Song of the Sparrow

It is finished!
Song of the Sparrow - 64" x 64"

I started this quilt 3 1/2 years ago and it took 8 months to quilt.

I love hand quilting and this was fun to design each section.

 I always love to see the back of hand quilted quilt.

Did I wash it?  yes!  I always wash my quilts. 

 I have front loading machine now and I find the whole process works better in my tub (this is the only way I use it, lol).  Here are my steps:

1.   cool plain water with drain open.
2.   close drain and use warm water
3.   add tiny bit of dawn, 4-5 color catchers, detergent and oxi, or borax (use small amounts)
4.   hand agitate.
5.   drain and gentle squeeze water out, I step on it gently with my bare feet while running lukewarm water and open drain.
6.   Repeat if until water is clear.  This quilt took two wash cycles.

Here was the first idea.  I came a long way.

It wasn't always easy, but it was worth the long journey.

This quilt has been well travelled!
CT, NJ, GA, MA, PA, VT, MI, OH, Canada, Alaska, Bermuda and the caribbean.

 I ran into a nearly heartbreaking problem....

I had to perform "open quilt surgery" and it was a very tense week fixing this problem.

I'll share that another time.  For now, let's remember the good times.

 I really appreciate all the support.  I know you've seen this quilt a zillion times here and IG and I appreciate the encouragement so much!

til next time
xo

Fall Follies

It's Fall Ya'll!

I've been busy finishing my medallion hand quilting and teaching fun houses again last week with The Warwick Valley Quilters.

I packed up a few quilts and headed over to Chatfield State Park to share some of my fall quilts with you.

 This is one of my favorite features of the park.  Can anyone really resist a covered bridge?

I used large carpenter clamps to hang them.  I almost dropped one, but the water is shallow and it is only water afterall.

This is a horse trail that winds around the outside park.  Coco loves it.  This is a basket block exchange I made years ago.

My nine patch strippy.  This was also a block swap from many years ago.

This may look like a Jo Morton pattern, but her pattern came out after she took a photo of my quilt while visiting my guild. 😶😯

A Signature String quilt signed by Beaver Island Retreat Quilters.

Hand quilted, rough edge machine applique.  I like the mix of different techniques in this one.

Fall Maple Leaf quilt, a block of month win from the 90s.

The backing is a beloved fabric we used call fruit and fiber.

Sumptuous Stars from the NJ State Documentation Book.

Goes perfectly with the bittersweet on the boardwalk.

This ranger statue made a perfect model.

He stands sentinel outside a nature center building.

Thanks for joining me and revisiting some of my quilts and thank you Kyle and Cecile and many other bloggy friends for inspiring me to take some location quilt photos.

Happy Fall Ya'll!
xo

Where was I??

Ever feel like you are all over the place?  One place I was happy to be was the  New England Quilt Museum to view Sue Garman's exhibit of 37 quilts..

 This has always been my favorite Sue Garman quilt.  It speaks to me on so many levels.  The thoughtfulness of the elements is a wonder to me.

I took this silly selfie to remember that I saw this quilt in person.  I wish I could have met Sue and told her how much I love it.

I always think of her applique quilts, but she was an amazing piecer.

 Wonderful borders here and those mini blocks!

 I could sit here all day - literally....  I really lucked out and had the place to myself for an hour.

 This was also a favorite of mine.  I love her mix of prints.

 I was surprised she had made another one, and added applique' !  Amazing.

 This just happened to be the last one I saw, and when I read the card I knew it was the perfect ending to my visit with Sue and her quilts.

The Quilt world lost a lovely lady, an incredible quilter and a generous teacher.  Luckily there is a legacy of quilts to be loved for many years to come.

Thank you Miami Valley Quilters!  I had a great time visiting your guild and sharing my Quilts! I met Debbie and she brought two Fun With Barb Swap quilt tops.

Nine Patch Modern Swap Blocks.  The Blue Denim color sets them off so well.

 Modern Churn Dash Blocks.  Great Color placement and setting Debbie!

 I also met Patti J too.  She's a FWB Swapper in both groups.  It is so nice to meet quilters in real life!

 We had a fun workshop day building liberated houses of all types and styles.

pardon my cute shoes from Famous Footwear.

 The pretzel house later got a companion hot dog wagon mate.

The cabin and outhouse got a barn too.  Check out the Wine Igloo 😁  they are just all too fun.

 The house in the lower right hand corner is going to be a memorial quilt for a beloved and recently lost yellow tabby cat; Chester.  Isn't that sweet?

 Every house has its own little personality.

Yay!  I'm teaching Liberated Houses tomorrow at the Warwick Valley Quilt Guild.

Welcome new blog readers and Thank You to all who left a comment on my Meet and Greet Page.  I hope one of you wins the Grand Prize and the extra prize from me.

Nutmeg is really growing up!

 Can you tell she's about to race off?

See you next time.
xo