Happy Tuesday!
I'm starting this post with an oldie. I made this small quilt in 1994 for Mr. Fun's Office in Chicago. It measures about 36" square. I love to visit my earlier quilter self. How organized I was with the placement of the pink and turquoise.
I admit I purposefully mixed up 1 of the nine patches. I loved the look in old Amish quilts so I included it in mine.
Here is the back. I machine appliqued along the print of this funny fabric and
added a red sun to the purple sky. Pretty arty for 1994.
I've been enjoying on my dining room table
Have you ever made an Amish style quilt? I think I'd like to make another one to hand quilt. It's been on my to do list for years (okay
decades).
Hooray! I finished my first block of hand quilting. I am so so glad that I cut out the back of the applique'. It's going really well.
The back - boy you sure can tell when I change directions. I think it will block out, but we'll see. You can also see I skip a few stitches. So sue me! I know the judges hate that, but I want the top to look even.
My fingers are already getting rough and a little sore. I use Bag Balm. It is a veterinarian product to heal superficial abrasions.
Take care! It is very greasy. I put in on AFTER I quilt or do dishes. I massage it in and then wipe off any excess with a paper towel. Trust me, a little dab will do you. I'll never finish this tin in my lifetime.
Thanks for all the nice comments on my newly finished top. This year I'm going to include my inspiration where appropriate. In this way I hope to encourage you to make it your own by using inspiration and not copying.
Here was the inspiration photo. I don't know who's quilt this is, but I took the photo at Gwen Marston's Retreat on Beaver Island in the late 1990s.
This is what I mean when I say "make it your own" when I lecture. You don't have to copy to use a great setting idea. Mine quilt is quite different, but obviously related.
Coco is taking sanctuary this January in her favorite chair. I rarely see this dog without a pillow under her head. What a princess! Yes, my angel tree is still up. I am enjoying it on these long dark winter nights.
OH my! Look at this beautiful Red Shouldered Hawk. He flew in last week and perched in the backyard. I took this photo through the kitchen window on super zoom. Can you see how he is standing on one foot? (claw)
I posted this on IG this week. It is one of my favorite winter things to do. I simmer citrus, apple slices, fresh ginger, cloves, rosemary, cinnamon, bay in water to scent and humidify the dry air. It smells wonderful and lasts for several days of reheating. I bet you even have most of the ingredients on hand.
I hope you are staying warm and busy!
xo
33 comments:
I absolutely love your 9 patch mix-up! It's so much better than perfect. My love of Amish quilts drew me into quilting years ago, and I still need to make one every now and then. Thanks for your aroma recipe,too.
Love Amish quilts. I am planning one using some shot cottons and a solid gray. Can't wait to see what you will do. Max loves pillows too , they are so smart!
An Amish style quilt was the first bed size quilt that I made. I've also made some pillows as gifts. I never get tired of their style and love how yours turned out. We have a number of Amish in our neck of the woods. it's funny how you can see these quilts hanging on their lines to dry, but it's not what they make for sale to the "English"....and they smell like a barn...LOL
Your quilting looks beautiful!!! I hope you are enjoying it :0) what a wonderful picture of the hawk.
Love your quilting! That's going to be such a wonderful quilt!! The Amish quilt looks really nice on your table. Wow! That bird is so cool! Nice shot!
Loved seeing what you've been up to this week. It's nice to get back in the rhythm of handquilting again even though it's hard on the fingers. It's funny how a veterinarian animal product found its way into the quilting arena but it sure does work.
Your hand quilting looks wonderful. Sore fingers in the winter are never fun. You are on your way to a productive year! I am going to try your scented water recipe, it sounds heavenly!
Your little Amish 9 patch is adorable. I truly love the mix of orange and red. Too cute. Funny you're showing this as I have a 9 patch quilt on my post too. Must be the time of the year, like pumpkin season, or something lol. I have enjoy seeing those quilts. Thanks for sharing. P.S. I did an Amish quilt once and gave it away before taking pictures. Duh!!
I love seeing the behind the scenes of quilting -- how decisions are made, how challenges are faced, and how people get inspiration, so I'm really looking forward to reading the posts where you include that! I love your nine patch, and the inspiration one -- the nine patch is my favorite block. I have read about Amish quilts, and have made a miniature one, but I quilted it with big red stitching instead of the humbler black on black thread. Reading about Amish quilt making is facinating. sarah@forrussia.org
I love pulling out my Amish quilts in winter. They brighten up everything. Yours looks lovely against the wood grain of the table.
Chuckling over your explanation of bag balm's original use - for superficial abrasions. The "bag" refers to cows udders. You slathered it on when they got sore from milking... Hehe
And to think I was simmering plain water today to put humidity in the air! You can bet that tomorrow will find the kettle full of fruit and spices!
