Closeup of hand quilting Grandma's Friendship quilt

Closeup of Batik Puzzle quilt

Someone asked for closeup of Batik Puzzle quilt, here are a few!

Batik Puzzle Quilt

I have almost finished the Batik Puzzle quilt. Took pics today , still have to do the binding but couldn't wait to show it to everyone who follows my blog! Thank you all!!!

"THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ GALA"

Thank you Twyla and Lindsey for hosting this gala party for the lover's of The Wizard of Oz!!!

Pictures of my Wizard of Oz Collection of quilts are scattered throughout my blog. Colleen's Quilting Journal to Oz is toward the bottom because it was my very first post.

I recently created my blog, just in time to participate is this blog party.

Please note the post about Quilting Treasures website featuring my collection from the first four series of Wizard of Oz fabrics.

I hope you will enjoy browsing through my blog and viewing the quilts. I have had a great time creating each and every one. Thank you for visiting!!!

A peak at my Batik Puzzle quilt

Welcome to my quilting workroom

This is where it all happens!!! Oh, I think it all first happens in my brain. Fabrics, designing and sewing! POOF!!! It becomes a quilt to warm hearts and grand children.

Witches Castle quilt

New quilt pics tomorrow!

I have finished the Witches Castle quilt top for 10 yr old grandson Joe. It is really scary he will love it. I will post pics tomorrow.
Also, starting machine quilting (stitch in the ditch) on my Batik Puzzle Quilt. I no longer hand quilt, but did not want any stitching crossing over my puzzle blocks. So I decided to machine quilt it using my walking foot on my Bernina 930. An older model but I love that sewing machine. It is going pretty well. The blocks are set on diagonal, so I have two large triangle sections, and separate borders to quilt.
Twyla wants to see my sewing workroom! Are you sure??? I used to have a custom drapery workroom business with my sister. We converted our garage apartment, opened up walls and have a built in sewing table and a 4' x 8' work table on rollers. Not a pretty studio, but If I ever have time in between projects I just might fix it up! No pretty shelving but plain shelves to store fabric and lots of other stuff!

Home Sweet Home

NEW TODAY -

I have added a slideshow on my About Me page.

Hope you enjoy the tour of our Home Sweet Home!

Witches Castle quilt

I started Joe Ferguson's birthday present today. The Witches Castle quilt with the flying monkeys is going to be fun - I am using several sections of panels from previous collections to help tell the story. Since Joe will be 10 yr old I have not used any pinks or pastels, no girlie stuff. The large panel has the witches green hands reaching for Dorothy's Ruby Slippers! Very scary!!!
He will love it. Birthday is September 9th so I have a lot to do.

OSU quilt for football games

This quilt was made for my son and daughter in law for Oklahoma State University football games. I think 16 yr old Cody Dale uses it all the time at home. Nothing like a grandchild wrapped up in one of Mimi's creations! No matter how old they are.

The center section is flannel and it is backed with black fleece.

Day #2 of my blog

I stayed up way too late last night working on my background colors! Those who already know me understand how I am about color!!! Let me know what you think.
Alex age 3 and Payten age 14mos are coming to play this morning. So I will check in later.
Have a great day!
Colleen

My first Stack and Whack quilt

My first Stack 'n Whack quilt. This quilt is for my middle daughter, made using Mary Englebreit fabrics. I love hot tea and this fabric with the teapots reminded me of all the tea parties I have shared with my children and grandchildren.

Grandma's Friendship Blocks

I made this quilt for my oldest daughter. The friendship blocks were made by her grandmother in the early 1940's. We found them after her death, not knowing she had ever done any quilt piecing.

I have used 1930's reproduction fabrics which matched the colors very well.

This quilt will surely be handed down through the generations in our family.

"JENNY'S FAN CLUB"

I had to leave the Land of Oz for a while to create "JENNY'S FAN CLUB" quilt for my favorite sister. All blue and white with large and small fans to honor the sweet memories of my niece Jennifer Lynn Herrin.

ALEX'S WIZARD OF OZ QUILT

Quilt with blue border for grandson age 3, he loves blue! The magic wands almost sparkle on this fabric.

Heather's quilt using first four collection of Wizard of Oz fabrics

My grandaughter Abbey and Dorothy

Abbey with her American Girl doll dressed as Dorothy.

Colleen's Wizard of Oz quilts on QUILTING TREASURES WEBSITE

Quilting Treasures Fabrics has honored my by showing my series of 4 Wizard of Oz quilts on their website:
http://www.quiltingtreasures.com/
click on Wizard of Oz news

My thanks to Jill at QT for appreciating my creativity.

Wizard of Oz quilts Journal

I began the journey October 2008 with my first Wizard of Oz quilt, made for my youngest daughter. Her husband sang " Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to her at their wedding. The Wizard of Oz has always been a family favorite.

When I first discovered the fabrics I was inspired to create something just for her. After the first one, the project snowballed and by Christmas I had finished 2 more for my grand daughters ages 10 and 6 mos.

After the holidays, with no project on my agenda, I began a series of quilts for myself. Quilting Treasures Fabrics began the series with images from the beginning of the movie, in sepia tones. Dorothy, Toto, and Miss Gulch come alive with actual scenes from the movie. Dorothy's red shoes and the rainbow being the only accent colors in the series led me to add my own touches of red and yellow.
The monkey wrench block at the bottom center represents the cyclone. The covered bridge at the center top represents an arrow pointing to the yellow brick road.
So began my cutting and piecing. The fabrics are very inspirational and I sang the songs from the movie as I sewed my blocks.

The second series is titled "Over the Rainbow" in beautiful pastels. Dorothy and Toto are in munchkin land with Glinda the Good Witch and the movie scenes show the house has fallen on the witch. Her red shoes almost sparkle in the clear images. The munchkins look lifelike and you can almost here them singing their songs.

The third series is titled "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" in bold primary colors. Dorothy meets her new friends, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. As they seek to find their way to the Wizard they encounter the Wicked Witch. She flies through the quilt on her broomstick, hides on rooftops and behind trees. These fabrics take the foursome through the poppy fields and on to the Emerald City.

The fourth in the series " The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is in beautiful vibrant colors of yellow, emerald green and turquoise and purple accents. You can feel the trepidation as the group tiptoes toward the Wizard. All the while the Wicked Witch is flying around on a yellow background and writing in the sky "SURRENDER DOROTHY".

So far I have finished 9 quilts with another being started soon for my 10 yr old grandson. He gets the Witches Castle series with the flying monkeys.

The 6th and last collection from Quilting Treasures comes out in 2010, titled" There's No Place Like Home". I look forward to seeing this last in the series, and I will be showing my quilts in a show in October at our local museum.

The Journey began October 2008