Dresden Update

I finished the quilt this afternoon!! I decided on the butter yellow for the binding. I rounded the corners and it turned out beautifully!

Next!....

The Quilt Lady
~Deb~

http://timelesscountryquilts.tripod.com/

Butterfly Quilt

I made this for my middle daughter, since she was going through a tough teenage life, I thought bright colors may cheer her up.

I saw this miniture version in a magazine and didn't want hers to be that small! So I made my own version of the quilt. I don't know about anyone else, but there is something about butterflies and flowers that really brings light to my life!

Since then I have made more changes to this quilt and added a different border. I will be posting it in a later blog here.

This quilt, since it was appliqued was easy to take anywhere I went, including to Branson!!! Yes, I took it on our week at the timeshare!

Can you tell how much I love to quilt?! It brings out my creative side.

Deb

The Quilt Lady

Nine Patch Snowball Quilt

I saw this quilt in a magazine and since there was no pattern to be found, I drafted my own pattern.

I made this for my oldest daughter. In the "snowball", in the cream fabric I did a "dogwood". I was real happy with how it turned out

Most of my quilts are machine pieced and handquilted. Some are all handpieced and quilted. I don't like thimbles and my fingers are proof of that fact. In fact they were bleeding last night, because I was pushing myself to complete the Dresden quilt. No worry, because they are all healed this morning!

Deb

Dresden Plate Update

The top has been finished; handquilting is complete!
I took it off the frame this morning and did an inspection of the quilting.
Today, I will trim the edges to prepare for the binding. The decision is what I will use for the binding, sew one edge with the machine and finish with basting the other side.

Next will be deciding the next quit to go on the frame and marking it for handquilting!

Deb

Star Baby Quilt

When my oldest daughter was expecting her first child, I found this pattern in a quilt magazine. You are unable to view the back, but it is done in a fabric that has butterflies and flowers. That was 4 years ago!

Trip Around The World

Some years back I purchased a quilt in Branson at a quilt store down by the trout farm in a log cabin. It is falling apart and well worn, and I loved the darn thing. So I decided to make one myself one to replace the one I bought.I tried my best to match the fabrics in the one I bought and this was the best I could do.

Vintage Stars

This is a quilt from a pattern I bought in a Metamora Quilt Shop. The center was going great and I was careful to follow the directions, but, something went wrong...I was constantly taking it apart and creating new pieces. I finally gave up and skipped doing one of the borders, just so I could finish that darn quilt!I must have done something wrong. Oh well, not every quilt comes together as it should.

I do have to say one thing, during this quilt I was taught many techniques which I needed to learn for future quilting, so all was not lost! In the end, it didn't turn out too bad, and hopefully I can "quilt out" some of the other things that turned up during the quilting process.

Deb

Stepping Stones

Not much of a story behind this quilt. I saw it in a book and was hit with a "wow" because it really stood out! Jewel-toned fabrics with unbleached muslin background. I didn't really like the one of the borders used in the quilt and made changes.

I have been steadily working on the Dresden Plate quilt and now have one end of the borders to finish. But because it is cold, I have to relocate where I am working on the quilts; the kitchen. I am sipping tea and working ona beutiful Grandmother's Garden Quilt; the hexagons. this quilt is totally done by hand using paperpiecing, which so far I have found, is the best way to hand piece this quilt. For every "flower I do it takes about 4 1/2 hours to sew together!

Deb

From blustery IL!

Old Quilt Tops

I especially enjoyed handquilting the "LoneStar" quilt. There was more room to use my creativity using circles with feathers. This lady really got a good deal on the handquilting as I charged a fee for doing the whole quilt, sight unseen. A lesson I learned from; if one is going to handquilt a quilt top, one should ask to either see the quilt or a picture first. Doing anything less would have not done justice to the quilt itself. Whoever pieced the quilt, did so by hand, not by machine, since both were heirloom quilt tops, one must be in keeping with what the other woman started. I also had to try and fix the quilt in many places, trying not to take away too much from the original piecing.

