Vintage Remake

I found this flannel log cabin in a vintage shop some years ago. 

It is small, about 30" square. The red centers are only 1/2"!

I've always wished to try recreating this very clever design. 

Have you seen this block before? Does it have a name?

The leftover honeybun scraps from Bergamot cat quilt are ideal for this project!

And there are even enough scraps for two colorways; orange and white. 

This is Moda bakeshop, Last Bloom by Sandi Gervais, and I absolutely love it!

 I got this right before the lock down, it was just the 

IDEAL colors I had dreamed of for creating Bergamot - 

California poppy orange and depression jade. 

(Hence the name, Bergamot;)

 

Here are the orange log-cabin flower centers. So far so good. 

I will get back with you about the white/green blocks. Honeybun centers finish at 1" square, so my project will be twice as large as the original vintage inspiration.

Don't you just love it when a wish quilt comes together? 

In this case, one honeybun is making 3 dream quilts! 

(Bergamot, orange log-cabin, white log-cabin)

BTW:  Bergamot is with the photographer. 

As soon as I have a pattern cover pic, you will see it in the Etsy shop.

Crazy Overlay Crochet

Texture! My favorite aspect of crochet. This new Leisure Arts book, Overlay Crochet: 10 Projects Add Dimensions and Style to YourHome by Kristi Simpson, creates crochet texture in fabulous new ways. “Dimension and style” is no joke here. Look what I made:

Kristi’s book Features a variety of projects:  table décor, pillow, box, hand towel, blanket, ottoman pouf, wall hanging (mandala), granny square style blanket (but it’s not your granny’s style!), and an amazing boho crossbody bag – which is going to be next project, for sure.

I have always shied away from colorful crochet projects because I dislike changing threads. But Krisit has solved that, detailing 5 ways to join yarns. When you use this book, start with the General Instructions at the end (pg. 57). You’ll be amazed at the new tricks even before you dive into the gorgeous projects. Plus, there is a guide at the very end where you can get the exact project yarns Kristi used. I will definitely be hunting the original colors when I try this cover model table mat. Ideal springtime flavors!

Believe it or not, almost all the projects are rated Easy skill level. The Pillow is certainly Intermediate. Box is the beginner level project. My project was this gorgeous hand towel (pg. 48).

LOL – I made a simple mistake right at the begging, setting 9 posts instead of 8. So mine turned out pentagram instead of square and I love it! And it was still easy to finish. I think it looks like a poppy. I’m going to make a few more and see what a blanket of these would be like. Round, I guess. What do you think?

I really love this book – it’s going to keep me busy and happy all year :)

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Superior Quilts

historic Magma Hotel vintage bar

We made a field trip to Superior for an annual end of summer festival - Prickly Pear Days. 

We found some unique quilt art. But not all of them are actual quilts. See what I mean?

Apologies for the blur - I'm learning new phone/camera settings.
The black and white border is bugle beads in-the-ditch. And the binding is variegated crewel yarn whip-stitch. I like how the quote stitching crosses the background and first border.

There was a series of these mug-rugsized  arts, each with the hound's-tooth check background path. 

Did I mention my new camera issues? Sorry I can't show you the complete series.

These heart triptych fabric boxes are the same mug-rug artist, now with broderie-perse and stuffed hearts. I couldn't tell how they constructed the fabric boxes - sew clever!

This Town Hall quilt is painted blocks of local historic places.

I have to make special mention of the smokestack - it came down (video) 9 months ago. A landmark for 100-ish years, all gone. But commemorated in quilting and plenty more local arts :)

I just really liked this local artist painting of cow-girl with coyotes, so I wanted you to see it tool:0.

Thanks for sharing our trip!

More PreQuilt

Last week when I wrote about all the WOW PreQuilt Features, I became extra interested in how this  creative "randomizer" evolved. So I've asked PreQuilt inventor Gar Liu to share more news here about how PreQuilt started and where it is going.

To begin with, a brief history. [Literally short-- PreQuilt is just one year old!]
PreQuilt began last July with Laura Henneberry's (Commonwealth Quilts) Circus Tent Quilt.

And it has evolved quickly from a color picking app, to an HST design tool, to a full application design platform. More designers joined, wishing coloring pages for their quilts too. Quilter/programmer Steph Skardal supplied the fabric catalogue. The latest feature is the custom block design tool. 

Have you tried PreQuilt? Check out the color randomizer in this video.

According to Gar, PreQuilt's best features are the one's that short-cut repetitive tasks, such as selecting quilt quadrants or checkerboard blocks for quilt design editing. This way, designers can stay focused on their planning, without getting discouraged by minutia. 
Gar says, "We hope that PreQuilt can leave people in an art director's position where they make decisions and then come in to tweak. Something like a self driving car where you can put your hands on the wheel at anytime to take back control."

