Quilting Story Quilt

 My first attempt at quilting with the Pattern Perfect templates on my Bernina Quilting Frame! This is the way to go when I need something super QUICK!
I am working on a surprise baby quilt for a shower this weekend. I will post a pic soon!

Colleen's Garden Fiesta - story quilt has a NAME!

COLLEEN'S GARDEN FIESTA!

After all these weeks of working on my first story quilt I have finally given it a proper name! A garden full of fun for sure! More things to add after my vacation to Albuquerque, our little squirrel who visits all the bird feeders and grandchildrens names on sidewalk. My borders are on but top and bottom both need adjustments, all elements are sewn down except the large hot air balloons. When I looked out early this morning I saw one up in the New Mexico sky!!! The weather here is a nice break from 6 weeks of over 100 degrees many up to 110. No humidity makes 90 feel like 75 in Oklahoma!
Happy Quilting!
Colleen

Katie the Calico Cat and Quacker added to Story Quilt

I have been working on Katie our calico cat that lived with us for over 14 years and the little Easter duckling that ( you might not believe this!!!) wandered up to our back porch a few days after Easter in about 1980. A friend of our daughters took that little duckling to her Grand dad's farm!!! A great part of the story!!!

Saturday's work on Story quilt

Can you spot the changes and find the additions? This project is ALL about changes! LOL! I forgot to pin the small hot air balloons back on before taking this pic so they will be there in the sky. The banners from the large balloons were giving me some issues so had to clear the sky to place them. Notice my pedicure! This is so much fun. I have a 2 day workshop on Monday and Tues and Guild meeting Mon night. Becky Goldsmith of Piece O Cake Designs will teach workshop and give program at Guild. I am so excited!!!
Happy Quilting!
Colleen

Story quilt more changes and additions

Today I did some planting in the flower beds and potted some tulips in a mosaic pot. Also I repotted the large flowers into a wooden barrel and made some decorative garden stakes. This is so darn much fun!!! Also formed my steps. I received some very nice comments today. One was from Mary Lou Weidman herself!!! Boy did she make my day!!! and Duff too! I appreciate the encouragement, thank you both.
Tomorrow will be a sewing day.
Happy Quilting!
Colleen

Story quilt progress

I sewed a bit today on my Story Quilt. Made some changes --- I realized that my feet looked like the house had landed on the Wicked Witch of the West --- NOT GOOD !!!!!!!!!!! It looks much better with more of my legs. The brick bannisters were driving me crazy, I realized I was trying to be too realistic  with the placement of the steps, so that change is good, I think. Also I didnt like my flower pots so one more change. Actually I changed the hot air balloons too so they have more color and contrast with the border and blocks. With all the colorful crazy patch borders and hoochy mama blocks, it is hard to get enough contrast. This is certainly a learning experience and I am learning from all the necessary changes. I am using Mary Englebreit garden frames with sweet phrases and cut a heart shape to add to the gate.
I may be sorry, but I have not used any stabilizer or fusible for the applique, just sewing them on. Since I cut everything freehand I can re cut as I go and have used pinking shears on some edges.
Happy Quilting!
Colleen

Story quilt WIP / allergy attack

Over the years we have enjoyed having Miniature Schnauzers in our family. Three are riding in the hot air balloons, Fritz, Millicent and Bridgette.  Samantha and Taffeta are with us now and are sitting in front of the gate. They are all made of felted wool. All these pieces are just pinned on. Our grandchildren love to draw on the sidewalk. I will be adding their names to the sidewalk, but not sure how to replicate chalk. Each decision I make requires lots of changes!
We are having record heat in Oklahoma and drought. The sprinkler system in flower beds have kept everything alive but looking so burned. I usually can enjoy this porch all through the summer especially in the evenings, but not this year.
I spent 5 days with my middle daughter, working on 3yr old Payten's room, she now has a big girl bed. Her Strawberry Shortcake quilt is on bed with cupcake sheets and pillow cases and her nursery quilt is hanging on the wall. Her "Mimi" quilt, a 1930's reproduction pinwheel is folded on top of her toy box. I made a 24" bolster with fabric from her nursery valance and a really cute appliqued cupcake pillow trimmed with large rickrack and ruffles. I came home Friday with an allergy attack, and have been feeling too bad to sew. You know I am sick if I don't feel like sewing!!! LOL . Temp was 103 yesterday, that was my temp, the outside temp was 111 !!!!!!!!!!! No fever today, only a sore throat so I am encouraged, and hope to get in to my Dr. tomorrow. I have way too many things to do to waste time being sick.
Happy Quilting!
Colleen

