Argyle

I just finished a quilt top for Grampy. The fabrics are brown/beige/ecru and blue, and the diagonal lines (that's the thing that makes it argyle) are gold rope. The reason I chose argyle is that when Grammy started kntting (yep, I was there) she knitted socks. At first, she tried knitting the whole thing as a flat piece and sewing a seam to join the sides. She didn't like that at all; I think she only made one pair like that and didn't give them to anyone. Then she tried using three needles and was able to knit the sock as a whole (like a tube) as she went. She was very proud when she "got" the heel part--it was pretty cool. She made many pairs of argyle socks for Grampy. So, that's why I decided to make his quilt as an argyle-type. I really think it turned out nicely, and is just the right size to use while he's sleeping on his recliner. I bought enough backing fabric so I can make a pillow case also. I used occasional blocks cut from a Route 66 fabric with old 40s and 50s cars and Route 66 signs. I'm hoping to get it quilted next week so I can give it to him while I'm on my way to Austin to the tiny girl's first birthday party next Saturday. We're going down on Friday; I'd better get busy!

Better Landmark Quilt for Me

OK, I know I published a picture of a quilt I made recently--one based on Baltimore blocks. However, I wasn't happy with the way it looked and wasn't really looking forward to showing it to my group at the local quilt shop. I took it to the Houston International Quilt Festival with me to show Amy and she didn't like the look of it either. She told me what was the matter with it--the blocks between the Baltimore blocks detracted from the handwork I had done on the Baltimore blocks. Yep, that's what was wrong with it--but it was already completely sewn--everything was done except for the quilting. She said I could rip it apart and redo it. Say what? Yep, that's what she said. She said it again--and reminded me that I didn't really like how it looked either. I said I probably would give it to the Goodwill or some such, and she said it would be a real shame because of all the months I worked on the appliques. She said I SHOULD rip it apart and redo it. Mercy! Well, I sat down very early on Sunday morning at her house and started unpinning, folding the backing and the batting, then I started on the outer border--ripping one stitch at a time... Torture, for sure. I can't believe it, but I actually did some other things that day. I did some things in the kitchen with Karie, played with Buttercup, loaded and unloaded the dishwasher--but still by about 10:00 pm I unstitched the last stitch. My poor aching hands, back, arms, eyes, everything! Really...

Amy had a good idea of what would look great, and I had to admit it sounded wonderful. So, on Monday, Amy and I went to her local quilt shop and shopped. I found some great fabrics and spent the rest of the day designing, laying it out on graph paper, cutting the new fabrics, and doubting the process mightily.

Impossible! On Tuesday I sewed the new blocks together, then laid the whole thing out on the floor--with Buttercup's help, of course--she had many suggestions for improvements (smile), and then I started sewing. By the end of the day, it was completely re-made and I LOVED it. Everything I didn't like before was remedied--Amy was absolutely right about the whole thing. Now this is my Landmark quilt top--my Baltimore. You can compare it to the picture in the previous "Landmark Quilt" post. I love this!!!

Kitty Cat Quilt for Cheli

I finished my sister, Cheli's., quilt. I chose a cat pattern because Cheli is a cat person, and has always had numerous. I also made a fairly small quilt because she doesn't get cold much--but sometimes her legs do. So basically it's a lap quilt. I love it.

The pattern is called "Arnie" and it's from Bunny Hill Designs.

The Handwork Gene

I have been trying to think where my handwork gene came from. Grammy knitted and her mother, Nana (Reta Rasmussen Beaman) made all her own clothes during the Great Depression--including her underwear. She also made fitted sheets long before they were available commercially. I remember seeing her mother, Ma (Martha Jensen Rasmussen) doing handwork, but I don't remember what she was making.

My other grandmother, Amy Slade Brown, made quilts--she cut the pieces with scissors and sewed them together by hand, as everyone did then--also her sister, Waitie (we called her Nantie). Grandma Amy also crocheted--she taught me how--and she also embroidered beautiful cut work. I wish I had a set of one of her pillow cases.

So, I guess the question is not where my handwork gene came from, but rather, what took me so long. Actually, I have been making things by hand for a long time--I sewed for my kids, made quilts when we lived in Utah (br-r-r-r-r), and crocheted an afghan one year (I had seen something I liked and thought I might be able to figure out how to make it--and I did.)

