveteen Rabbit.  You become real when you are truly loved.  This little yellow quilt is like the Velveteen Rabbit and I hope to put her together again to continue her journey and give comfort and love to another.  Wishes for a great Monday and Happy Quilting!

Sunday---Precious Promises

So Jesus said to those who believed in him, "If you obey my teachings, you are really me disciples; you know the truth and the truth will set you free."  John 8: 31-32

What do I do now?

Have you ever asked yourself that question?  Usually, this question pops up when I'm working on a project and things are just not going right and I trying to figure out my next option.  Lately, the question is: What do I want to do now, that I have completed 100 AAQI quilts.  Do I want to continue making mini quilts?  Do I want to start a new or maybe a bigger project?  Is there a technique I need to explore?  After lots of thought I have made a decision.  In about three weeks the Festival of Sharing Quilt Show will be hosted by my church.  This will be our third year to host the show.  It is a great day of beautiful quilts made by ladies through out the state of Missouri.  The quilts are on display through out the state, before they are auctioned off.   The festival is made up of 29 Missouri faith communities, that come together in response  to the world hunger, poverty and mission outreach.  Besides many other giving opportunities, the festival sponsors a quilt auction to raise money.  This year I have donate two small wall hanging for the auction and three children's quilts for the Backpacks of Love.  A Backpack of Love is given to Missouri children ages pre-school to 6th grade when they find themselves taken away from their parents or the only home they have every known  and placed in the state's foster care system.  The backpacks are loaded with comfort items to try to help during the child's difficult and confusing time.
I'm going to work on a larger quilt for the auction in 2013 and more (many more) quilts for the Backpacks of Love.  But, I can't put AAQI totally on the shelf.

Number #101 is under construction.  Happy Quilting!

And the Winner Is

Farm Quilter is the winner of my Blog Hop Give-away, "Say it With Quilts".  A special thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog and left a comment on what inspires them to quilt.  Farm Quilter your book will be in the mail ASAP.  Wishing everyone a great Labor Day and as always Happy Quilting.

Farm QuilterAugust 26, 2012 9:39 PM

I am inspired to quilt by the pictures in my head! Hmmm, that makes me sound like I am crazy!!! I love the reactions of people when I give them a quilt. I like to do art quilts and my favorite part of quilting is the longarming process! The quilts talk to me and tell me what they want!!! Thanks for the opportunity to win such a great book.

Sunday---Precious Promises

All things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.  Matthew 11:24