An Old, Used, Worn, Torn, Loved Treasure

Found this in Mother's things yesterday...double bed size..1" blocks, straight line quilting and very determined to stay together.

Don't know how old this is, but Mother did not quilt...my Grandmother & G Grandmother did, so this could be easily 100 yrs old...sure looks it...

 I am definitely not the one who can save this, but would love to be able to bring it back to it's glory...

It is too fragile to wash right now, and so stained that it might not be worth it...

But I hate to see the gorgeous colors disappear...

I thought I'd take it to my quilting group for suggestions...

Have any of you run across this problem before?

Leaf Pattern out of Painter's Duct Tape

I bisected/sewed the rectangle into quarters and used painters duct tape to fashion a leaf pattern for each quadrant.  I will use the same shape in each of the 4 patches, only a little bigger.  I can stick pieces of duct tape together, draw the pattern and then cut.  They adhere to the flannel well and I can use the same one several times before it gets too ragged, then I make another one.

I'm still not sure what I will use for the borders, but may just "wing" a wavy line in the middle of each strip....

Can't wait to see how I do it.....

Ready to Hand Quilt - Whoop

 I am ready to Whoop! it up with a quilting hoop... see Sarah's blog for more Whoops!...

My flannel top was ready and all I needed was a back and batting.  My back is made with a larger paisley print stripes with white stripes on either side.  It compliments the front and is looking good. 

I  used embroidery thread and basted  the sandwich together while I listened to an audio book.  I can no longer crawl around on the floor, so I use a chef's table made of metal I bought from Sam's.

 

 

 It rolls around and is tall enough so that most of the fabric does not reach the floor.  It has enough surface area on the top and is smooth with rounded edges so that I can smooth the fabric down, baste the area on the top and then slide/shift the fabric to a new area. I only work on it 20-30 minutes at a time and then have to sit and do other things, but this really works for me

It also serves as a holding area for my batting...and I don't have to unload it to use it..  *Please ignore the mess and shoes...I find I have to take them off when I use my foot petal..I have more control that way.*

My flannel quilt is now ready to be HQed...I have decided on the design, which will be a simple one, with a few curves here and there...maybe I can show it to you later on in the process...

 Look good now,,,you won't see this again for a couple of months....

But I won't wait that long for the next post, I promise.....See Ya....

Christmas Butterfly

I have finished with the Christmas Butterfly except for the buttons for the eyes..Those I will have to find..I want them to be small black buttons, either the 2/4 hole kind or ones that are like a round ball.  Hopefully I can find some in my stash or one of my friends will have some.

It's roughly 46" x 26"...To repeat myself from other posts, I used the remnants of my Christmas Tree Skirt to make this.  Even with cutting the strips down after sewing them together, they still make large wings.  I hand fashioned the body, kinda free style (drawing is not in my skill box) and kinda "winged it" from there. 

I would like to keep it, and may do so, but my Christmas Skirt went to my DDIL, and this matches it...so we'll see....

This is supposed to be a table runner...to me it is a little long for a wall hanging, but what do you think?  The back is done, but I can still make several tabs on the back to hold a dow stick..I don't want to ruin the front with stitching and am trying to decide whether to do that or not.  It could be hung with small clips on the top..

Be sure to check out Sarah's Whoops for this week. They are great!

Sewing D4P blocks

4 done, 2 in process and 4 more to go...that will give me the 10 needed...

These are coming together much better and faster than the blocks for the first D4P quilt I made....

Hopefully when the time comes, I will be able to get a picture of the top/finished project for you.

Unexpected and Lovely Idea

I met with our quilt group last Monday.  One of the members brought a lot of 5" squares she received while at Market...She suggested we use them in a scrappy D4P quilt to be given to the local Habitat for Humanity.  We agreed and eventually had them grouped and some given to each one (about 10 blocks for each).  I was the last one in line, so to speak, so I was honored with not only my 10, but the rest of the blocks...so I will see how many I can make in two weeks.  Can't remember if it will be a twin or double size...we will see how many blocks we have at our next meeting...

Here are the very beginnings of my blocks

We have yet to find out from the local H/H as to when the residence will be completed, but decided to go ahead and start on the quilt...worse case scenario is we give it to some one else who needs it...
It's nice to have a group that is small enough to decide on a project this quickly, and yet have enough people to be able and willing to do it in a timely manner.

Finished Wounded Warrior/Zigsaw Quilt Binding & Quilt

 You have seen the top before, but now this is ready to go, as soon as we receive the labels from the WW group.

It is quilted with variegated thread with a dark blue backing,,same color as binding.  This is one of the few I did not HQ. 

So glad it is done....it really was a challenge to put together.  I plan on using the pattern again, maybe in 3 -4 months.