Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

The little town of Sisters Oregon holds an outdoor quilt show on the second Saturday in July every year.  People come from all over. The first persons that we met, while standing in line to get into a little cafe for breakfast, were from Tucson Arizona.   

Quilt hand all over town with the streets closed

quilts wave in the breeze

admiring quilt handiwork

Simplicity!

two beauties!


There were so many more . . . . I just can't show them all!
Sew. . . I will share a couple each week on Wordless Wednesdays.
Stay tuned!

Another Quilt Show!

I spent Saturday with a friend; we went to a quilt show.  In our area, there is a quilt show series--four of them in fact.  I was able to catch all but one of them.  This one on Saturday, was held by the Metropolitan Patchwork Society here in Portland.   Here are a few pictures of some of my favorites.

This one for it's flower prints with free motion outlining in black--Hope you can see the detail!

This one for it's creative use of alternating quilting in the center circle. 

and my very favorite was a quilt  by Mary Derthick called "Fairy Bower"  with a semi-watercolor patchwork background and appliqued scenes.

Although I don't have a picture, it has scalloped edges--Beautiful work!! 

I enjoyed myself.  Hope you Enjoy the lousy pictures--BTW, hubby and I looked at a new camera, still deciding which way to go, but that's another story (mine got broken some time ago--using my smart phone camera--not very good indoors!)

Linking today with Create-with-Joy's Inspire Me Monday

Got Talent?

(Part one in a series of articles on your attitude of creativity.)

Do you struggle with your creativity?  Do you think that others were just born with it?  You think, others just "have what it takes" and do not struggle with making lovely things. I, personally, think creativity is a matter of style and "stick-to-ativeness".  (Like my new word?  -- It's creative!)  Yes, I agree, takes a few times to do something to perfect it! In the process, you find things that you would do differently the next time.  But stick to it!  You'll get it.

As to style, I understand that my style is not like someone else's.  If you are trying to reproduce someone else's style, you will never be satisfied.  Just keep working on your own designs until you are satisfied with your own creativity! And quit comparing yourself to others!  You are unique!


My pansy quilt and matching pillow cover

I often have tried to compare my quilting to some of those beautiful creations that I see in the quilt shows.  Mine are nothing like those!  But I have come to accept my creations as an extension of me!  They are creative, pleasing, and talented!  I have learned that I have a "child-like" quality to my work, and that is OK.  Anyone ever hear of Grandma Moses? Her creations--her artwork--was primitive and hot (in her time) for an old lady! "Child-like" was OK!

I had a friend  who considered herself "craft-challenged"  but when we had a get-together, she participated and came up with lovely quilt squares for our group project.  I don't think any of us are UNtalented.  Just take a browse thru Etsy and you will see! And make sure you "keep at it"!

Friday Quilt Finds

Since I am at the SewExpo, actually the Sewing and Stitchery Expo, I thought that I would show some of my own favorite stitchery for Friday Finds!

Although this item is sold, I love the work that this Australian stitcher, Maria,  does!

Crazy quilting by mariadownunder



Hydrangea Quilt by DesignerDahliasEtc

And another quilt by Suzanne of Designer Dahlias Etc--I just love her quilts!



Red Quilt by Suzanne B Taylor

 See ya next week, with the report of the SewExpo--The biggest sewing party in America!!!

Sandwich Practice

One new technique that I am trying is machine quilting.  I have only used my old Singer machine to quilt small projects, up to this point, i.e. table runners, small quilted wall hangings, a baby quilt.  But never a large quilt.  One reason is because the feed dogs do not lower on my machine.  I have to cover them with a home-made plastic plate to do any quilting with free motion design.  So I have mostly stuck to 'in the ditch' or straight line quilting, if I have done the quilting myself and not sent it out to a quilt studio.