The other quilt was just a Fourpatch, for being a simple quilt, whoever handquilted it, was not very experienced, really poorly done. Maybe she was a child or inexperienced quilter. The colors were nice though. It was crooked and pulled every which way; a real challenge. Once again, I learned that I should have looked at the quilt more closely.

Not pictured here was the "Kansas Dugout" quilt. The fabrics were, well, not something I would have picked...When finished, it wasn't too bad.

All the quilt tops came from a lady who inherited a bunch of quilt tops from someone, I think, in her family. I never meet the lady, instead a friend of hers was the one who not only brought me the quilts, but also picked them up. She was given the last quilt; "Kansas Dugout".

Experience, is a good teacher! But, doing that Lonestar quilt was pure joy!

Deb

Amish Baskets

This is a quilt top that I have sewn together by machine. When handquilted, I will be quilting large hearts surrounded by feathers in the white blocks. Not sure yet how I will be handquilting the rest. I thought this quilt would be eye-catching and also look traditional. I basically didn't have to go out and buy "new" fabric for this quilt. Most of it was bought when we were staying at one of our timeshares near St. Louis, Missouri. I use to do that; buy fabrics and match them up for later use in making a quilt. Tip is to always make sure you buy enough; better to have too much than not enough! Deb

Vintage Butterfly Quilt!

This quilt has a story! While I was working as the Head Librarian at the Toluca Public Library, I met some real nice quilters!

One of these ladies, asked if I would take quilts that had been started, but not finished. Ladies, I would never turn down such a blessing as this! This was one of the unfinished quilts! This is the real thing; old vintage fabrics! There were a few butterflies that had the embroidery donearound them, other than that, she was all mine to do. With black embroidery thread,and the blanket stitch, I proceded to slowly work on the quilt. All or most of this quilt was cut out, so that was a real treat! But, like most quilter's, I was busy with other things and it took years to finally finish sewing. The whole top is totally handquilted, no sewing machine here!

One lady that is friends with my father-in-law, would watch as I worked on it. I knew she admired the quilt with the bright colors. And when my poor little "Misty" got ill, she is the angel who went with me to the vet. At the time money was real tight and she helped me pay for the vet bill, didn't want the money back. Unfortunately, my little gal didn't make it. But, I never forgot what that woman did for me. When I finally finished the quilt top, I showed it to her. She sat there on one Easter, "petting it" , admiring it and looking like se was wishing it could be hers. So, I went over and told her I was giving it to her, because one should get paid back for showing a kindness. She wanted it bigger, so she went out and we matched the bright yellow up and will be sewing a nice border of yellow around the quilt later.

She brought me an heirloom quilt top and I quilted it for her for free. I do not have the picture on my web site yet. It was "Kansas Dugout".

Deb

Dresden Plate 1930's Reproduction Fabric

Here she is! 3/4 of the way finished! I dislike when this happens....I like the way it looks, but, I have to sell her...what can I say? I have three dresden plates to quilt and the border just on that one end. Then I can sew the binding on...can't wait to see the finished quilt.

I have an etsy account/web site up; ready and waiting to roll.

I would like to see some comments posted on how you feel about the dresdan plate quilt?!

Please do check out my web site as I have downloaded many pictures of quilts to the site this morning! At least 10 new photos!

Deb

Research on Reproduction Quilts

Early this morning, I was reading my devotions where they were talking about Abe Lincoln. Hello...I was intrigued as good ole Abe lived here a while in this state! Found out Lincoln was born 200 years ago! Okay, now I have to design a quilt...

My interests also go back to the civil war quilts, pioneer quilts, Baltimore Album quilts and 1930's reproduction quilts, okay, I like most reproduction quilts. I discovered that some museums are being more than kind enough to have some people come in and reproduce patterns for us to purchase!!! Okay, I am more than ecstatic!!!

To me there is nothing more peaceful than recreating a quilt from start to finish just like that person did years ago. What were they thinking when they were making it? What were their lives like? These women, and yes some men were artists! But they may not have thought as themselves that way.

