Happy New Year!

Happy new year!  Here's hoping for peace in our world!  A quote that I carry around with me is from my hometown pastor, from years ago - maybe over 40 years ago.  He said, you don't have to like everyone, but we do have to love everyone.  I believe that and strive for it in my life.

Here is my last finish for 2023:  Kay's Housetop, made totally from my stash (mostly Kaffe Fassett fabrics), including the backing and batting!  This is a Christmas gift for my BFF Kay (her name is Karen but I have called her Kay since the 7th grade), who is a master knitter, and lover of COLOR!  Her house is gorgeous, with walls painted in saturated colors, or covered with beautiful wallpapers, and lovely, colorful art everywhere.  

I did something very different for me - I hand-quilted it! I had sent it to my longarm quilter for quilting, but her machine was out of service for a while, so I decided to hand quilt it!  I was inspired to do so because of seeing Sujata Shah's gorgeous quilts, which she hand quilts.  I thoroughly enjoyed the process, was surprised how quickly I finished it (I did not heavily quilt it), and I plan to hand quilt more pieces in the future! I used a wool batting, which quilted like a dream. 

I shipped the quilt to my bestie, and she loves it!  I'm so glad that my quilter's machine was out of order, so I could discover the joy and relaxation of hand quilting!  I used a hoop, regular thread and a size 9 needle, and the entire 60" square quilt was finished in less than 3 weeks of my spare time.  

 

Back in the saddle!

I am back in the hand quilting saddle, and loving it! I was inspired by Sujata over at the Root Connection (she has a new book!), and also by Tim Latimer (see his blog here. So far I have completed hand quilting a set of coasters, and a small pillow top. 

This is an OLD project, called a bulls-eye quilt, I think. You can judge the age by all of those plaids and stripes that were popular many moons ago.  I do love this quilt, even though it is somewhat dated.  But something Sujata said - about how all of your quilts, made over the years, are all a part of you...I really love that, and it is so true.  I was looking for another hand quilting project, and was going to make some kind of new, small project - in my spare time...but then I remembered this quilt top.   Sometimes what you are looking for is right in your own backyard, right Dorothy? (Wizard of Oz reference)
I am quilting in a hoop, with very few pins for basting, as Tim does.  I am using a wool batt, perle cotton #8, and a Big Stitch needle.

Another Tim was keeping me company while I quilted - Tim Gunn from Project Runway.  Anyone else out there a fan?

One block finished in less than an evening! I am loving this!

Cedarburg Visit Part Two - Quilt Museum, and yes I do hand quilting

How fun to see Victoria Findlay Wolfe's ( I knew her from her 15 Minutes Play blog, you can also find her at other blog, bumblebeans inc.) Double Wedding Ring quilt exhibit!  It is a the Wisconsin Quilt Museum in Cedarburg, and it is well worth your time to visit! It is in a restored barn, on the edge of Cedarburg, and seeing quilts displayed in that venue is just perfect.  In the photo above, at the bottom, you see an awesome quilt made by Victoria's grandmother, made free-form from various fabrics, many polyesters - what she had to work with.  At the top is Victoria's modern quilt, of quilting cottons, but inspired by her grandmother's quilt.  

Close-up of the machine quilting (sorry I do not remember the name of the quilter) on one of Victoria's Double Wedding Ring quilts.

Full view of the quilt. 

Close-up view of another of Victoria's quilts - again, sorry I did not note the quilter's name.  Stunning work! Victoria has a book coming out soon, with all of these quilts in it.

Out behind the quilt museum, a blacksmith was demonstrating his craft.  Do you see how red-hot that iron got? His fire gets up to 3000 degrees! His work was fascinating - and a little terrifying! 

Who knew, me, hand quilting?  Yes, I have done it in the past, and I have recently picked it up again. Part of my inspiration is the blog of Tim Latimer (timquilts.com), an excellent and prolific hand quilter from Michigan.  I had this small piece sitting around, and decided to do some "big stitch" hand quilting on it, with #8 perle cotton. 

Close-up of the quilting.  I have gotten better as I go along!