I was recently at my friend's house, who has a good free motion quilting machine, and I did some practicing. After I practiced free motion meandering, I was a little disappointed in my work, since it is not easy to do. I had heard that it takes practice, and that is right!  So I wouldn't show you that particular practice piece--it doesn't look very good! I decided to stick to straight line quilting, until I have more practice time finished.

Then, I decided to make a sandwich.  No, not the kind you eat!  A quilt sandwich.  This is a small square of the materials that you are using in your current quilt project, approximate 12 inches by 12 inches, including a piece of the top, a piece of the batting and a piece of the backing.  With this you can practice stitches with free motion, even different threads and thread combinations, and sizes of stitch lengths. 

Since I wanted a look of water, I tried parallel wavy lines . . . .

and . . . overlapping wavy lines.  I tried some different colors of thread, but it doesn't show very well in these photos.

My current quilt project has a scalloped edging, so I cut the sandwich with a scalloped edge and tried two different stitching patterns along the scallops.  I had originally thought that I wanted wavy lines there too, but hubby suggested straight lines going out from the center.  I didn't like his thought very much, until I tried it.

My thought:

His thought:

I think his idea makes the scallop's look like seashells . . . and I like it better! It doesn't look so good here, since there is no edging to define it.  Anyway, I think that this sandwich practice has helped me decide how I want to quilt my large project.  The only thing left to decide is how I am going to quilt the patchwork portion that I haven't shown here.    Decisions, decisions! Oh . . and I decided on a name for the quilt . . .
Stay tuned for the progress on the "Antique Bubble" doily quilt. 

Making do! Part 2 of Baby Quilt in Progress

I've been experimenting with my sewing machine.  I don't have a quilting machine, nor do I have a walking foot for my regular machine, so I have improvised to actually quilt with it.   It's an older machine, and the feed dogs are stationary and do not lower, so I made a plastic cover for them. The cover is taped over the feed dogs, and obviously, it has a hole in the plastic for the needle to descend down to the bobbin thread.  This plastic plate allows me to move the quilt sandwich around easier, without the feed dogs trying to pull on the fabric.  It is not the best way to do quilting, but it works.  It does not give a "professional" look, but it does the job.  I'm still working on the technique.



Here's an update on the baby quilt that I have been working on. (Earlier post.)  I am using my sewing machine and the technique listed above to quilt this project.  I have added some bright patchwork pieces to offset the subdued pink, lime, blue and yellow of the backing.



Quilting using Pink Thread

The quilt is not finished, needs the quilting and the binding to be finished.  Also, I have enough flannel left to make a matching pillow case for a small pillow (toddler sized).

Backing is a fun giraffe flannel



This is for Fabric Tuesday over at QuiltStory blog.  Please visit some of the other links to see some other wonderful quilt projects.  Thanks!

New Baby Quilt in Progress

Several years ago, I made a quilt for a child's bed.  I recently found that I had quite a piece of flannel left from that project. One of my favorite animals in the zoo is the giraffe.  The flannel that I chose was a colorful array of juvenile giraffes in teal, green and pink on a yellow background.

So, I decided to make another quilt, this time a smaller one--a baby quilt.  It's not finished yet, but I thought that I might share with you the process that is going on now.

The new quilt's main block is the basic nine patch.

I have repeated the same colors of the flannel.  I am quilting the sandwich now and will show it to you when it is done.   I have a small space in my apartment in which to work, so a smaller project is easier for me to quilt with my sewing machine.   Larger projects are sent out to my friend who has a studio and a long arm machine.    Here's hoping the project turns out to be comfy and cute! 

What are you working on? 

This post is for Quilt Story's Fabric Tuesday meme!  Please visit the link party on Quilt Story blog.  Thanks!

It's the Season for Pink!

It's time to think PINK!!  It's September!  The Susan G Koman Race for the Cure Walk is the 18th here in my hometown.  Do you have one scheduled in your city?  Here's a link to find one near you.   As a Breast Cancer survivor, I am always grateful when funds are raised to find the cure!  Find a walk near you and participate!!

