Feelin' Groovy Dresden Flower Garden gets a Dragonfly!

Dragonfly is made with layers of batik overlayed with a deep green embroidered lace then individual dark iridescent beading on the wings in a freestyle and a heavy premade beading on the body.

The head is overlayed with a small piece of embroidered lace in a beautiful copper with dark iridescent beads in a cluster of 3 for each eye.

Let's Go Fly A Kite story quilt

Let's Go Fly a Kite! You cannot see Alex's shark shirt in this pic so look back in blog to see the full lower section. This pic of finished top shows changes I made in sky by adding the sun, triple rainbow and giant blue raindrops. Also used a fun multi stripe as an inner border. Also note the cell phone in the lower left corner! It is part of the story! I planned this quilt to be a shower curtain in my youngest grandchildren's bathroom.

Maryam quilted, bound, washed and dried

This blended version of Laundry Basket Quilts "Maryam" is ready for a sleeve and label. It washed and dried to a wonderful crush! and soft enough for a newborn baby.

Just finished "blended" Maryam - Laundry Basket Quilts

This project was very challenging and well worth the concentration and time it took to accomplish the blended version. I used approximately 35 different fabrics and will use 3 more for binding with contrast piping and backing. 88 X 88". My sister sure does like these colors and wants to take a nap with this quilt! LOL that sweet compliment makes it hers!!!
The pattern Maryam is mentioned in the book Reasons For Quilts with the name Maryann. ??? I should email Edita Sitar to name it correctly.
Happy Quilting!
Colleen

Heritage Album new block "Pansies"

Vase of pansies! Next block is a woven basket of flowers and fruit.
My Mother was in the hospital for 3 days after a fall, nothing broken which is amazing for 90 yrs old. The original block was assorted flowers but I decided to free-hand cut pansy petals. I used double faced silk velvet ribbon in two shades of green on the buds.
Happy Stitching!
Colleen

Wishing You A "Heritage Album Quilt" Journey

My Baltimore Album has transformed itself into --------------------

"Adelsverein"

German  ~ Texas Heritage Album Quilt

This post is lengthy but hope it will be an inspiration to delve into your heritage when working on a Baltimore Album quilt.
While working on the BA blocks I chose to personalize the sailing ship with German flags. Knowing the name "Brig Georg Dillus" as the ship of my German ancestors I have 4 added history blocks with information from the Knibbe family's voyage to America during the German Texas Emigrant Co.'s
promise of freedom and land of plenty in Texas. Prince Karl Solms-Braunfels came to Texas to purchase land for immigrating Germans. He purchased land and named the town New Braunfels after his homeland of Braunfels in Germany. While researching Indianola, Texas where the ship landed, the drawing of the sailing ship looked very much like the ship I was working on from Elly Sienkiewicz's book - Beloved Baltimore Album Quilts.
So I have used the research of genealogy records to record where the Brig Georg Dillus sailed from, Bremen Germany in Sept 1845 and arrived in Galveston December 1845 with 133 passengers. Galveston was the port of record on the ships passengers list. The Knibbe geneaology states that the ship ran aground on a sand barge near Galveston. In order to return to sailing they had to throw all their farm equipment and furniture overboard and eventually landed in Indianola, Texas with only the clothes they had on their backs. Dietrich Knibbe's wife Sophie died  on the voyage and was buried at sea. He had a infant baby girl who survived the voyage he remarried a lady who had lost her husband in a cholera epidemic in Indianola, Texas. They had several more children. Thus began the six generations Knibbe-Knibbe-Gerfers-Sotomayor-Kirk-Pollock family.
Wishing you an album quilt journey!

Colleen

Dresden Flower Garden gets a makeover!

My latest project - Dresden Flower Garden gets dressed up! Look back to find the original posts for this project. I loved this quilt when I finished the top a few weeks (months?) ago. After displaying it for Show and Tell I carefully folded it up waiting to attach borders. HMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!