There are many who are making the Jane Sickle quilt. And there are so many more patterns available as well as museums who are displaying these wonderful work of art quilts!

My middle daughter; Amber hopes she can make it over tomorrow to take pictures of the quilts I don't have on my web site; yes, including the Dresden plate who is 3/4 finished now! When the quilt is finished, she will go up for sale at Etsy on the site there. Okay, this will be sad to sell it...but I can't keep them all!

After I finish the all 6 of those quilts, I will be working on reproduction quilts.

Civil War, Baltimore Album, Mariner's compass, Whole cloth, and early 1930's quilt patterns.

I spent about 8 1/2 hrs quilting today! And I don't think I am done...

Deb

Dresden Plate Update



I have the top over half quilted! The digital camera my daughter borrowed me turned out not to have a driver...so maybe I will have to get someone to come over, take pictures with their digital and send them to me...



I have a Plaid Star quilt top, 1930 Feathered Star quilt top, Butterfly's In My Garden quilt top, Amish Baskets quilt top, and Stepping Stones quilt top all sewn together, waiting and ready to be handquilted, in the near future.

I am also working on a Grandmother's Flower Garden, A Maple Leaf appliqued quilt and A Country Bride Quilt.



I have been down cleaning out and organizing what use to be a parlor, into my quilting room. It use to be my craft shop, when I was selling crafts. Sold stuffed animals and dolls and handmade baskets, mini-quilts, etc.

Deb

Bear in the Woods Quilt

I thought I would use this to post a journal of quilts I have done.

Starting with my favorite; "Bear in the Woods"

We were in Branson, MO staying at our timeshare. When we found out there were a couple of quilt stores in the area. Bought a quilt over by the trout farm, and went to see another by the Imax. But the real fun was visiting Quilt shops who sold patterns and fabrics!

My husband was standing admiring a quilt that was made on display, it was gorgeous! I just had to make one! He readily agreed and together we collected fabric for the quilt! It was a fun and bonding. A lady at the store in Branson told me about making a sheet up on the computer listing the different patterns of the quilt blocks with a square next to each. As I collected fabrics I could attach a piece of fabric, that way I could match the next bunch of fabrics I would purchase and they would go well together. I bought most at the shop where I purchased the pattern. There was also another page added; a picture of an applique bear, this really made the quilt.

A few years later, I went back to discover one that was for sale, they had it marked at $1500! Next time I went back they had a new one marked at more. Okay, it took me a while to get up the nerve to make it! It was a challenge! But, one year I decided to just do it! After many hours and yes even bloody fingers (okay I hate using thimbles, lacks the "feel"). It is finished and on my bed. Unfortunately, one of the grandkids found a pen and wrote on it. After a sunken heart, I never gave up and finally found something that would take out the ink! After that, I was scared to display it! Another quilt lays on top of it! I put a lot of love into that quilt!

But, then, I prefer doing quilts because of my heart; it tells me to do certain quilts, then I put my heart into making the quilt. This is why I don't do special order quilts, I only do the ones that speaks to my heart.

Dresden Plate in 1930's Reproduction Fabrics

I started this quilt on January 5, 2009. Using 1930 reproduction fabrics I have collected over the past few years. It took about 8 hours to cut out most of the pieces. So far, I have put in about67 1/2 hours of sewing the pieces by machine and handquilting what needed to be appliqued; leaves, posies, the plate and the center round yellow piece of the plate.

Since then, I have spent around 21+ hours handquilting the top. She is on an old antique quilting frame. I bought off a lady in town for $10. Wonderful old thing...

I decided on 3 blocks by 4 blocks (12 total blocks). But, when I make another; it will be 4 blocks by 5 blocks (15 total blocks).

I am waiting to borrow a digital camera from my daughter, otherwise the next best thing I could do is use the scanner to get close-ups of the quilt.

This isn't my first quilt. Some of the quilts I have done are on my web site at: http://timelesscountryquilts.tripod.com/