WHAT A FIND!

When Beth Hutchings stopped in at the Attic Window Quilt Shop recently, she asked Chris for help.  Beth said that after her mother passed, she and her sisters found twelve of these adorable Sun Bonnet Sue blocks.  Beth said she wanted to make them into three small quilts for her granddaughters who are 8, 10, and 13.

Above Chris (right) helps Beth decide on sashings.  Of course, all of us at Mod Squad had to jump in and gathered bots of fabric from the shelves that we thought might work.  It was so much fun helping Beth and seeing what she decided to do.

Beth said that she has sewn all her life, but is relatively new to quilting.  She wanted to show Chris this quilt that she made, as Chris helped her pick out the fabrics.  I love her quilt and remember seeing the pattern when I made my Michigan State Quilt for my grandson, but I decided it was too much piecing for me.  Look at Beth!  She did a beautiful job of piecing and she said she even quilted it herself. "I just used my walking foot," Beth said.

Thanks Beth for sharing with us.  I hope to see your Sun Bonnet Sue quilts when they are finished.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:

• Sew Can She has a tutorial for a log cabin hexi potholder.

♥ Caroll, 
Caring , Sharing and Creating Smiles

EVER WONDER HOW THEY MAKE DOLLS?

 Julie’s Doll Class was in session Thursday when I visited the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Above some of the women are hard at work on their dolls. It always amazes me how they make these small dolls look so awesome.

 This doll is getting her back stitched.  I admire the patience these women have in creating something so small and so beautiful.

 This is a doll’s hatbox.  Isn't it cute?  I never had anything like this for my dolls when I was a child.

This doll is staying put in her little coffee mug while the creator continues making her parts.

These dolls are drying. They look like they have a coat of gesso on them. If you get a chance, take one of Julie’s doll making classes. She will make you look very professional as her creations are out of this world.  Watch for her next class session in an upcoming newsletter, to be out soon.

Have you visited Stash Manicure lately? Take a look here and you will notice the new banner and that one of my hearts is on it. I am so honored to have my heart chosen as part of the banner and expecially to be among such talented people.  While there, scroll down to read about who is participating in the banner this month.

Speaking of Stash Manicure, Karen Maxwell has a tutorial on Stash Manicure for a dot-dot-dash quilt. See it here.

A special thank you to all who responded to the post about what inspires you. I’m sure Wayne will be able to use some of your ideas for that new book he is writing.
♥

Stay Positive!
Caroll

WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO START A NEW QUILT?

When Wayne Kollinger asked me the above question, I didn’t have to think long.  There are numerous examples.  Other blogs.  Books. Signs.  My great grandson.  I could go on and on as I’m always looking for something new and different to quilt, which is probably the reason I have so many UFOs.  There is always something to inspire me to start a new project. 

I’ve been a sewer since I was a child, but was inspired to start quilting about 10 years ago for two reasons:  1. I needed to keep my hands busy so I wouldn’t eat cookies from the time I got home from work until I went to bed.  2. I knew I would be retiring before too long and I needed a hobby and a place to meet new friends. 

I attended classes at my local quilt shop and tried piecing the traditional blocks.  However, after going to my first quilt show and seeing appliqué, I was inspired to try my hand at that.  I didn’t take pictures of my early attempts at traditional blocks, which was probably for the better as I never quite managed to cut anything straight or sew a straight line. With appliqué, I found my home.  Pictured above is Wooly Flower Sampler by Starry Pines Pattern Co.  I don’t care for wool, so I did it all in cottons.

After years of appliqué and still making feeble attempts at piecing, I continued to search for something new.  Mary Lou Weidman came to Grand Rapids and I took a couple classes from her.  She inspired me to cut loose and do some free piecing.  She also inspired me to work with bold colors and put them together in unique ways.  She is certainly my inspiration.  I love her work and hope to add these pieces above to my story quilt.  

I love looking at blogs and seeing what others do.  I should be called the Copyblogger (ooops, that name is already taken) because I’m pretty good at copying what others do.  I made this small quilt when I was inspired by Carol at Mamacjt’s blog.  I blogged about it here.

 

One day I received an e-mail from an artist’s blog that I subscribe to, Gapingvoid,  and became inspired.  I knew that I had to make this for my great grandson.  After making the “animal” I was inspired by the blog 15 Minutes At Play to make scrappy blocks for the rest of the quilt.  When I saw the book Word Play Quilts and visited Lazy Gal Quilting,  I added a word at the bottom.  I’ll show you the full quilt when it is finished.

I must be a visual person because it is the things I see that inspire me.  I love going into a quilt shop and seeing new samples.  I find if I just look around with open eyes, there are a zillion things to inspire me.  I am inspired by Wayne Kollinger's Sketch Book because he shows me that you can do different things with a traditional quilt block.   I love the way he works with the Fibonacci sequence to create interesting Wonky blocks and borders.   

How about you? What inspires you to start a quilt? Please leave a comment below. Or if you'd rather write in your blog, email me at carolldrudy@comcast.net  and I'll link to it; and email Wayne at tuxedoparkdesign@shaw.ca so he can link to your blog too.