Coming next for PreQuilt.....fabric calculations AND ombre mapping!

Happy Anniversary to Gar, Laura, and PreQuilt! And best wishes for many more creative years. Thanks for inviting us all to share in your amazing design tool :)

An Ideal Doily Quilt

I've searched ages for the ideal quilt plan for showcasing vintage handkerchiefs and doilies. I think Leana has discovered it:

Leana mixed pictorial embroidery, colored pencil, and silk ribbon with crochet from her grandmother.

Blocks are large enough to frame/border the featured handwork, in addition to serving as interesting backgrounds.

 

Plus, the blocks are William Morris. You wouldn't guess it, but the detail and scale of this fabric perfectly compliments the white and cream crochet alike.

 

Mostly outline quilted by hand. This block is a wonderful exception.

Leana's only tip was to spend ages at the design wall considering each placement.
There are no empty or setting blocks.

Leana says she will never show this quilt because it is too precious to risk.

I'm so honored we got to see it:)

 

Here are a few affiliate links for more embellished quilt ideas. Enjoy!:

Hanky-Panky Crazy Quilts by Cindy Brick





Handkerchief Quilts by Pat Long Gardner

Quilting with Doilies by Barbara Polston

 

Show and Tell

Here are a few of my faves from the neighborhood.
Hope you have time for a cuppa and a little show and tell.

Big stitches, beads, feature buttons, applique, and some stitchery.

It all comes together in Lynette's tiny pictorial.

Here is Barbara's tiny quilt - sew cute!!!

Diane worries about the scale of the cats:flowers & birds

 Here is one of Diane's gourds.

The beaded edging is pine needles!

This one is HUGE, I never saw such a giant gourd.
The edging/handle is burned lasso.

 Everyone contributes Rows for Valor.

Then Carolee builds the Valor quilts.

The GFG on the wall really is from Carolee's grandmother.

 I love this one-patch, Super clever design.

Especially the border.

Not to mention, Karen's great workmanship.

I guess this also counts as R/W/B, and as pinwheel?

Foundation pieced pillow case. Also a one patch.

Spinning the biggy/smalls makes it look like a Spool.

Sculptured T-Shirt Quilt.

LOL I should have got a picture of the whole thing. Of course this block was center top ;)

This one is from the museum, and traveling AQSG exhibit.

There were more pictures but my phone ate them. AARG!

Check out the sculptured edge!!!

I would have flipped the sawtooth rows so they appear to come from the sashing instead of from the block....but that might have made the green too overpowering? What do you think?

For sure that is the tiniest dresdens I have ever seen. Paper Pieced?

Pearl says I should get to work now.

Happy Monday!

Button Pictures

This amuses me more than I can describe.
I love fences, and I love pumpkins (no idea why),
and I have saved these buttons for ages.

Finally made a project with them-

and it is even finished in time for Autumn:)

 

 

The small jute bag was $3.99 @JoAnn's.

I used a blunt cross-stitch needle for stitching.

The tree is felt, and put on with a brown floss running stitch.

The same floss is used for outline stitching the horizon line.

Orange and white thread tacked on the buttons.

Then I backed the inside of the bag with Washi Tape, (so my stitches won't catch on anything inside my new tote.)

 

Designing Details:

Begin with the larger elements in the picture, then placement of the smaller bits will be simple.

Plan to include a horizon line, otherwise your art will be floating in space.

Dark colors recede, and seem farther away, creating depth of field in your picture.

Remember to included negative space too- don't feel like you have to fill up every open area.

 

Shank buttons provide an opportunity for layering.

Your beautiful buttons will each stand out, and your picture will have more interest, if you work to alternate:

dark/light

large/small

pearly/matte

translucent/opaque

 

 

RHQ Etsy:  There are 35 buttons in this collage. We added themed sets of 35 buttons to our Etsy Studio shop, in case you'd like to make one too.  Assorted sets include orange, pink and pastel (in case you'd prefer a springtime tree.) More buttons are available in our Vintage Treasures section. Enjoy!





One Block Applique Quilts

applique stitch adds whiskers and eyelashes

 

Darlene quilted bones in the sashing :)

 

Here are some unique one block applique quilts.
Seen at museum quilting bee. I thought you would enjoy these:

....has me looking at everything in the house and wondering, "how would that look with sashing around it?"

 

Bonus:
Here is an unusual album quilt. Instead of just names, everyone embroidered their favorite scripture and illustrated with contemporary applique.