A Quilt for Evelyn

Evelyn is almost a year old and I am just starting to work on her quilt.  I made a quilt for Lillian (here) to hang on her wall when she was about this age so Evelyn needs one too.
This is really a work in progress and I don't  have any idea which direction it will take.
I can see it needs more brown and maybe a little less green.
I enjoy working with liberated letters and continue to be inspired by designers like Tonya at Lazy Gal and Gwen Marston  along with Mary Lou Weidman.  Their work is so creative and original.

So she would not feel left out I stitched up two little dresses for Lillian.

Happy stitching,
Nancy

Sally Post Top

I have all my Sally Post blocks together - lots of pink and green going on here.   It's hard to tell just how they really look in this picture.
I am thinking I need to move to a house with higher ceilings so I have a place to hang my quilts.  That doesn't sound like an unreasonable request does it?
I am linking to Appliqué Thursday at A Quilting Readers Garden
Happy Stitching,
Nancy

Chester County Criswell Swap Block

Last Wednesday was a very exciting day.   My swap block arrived in the mail all the way from Australia.  It's very special for me to have a block from Sharon because this is her families quilt.
Such pretty fabrics and a special signature.  Thanks Sharon.
This months block was just released and I am anxious to start working on it.
Happy stitching,
Nancy

More little quilts & a Winner

First the winner of the giveaway is number 24 Annette.

Annette said this about the reason she reads blogs.

I LOVE blogging and bloggers! I am so inspired by blogs...including yours. So many talented quilters out there and within reach of a computer screen. Just amazing. And I appreciate the kindness and support from those who read mine. That keeps me motivated. The blogging world is an awesome community isn't it.

Most of the comments were similar to Annette's.   I think we just enjoy connecting with other quilters.  I know I do.  If you would like to connect with Annette go here.  Thanks to everyone who took the time to come by and leave a comment and congratulations to Annette.

This little quilt was made from a SAL by Cheri at quiltsbycheri's blog.  She calls it Piecework Sampler.  As hard as I try I just can't  pass up a SAL from Cheri.

My second little quilt was made from a pattern I won in a giveaway on Quilty Folk.  You should check out both of these blogs because they always have something interesting going on.

Finally let's not forget to remember and honor all of America's Heroes on this Memorial Day.

Pens for signing Quilt Blocks

I have had several inquires about the pen I used to sign my Priscilla Turner quilt block.
Not ever having signed a block before I wasn't sure which pen I should use so I did a Google search to see if I could get any information.  I did find several sites with recommendations about which pen to use. This site seemed to have the most information so I wrote down the names of the pens she recommend and went on a pen search.
I was not able to locate any of the ones she recommended so I decided to do a test for myself of the pens I was able to locate.

All of these pens claim to be permanent.  I used pre washed Kona  snow as my test fabric.  After writing on the fabric I heat set the names with a dry iron and then washed the sample with Dawn dishwashing liquid.  I then ironed it dry.

As you can see the Pigment Pro gave me the best results so this is the pen I used to sign my blocks.  In the sample it looks like I went over the writing twice with the pigment Pro but the first pen was out of ink so I traced over it.  I would recommend you do a test of the pen you might use to see what results you get.  We don't want our signatures to fade with time.  I wonder what type pen Rachel used to sign her blocks back in 1852 because the signatures still looks great.

Signing a Quilt Block

I have never signed a quilt block before  and have been putting it off for as long as possible.
Sharon the owner of the Chester County Criswell quilt and I decided to exchange  the Priscilla Turner block.

I have had the block appliquéd for some time now but couldn't bring myself to sign it for fear of making a mess of it.  Then I read a comment on the latest post Sharon did on her blog and decided what the heck.
I did iron a piece of freezer paper behind the  space to be signed  before I attempted to write on it.  Now I am not know for my handwriting abilities but I decided to just use my own handwriting instead of printing one on the computer.  Maybe next time I will use the computer.
Now to package and ship to it's new home in Gippsland.

Bonnie Hunters Easy Street

I finally got the binding on this huge quilt Bonnie Hunter calls Easy Street.  

It measures 99 X 99.

I must say my street wasn't all that easy in fact it had several pot holes.

 This one almost blew the tires off my car.  I have no idea what happened.  I was merrily quilting along - almost to the bottom of the quilt when all of sudden this terrible noise erupts from my machine and part of a needle goes flying by my head.  At first I thought I must have hit a pin but there were no pins in this area.  Still can't figure out what happened.

I had to remove the quilt from the machine to repair it.  Thank heaven for zippered leaders. A hole was torn all the way through to the back.  I replaced the two torn pieces on the front and ironed a small piece of fusible interfacing to cover the hole in the back then I stitched over it to hold in place.  I was so happy the backing fabric hid the stitching and now I have a hard time finding the repair.

Once repaired and back on the machine I finished the quilting and everything ended up fine.  I did have to retime my machine which I had never done before but it wasn't as scary as I had imagined.  No more giant quilts for me for a while.

Hope your are finding some time to stitch.

Nancy

PS:  Some people are writing they are having their comments disappear before they are able to get them posted.  I have no idea what the problem is but if I keep having all these problems with blogger I am going to have to make a change.  Anyone else having this problem?

