Mike and Kelly's Wedding Quilt and Cake

Most of my pictures are saved in PhotoBucket. I have been moving projects over to Blogger and am suprised that I have saved these so small! Now I need to remember where I have the originals and start over.

Kelly 'helped' me make their quilt. She picked out the fabrics and I sewed. She re-sized a bunch of the flying geese. I did the applique. We made pillows with the flower basket for each of the attendents.

A friend make the wedding cake to match the quilt- how cool is that. This couple got married a few years ago. If I was a better mother I would know the date, guessing May of 2005 (?) (Don't worry, I don't remember b-days either)

Exchange Blocks 10 1/2" 2000

I have been posting pictures of past projects. One of my 'groups' (I'm a lurker in several) is thinking about hosting a block exchange. Made me want to pull old photo's and share ideas for setting the blocks one gets.

In a Block Exchange it is good to remember that is not about being perfect. It is the joy of being part of a community of friends/peers in a particular moment in time.

I am thrilled to share our projects from back in 2000. Enjoy.

(If you click on the photo it will open in another window at the larger size so you can 'read' the quilters essay)- cw

12" Block Exchange (2000)

Favorite Things QUILT

Our quilting group was making scrap Irish Chain Blocks and trading them with each other.

This is ONE of the quilts I made from my Exchange Blocks. My MOM has this on at her home.

The Boy w/Kite is My DAD (He has a kite business in OKC)

The Tulip is left over from another TOP, the flower material is scraps from my mom!

I designed the Ice Cream block b/c I had the perfect material for the cone.

I think this was from a coloring book

I made our daughter a quilt of cars for her 16th B-day

The turtle carries his home on his back

Made a quilt of appliqued ducks

Dad use to take us sailing when we were kids

Daughter loves 'frogs'

Boys like to fish (the line is kite string for a textured feel)

This top just took on a design of its own, there was no real planning other than I knew I wanted to applique something in each open area. The idea to have characters cross into other spots came b/c I didn't want the fishing boy to just stand there, same thing with the kite boy. Not pictured is a girl with balloons and one jumping rope.

I would have to look to see if I can remember when this was made, I know the group made several Irish Chains that year. I will post pictures of my collection later.

Lynne has posted the Reveal of the Mystery- Celtic Knot- If you are doing this as a mystery (don't look)

If NOT- hurry and get your instructions printed b/c once you see this one you are going to wish you had the pattern.

This is one of the few patterns I would have paid to have. I am hoping to get permission to Do This One with our small quilting group as a Scrap Swap. Soon as I get the OK I will share our progress.

HURRY- You will WANT to at least get started. cw

Grandpa's Utility Quilt (now Theresa's Quilt)

I finally got to do a little machine quilting on this reconstruction piece. I can't wait to get to get it back to my sister. I have my fingers crossed that her girls will be able to get many more years of snuggle use from this heirloom.

Originally a machine pieced top and hand quilted to a flannel back, this beauty has shown the wear of time and use. My younger sister was torn up when she machine washed the heavy quilt and discovered "Holes the size of small plates".

I am guessing this piece was made by a friend of our grandmother's sometime in the 1960's.

I was going to machine applique the 'flowers' on after I fixed the back. The top is so heavy that I could not maneuver it evenly under my regular machine. I struggled through getting the 'feed sack' circles sewn to the back to give a solid surface to applique the cutter quilt pieces to on the front.

My solution was to hand stitch the flowers to the top using crochet thread. (I love texture) Then I got to pin it in to the quilting frame and play with free-hand machine sewing the flowers.

I am pretty happy with the result. I think the quilt has the same 'feel' of a comfort snuggle under quilt AND has a little of my spirit holding together till the next run in with a washing machine.

I promise to only give it back to Sis if she promises to let me handle the washing. Who would have ever thought I would volunteer to do laundry!! - cw

7 shirts quilt (Thanks Nancy!)

Nancy posted another lovely picture a fan sent her of a quilt made from the 7-shirts mystery we did last year.

I thought since I am re-visiting past projects I would dig out my version to share:

You can get Nancy-Rose's Instructions if you click HERE




I was lucky to find shirts during a $5.00 a bag sale- Hubby picked them out and paid, thus leaving my Self-Imposed NO BUY in tack!



I think in my original post I bragged that this one would be for him.

In the spirit of Re-Gifting it has been passed on to Favorite Oldest Daughter's Boyfriend.

She thought the colors would look good in the Man Cave (the pool room in the garage)

I narrowed the shirts down to the number needed for the Mystery.

Nancy said to use similar materials, I knew it didn't mean ME so I mixed flannels and cottons

Looks good, but sews Not Sew Good! I am not an iron-er but did have to finger press a bit before re-sizing.



I liked how the blocks were coming along. I can see me doing this pattern a couple of more times- I love it in flannel.

I never did get a photo after it was quilted.

I think I did a herring bone border to border and for the life of me can't remember what was on the back.

I know I didn't piece the back.

If you missed the link above you can see the instructions from Nancy's site-- http://thethriftyquilter.blogspot.com/2009/06/seven-shirts-seven-steps-one-thrifty.html