Story quilt day 8

This afternoon I worked on story quilt, adding my feet propped on the bench, and our 2 Mini Schnauzers. I have moved the furry girls all over, they are in front of the gate in this pic, but they may run around to find their favorite spot. I also made 2 more hot air balloons. They feature Alex and Payten's art! The lace angel under the arbor is my niece Jennifer who was killed in 2000 in an arson fire. I actually have a sweet angel - fairy statue in a planted birdbath in that corner. I wish I really had some capris as cute as the ones I created! I guess I also could have given myself a suntan but didnt! I will do some "planting" in the flower beds next. This is fun but soon I will have to take it all off to start sewing.

Saturday Story Quilt progress

All the elements in the story quilt are just pinned on, I am changing my drawing with additions and deletions! Happy so far! My feet will be last --- everything so far has been cut freehand with only my drawing for guidance. I will have to take everything off to do the fusible applique. But I think I will have to trace my feet. If you are wondering why my feet are going to be a part of my story quilt--- well, this is a view of my garden from my favorite chair on the porch. I sit with my feet on an outdoor foot stool. We have a wonderful old home built in the early 1900's and moved to this location in 1920. The porch in the story in facing the South and is between our living room and master bedroom, each room has a set of french doors going out to the porch. It is my quiet place sometimes and fun family place too! I really should get a cup of Earl Grey tea into this quilt because "hot tea on the porch" is one of my favorite things to do!

story quilt day 5

Three days sewing at quilt camp has given me lots of sewing time dedicated to my story quilt. The crazy pieced borders are attached to center, the hoochy mama blocks are ready to sew on. I used all my green scraps to crazy piece shrubs along the fence. The brick porch banisters are almost working, all this is pinned on. I have a long way to go but so far this has been fun! I decided to have a hot air balloon fiesta to honor daughter #3 who lives in Albuquerque. The large balloon and banner will say "I love you, a bushel, a peck and a hug around the neck", the flowers in pots are my grandchildren, each in their favorite colors.
More to come, after a little time to rest!
Happy Quilting,
Colleen

Story quilt Hoochie Mama blocks

These Hoochie Mama blocks are additive!!! also made inner border all from scraps from the blocks. NO WASTE AT ALL!!! I cut a strip border from my favorite multi colored stripe to separate the border from the blocks. Tomorrow I will begin sewing blocks together and determine how many more I need to make and also what background colors I need to add. This is FUN!

Added link to Mary Lou Weidman's new blog "Mary Lou and Whimsy Too"

I follow Mary Lou Weidman and am planning my Story quilt using her inspiring books and website. She has started a new blog and asked followers to share her link. It is on top on the right side of my blog! Thanks Mary Lou for your inspiration!

Story quilt

My current project is a sketch of my story quilt. No! I dont know what I am doing!!! but I usually dont! My quilts always start with a drawing of something in my head and proceed to be worked out as I go. I purchased Mary Lou Weidman's book " Out of the Box " a few months ago with the goal of making a story quilt. I decided to stop being afraid of starting so I took my sketch to my local stationary store and had my enlargements made. I have them all taped together and like the size.
 Next I will re-design the elements into more folk style whimsical shapes ( remember I have no idea if I am doing this right or not!!!) the one thing I know is I will be as decorative as possible, trying to recreate the scene from my favorite chair on my porch in my "Secret Garden".
Flowers and birds and bees etc, plus dresden flowers and pinwheels representing my sweet grandchildren. Chalk grafiti is always on the sidewalk with their names.  My favorite phrase " I love you a bushel, a peck and a hug around the neck", will also be included.
My fabrics are all stacked and waiting to make my first "Hoochie Mama" blocks. The instructions in the book look interesting. Bright colors and lots of contrast and polka dots and plaids will all go into my border blocks.
I ordered Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins book "Curl Up With Quilts" because they have a cute Schnauzer pattern to include our little furry kids. I think they will be playing hide and seek in the flower beds. My dream "gate" is at the end of the sidewalk. I always wanted a scalloped gate with a heart opening, because I want to hang bells in the heart. Well I can do it in a quilt even if I can't have one for real!
My favorite hand painted sandals are black with cherries ( a tribute to Mary Lou ). My capris will be bright prints.