Also, that's why I am so excited to find Pink Saturday Link Party over at How Sweet the Sound blog 

I make Breast Cancer Awareness quilts.  They are made with a crazy quilt block with a white center sporting a pink ribbon.  It is my hope that  these quilts will encourage those battling the disease; or trying to remember to take care of themselves;, or remembering a loved one lost. They are available in my shop or at this listing.

Here's the link for the Saturday Pink Party.  Visit some of the other participants, I'm sure they will appreciate a visit.  Thanks! 

Old Friendship Quilt Top - Wordless Wednesday

Yesteryear - Applique Stitches

The quilt above is patchwork ( the star pattern ) and appliqued (the curved vine and flowers.)

In the past, applique was quite popular and done beautifully by hand.   Several stitches were used and it was thought that stitches should show as little as possible--for obvious reasons.  Some quilters used an 'invisible' stitch.  Most of the thread, provided it is a matching color, is hidden in the fold of the fabric.

Start the first stitch with a knotted single thread into the fold from the wrong side of the fabric.  It then comes out thru the fold.   For the second stitch, insert the needle into the fold right near the spot where the first stitch ends, then come back out in the fold about a 1/4" ahead while taking a short stitch into the backing fabric. Repeat.  Practice makes perfect!  This stitch was very popular in many old quilts. 

I feel that hand work is very relaxing.  Try it sometime!

Yesteryear - Birds!

I found a pattern for a bird quilt from an old (September 1977) Quilter's Newsletter Magazine.  I love it and want to try it on a small quilt.  The design is by Vera Crutter, an award winning needleworker.  The birds are ingeniously constructed of bias tape appliqued and embroidered on to a 12 inch block!  She originally had nine different patterns.  These patterns sold  for 35 CENTS each or $2 for the set!  WOW!  What a  bargain from today's standards!

I would like to try this, only I would not use bias tape, but strips of fabrics!  Hope this inspires you to try something new!  any ideas?

Yesteryear--Vintage Doilies

If you love vintage, you probably have/and-or love doilies!  I have a sentimental place in my heart for doilies, because I watched my aunt crochet them and my grandmother used them in her home.  They were originally used  as toppers for a chest of drawers,  and sometimes even used to cover the divan arms to keep them from soiling or to cover a worn area.  I find myself admiring them, still, in the second hand store.  This one I couldn't resist and is available in my shop.

They are lovely, with all the intricate stitching and designs.  But, what do we do with them?  If your home decor style is not romantic or early traditional, you probably don't have a place to use them.   I recently ran across a pattern for showcasing and using them in a  crib size quilt. 

This quilt was made up of 10 to 12 inch squares, each with a doily attached in the center.  Instead of the traditional three layers of a quilt the patchwork top, the batting and the backing, this quilt called for a fourth layer of organdy.  It was laid over the top of the doilies, then the whole thing was quilted with the quilting circling the doilies.   I'd like to try this!  It's a neat way to preserve the past with a creative future!

Wordless Wednesday-Inspirational Quilt

Autumn Inspiration Wordless Wednesday

Aurora Colony Museum's Quilt Show

Aurora Colony Museum's 38th Annual Quilt Show!

You have a couple of days left to visit the 38th annual quilt show in Aurora, Oregon, if you are anywhere close to the area. The Aurora Colony Museum is the site of this annual quilt show which is a fund raiser for the museum and part of their mission of the historical society to promote interactive lifelong learning by inspiring curiosity about the heritage of the Aurora Colony.

I am privileged to have two of my own creations displayed in the museum show. I have also provided a quilt that was hand pieced and quilted by my mother-in-law Sarah Pruitt. It is a pattern called Grandmother's Flower Garden. Although, she called it her "12 year quilt", since it took her that long to complete it.

My quilt creations are a pansy quilt in Lavender and Green and my embroidery sampler quilt. There are many, many other quilts displayed in categories from traditional to contemporary and from antique to vintage.