I have made exactly one Amish style quilt, not even as large as yours. But, yes, I would like to make more! The color relationships of Amish quilts are so intriguing.
Love your cute little Amish quilt. I made a king-sized trip around the world back in the day. Looks like you're having a wonderful January. I LOVE your hand quilting. I had no idea it would show direction -- I totally expect that out of machine quilting, but hand? Amazing! Happy January -- stay warm out there!!!
Your hand quilting is beautiful!! I wish I had a fraction of your ability to "make it your own"!! Love your inspiration piece, and your take on it. Coco all snuggled .... awwww!!
Beautiful little Amish quilt--I have never made one. You were the Queen of Clever Backings even then! :)
I was told once by a local quilt judge that in recent training they had been instructed that skipped back stitches through seams were acceptable in order to keep the top stitches looking even. I've never tested that, since I don't enter shows.
My Dad goes through the large tins of that bag balm--very dry skin.
Love your simmering combination. I've just used cinnamon, cloves and citrus. You take it up several notches.
(I love that you still have you angel tree up.)
Your Amish quilt is sooo beautiful and yes ! I'm going to make one ! We will start the Amish Grace on the 1st of february as a QAL !
I agree with you for using inspiration to make our own quilt ! I am setting your swap like that with bow ties ! I hope I will finish it for Spring.
Love Coco ! She is like a Queen .... :)
Hugs !!
Your early artsy work looks wonderful. I'm having issues too with my hand quilting at the moment, Stay warm!!
lol - yes, who would think to use it for quilting fingers. I had a friend who used it on her feet for dry skin.
thanks Sarah for your thoughtful comments. Your email didn't work. Thanks for visiting FWB
Your Amish quilt looks so nice on the table. You always find such great fabrics to put on the backs of your quilts! Alice Payne block is terrific. Beautiful quilting!
I love looking back too. Your Amish quilt is beautiful. I have made only one and I donated it (somewhere) so I don't even have a photo (shame on me). I love your Alice Payne quilting. It is stunning and I can't see how any judge would fault any of it. You hawk is so beautiful I love birds of prey, especially the small ones. I think I can smell your concoction and I'm loving it! I used to do that on our woodstove, but we no longer have one. Don't know why I never thought of the range top. Thanks for sharing. BTW, thanks to Kyle's post (and reminder) this morning, I ordered your fan stencil. I'm looking forward to trying it in a big stitch like Kyle did. Love it!
What fun shares! I'm pretty sure that I want Coco's life. She looks like she's got it made. LOL
I'm staying busy but warm is another story. Hope you are safe and warm through the snow storms that are predicted. We might even see a flake or two in Georgia!
Do like your Amish quilt. Enjoy your hand quilting - but look after those fingers!
Your eagle is looking great! I need to make borders for my eagle quilt and then it will be ready for hand quilting (I hope). I love Bag Balm - I usually put it on last thing before bed. I will have to try your potpourri; I made gumbo on Sunday and I still haven't gotten the smell of roux and the "trinity" out of my kitchen!
No, I've never made an Amish quilt but love how the black makes the colors stand out. Yours fits on your table perfectly. I wish I made interesting backings. Most (all) of the time, I'm ready to get finished and don't want to take the time for that. I really love your eagle. We aren't having any snow here, but I hope all the kids enjoy it in the east. I do love snow and wouldn't mind if we got a bunch - we're retired, so we can just stay home anyway. I have 2 young grandsons in VA and hope they get some.
I look forward to more of your posts showing what your inspiration was. I like seeing how your mind works in creating your quilts.
Love your Alice Payne eagle. Really love the photo of your Amish quilt on the table--it's perfect. I know it's a quilt blog but does that table have a story? It is gorgeous whenever you show it!
gorgeous eagle...i use liquid bandage on my underneath finger...works like a charm and lasts a couple of days...no grease
What a great idea - I think I will be simmering some of this over the weekend with the snowstorm coming. It will make the house cozy. I have made several Amish quilts. At one point in our lives we were going to move to Lancaster, PA. I made a large wallhanging, that now belongs to a friend of mine and a series of minis. Nice to go back an look at our previous quilty selves!
I should put Amish quilt on my list of to do's....loved it.
I know exactly what you mean about using inspiration to make your own but not copying. I'm trying to get better about mentioning my initial inspiration too.
I can just smell the beautiful scent from your concoction. It's such a great idea to naturally scent your home. How impressive is that Hawk, and that you managed to get such a great photo. I always love seeing your quilts used around your home. The Amish quilt looks great on your table. It was worth buying that balm for the fun tin it comes in. Your quilting is looking wonderful!
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