Thursday, July 17, 2014 "Anita's Arrowhead"

For me, making a quilt is often a way to remember a special event.  This particular quilt reminds me of spending time during the summer of 2013 with my sisters and mother in Idaho.  We are notorious shoppers and because some of us are quilters, going to a quilt shop is an absolute must!

You have to be a little careful when stitching the blocks together because there are a bias pieces.
This quilt is twin sized.

This quilt, "Anita's Arrowhead" was made from a layer cake (collection of 10" squares) and additional fabric for the borders and binding.  The pattern can be found by googling "Anita's Arrowhead quilt pattern"

Wednesday July 16, 2014 "Vintage"

This quilt is called "Vintage".  The pattern is found in the book  Simple Retro with Camille Roskelley: Fresh Quilts from Classic Blocks.  I purchased it in Kindle format and loved making it.
I purchased the fabrics, fat quarters, while at my daughter, KayLynn's, in Oklahoma City earlier this year.

I quilted and bound this quilt a month or so ago.  I just thought it was too plain so went back and added a lot more rows of quilting and am much happier.  It isn't very fancy but was a delight to sew and I made it because I fell in love with the fabrics that I chose.

Monday July 14, 2014 "Vintage Dresden Dishes IV"

I absolutely love this quilt pattern!  It is such a wonderful way to display lots of fabrics.  My daughter, KayLynn, and I are really fond of the Moda fabric line called Mirabele.  I found all these wonderful fabrics while shopping in Idaho Falls on vacation last month.  Was so excited to come home and put them all together.

I used the Easy Dresden to cut out the fan blades for this quilt.  The edges are already turned for ease in appliqué.  More blades are required, 20 instead of the usual 12 when making a rounded edged blade.  It was not too much more work but a chance to change things up a bit.  Happy to have another completed quilt.

Saturday July 12, 2014 "Garden Path"

When I was visiting my son, James, and his wonderful family in Santa Clara, Utah, in June, I asked James to hold up a couple of quilts that I had given his family so I could get a picture of them.  This particular quilt we have labeled "Blizzard Quilt".  In March of 2003, here in Denver, we had a terrific blizzard.  James and his wife, Jaclyn, were newly weds and living in the area.  We called them, and had them come stay with us during the storm.  We were so snowed in for days that all the men on our block had to shovel out a path down our street so we could get out!  

During the blizzard, we were lucky enough to never loose power so I spent those days piecing this fun quilt.  It was one of the first button hole stitch appliqué projects that I attempted.  I loved the simplicity of this quilt but the cheeriness of the colorful flowers and leaves.  

Because of the memories it brings to Jaclyn of that first winter she was married, I was happy to give it to her.
The pattern for the quilt was found in the book called The Best of Black Mountain Quilts by Terri Christopherson.

July 11, 2014 "Disappearing Nine Patch" Butterfly Quilt

 Matching pillowcases were an added bonus!

This quilt was made for my granddaughter, Ayla's, 7th birthday.  She sleeps in a queen sized bed so it is very big!  She even helped lay out the  completed blocks and has learned how to help stack them up so I can sew them together.  A new generation of quilters for the family!

July 10, 2014 "Housewarming"

It's been a long time since I've added to my blog.  It is a busy summer with traveling and new quilting projects.  This fun quilt hangs in our family room.  The pattern was found in the "Quilt" magazine Fall/Winter 2004 issue and I was able to make it with fabric from the Kansas Troubles by Moda line of fabric.  I made it several years ago but love the warmth that the colors give.

Thursday, June 12, 2014 "Triangle Tango"

This is actually the first "Triangle Tango" quilt that I made.  The top was completed but borders not added.  I get distracted pretty easily when it comes to working on various quilt tops.  I made a second one for my daughter in law that I posted on June 1.  

When I received a call from my nephew, Eric, letting me know that he was engaged to be married this August, I knew just what quilt I could complete in time for his wedding!

Grateful for my wonderful sewing computer that makes my quilting life easier.  I love sewing on my machine and being able to quilt such large quilts.  This is a large queen sized quilt.

Wednesday June 11, 2014 "Jelly Roll Quilt"

Jelly Roll quilts are such fun quilts to make and are a wonderful sized quilt for a twin bed.
I love to find the brightest fabrics I can and make them for my grandchildren.
This is my Abigayle, my oldest granddaughter.  I made this for her birthday several years ago to match her bedroom.

This is our Isabelle.  She is growing into a beautiful young woman!

My precious, Laura, who asked me to make her a new quilt to go in her new bedroom.  I put quite a fat bat in her quilt so it was really puffy.

Our Aubrey.  This was for her 8th birthday.  She lives so far away but we are grateful to see her as often as we can.

Laura's little sister, Natalia.  The girl's quilts were from the same jelly rolls, but added different borders so they could tell them apart.