A Little Giveaway

I was checking the stats on my blog today for no particular reason and saw where there have been over 160,000 Pageviews from 10 different countries and I have over 270 terrific followers..  Now I know that is not a lot for some blogs but for me it  feels amazing.
I think the best part of blogging for me is  communicating with so may different people from different parts of the world.  Lots of us don't even speak the same language but we communicate through a quilting language.
It made me feel like giving something away.
So if you would be interested in winning what's in the picture above leave a little comment about your favorite part of blogging or why you choose to follow a blog.
It would be great if you chose to follow mine.
Then on the 27th I will have the Random Number Generator choose a winner.
Happy Stitching,
Nancy

Sally Post

This is the second set of my Sally Post blocks just the cutest little things.  The final block will be posted by Sentimental Stitches on Saturday (today) and then I will have a all 36 blocks.  I am really looking forward to putting this one together. I still haven't decided if I should set it in the unusual way Sally did.
This was supposed to be a year long project with the PrimFolkArtQuilts yahoo group but I just couldn't seem to stop stitching.
I hope you can find some time to stitch today.
Nancy

Simply Fun and Lovers Links

I stitched the binding on two more of my binding pile quilts this week.  The first one is "Simply Fun" made from a pattern by Glad Creations, Inc.  I purchased the fabrics for this quilt on a trip to the Nashville quilt show back around 2005.  They no longer have the show in Nashville which I find sad because I enjoyed going to Opryland.

This next quilt is called "Lovers Links" and is from a pattern in a McCall's Quilting magazine from August 2000.

I made this one with the Stitch "N Sisters Club in 2005.

It's been fun turning some of this into this.

Lucky Me!

A nice surprise in the mail today.  

I was lucky enough to be chosen as the winner of the giveaway at Quilty Folk last week and the goodies arrived  today.  I am really looking forward to trying all these new needles and the pencil for marking my appliqué blocks.  I have already started cutting out one of the cute little quilts from this pattern.  What a nice giveaway, thanks Audrey.

Lori and Randy's Sow Along

Lori from Humble Quilts and Randy from Barrister's Block are have a medallion quilt sew along and this is my version of the center block.

This was my first attempt at the block but the vine fabric was just too light to suit me so I changed it and now I think it looks better.  

I don't think I am going to make the whole quilt maybe just the center and the first border.  I am into making little quilts at the moment and this one will fit on my little quilt wall nicely.

I decided to try machine appliqué on this little block.  I really prefer hand appliqué but there is only so much time - anyway as I was stitching along my machine decided it just didn't want to sew anymore.  I guess it thinks I work it too hard and has gone on strike.  It will turn on but won't stitch.  Now I have to decide if I want to invest anymore money in her of just go ahead and buy a new machine.  I am not a big fan of change and I have loved this machine but there does come the time when change is needed.

Chester Criswell Block 10

Rachel Dickey Block 10

Block ten of the Chester Criswell quilt  Rachel Dickeys block is one of my favorites.  Rachel has a very interesting story about her life and how she became a physician.
I enjoy making these blocks each month but I especially enjoy reading about the history behind this quilt.  I also enjoy following along with the other ladies who are reproducing the quilt.
Sharon from The Chester Criswell blog has Miriam from Yellow Roses as a guest blogger this month and it is interesting to see how she is stitching her blocks.
Happy Sunday and happy stitching,
Nancy

Monthly Minis

I have completed the latest three little quilts from Temecula Quilt Companies Monthly Mini program.

Lucky Little Clover

Simple Shoofly

Sweet Valentine

I actually attempted to hand quilt this one.  

Little quilt were starting to pile up around here so in an attempt to find a place for them I decided to make a little quilt wall downstairs.  Rather difficult to get a picture since it is in a hallway but it is fun to see them hanging.

Simple Star

Monthly Mini March quilt from Temecula Quilt Co.
I really like the green in this one and the pink binding.
I would never have thought about using pink.
Happy stitching,
Nancy

The Binding Pile

I know this poor quilt has a name but for the life of me I just can't remember it or even find the pattern I used to make it.    I do remember it was a kit I bought on sale at A Scarlet Thread several years ago.
So for now I will just call it The Christmas quilt.

Keep records, Keep records, Keep records.
I think I was told this when I first started quilting evidentially I didn't listen.

It's quilted with a pantograph called Banana Swirls.

One Christmas gift ready.
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Stitching.
Nancy

Fat Quarter Giveaway

Just a quick post to let you know  Sharon from the  Chester County Criswell blog is giving away these lovely fat quarters.

Click here to check it out.

Sally Post

I have been working on my Sally Post blocks and in the beginning I was a little concerned about the fabrics I chose for the flowers but now I think they have grown on me.  One thing for sure it's going to be pink.

These are the blocks I have completed so far.  They are  little blocks and stitch up rather quickly.   There are 36 blocks in all and I am almost half way.

This is the pink I am using for my sashing and I will use the same green I used for all the leaves and stems for the corner stones. Most of my fabrics are from the Pomegranate line.

I found a picture of the original quilt on the Sentimental Stitches site. I don't think I have ever seen a quilt set in this way and I doubt  I will set my quilt like Sally did.

Hope everyones day is going well and you find a little time to stitch.

Nancy

Chester Criswell Quilt

Block 9 Eliza Whiteside

I think this is my favorite block in this quilt so far.  I like it because it is not symmetrical but most of all I like it because of Eliza's story.  She was someone like most of us that did not have a perfect life and had difficulties to overcome.  Mary Criswell was her friend and even though her stitches were not perfect Mary put her block in the quilt.

We should all be so fortunate as to have a friend like this.

Only three more blocks to finish this year.

Happy stitching,

Nancy

Homespun Hill

This quilt is from the pattern Homespun Hill by the Rabbit Factory.  When I first started quilting I belonged to a group called the Stitching Sisters.  It was a fun group lead by Pat Wys of the Silver Thimble.  Sadly the shop closed and I lost touch with the group.
This was one of the quilts the group made back in 2006.

The applique is fused and machine stitched and it is quilted using a stars and loop Pantograph.

I like the primitive look of this quilt and all the plaid fabrics Pat chose to use. 

Happy Stitching,

Nancy