Quilt as Desired: My Favorite Flower Basket

Basket top c. 1940, Quilter: Karen McTavish, Two Harbors, Minnesota.  I love the rope motif that fills the sashing between the blocks.  

Learn more about Karen on her website McTavish Quilting Studio.

Please check out Mary Kerr's site to see the schedule of when and where these quilts will be throughout the year.  My photographs do not do them justice.

Quilt as Desired: Claudia's Garden

Embroidery spread top c. 1940, Quilter: Claudia Pfeil, Krefeld, Germany.  You can see more of Claudia's work on her site: http://claudiapfeil.de/

The feathers on this quilt are just beautiful!

The detail on the appliques is wonderful.

Please check out Mary Kerr's site to see the schedule of when and where these quilts will be throughout the year.  My photographs do not do them justice.

Quilt as Desired: All Dressed Up

Bow-tie top c. 1940, Quilter:  Sue Papalia, Warren, Pennsylvania,www.zanykreations.com.  Each little flower is different and has its own personality. 

I love the fancy feathers on this.  They become these fanciful wreaths in each quartet of blocks.  So different from some other feathers.  The rest of it just makes me think I need to practice my ruler-work some more.  

Please check out Mary Kerr's site to see the schedule of when and where these quilts will be throughout the year.  My photographs do not do them justice.

Quilt as Desired: Blue Wedding

Double Wedding Ring top c. 1940, Quilter: Sue Pappilla, Warren, Pennsylvania.  Learn more about Page on her website http://www.zanykreations.com/.  

I love the feather motifs in the open spaces of this quilt.  The double wedding ring is like my arch-nemesis quilt pattern.  I want make one, but I am worried it just won't turn out that spectacular.  Maybe I should try a modern take on this traditional pattern.  Something different and perhaps not so intimidating.

Please check out Mary Kerr's site to see the schedule of when and where these quilts will be throughout the year.  My photographs do not do them justice.

Quilt as Desired: Pretty Pink Flowers

Applique Flower top c. 1935, Quilter: Page Ginny Rippe, Manassas, Virginia.    

Please check out Mary Kerr's site to see the schedule of when and where these quilts will be throughout the year.  My photographs do not do them justice.

Serger Camp 2014

Last week I attended Serger Camp.  Three days of serger class put together by Ellicott City Sew-Vac.

I purchased the Enlighten, a great serger, last year during the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Baltimore.  During the class, I had an opportunity to work with the Evolution.  The Evolution is an over-lock and a cover-stitch machine.  It does the job of two machines.

That means that I had to box up this pretty little thing to make room for my new machine.

This is the Evolution.  It does everything. It has over-lock stitches, cover-stitches and is just plain awesome. 

I reviewed the packing list to make sure I had everything.  After some simple assembly, I was ready to get her situated in the perfect spot.

The package deal included the rolling tote and the 22-foot attachment kit.  Considering how much some of these feet cost, this is definitely the way to pick up these feet if you think you will use them.

What have I done with this amazing toy?  I pieced a fleece blanket out of some 8" squares I had in a bin and did a cover-stitch on my t-shirt scarf.  I think I'm ready to make some more great things with this machine.  I wonder where I put that knit fabric....

Quilt as Desired: Dolly Madison Workbox

Economy top c. 1900, Quilter: Page Johnson, Eagan, Minnesota.  Learn more about Page on her website The Quilting Page.  

The feathers on this quilt reallly turn what is a simple design into something so much more.  I must admit that I spent some time on Page's website looking at things, clicking things and watching a video.  There is so much about quilting I still need to learn.

Please check out Mary Kerr's site to see the schedule of when and where these quilts will be throughout the year.  My photographs do not do them justice.

Quilt as Desired: Laissez Les Bon Tempes Rouler

G-mother's Flower Garden top c. 1930, Quilter: Sue Patten, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.  I was not able to confirm the web address so I have not included it here.  

I know it isn't easy to see in these photos, but the use of two different color threads creates another layer on the surface of this quilt.  I like the improvisational look (even if the planning was very precise) of the different designs.  I know that trying to decide what to quilt is never easy.  Sometimes I have to listen very carefully to a quilt.  Maybe I should play with some different thread colors.

Please check out Mary Kerr's site to see the schedule of when and where these quilts will be throughout the year.  My photographs do not do them justice.

Quilt as Desired: Fancy Plates

Fan top c. 1930, Quilter: Barbara Dann, Bellefonte, PA.  The web address on the card is incorrect.  You can find more information at Alleycat Quiltworks.    

I love all the different quilting designs that are included on this wonderful top.  Feathers, and curls, and pebbles, and just loads of beautiful quilting.  Look at that binding!  This makes me want to try Dresden plates and just about anything with a white background.  I think I have some Moda around here that is reproduction prints.  I should find it and make something.

Please check out Mary Kerr's site to see the schedule of when and where these quilts will be throughout the year.  My photographs do not do them justice.

Quilt as Desired: Pansy Pride

Applique top c. 1940, Quilter: Wilma Cogliantry, Berlin, CT.  I was not able to confirm the web address so I have not included it here.  

The feathers quilted on this quilt are just beautiful!  I should have gotten better pictures of the quilting.  I would love to be able to stitch feathers like this.  I've got some practicing to do, though.

Please check out Mary Kerr's site to see the schedule of when and where these quilts will be throughout the year.  My photographs do not do them justice.

