cool quilts

In the mid 80's I lived in a small town in FLA. They had an incredible antiques market that I would visit often called Rennigers. There I was introduced to what I call "cool quilts". These quits from the 20s, 30s & 40s were mostly scrap quilts with muslin backs and backgrounds. Because of the generation of the quilts, my guess is that they had manufactured cotton batts. Not sure if it was the fabrics, the backings, battings or a combination of all 3 but these quilts were cool to the touch, even in the hottest of summers. I was able to rescue several of these quilts from the "quilt farmers" (contemptable people who would cut up perfectly good works of art in favor of creating pigs and chickens out of the material. I hope when I get old and worn, no one cuts me up for parts). I also inherited a small collection from my husbands grandmothers, both quilters.
I have begun making my own "cool quilts". With the inspiration of wonderful blog A Quilt Is Nice here.

I WON!

SEWN is a new website, with great info, terrific interviews and amazing giveaways. I haven't been one to enter giveaways, but with the prize being new hand piecing papers, I couldn't resist. Suprise suprise, I won. Can't wait until they get here.

Quilting a large quilt is like...

Trying to get my fat behind into a size 10 pair of jeans!

There's lots of pushin', pullin', sweatin', and gruntin'! Hopefully this will be done by tomorrow since the beautiful baby girl it's for is already 8 months old. YIKES!

Quilt Quality Inspectors and Love's Fresh Lemon

It has been a rough 2 weeks, but I did finish Love's Fresh Lemon, for a new baby girl at church. I asked for Izzy's opinion. As you can see she is very discriminating and hard to please. Commi felt he needed to be a part of the process. He is an expert on binding and all things wiggly. Izzy did not appreciate his imput or his comments, especially those concerning her very attractive and irresistable tail. It is apparent that they are still working out their relationship as Quilt Quality Inspectors and roomates in general.

Karen's quilt

Over the last several years, I've been trying to get my sister to quilt. Despite great artistic abilities, she lacks confidence and has a nasty habit of wanting everything to be just right. We live in diferent states, so my encouragement has had to be via phone and e-mail. Occasionaly we have a "class" when we are together. Every attempt to get her to relax and draw her into my quilt world has failed. Then comes my brother-in-law to the rescue, like a white knight entering to save the princess, he charges in bearing not a lance and trusty steed, but a top-of-the-line Bernina, classes at the local quilt shop and lots of "Go baby go!". Yes, he truly is a prince! She now has several tops under her belt, her latest pictured above, and yes she machine appliqued the letters- got to love a Bernina. She is still working on that machine quilting thing. But she is gaining more confidence and truly enjoying her new artistic outlet! Of course now I have to find something else to replace the years of quilt presents...hmmm fabric!