Pin Keeper That's a Keeper

Last week Susan, Pauline and I finished our Pin minders.  It was a fun project and I thought they looked so cute on Susan's hutch.

From the left it is Pauline's, mine and Susan's.

We stuffed them with wool roving, and some stones on the bottom and we made little walnut shell "pillows" for the top.

I love that it has a scissor tab for snipping thread.

My doll quilt swap finally arrived at Janet's house.  Here is what I made for her.  I used the tea dyed muslin that I brewed recently.

I used this playing card fabric for the backing.  I usually tilt my label so it doesn't look like its meant to be straight, but I don't think I tilted it enough this time, lol.   It was my first swap and very fun.  Thank you again to Christine who organized it for all of us.  She'll be posting a slide show on her blog soon.

Yesterday I went to the the AQS show in Lancaster and bumped into  Sujata and Kelly.   Sujata had her zig-zag quilt in the show!  Congratulations again.  It was wonderful to meet them in person and they are so nice!  Kelly did a wonderful post of the show and we had practically identical photos.

I'm off to a retreat tomorrow - so have a wonderful weekend everyone~

Golly! What a Dolly!

I participated in Christine's Doll Swap.  It was my first swap and what a doll quilt I received from Janet, of Quiltsalott.  


Here is the wonderful doll that she made for me -

Isn't it absolutely wonderful?  Janet said in her note that it was inspired by a quilt in the book "American Quilts in the Modern Age", which I don't seem to have (for now anyway).   It also commemorates the upcoming Red & White exhibit in NYC in a couple of weeks.



I am so touched that she hand quilted it.  I love the pumpkin seed design and it's perfect on this.   Aren't those sweet little handles too much?  I know I'm gushing, but it's gush worthy.

Here it is with her bonus gift; a sweet pin cushion.  Its on my antique doll bed with a little teady bear.  I'm going to make a special white pillowcase to match.

The pink gift wrap, ribbon and card are lovely too. 

Janet, I can not thank you enough for this beautiful doll quilt.  I will treasure it forever.

Quilt Show Reveiew - Part 2

Happy Friday!

Here is the Best in Show from the Mid-Atlantic Quilt show.  It was on display at the Quilt Fest.

 
Best of Show
Rhapsody in Rose by Barbara Clem

And these are the close ups that I took.  The quilting is awe inspiring!  She has a cross hatch that is.....wait for it......1/4".

How lovely that it is pink ;)    I'm sorry the color is off, it was very hard to capture it and get good details.  I love the way she created different designs on the solid background through her quilting choices.

And what a lovely binding treatment.  The scallops are perfect on this piece!

How nice that a Dear Jane received recognition.  I too often feel they are passed over.  This one is lovely!

I know, I know, traditional, traditional, that is what I love.  This quilt was stunning - honorable mention - deserved more in my opinion.  Make a few more ribbons, guys, come on.

You can see all the winning quilts here on the Mancuso Website.  Congrats to Bethany Morelli for her "Best Machine Workmanship" and also "Viewers Choice" !

Today is meeting day for the Brownstone Quilters and we'll be displaying the raffle quilt.  I cut a block too small for the corners of the quilt - doh - so I made it into a pretty label.  Because of its size, I "skim quilted" a little.  Its a term that I use to describe quilting that doesn't go through to the other side. 

Someone has a bit "spring fever" and been finding trouble - I took her for a walk and a visit to the dog park on Wednesday....finally some peace!

Have a great weekend and fun sewing!

Quilt Show Review - Part 1

Good Morning!
Thank you for input on the Raffle Quilt photography.  Also for your interest in the documentation project.  I will post more about that soon.

I thought I'd share my 2 favorite quilts from the Quilt Fest of NJ.

I fell in love with this quilt:

Here is the information and credit:

The layers of detail are amazing!  Each and every border, whether it was hand embroidered, or piped, or embellished with glass beads was so loving done and with such skill.

The handles of the spoons were hand embroidered to look like sterling, and each spoon contained several layers of fabric and stitching to achieve the realistic look.

this is from the outer border.  She has added glass beads for strawberry seeds - so subtle and so sweet!

She quilted it on a home machine and the stitching is lovely!  The teapot and the monogram being my favorite parts.

Just take it in. 

I haven't been wowed by a quilt like this in a long, long time!  Thank you Sandra!



Okay, my second favorite quilt is this one:  It is a block of month.  It is machine quilted and machine appliqued and beautifully done!
 

Now, personally, I think that credit should have been given the designer, so I'm giving it here:  Sue Garmon.

My favorite part of the quilt is that each ship is surrounded by a vine, flowers or fruit and a symbol of where it is from - too much!!  I love it.

And here is my Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, and what a wonderful surprise!  Pepper Cory awarded it her Judges Choice - and bonus; the ribbon is pink.  I met Pepper and thanked her and we talked about folk art quilts. She liked the peace symbol as a modern example of folk art.  What a nice lady. 

She wrote this note on the back of my ribbon (I won't even hold it against her that she made a Mercedes sign instead of a peace sign).

How cool is this challenge?  Each participant was given a color card and had to make a quilt read that color from 10 feet away - awesome!

I met Kathie, of Inspired by Antique Quilts for lunch and she surprised me with this piece of folk art fabric.  Wouldn't these make great applique' shapes?  Thanks, Kathie!

Taryn of Repro Quilt Lover is having a great Red & White quilt show on her blog.  I'm planning to post some this week - go check them out.

be back soon with Part 2

Signs of Spring!

Hooray -
The Brownstone Quilters Raffle Quilt is finished.  Okay, I still have to make a label and get the photos printed, but it's quilted, bound and has a hanging sleeve.

A guild member, Cheryl, quilted it for us.  I love the patterns she used.  Thanks to Pauline's fabulous machines, it washed up beautifully and the drape is wonderful.

I have to get photos printed and I can't really tell which is better;
indoor shot:

Outdoor shot:

 

I think I'll take both to the photo shop and see which works best there.  Here are close ups of the quilting:

  

A few months ago I was asked to help my local historical museum with their coverlet and quilts collection.  Tomorrow I will drop off the Documentation Books - whew.  I created documentation for 34 coverlets and quilts.  (I smudged out the names on the front, looks dirty, but isn't).

This weekend is the Quilt Fest of New Jersey.  My quilt, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", was selected to be part of the show.  I dropped it off this morning the gentleman taking in quilts got a real chuckle out of the title.  I'll be around the show on Saturday.   Say hello if you see me, or hello to my quilt if you see it. 

Surely spring is coming.  Today I heard a robin while sipping my coffee, then later saw one while walking coco.  I also found these crocus sprouts under the leaves.

I know it's going to get cold tomorrow, but the sunshine was wonderful today and spring is definitely on it's way - and not soon enough for me and coco.