I suppose I must have been dreaming about huge flowers because something made me want to jazz Dresden Flower Garden up. What to do???
I pieced hoochey mama flower pots ala Mary Lou W. Then thought I could trim out a single dresden flower above each flower pot. That is where I started making prairie points, I was in a prairie point frenzy. Sewed them on top with a double fold lime print to cover the raw edges. Oh my goodness
I could not miter the corners of the dresden flower sections so I hurriedly just worked my way around the six huge flowers.
The result!!!!!!!!! very dimensional points, looks amazing from a side view. I am adding a wild border on the remaining 3 sides it is a large floral with a leopard print background.

I know I must seem crazy to a lot of people but I am loving this bright happy collage!!!

What's on my bed!

What a great idea to share pics of the quilt on your bed. I do change quilts on beds often, I just love the change! Although I have only made 2 king size quilts I sometimes will fold an additional smaller quilt at the foot on the bed.

Fabrics for Cross and Key quilt

I received additional fabrics for Cross and Key quilt. Now to add accent fabrics, I think I may use batiks to create a stained glass border around medallion. Check back for updates. Vacation this week, going to San Diego for grandson's graduation from USMC bootcamp. We are very excited, my husband, Once a Marine - Always a Marine is looking forward to walking those hallowed grounds again. Way back in 1966 his family and girlfriend (me) were not able to travel from Oklahoma to California for graduation. So this is a once in a lifetime trip. We are so proud of him following in his granddads footsteps.

New project - machine embroidery for quilt

I have started a new project, a king size quilt for my middle daughter. 3 days of creative machine embroidery, this will be the center of a medallion. That's all I have right now, havent even done any sketching. The ornate crosses and keys, locks, gears and a clock are all overlapped with no starting plan. See pics from first design to finished creation.

Work in Progress

Today I spent some quality time in "The Quilted Village" I finished the 3 Row Houses to complete the top row. Also addeed the sidewalk to the Village Green. I am auditioning fabrics for the other buildings. Paper piecing is a challenge for me, I need to spend more time on this project. I want to finish it for my Guild's quilt Show in September.

Stitching Memories Quilt Guild, Duncan, Oklahoma

I will begin serving as president of Stitching Memories Quilt Guild tomorrow at our Board Meeting. I am looking forward to working with so many talented quilters. Check out our Guild at:
www.smqg.org

Be sure to see our new Raffle Quilt, it has been professionally appraised at $1,900.00. I hope we will raise alot of funds selling tickets until our Quilt Show on September 14 and 15, 2012.

Dresden Flower Garden

Through the camera lens I see several blocks to move, just got too tired to do any more tonight. Will audition borders next

Dresden flower garden 15 more blocks

I have not cut the centers for the new 15 blocks.Still dont know what layout I will use or how many blocks I need to make. Just loving playing with these beautiful fabrics for now.

Dresden flower garden 18 blocks sewn

I have lots more blocks to cut and sew. The next group will be in citrus colors lime and orange and yellow. I have several different layout choices, the brighter blocks will add lots of interest. Pics soon!

Dresden flower garden

Today I cut 18 blocks for Dresden flower garden. Using my stash of Kaffe Fassett's it is going to be quite a quilt garden! I won't be sewing for a while as we are moving my 90 yr old mother to assisted living. This is very difficult for her and us too. Every spare minute I have given myself some quilting therapy! very good for me!

Kayla's dream chaise

added tuffet w/ beads and a cute pug! she has cats but didnt have any cute cats! added borders and it is ready to quilt. this is blurry I will take another with digital camera. this was taken with my phone.

These Dream Chairs are so much fun! I need to make one for myself! They are quick and would make great fund raiser's for quilt auction.

first layout

Story Quilt - all sewn together

Payten got a princess crown, needs some bling!

from a cloudy day to sunshine in the valley and a rainstorm on Sandia Peak the weather is quite unpredictable

added narrow stripe inside border and it is all sewn

a triple rainbow for this group of kite flyers

New story quilt

The idea for this story quilt if from a vacation to Albuquerque last summer. My son-in-law, aka Super Kraig took Alex 5yr and Payten 3yr to fly kites at a neighborhood park. I will add to the story as I add components to the quilt!

Started Baltimore Album quilt in November

My first 5 blocks, lots to go. All needleturn applique, I included the book I am working with, it is great!