Glad Tidings

 The following pictures are blocks of a quilt in progress. I am altering the pattern as published. It was seen in McCalls Quilting - August ,September and October issues of 2005. 

All applique is needle turned. The kit was given to me by an ill friend. She saw two applique blocks before she passed away.

The blocks are pieced and then hand appliqued. There will be four of these 16 inch blocks in this quilt with an additional appliqued block in the center and other pieced blocks, sashing and border that will complete the quilt.

I use 100 weight silk thread for my applique. You can see how fine the thread is on the photos of the back of the blocks. I use it because it seems to disappear into the edge of the applique

I have used different fabrics in the circle applique of the block centers. I am not sure if I will use one of these or try another one. Which one do you prefer?

First Block

Second Block

Block back

Close up of section of block back

This quilt is finally finished and ready to share with my friends.  The following three photos show the wonderful machine quilting done by Ruth Stonesifer. I have not used a flash so that you may enjoy the detail of her work.


Along the side of the quilt



Center Block


Corner Block


  One of the corners

Voila... all finished .. 
The label on the back
 A label will tell generations to come the story of this quilt: Who, What, When, Where and Why. It will help identify the quilt should it become lost or stolen, and will increase the value of the quilt at appraisal time.

The Homestead

                                         The Homestead
 
There are three friends with whom I take turns making Christmas gifts. Each four year turn seems to come around faster each time. We started this craziness in 1987 when I made a wooden "Christmas Tree Napkin Holder". You can see my last gift in the July section of this blog (Garment Bags) http://cottonkapers.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html. We have had discussions as to how long we were going to continue this tradition. We decided we could bow out of our next turn only after the other three had opened your most recent gift. This year I announced this was going to be my last turn. We raised our families and have had many wonderful times in the "hood" and I felt I would leave the exchange with my interpretation of a somewhat primitive rendition of their "Homestead".


When I got the idea for my gift I went out in the car with my camera in hand and took photos of each home. I needed to take repeat photos when I was uncertain about a particular feature. I downloaded my photos to my Kodak software which has a "Coloring Book" feature. This made it easy to get a workable line drawing. I printed that drawing and took it to have it enlarged to the size needed. From that point it  soon became learn as you go.

The sizes of the pieces vary but measure approximately 16 1/2 by 24. The actual sizes are noted with each home.

Fabrics used are 100% cotton, buckram, Heat and Bond and chiffon
.


Techniques used are fused applique, free motion quilting, outline sewing, machine embroidery and hand sewing.

Gingerbread Houses 2011

Every year our Christmas Season begins with my Grandson's and I decorating Gingerbread Houses. Each year the decorations become more elaborate and the boys come up with new ideas. It is always great fun for us to continue one of our Christmas traditions.

The supplies are ready

Candy anyone?

This year they opted for bigger fireplace chimneys.

Front of Zack's House

 

 

 

 

 

Back of Zack's House

House backs-Jake's on the left, Zack's on the right.

Zack's chimney.

House fronts (Zack-L,Jake-R)

Front of Jake's House

Side of Jake's house.

Fireplace chimney on Jake's house.

New Addition

I received a surprise gift in the mail today. A "new addition" to my quilting studio. My friend Chesapeake, from the Norfolk Eagle Cam Open Chat, must have known just how desperately  my studio needed an official name with proper identification..

Thank you, Chesapeake LOL

Americana

Americana

Eagle Applique on back of quilt

Label

Block with eagle quilting

 This quilt began as a "Block of the Month" from the Byrne Sewing store in New Britian, PA following 9/11. I kept up with the blocks but never completed the quilt.

My grandson was in need of a quilt to replace his "I Spy" quilt which was well worn, although he did not think so. I decided to give him this quilt for his eleventh birthday.

After 9/11 there were many patriotic prints available and I collected many of them at fat quarter sales. I decided to use many of them in finishing this quilt. I believe I have 103 different prints in this 87"x 102" machine pieced and hand appliqued quilt. The quilt was machine quilted by Ruth Stonesifer.

The back of the quilt features a hand appliqued "Eagle" that I found in a old quilting magazine. The original eagle can be found on a quilt now in the Smithsonian Museum. http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object.cfm?key=35&gkey=169&objkey=9552

This quilt is reversible although I think my grandson prefers the more colorful side.

Carrot Table Runner

This small table runner was made for Easter 2010. I also made two more for gifts. The body measures 14" x 24 1/2".

Broccoli Costume

So...... just what do you do when your grandson asks you to make him a "Broccoli Costume"? Well, you put your thinking cap on and get to work. I believe I bought 15 yards of green tulle and sat and made hundreds of individual poufs by hand. I remember him coming home from school one day and I had many of these poufs in a brown grocery bag. I asked "What do you think?" His answer- "Looks like brussel sprouts to me"! I told him it would be OK in time. After a few fittings we had a broccoli costume. The white store receipt embroidered on a piece of stabilizer to prevent tearing, reads Mr Millers Market complete with the price for broccoli.

This costume was made for Halloween 2009.

I asked him "why broccoli?" He explained that everyone in the school has been told by Mr Miller, the music teacher, how he hates broccoli. His teacher says his mother made him eat it too often as a child and he hated it. My grandson thought it would be funny to go as broccoli. The second photo shows my grandson and his teacher. Mr Miller has this photo as his screen saver and he tells my grandson it will remain on his computer forever. My grandson continues to take guitar lessons from one of his favorite teachers.

My grandson also wore the headpiece when he ran his "Mean Green Broccoli Machine" car, complete with broccoli on the top, in the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby race. He certainly did not win for speed but he did win first prize for "originality".