Quilt Tour 2012 Part III

So - I'm beginning to think that I have WAY too many quilts displayed around the house! My family is used to it, I guess!

Hannah's Sweet 16, made in 2006. It was done as a surprise for Hannah's 16th birthday - I got signatures/messages from family and friends, and traced them onto these simple blocks using a Mickey Mouse light box I got at a garage sale for $1. This was a challenge for me, as I used "Hannah colors", which are not my colors! Hannah's colors are, for example, olive green, salmon pink, teal, dusty purple, golds, and browns. I usually go for the jewel tones. Not a great shot of it, sorry but this is where it lives.

Brenda's Dresden, received in an online bee swap in 2011. The one I made lives with my new friend, Helen, in New York.

Lime Green with Hearts, made around 2002. I had collected the lime green fabrics (my favorite color) and was just playing with them. My only quilt with beading.

I figured I should include my studio's design walls - this is my Color Challenge blocks, just made this year. The challenge was issued by the lovely Victoria over at 15 Minutes Play.

My other work-in-progress on the wall, this is Gypsy John - a gift for a special friend. More on this later.

Quilt Tour 2012 Part II

Angels with Go-Go Boots, also made in the 90s (do you see a theme here?) - this was started in a miniature quilt class taught by sorry-I-don't-remember-her-name, who lives in another suburb of Chicago. It features a very fun Christmas fabric with some pretty stylin' angels. Lots of paper piecing!

Another rare hand quilted piece by Chris - Amish 4-patch, also probably from the 90s.

Sanibel Island, made after our one and only trip to Florida, in 2000. It was a memorable trip in many ways. It was our only visit to a Disney park, and to Sanibel Island (which I LOVED). Sitting on that quiet beach, with the tropical breezes, and the ocean waves lapping at the beach - now THAT is VACATION!!! It was also the last "spring break" vacation that we took as a family. Our daughters went on tour with their church choir every year during their high school years. I bought these fabrics at a store in Florida.

Grateful, made earlier this year - 2012! It is my "word of the year" - trying to be mindful of the many blessings I enjoy each and every day. Made as a gift for my wonderful husband. :)

Wedding Quilt, made in 1944 for my mom and dad, Leona and Bob Heggestad, by my grandmother, Myrtle Grife Johnson. I love how this is made all of solids - and since my mom hardly ever used it, it is in beautiful condition. I remember crawling under the quilting frame in my grandma's tiny house - sometimes it was the only way to get through the living room! I still have her frame, up in the attic. Mom, Dad, and Grandma have all passed on, but how cool is it that I have this treasure?

Quilt Tour 2012

Lest any of you think that I really don't make quilts - since lately mostly all of my posts have been about other things - here is a tour of what's currently on display at the Hudson house!

So - take it away, Quilt Tour 2012 - Part 1!

(blogger won't usually let me post more than 5 photos per post, and sometimes I have to post first 3, and then 2 - but I digress...)

Erica's Trees - circa 1992? Inspired by the fabulous Erica Carter, and an article I saw in Threads magazine. Many fabrics had to be collected to make this! I first made a "wearable art" jacket in this design, and then followed up with this wall quilt.

I still have the jacket, but with its big shoulder pads, I don't wear it very often. It was even accepted into a wearable art show in Chicago back then. I must show you a picture in a future post.

Alaskan Mystery - from the same era, around 1990-92. I was in a small bee, we met at each other's homes, and usually the host would have something for us to work on that night. This project took several months - it was a mystery quilt project, purchased from a quilter in Alaska (hence the name). We got one clue each time, not knowing what the finished quilt would look like. I really like the finished project - but unfortunately, my puppy ate a couple of holes in this!

Wonky Hearts - maybe from the late 90's? This was a pattern, my only variation was having all four borders different - out of necessity! My stash doesn't usually have big lengths of fabric. I like how they turned out - sometimes out of frugality comes creativity!

Single Wedding Ring - from the mid 90's. This was made for Hannah's twin bed, after she got out of her crib (btw, she is now 21). My inspiration was a quilt I saw in a movie, on Meg Ryan's bed in You've Got Mail. Not sure if it was this block, but it was a similar setting. My bee friends helped make blocks for this one, and I sent it out for quilting.

Although I don't usually hand quilt my quilts, I must admit I love how it looks! This is Pansies, from the mid 90's.

Hope you enjoyed my little tour - stay tuned for Part II!