In retrospect, I see that I have always done this, but didn't have the freedom, time or patience to do it day after day. One thing I am really looking forward to is going to the International Quilt Show in Houston next month with my daughter and one of Bobby's cousins. My daughter Amy clearly got the handwork gene. I guess I always thought I just didn't get this trait, but only did handwork out of necessity. Since it seems to have been all over our family tree prior to me, I have to assume many of my progeny will inherit it, too. Probably many of Bob's too.

If you think you don't have it, you might be wrong. :)

A Real Milestone Quilt-top

I just finished a quilt top that was quite difficult to make. The patterns came from a group of quilts made in Baltimore a couple of hundred years ago--they're called "Baltimore Quilts." The particular ones I made were from a pattern book called "Baltimore Basics" and consist of 12 different designs. They're traditionally made of dark greens and reds--I used more vivid reds and greens as well as some golds and blues--it is my quilt, after all. The technique used is hand applique--and the particular applique I did mostly was "needle-turn." I learned how to make two different types of flowers as well as a few other methods of actually getting the patterns on the fabric. Initially I had planned to use 13 blocks so I used one pattern twice--putting cherries on one and flowers on the other, so they don't really look the same. I ended up using 12 blocks so I put my least favorite on a pillow. Now that I have the quilt top done and the "sandwich" completed, I'll quilt it. I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet. Here it is:

As you can see, the appliqued blocks are interspersed with a plain fabric block.

Patience

In April, I was in a quilt shop in Tulsa and saw a pattern that really caught my eye, and I wanted to make it. Well, the truth is that I wished I could make it, but was pretty sure I couldn't, because it was quite detailed and looked complicated. Along with seeing it, I also immediately knew who I would give it to, and I wanted to try, so I dived in. I spent the rest of the day picking out fabrics--you can see there are many different fabrics in it--and wondering about my audacity thinking I could pull this off. Here's the picture of it--completed--and I am happy to say that it turned out almost as good as I had hoped.

There are many appliques on this. Some of them were done by machine and some by hand. I can see on this quilt the early ones and those I did as I improved techniques. There are also MANY small pieces--quilt-making seems to be art of taking large pieces of fabric, cutting them up into really small pieces and then sewing them back together again. While I am making something for someone specifically, I think about that person constantly while I am working on it. It brings that person close to me in ways I had not expected. I have begun a new quilt that is made entirely of appliques. Rather, each block has a large applique on it. In the beginning, I had the same fears about this new one. Would I finish it? Could I finish it? Would I drive myself crazy trying to do all these appliques? Could I even do them in the first place? Well, I have six blocks completed, and I can see improvement in my technique with each block.

One of the things I am learning about myself is that I seem to be able to work endlessly on something that goes really slowly, and enjoy the work itself. I believe this is called patience, and I am as surprised as everyone else that I am developing it.

I have noticed the quiet inside my mind while I'm busy working on a piece. I'm not thinking about "hurry and finish this". When I make a mistake (often), I simply pick out the stitches and re-work the piece without frustration or anger. If I have re-stitched many times on a particular edge and it is starting to fray, I pick out the entire piece, recut it and start over--just trying to make it look as beautiful as I can--incredible, I know.

I am making new friends as I attend various quilt-making classes; I am learning many new things; I have joined the local quilters' guild; I have things to do and places to go on my calendar (I actually have a calendar). I can also look at a week ahead with nothing on the calendar and look forward to being at home.

Altogether, I would say this is a very fulfilling time in my life.

Four Generations

OK--Here we are!

Avery couldn't quite figure out why we were outside in the hot summer sun sitting down like we knew what we were doing!!

Visitors!

This has been a wonderful week! My daughter, granddaughter, two grandsons and GREAT granddaughter have been up from Texas (and she is truly GREAT). I just sit and look at whichever is in front of me at the time and wallow in wonderfulness.

Also, my granddaughter who lives close by has been staying here so she can play with her cousins.

I have just loved this week.

--oh, and that's some baby, I'll tell you.

Two

This is the second quilt I have made for Avery. I can't wait to see them in a few days!!

One

One--that's all you need if that one is the best, cutest, most wonderful and cherubic tiny angel EVER!!

One is how many great grandchildren I have. Yep, she's enough and terrific enough to be the only one. How I love her!