The Circle is Complete

Kindred Spirits; Jill's Quilt, is finished!

Jill started this quilt in 2006.  It was a group project of our Cupcake Club.   A group of four quilt friends who met every month and did a number of quilts and other craft projects together.

Here we are will red velvet cupcakes.

This how I inherited the project after Jill passed away in 2014.  The pink angel near her initials broke my heart a little.

After completing her appliuqe' blocks, I added a house in the middle.  I chose purple because Jill loved to include purple in her quilts.   Isn't this sweet?  I'm sure it is Jill, her husband, Scott and their son, Justin.

Here is the label I made.  I miss Jill so much and think of her so often.  All in all, I think she would be pleased.

I quilted them the same, using my extra large fan stencil.    It is available in my etsy shop - click here to see it.   I also have a set of 38 patterns that I used for my quilt available.

Here is my quilt.

This is Mary and her Red and White finished quilt.

I love her unique version.  Very modern, and very Mary.

Susan's quilt:  Animal, Vegetable or Mineral.

You can read another post about the inspiration and orgins of the project here.

Here is Lin McQ's  quilt.  She used my pattern set Kaffe Fassett's and added her own patterns,  How great is that striped border?  

I'll be visiting and meeting her next year in Ohio where I'll be presenting a lecture and workshop.  I can't wait to see her quilt in person!

If you are still here, I'm offering a 20% discount on my Etsy shop for  30 days.  Use the code:  JILL20

See you next time.

xo

Love Birds

I finished my Friend Sew Along top and I'm calling it  "Love Birds"

It measures 50" x 56" and is made of many orphaned and rescued blocks and 4 Star Swap 2019 blocks.

 Here are some close ups of some of the blocks.  I love to include little moments of whimsy using novelty prints.

This was the center block when I started.  Pretty Bare Boned.

 After adding 2 birds, more leaves and more berries.  More is More.

An early audition of things.....almost none of this idea stuck.

 When working without a set pattern, it is really important for me to stay open to revisions and changes along the way.  It is a fun journey.

Nutmeg doesn't seem to be having fun, lol.  She is waiting for sewing room treats.

I'm continuing to hand quilt the Whig Rose when it is not too hot or humid.  Here are my favorite notions for hand quilting.

I purposefully put these three greens in close proximity on this block because they are 3 versions of the SAME FABRIC.  

Green flower with yellow center on green background with coral or twig fill.  

I'm also working on a UFO project of Jill Reids'.  She did not like applique', she might have said she hated it but she started this group project back in 2006-2007.

Jill loved Northwood Themes and this quilt has quite a few.

I need to embroider the ropes for the Hot Air Ballon.

When I picked up the project earlier this year, I found her needle here in the Heart in Hand block.  It nearly broke my heart remember Jill.

I'll be sharing more about this group project in another post soon.

I need to get a photo of Susan McDs (hint hint) :)

On a final note, Alice F. sent me a photo of her finished Quarantini Quilt - 9 Olives.  Isn't it cute?  Thank you Alice for sharing the photo.

 My free tutorial is here if you want to make one.

Have a great week and I'll see you again soon!
stay well
xo

Remembering Jill Reid

It has been 2 years since I lost my kindred spirit, Jill Reid.  In some ways it feels a short time, but most often it feels like a long long time.  I miss her in so many big and little ways.

Last Friday I started playing with some UFO blocks from Jill and I made this table runner.

I added a bluebird for Jill and a redbird for me.

Here is is on my DR table this morning.

I marked 1 arc of my fan stencil and then just echoed it.

I used this decorator weight trademark fabric on the back.  Jill would have adored this fabric.

The strangest thing happened while I was picking a good blue to make Jill's bird.  I found this fabric in the blue fabric stack it was just a small piece.

Reilly was Jill's beloved Labradoodle and this is definitely Jill's handwriting.  How strange and wonderful to find it.  It is on the underside of her bird.

Here is a post I did on the sunflower quilt that I made for our friend, Susan in 2014.  

Guess who's back in town?

 they came on Monday, the first day I put the feeders out.

This is my favorite photo of me and Jill.  If you want to see some of Jill's beautiful quilts, click to see a Tribute that I posted after she passed away.

I miss you friend.
xo


p.s. I will definitely post my westering women and cake on Friday.

Jubilation at LONG Last!

It is finally here!  After 2 years and 10 months, I have FINISHED my Jubilee Quilt, which celebrated my 50th Birthday, June 2, 2012.

It measures 77" square and I used wool batting.  It has 339 stuffed berries.

Here is where the story started in January 2012.

My dear and late friend, Jill Reid, gave me the red print reproduction fabric for this special project.  She also provided a lot of encouragement during the applique' and early quilting process.  I so wish she was here to celebrate the completion with me.

Here are some close ups:

As you may remember, I started with one muslin ran out, ordered the same muslin, but of course it was slightly different.  That's okay, I think it adds to the "instant antique" look of this quilt.

Thank you for sweet comments about my poor coco.  She has been to vet again twice.  Once for an infection on Saturday and then today.  A few hours after this was taken, her wound opened up and they put her on another week of antibiotics. I will spare you the photo until it is healed.  It will heal with a 1/2 split :(

What a good helper.

Even though I am a little tired of seeing this quilt, I hung it in the dining area to appreciate it's doneness.

If you know me, and lot of you do....you know how I like to celebrate life's milestones.  I have only 20 minutes to wait for 5pm.

While most of the work on this quilt was done alone at home, I am so grateful to my family, friends and blog buddies who have supported and encouraged me.

My whole life changed (literally) during the time it took to make this quilt.  Some of it joyous, some of it sorrowful as life will be.....

I'm grateful for it all.

Sunflowers For Susan

Happy Friday!  Just in time for a visit to NJ, I finished a special Birthday Gift for my friend, Susan.  She was Jill's best friend and creative partner.

You may be thinking "that's it?"  As I approached this project, it was very difficult for me to put "me" into it.  I just wanted it to be Jill's.  This was the last thing on her design wall.  I decided to put them together and add the borders and just let it be.

My plan is to make this same quit for my sewing room.  I have to make 2 blocks first.  I wanted Susan to have all Jill blocks.

Wheel of Fortune - Blocks Made by Jill Reid 2014

I used my home made fan stencil and added an extra line in each blade.  **Stencil update**  The company I sent artwork to can not produce it because it is too large for their equipment.  I'll be pursuing alternatives.

It looks good with my cheddar nine patches that are on the design wall.

I used the border print with the lavender on the back.  Purple was one of Jill's favorite fabric colors and her collection really reflected that!

The machine quilting isn't perfect, so it's just right to me.  You can see where I backtracked.  I used my walking foot.

Have a great weekend.  My buddy Susan is coming on Sunday to assist in the swap.  Here is what the sewing room looks like - a post office!

I won ring toss last weekend at the fair, meet "Ruff"  coco isn't pleased....

And if you ever wondered, here is what 6oo pounds of butter looks like.  It took 12,000 gallons of milk.

Happy Friday!