Quilt as Desired: Bountiful Baskets

Nancy Page basket top c. 1935, Quilter:  Sue Papalia, Warren, Pennsylvania, www.zanykreations.com.  Each little flower is different and has its own personality. 

The quilting on this quilt really uses the negative space beautifully.  Different motifs in the setting squares and borders.  The simple parallel lines is my favorite outer border quilting design.  I'm not sure why, but I think it works well on modern and more classic quilts.

Please check out Mary Kerr's site to see the schedule of when and where these quilts will be throughout the year.  My photographs do not do them justice.

Quilt as Desired: Celebrating Cinda

While I was at the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo, I got to wander around and see all the amazing quilts that are part of the Quilt as Desired collection put together by Mary Kerr. 

I will share pictures of each of them and my thoughts.  Please check out Mary Kerr's site to see the schedule of when and where these quilts will be throughout the year.  My photographs do not do them justice.

Celebrating Cinda, applique top, c. 1940, Quilter: Pam Clarke, Spokane, Washington, www.homestitches.com. 

It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful long arm quilting can be.  I have merely scratched the surface of what is possible.  I love how the large area of the background has been filled with beautiful stitching that makes this simple quilt really shine.  I love all the different designs and the lines placed in the negative space to showcase that quilting. 

Big Bold Finish!

While at the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo, I had some time to finish the binding on this quilt.  It was time well-spent.  I can finally say this one is done!  I added the label yesterday.

I think the vines that travel up the solid patches really bring this quilt to life.  I know not all quilting is meant to be seen, but I just love this quilting.

I will have to take another picture, or two to show the border quilting. I used several different designs in the quilting of this quilt.  The vines that travel up the solid blocks are just one.

I also used a flower design with tendrils in the print areas.  Even with this great thread (Fantastico from Superior Threads) it just disappears in the prints.

The inner border is filled with different sized bubbles/pebbling.  The outer-most border is all done with a straight ruler and is very simple.  I'll have to take a picture or two to show that.  All it needs now is a good run through the wash to give it that amazing texture that cotton batting provides.  I love a good finish.

The Original Sewing and Quilt Expo Baltimore 2014, Day 3 (Saturday)

On Saturday morning, I had time between breakfast and the Expo opening to trim up the rest of my blocks.  I had them all put away before I had to get everything packed into the car and check out of the hotel.  I didn't need to bring anything more than the half-square triangle blocks.  Evidently, 300 of the little buggers is enough for one little trip.

When I got home from the Expo, I found that I had received the patterns I ordered from Serendipity Studios.  I picked up the skirt pattern at Bear's Paw, a local quilt shop and liked it so much I went to their webpage to buy some more.  Sorry about the quality of the picture.

I didn't spend much money at the Expo.  I had plenty of time at the Expo to think about my purchases, and speak with different vendors and find all the things I wanted.  There were other things I wanted, but only one thing I really, really wanted that was already sold out.  I did pick up some scrap bags full of batiks.  I have a soft spot for batiks.  Two one-pound bags of scrappy goodness.  I see some fun blocks in my future.  I also picked up the clear, 1/4" foot for my sewing machine.  I have the metal one, but wanted the clear plastic one.  The coolest find, was the Mini Hex-n-More ruler.  I think I love this little thing precisely because it is little.  It is so wicked cute!  I have no idea what I'm going to make with it, but I had to have it.  To make up for what I didn't spend at the Expo, I came home and bought some thread from Superior Threads.  I was a little let down that there wasn't a thread vendor at the Expo.

When I got home, I stacked up my squares for my Split 9-Patch Leaders and Enders project.  I'm looking forward to this one piecing up while I do other things.  It sits beside my sewing machine, ready to go.

The Original Sewing and Quilt Expo Baltimore 2014, Day 1

I wish I had some great pictures to show you, but I didn't spend much time taking pictures today. I did spend a little time wandering around and seeing some of the vendors. The rest of my day I spent sitting in the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild's booth greeting people and talking to them about the guild. I did manage to get some work done on my Big Bold quilt and almost have the binding finished.

I didn't want to spend a bunch of time driving back and forth since I plan on being here all weekend, so I booked a room for Thursday and Friday nights. I checked in after the expo called it a night and had to set up my temporary sewing space.  This is what is provided in the room.

Turns out, this is perfect!  Sewing machine, design board, project box and cutting mat all have a place. My very own little sew-in.  I had a huge tack of 3" squares cut and marked and ready to go. 

I got all 150 half-square triangle blocks stitched. Pressing and trimming will have to wait until tomorrow.  I'm headed to bed.

Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Baltimore, MD (2013)

This year the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo came to Baltimore.  Last year, it was further south, down by D.C.  The change of venue made it so much easier to get to.  So easy to get to that we could take public transport.  Much cheaper than paying for parking downtown.


I was amazed by some of the quilts they had on display.  I took pictures of a few of my favorites.  I tried to be consistent while taking the pictures so I could capture the description of the quilt and all the particulars.  I've joined the two images together for ease of viewing.  If I've made a mistake and given credit to the wrong quilts, please let me know.

I liked this one for the story it told.  Our lives are made up of choices.

Everyone knows I'm a big fan of scrappy quilts.   

They can showcase a multitude of fabrics and bring a little bit of order out of the mostly (for me) unplanned chaos.

I love the idea of working through my scraps.  I've been playing around with it for a couple weeks.  Not enough to share, but it is a start.

That's it for today.  What kind of quilts do you like?  Something with chaos or orderly blocks marching along?