Sage and Grape Ocean Waves Quilt and a Lot More

It's been quite a while since I've posted so I have a lot to share. Above is the full size Ocean Waves quilt I made for my sister and her husband. She sent me this photo via text with a touching message about how she was crying with happiness to receive it. She touched me with her words of thanks as I touched her with the quilt. I felt especially good to provide her with some happiness as her husband has been ill for over a year now.

Soon after I finished the Ocean Waves quilt I broke my left wrist when I slipped on black ice in our driveway. That was a little over three months ago. Fortunately, it was my non-dominate wrist but it still slowed me down a lot. I only had a cast on for six weeks. Then I had physical therapy. I still see improvement in my strength and flexibility every day.

A couple weeks ago I got the itch to start sewing again. I had a t-shirt quilt and a baby quilt I needed to start. So, of course, I started something completely different. I didn't want to do a lot of cutting so I pulled out the strips of fabric that are left over from quilt backs and started making these free form log cabin blocks. The unfinished blocks are 9 1/2 inches - the size of one of my square rulers. I was thinking it will be a lap size quilt though that might change.

On a whim, I picked up this magazine at the grocery store last week. It has been years since I purchased a quilt magazine. I wanted some inspiration for the baby quilt I'm going to make for my niece's new baby. I found lots of inspiration - plus patterns for produce bags and table runners.

I pieced this table runner top yesterday evening using some solids and a charm pack a friend gave me.

The charm pack fabric is garden themed - just love those little bees. I have half of the charm pack left so I think I will make another table runner and give it to my friend.

Last week, I also got a start on the t-shirt quilt. I'm bartering this quilt for some shop tools my husband wants from the widow of the man who rode the Harleys.

Two weeks ago, I was up in Harrisonburg and stopped in at the Virginia Quilt Museum. I was blown away by the quilts in the "Beyond the Valley" exhibit curated by Doreen Johnson and Dawn Ronningen. If at all possible, you must go!

While at the museum, I donated some fabric. The museum has awesome fabric flea events. The woman I talked to said they were looking for a place in the Virginia Beach area to do a fabric flea event. Contact the museum if you have any ideas. They will bring the fabric to you. I think they charge something like $6 or $8 a pound. It's a great deal and a wonderful fundraiser for the museum.

I was at the ophthalmologist in March and snapped a couple photos of this little quilt to share.

I like how it is quilted. Maybe this was my inspiration for the free form log cabin blocks.

I have one more thing to share. I entered a couple of quilts in the Rockbridge County Fair quilt exhibit last year and I was surprised to win some awards - even Judge's Choice!

Here are some quilts from the show-

Above and below are my two entries. October Surprise, above, won Judge's Choice and first place in it's category (I think small, machine quilted). Stars and Stepping Stones, below, won an honorable mention in it's category (large, machine quilted).

The Quilts in the Country exhibit is run by the Rockbridge Pieceworkers Quilt Guild.

Well, I think that is more than enough for now. I hope to be back soon with some finishes.

Pineapple Finish and lots of Christmas

This quilt was almost seven years in the making. I first blogged about it with a tutorial here. I used Gyleen Fitzgerald's book and ruler.

Dot at Sew Classic Fabrics in Harrisonburg Virginia quilted it with a simple meander pattern.

56" x 64"

Just thought it would be fun to take photos of it hanging from the hayloft.

The following are a smattering of photos from this past month.

DD and her boyfriend helped me decorate the Christmas tree.

I made these roasted mixed nuts three times over the past month. They are seasoned with chili powder, maple syrup and rosemary. It's a great recipe from Alana Chernila's The Homemade Pantry.

Barb asked for a peak at the light show my DH creates.

Son and daughter home for Christmas.

My DH loves my gingersnaps especially because the only sweetener in the recipe I use is from molasses. It is also egg free. I use a recipe from The Fannie Farmer Cookbook. My copy looks well used by my MIL. DH didn't like the cinnamon candies I added for the holidays. I thought they were a festive touch!

The dining table after our Christmas Eve dinner.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Stars in a Time Warp Finish

So nice to call this done. I really enjoyed making these stars along with so many others. Thank you Barbara Brackman at Civil War Quilts! I just saw that she is starting an Antebellum Album Quilt Block of the Month in January. Looking forward to it!

