Pretty Petals All in A Row

Hello Blog Friends!
 

Baby Girl Quilt is finished!  I've given it a proper name, Pretty Petals All in A Row.
 

I quilted it in what I call a "whimsical" meander, including curliques.  I used a high loft batting because this is for a baby, then a young child.  I wanted to maintain its "squishability" factor. 
 

Pretty Petals will move on to its new owner in just a few weeks.  "So long, and I hope you cradle and comfort your new owner well."
 

I'll be back soon with more news soon...
 

BABY GIRL QUILT

Hello Blog Friends,

While on our travels around the state for the Wisconsin State Shop Hop last month, I visited Barn Door Quilts in Sturgeon Bay.  I've visited this shop many times, and love the selection and the samples they have made up.  I've purchased fabrics from this shop for several quilts and projects I have made.

I have seen samples of row quilts hanging in the shop many times.  Mom has commissioned me to make a baby quilt for a gift she want to give to the daughter of a close friend and neighbor.  I found the following fabrics, and as you can see, they are cut for sewing into the row quilt.  The mother-to-be knows her baby will be a girl.  I wanted to choose a main print that this little girl can grow into, instead of something definitely babyish.  I think these fabrics are perfect...what little girl doesn't just love pink, purple and flowers?

Since I'm under a deadline for this project, I will be completing it in the next couple weeks, in plenty of time for Mom to give as a shower gift!

I'll be back soon with the finished project...

Wisconsin Quilt Shop Hop 2014

Hello blog friends,

I've been doing a little traveling the past couple of weeks...to quilt shops, of course!  The Wisconsin Quilt Shop Hop took place all last month, and I've been working on completing all the visits in my own section.  Although I would love to visit shops in other sections, it is hard when you work full time...somehow my boss might not understand if I took a couple of weeks off to shop.  Come to think of it, my husband might not think too much of that idea either!  LOL

My husband is a very good guy, however, and has acted as my companion and driver on the Saturdays in June.  On June 6, we traveled to Sturgeon Bay and to Green Bay to collect the stamps for those shops.  This past Saturday, June 13, we traveled south to West Bend, Thiensville, took a side trip to Plymouth, then to Sheboygan, then Mishicot, then back home to Appleton.  We traveled to Plover for another stamp in the passport, and finally finished our local section last Saturday, June 28 in Oshkosh.  We don't mind the driving, though, because we love Wisconsin and never tire of looking at the farm fields in the countryside and turn of the century downtown buildings in the cities and towns we visit.  We sometimes see what we term the "odd and unusual" in our travels.  Saturday, we saw a (no kidding) submarine on a trailer.  I didn't have the camera out, so sadly, no picture.

2014 is the third year of the Wisconsin Quilt Shop Hop.  Over 70 shops all over the state are participating this year, and a special collection of fabrics unique to the shop hop are available.  You can get more information at the WIQSH website (click here for the link).  I've purchased all the fabrics needed for the quilt I've designed.  Here are the fabrics I'll be using:

I just love this print of old postcards from around the state.  This fabric called to me and grabbed on to me (you fellow quilters understand what I mean by this.).  I have a guest room that has been in need of something and is perfect for this fabric.  I'll show you that next post and you'll see what I mean.

Here is a collage print of the history of Wisconsin and some symbols of our state.

 

This postmark print goes hand-in-hand with the postcards.

There are some other prints in the collection as well.  I'll incorporate some of them into the finished quilt.  I'll be back soon with a progress report.

Until then...

2014 Pillowcases, Group 3

Hello blog friends,

I've been working on the final group of pillowcases for this year's donation, and they are done.  Here are the final six:

These are a couple of school themed pillowcases.  Crayons and numbers on black. 

 I've added this close up showing you the accent flange in a white on white numbers print.  It goes so well with the main fabric.

Here is a favorite of both boys and girls...Berenstein Bears.

 This one will be suitable for an older child.  Puzzle anyone?

Here are a couple of cases appropriate for girls.  I balanced the sports equipment in this one with some pretty pink flowers in the accent fabric.

Who doesn't like whimsical animals in pink, green and blue?  Some little girl is gonna love it!

Well, blog friends, that is the pillowcase class of 2014.  They will be delivered to Children's Hospital on my next trip south to Madison. 

Here in Wisconsin, we are having a state wide shop hop, complete with fabrics designed especially for the hop.  I have my fabrics (all washed and ironed like a good little quilter) and I've designed my quilt.  I'll share the fabrics with you next post.  Until then...

2014 Pillowcases, Group 2

Hello Blog Friends!

I've been sewing and sewing and have more of the 2014 group of pillowcases to share with you:

Here is a sports-themed pillowcase that is definitely "all boy":

 I've had this pirate fabric since last year, but just couldn't find the right accent fabric.  I finally found something that was perfect...it looks like sand on the beach, don't you think?

 A couple of animal themed pillowcases....bulldogs and octopi:

 

Here is one definitely for a girl.  It's so bright, maybe I should give a pair of sunglasses with it!

 Next post I'll be sharing the last of the donation pillowcases for this year.  Back to the sewing machine....

See you next time!

2014 Pillowcases, Group 1

Hello Blog Friends,

The sewing machine has been humming this week.  Here are the first pillowcases for 2014 to roll off the production line.

This first pair is made of fabric from the Pet Park line by Robert Kaufman.  The same cat print is repeated on the white and blue background.  I used the same paw print as the accent fabric for both cases.



I was able to get enough of this robot fabric to make two pillowcases.  I try to use all the fabric that I have, so out of 1/2 yard of both the red and white accent fabrics, I came up with the following.  I love the tone on tone pattern in the white. 

 

 Here is one definitely for boys:

 

 And this one is definitely girly-girl:

 

I'm having fun with these.  Until next time...

Pillowcase Party 2014

Hello blog friends!

Well, I've been busy for the past week or so...sorting, washing, ironing, cutting the fabrics for this year's installment of pillowcases for donation.  Last year's pillowcases were donated to American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.  This year's group will find a home there also.  This  hospital is important to our family, in particular, two of my grandsons are receiving ongoing or follow up care from the doctors and staff there.  These pillowcases are my way of saying "thank you" and also to help other young patients through what can be a very difficult time. 

I recently received a very nice letter from Children's..."Some of the pillowcases  will be given to patients after surgery.  It is a special treat for our staff to see the expressions of worry and fear on a child's face transform to delight after receiving a special treat like this one."  The best part is that they get to keep their pillowcase and take it home.  This is the very essence and reason that I and many other sewists and quilters like me do this. 

During the course of the year, I attend a number of quilt shows and visit a number of quilt shops.  I'm always on the lookout for cute prints suitable for both boys and girls.  I always shop the sale racks first, and sometimes find some real gems.

As I said before, here is the pile of pillowcases, all cut and ready to sew.  I'll share my progress over the next few weeks and show you the class of 2014 as each one graduates to the "finished" pile.  This is going to be fun!



Come back often to check my progress.

See you in a few....