Saturday, June 7, 2014 "Anita's Arrowhead" (Half Size)

This was a very fun little project.  While visiting with my sister, Donna, last summer, she showed me this great line of fabric called, "Little Black Dress".  She thought it would sew up nicely into this arrowhead block but gave me the job of figuring out how to do it with a charm pack instead of a layer cake.  I just followed the instructions, just reducing everything by 1/2.  Well, by the time I started looking for the fabric, it was too long after it's release, so couldn't make one for myself.  This fall, I came across "Little Black Dress 2" and was so happy with the fabrics, that I wanted to make this little  table topper.  The funny thing was, I couldn't remember how it was made so I called Donna, and she read my own hand written instructions to me!

Lots of little seams but with careful pressing, it all worked together well.

Friday, June 6, 2014 "Dresden in Blue"

This wall hanging belongs to my daughter, Charlotte, who loves blue.  She had these decorative plates so I was happy to make this fun wall hanging for her.

Thursday, June 5, 2014 "Grandmother's Flower Garden"

I took today off from sewing in my sewing room and went on an adventure.  I drove up to Loveland to a little antique shop that Jim and I had shopped at when we were there in May.  I feel very fortunate that I came across this fabulous "Grandmother's Flower Garden" quilt!  What a wonderful find.  It is all hand pieced and hand quilted and in beautiful condition.

The shop owner said that it had just been brought in yesterday.  The wonderful man had recently lost his wife and they had no children to pass this beautiful quilt down to.  He knew how much work his wife had put into this quilt and didn't want to just give it away.

I told the shop owner to be sure to tell him that the quilt was purchased by someone who  could really appreciate all the beautiful work that went into this quilt and that I would love and care for it.

Sunday, June 1, 2014 "Triangle Tango"

Today is my daughter in law, Jaclyn's, birthday.  This is the quilt I made especially for her.  Even though this picture shows it in my home, the fabrics were chosen to go in her master bedroom that she has painted so beautifully in gray stripes with an yellow accent wall.  When I found this selection of fabrics while shopping in Bountiful, Utah, I knew I had to make a new quilt for her!
Thanks to Grandma Mayer for going back and getting the fabric for matching pillow cases!

Quilting was so fun.  I love to see how it all comes together in the end, even when it sometimes can be very overwhelming by the sheer size of things! This quilt is queen sized.

This has been a great quilt to make.  I have made two, my mother has made one, and daughter, KayLynn started it all with the one she made.  It is called, "Triangle Tango" and the pattern is found in the book entitled, Easy Quilt Projects by Better Homes and Gardens. The quilt was designed by Roseann Meehan Kermes.

Saturday May 31, 2014 "Jelly Roll Race Two"

This is a fun quilt called Jelly Roll Race II.  The difference from a regular jelly roll quilt is the white 2 1/2" squares added to the end of each strip.  If you haven't tried a jelly roll quilt, they are great fun and really quite a nice quilt.  Great instructions can be found by going to YouTube videos and looking up Missouri Star Quilt tutorials. The fabric I used is called, "Pirouette" by Free Spirit Fabrics.

This quilt was made for my precious granddaughter, Akaydia, who celebrates her 2nd birthday today!  

Friday, May 30, 2014 "Yellow Brick Road"

While spending time at my daughter, Charlotte's, home last week, we, of course, went fabric shopping.  When we came across a nice selection of Downton Abbey fabrics (made by Andover Fabrics), she wanted to make a quilt for her good friend who is an avid fan of the series.  "Yellow Brick Road" pattern is a great way to showcase a line of fabrics.  Charlotte pieced the quilt top while I was staying with her for a couple of days.

Charlotte, and children, Zach and Ayla, came down to our house for a great visit and especially for me to get her quilt completed.  I added the borders and cornerstones and then Charlotte and I got all the pinning completed.  This is a great quilt for a nice meandering quilting.  Not real time consuming.

Label added and all ready to deliver this wonderful gift.

Thursday, May 29, 2014 "French Roses"

This past winter, I ordered a group of fat quarters that were suppose to be Valentine themed.  When they arrived, I was very surprised at what the company considered Valentines.  I don't associate coral and brown with Valentines.  I just didn't know what to do with all the fat quarters until I saw a quilt, on Pinterest, that caught my eye.  This quilt is called "French Roses" by Heather French.  I knew this was just the ticket to end my dilemma.  Here is my daughter, Charlotte, who had come over for a visit, tracing my templates. She also traced a lot of the fabric for me.

Here is the completed quilt.  I just love the raw edge appliqué.  I couldn't wait to get it completed and then washed and dried, fraying the edges and creating so much character to the quilt!

The backing fabric was the only fabric in the selection that made me think of Valentines.  Lucky for me, one day I happened to see it on line and on sale!  It was just what I needed to complete this really fun quilt.