Here is some detail of the quilting. It was quilted by Dot at Sew Classic Fabrics in Harrisonburg Virginia.

I hope to have another finished quilt to share soon.

Two Love

we need love 25"x25"

While I was piecing the quilt below, I was inspired to make the quilt above. Funny how that happens.

her name was heather heyer 35"x35"

I needed the extra time to think about how I wanted to quilt this one. In the machine quilting I wrote-

love thy neighbor

family  friend

enemy  you  them

we are one

Around the wording I tried to quilt the breeze/spirit. It looks better in some places than others.

This quilt was accepted into the Subversive/Domestic Textile Arts exhibit at the Shenandoah Valley Art Center in Waynesboro, Virginia. The exhibit runs from December 9 to January 20.

Here are some detailed views. Click to enlarge.

When I first posted about this quilt I asked others to join me in making a Love Thy Neighbor quilt. Jane O. talks about hers in this post.  Please let me know if you also have one to share.

Cool Summer Quilting

I finished my Love Thy Neighbor quilt top last night. I think I said in my last post that I would applique some wording but those plans have changed. I'm going to enter it in an exhibit at the Shenandoah Valley Art Center titled Subversive/ Domestic Textile and Fiber Exhibit. I knew my plan to applique wording would make it doubtful I would meet the Oct 19 deadline. I started to hand stitch some lettering using a running stitch but didn't like how it looked. I next tried machine quilting the wording and was pleased with it so that is now my plan. I have wording planned for the four horizontal rows of sashing. I know the quilt isn't very "subversive". Though I'm not sure what that would be. Unfortunately I think my message is.

It was hot in July so I basted this little quilt so I'd have some portable hand stitching to do. We only have two window a/c units. My sewing room is uncomfortable during our hottest weather.

I only got a little stitching done around these two hearts and down one of the vertical seams and then the weather cooled considerably.

I headed back into the sewing room and was able to finish putting together the ocean waves section of the quilt for my sister. Just need to add the borders and start quilting. I will do this one on the machine - just a simple cross hatch.

I almost forgot to share this special block. The woman who was killed at the protests in Charlottesville on August 12 was Heather Heyer. Her initials fit perfectly in this block.

In my last post I invited others to make a Love Thy Neighbor quilt. A few responded positively. Janet O. has already posted progress on hers. It's not to late to join in and at some point I'll figure out how to set up a link up here.

I really have been busy in the quilting room this summer. I also pieced together the backing for two other quilts and delivered them to a long arm quilter this afternoon. One is a pineapple quilt I made using Gyleen Fitzgerald's special ruler and the other is my Stars In a Time Warp (the sewalong hosted by Barbara Brackman a couple of years ago). I look forward to sharing them with you.

Love Thy Neighbor Quilt

The events in Charlottesville Virginia this weekend compelled me to make a "Love Thy Neighbor" quilt.

I resurrected this block from the archives. It was going to be my blue and white quilt but over the past year I've thought about making it more "diverse". The blue and white quilt will have to wait.

Saturday evening I pulled the block out and started selecting fabrics. This evening I started piecing. I'm thinking it will have lettering - Love Thy Neighbor in cursive. It's still jelling in my mind. I know I want to keep it simple.

Are you interested in joining me? Instructions for the schoolhouse block can be found on my sidebar under Popular Posts. It doesn't have to be this block or even a house block - just name your current quilt project "Love Thy Neighbor".

Churn Dash Exchange Finish

It's been several years ago now that Janet O. and I exchanged churn dash blocks. It has taken me 3 winters to do the hand quilting. The stitching is 2 inches apart. I wanted to add more quilting to make it 1 inch apart and then I came to my senses. I have a couple other quilt tops I want to hand quilt. It has a soft feel to it so I gave it to my oldest son. He very much prefers the hand quilted quilts. It's a texture thing. It seems appropriate that I gave him this quilt as it was made during a time when I was learning to appreciate him for what he is rather than what I wanted him to be. He is a good man - sensitive, hard working and considerate. We are lucky to have him living on our property. He is a big help.

Some detail

I'm now cutting triangles for an ocean waves quilt for my sister.