Don't miss this show!

Yesteryear - Origin of Crazy Quilts

CQ Brooch by thatOldBlueHouse2



If you search Etsy for 'Crazy Quilting' or 'Crazy Quilt' you will find that there are still crafters that make these lovely creations, but not that many. Mostly the discipline has evolved into small projects, like the one above by since there is a lot of work that goes into the embroidery and piecing.




"What is crazy quilting?" you say. Ruth Finley, in her book OLD PATCHWORK QUILTS, says that the Crazy Quilt is the oldest pattern in American quilts, although there are no examples of crazy quilts known to be made before the 19th Century. Most quilts authorities believe that Crazy Quilting was started because the colonists had to patch bed covers so much that they eventually became hidden under irregular shapes of fabric salvaged from clothing. There was no fabric available, except what was already made into clothing and furniture/furnishing that the colonists brought with them. This made it necessary to use every scrap that they could for patching. Housing what it was then, cold and drafty, made it necessary to patch bed covers to keep out the cold. Over time, these covers took on their patchwork look as the number of patches increased.

Victorian Crazy Quilt from Rocky Mountain Quilts



During the industrial revolution, Crazy Quilts were replaced with machine made blankets, until the Victorian era , when fancy fabrics were used for dress making and every scrap was then used for a crazy quilt for every parlor. It became somewhat of a fad for every home of means to have theirs in the parlor. This was a richer era in the 1870's and 80's, with velvets, and fancy silks which seemed to beg for embellishing. Thus lovely embroidery stitches began to grace the patches. This fad seemed to last about 25 years. During the dust bowl years of the 1930's there seems to be some revival of the discipline for purely frugal purposes, like the sample below:





1930's CQ block with a utilitarian look (and probably practically purposed originally) offered for crafting by kittyscatnip

CQ then emerged again after the 1960's for those who love embroidery work. I, myself, have a love for embroidery and I am in the process of creating a wall hanging and a matching pillow. This will eventually hang over my couch with the pillow gracing my sitee. (Is this called "coming full circle"?!)

Note: Today is the last day to comment on my contest post:

http://pruitthandcrafts.blogspot.com/2010/08/craft-season.html

Winner will be picked later today and announced tomorrow.

YESTERYEAR -- Old Time Quilting Bee

I recently was the happy recipient of some old quilt tops and a bunch of Quilter's Magazines from the 70's. I am still deciding what to do with all of my bounty! It reminds me of how quilting has changed over the years.

Today, for a few minutes, I was in a modern quilting shop, with loads of beautiful quilting fabrics, fat quarters, threads, books, classroom, and quilting room with long arm quilting machine that could be rented by the hour. Of course there was a plethora of wonderful bright modern quilts hanging on all the walls above the bolts of fabric. Quilting has become a business with it's block of the month clubs, seminars, and kits. One kit that I saw for a double size quilt was $115!!! That was just for the kit! Nevertheless, I loved the shop! I even signed up for some lessons on the long arm quilting machine!

Yesteryear quilting, as I am reminded by all the quilting magazines that the friend gave to me, was a different culture. There was a thing called a quilting bee. This old picture shows what the essence of a quilting bee was, only with a twist. This old picture was taken in Tennessee at the national conference of the American Crafts Council. It shows people gathering to work on a friendship quilt. They are hand quilting a white quilt conceived by long time master quilt teacher, Bets Ramsey. She put it together with appliqued craft symbols on one side and then quilted all the edges herself. She rolled it up and took it to the conference where she allowed some friends to hand draw designs in each of the center squares that she had laid out; then she let attendee quilters quilt it. It was a hit and by the end of the conference, people were actually standing in line to do some of the quilting (they can be seen in the background of the photo.)

'Yesteryear' will be an ongoing article title for my Tuesday blog post. I want to explore crafts and homemaking "the way they were" in the yesteryear. It should be fun! Join me every Tuesday!!!