Quilt Plans for Spring 2015

Since I have been finishing so many quilt tops lately, I thought I would take a look ahead and let you know what is on my quilting list for the spring.

 Fabric I have to have:

Wild &Free Collection from Art Gallery Fabrics by Maureen Hensel Cracknell
 Maureen in an amazing quilter.  My mom and her dad grew up next door to each other in a tiny town in PA.  My mom and her Aunt are still best friends.  If you have never seen her quilts, prepare yourself to be inspired!

Moody Blues fabric collection for cloud9fabrics designed by Geninne

Geninne draws and paints the most wonderful birds and flowers.  She even has a coloring book out!  Moody Blues is available in February.  How can I wait?  I don't have to!

Quilt I Need to Make Next:

Treasure Hunt by Tula Pink.

Favorites Collage

This week's Favorites Collage is of a few quilt blocks I want to try.  

These are a few images I have in my favorites on flickr

 

1. DGS Blocks Jaceycraft

2. do.good stitches Feburary by rainylakechick

3. Arrow and Feather by retired to quilt

4. Blocks for Natalie by Jaceycraft

Every week I plan to go through my favorite ideas online and choose related projects to showcase for you. These photos and projects are not my own, you can find the original images and creators by clicking the coordinating links! If you do not want your project featured here, please email me and I'll remove it!

Happy Weekend!

Tula Pink City Sampler: Complete

Tula Pink City Sampler: Block 91-100

block 91 Tula Pink Raccoon again

block 93

block 100 Tula Pink Squirrel

Rebekah's Favorite Bunny Shirt made into a 6x12 block

I have no idea what this block is!  Maybe it was a mistake, but I like it.

Tula Pink City Sampler: Block 71-90

block 76 pink floral is from a flannel blankey I made for Rebekah when her main one is in the wash

block 78 lighter color is from little pants she loved

block 79

block 80

block 81

block 84

block 85

block 86

block 87

block 88

Tula Pink City Sampler: Blocks 51-70

block 51

block 52

block 53

block 54 there's that raccoon again

block 57

block 58

block 60

block 61 (wow, I'd better iron that one again!)

block 63

block 64

block 65

block 66

Tula Pink City Sampler: Blocks 31-50

block 33 with Tula Pink Raccoon Acacia Blueberry Fabric

block 34

block 36

block 37

block 39 with Tula Pink Birds and Bee's Squirrel fabric

block 41

block 43

block 44

block 47

block 49

Sakura Falling Reveal

I have shown you a few pictures of this quilt over time.  I started this probably 10-15 years ago.  I started with the Japanese family symbol blocks.  These are all done by machine applique with clear thread.  I did these on one of my many visits to Grandma's house.

Next, about 5-10 years ago, I did the paper pieced kimono blocks.  

I had been holding on to the pattern for quite a while.  

 The mosaic blocks I did within the last few years.  

I liked the white strips between the asian fabrics.

 We have been using my Grandma's Cardinal in the Pines quilt which is mostly white.  I knew I wanted this quilt to have a mostly white background.  I did the last set of blocks as crazy blocks with only a few pieces of the Asian fabrics.

I bordered the whole with a white sparkly (clearance) fabric with a speckling of colorful bits.  

I call it Sakura Falling because it always makes me think of the cherry blossoms (Sakura) in Japan.

Retirement: Lynn Miller

You know her as my mom, but Lynn Miller is so much more than that; she is wife, sister, quilter, home decorator, daughter, Gams, "doctor, lawyer, Indian Chief."  A Renaissance woman in every way.  I am delighted to have her commence her online presence here as a guest blogger.

Storm at Sea, Lynn Miller, Summer 2014

Newly retired, I have been working like crazy on all of those old projects that kept being put away unfinished. I completed a Storm at Sea quilt that was 3 years in the making. Not such a long time,but wait….I’m also near the end of a 12 year Double Wedding Ring project. With summers off, you’d think I could have been more productive; however, life happens and smaller projects take the place of those larger ones. That prom or wedding gown was definitely more important than the quilt! My mother, a fantastic quilter/teacher, gifted me with her unfinished projects when she was no longer able to quilt. I worked hard on those, wanting to gift her with finished quilts. 

Lady Liberty Goes to Hawaii, Betty Morean & Lynn Miller, finished Summer 2014

Retirement is everything I expected and more. I knew there would be time for crafts, reading,

and new pursuits. What I didn’t realize was the wonderful connections with friends, time to

really talk and learn from one another. The time with my husband, children and grandchildren

has been a greater blessing that I could have imagined. Is it just the relaxed grandma-self or

have I become wise enough to enjoy all that is around me?

Baby Quilt for when my new Granddaughter arrives

Whatever the reasons, I will embrace them and move forward with bliss and gratitude. I won’t

list goals or bucket lists. I won’t concern myself with checking things off or making a difference

just yet. A friend told me to, ‘“Do nothing for the first year or you will end up filling your time as if you were working.” I’d wanted to work in a volunteer capacity at something so this advice

was hard to hear. I've been crocheting infant hats for a local hospital and will continue doing that.  After all, I'm at 200 and going strong.  The advice allows me to carefully choose

services and be able to give freely and openly.

100s of little infant hats

What’s next? More life!