19th Century fabrics

A highlight of my visits to Texas are the quilts in Michael's family. Both of his sisters have a wonderful collection and his father has quilt's made by family members in Pennsylvania from the 19th century. It's so exciting to 'visit' two of the quilts made with 'real' Civil War fabrics. Here are photos I took this trip of both of the quilts now in Texas...

 

Pics of tops, both are scrappy...

In this photo you can see a few of the fabrics have worn away. Thankfully it's only a few areas with most of the fabrics in very good condition! Colors are vibrant as the quilts have had minimal handling. They have been stored and used off and on. 

(NQR) We have fires in the area with smoke filled skies this morning. So unusual with snow falling elsewhere in the USA including the panhandle of Texas today! My Mom is not doing well, last night was not a good one and I missed going to a quilt guild meeting. Life is a bit frustrating right now.

Have a great weekend, hope it includes some quilting! I know I need it. Thinking of joining in a QAL with Lori at Humble Quilts or a quick May Mystery project at Aunt Reen's Place... Easy as 1, 2 3  Thanks for stopping by :0)

Galveston Texas

Back home after three weeks in Texas, the last two weeks on Galveston Island. Not the best weather or news events but we had a good time. Michael is still there, spending a few more weeks fishing with his best friend Michael. They grew up together in Houston and spend allot of time on the island.

We spent one day in downtown Galveston visiting the Victorian houses and the tree carvings. After Hurricane Ike, many of the old Live Oak trees were lost due to the salt water from the storm surge. Some of them were carved into mermaids, dolphin, Blue Heron and more....

Highlights were relaxing, fishing, visiting Michael's family, friends and antique shops from Dallas to Galveston. Our first visit was Dallas with Sue, Michael's sister. Then to Georgetown to visit Michael's dad, Dan and Georgine, sister Dianne, nieces Jennifer and Amanda and their families including a new baby :0)

Downtown Georgetown was fun with the Poppy Festival just starting. I found some Delft and a quilt in one of the antique shops. Stopped by a quilt shop I always visit but was very disappointed. There was a shop on the square with goods made by local needle artists. I had a great time talking with them. Then off to Houston. We stopped in Elgin for a thrift shop where we always find something wonderful. Now there are several antique shops. Downside was that the thrift shop was cleared of anything wonderful however, I did find one piece of Delft in one of the shops but not at a thrift store price! Then on to La Grange and visited the Texas Quilt Museum. Wish I could share some photos however they did not allow it :0( The exhibition was of 19th century quilts, mostly applique... you all would love it! Next to the museum is a WONDERFUL quilt shop... The Quilted Skein... lots of repros!!!

Visits along the way with Michael's friends, Ron and Connie, and then in Houston, Michael and Wendy, Michael's shop and The Guild, a wonderful thrift/consignment shop. I always find Delft there and this trip was no exception. This visit was mostly Delft tiles. Then on to Galveston where the 'vacation' part of our trip began ;0) We fished, Michael took us out on his boat often, one day we were surrounded by at least nine or more Dolphin in the back bay. It was wonderful. We spent another whole day downtown at The Strand and antique shops. I found a wonderful very old piece of Delft. That came back with me on the plane in my carry on along with some of the repro fabrics. The remaining finds are packed in the car and will return from Texas with Michael. Meanwhile, I have lots to catch up on here at home from yard work to blogs to quilting! It's good to be home, have a wonderful week!

Grandmother's Flower Garden

This quilt was brought in to Honey Run Quilters by Sherry. A vintage hand pieced Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt made by a family member, 65 x 90, approx a twin size made in the early 1940s! Theresa gave me a call and I zipped right over to check out this beauty! 

 

We discussed a couple of options. From the least expensive option, an edge to edge to the expense of hand quilting. We came up with something in the middle. Above is one of the blocks with a 6 pointed block design that worked well for the flowers.

This is the quilt loaded on my longarm as I begin the quilting. I generally use a full free float method for the top and the batting when I load a quilt. The strips on my belly bar are magnetic strips covered with fabric to protect the quilt. It works great and gives me more control with all the layers.

After quilting the block design in the flower,  I added a 1/4 inch stitch in the yellow center.  

 Next was a 1/4 inch stitch around each of the flowers.

 A few of them were 'almost' fussy cut hexies like the blue and white one in the lower right.

Here it is with the quilting finished. Altho is would have been wonderful hand quilted, it has a nice period look, IMHO. Sherry was happy with the result too. 

Thank you Sherry :0)

It was a nice finish to my work week. Today I spent the day getting ready for a road trip and a much needed get away. This evening I packed up some hand work and a good book. I'm ready to roll! Will check in along the way when I can. Once I reach my destination... no internet! Oh no!!!  lol

See you on the flip side :0) Meantime here is a second little poem from The Cheerful Cherub by Rebecca McCann...

KISS

I made the nicest kiss I could

And blew it to the moon so far,

And then I watched the empty sky

And pop --- out came a little star!

The amazing stitch eraser!

This was on The Quilt Show on April 1st!!! Here it is on You Tube... it's way too funny!

Alex Anderson is great! Love her :0)

Happy Easter

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend
Easter Greetings to those who celebrate

Hope you have the opportunity to spend it with friends and family

filled with love and joy

Yea!!! Spring has arrived here in Northern California with warmer temps and a few Spring showers on the way tomorrow so there may be some soggy eggs left by that Easter bunny!

A yard sale find, a book of poetry published in 1927 ~ The Cheerful Cherub by Rebecca McCann. Her first verses and artwork published 1914 in the Chicago Evening Post and later syndicated. One of those little treasured finds. Tho without the cute artwork, following is one of many verses, more to share from time to time...

Foam

The tide of summer rising,

A green wave strong and dark,

Breaks in a foam of blossoms

And children in the park.

It's Spring!

Well it is on the calendar! Not outside!!! It's raining this morning here in Northern California and the East coast is freezing! So I decided to make it Spring on my blog with pictures of an applique quilt :0) I quilted for a customer...

This is her first applique quilt! It's beautiful!

I am very proud of this one.

Since it was a sampler of baskets, I decided to do a sampler style of quilting... echo, stipple, cross hatch, piano keys in the border with some feathers added to the stems in the borders. There is a flower quilted on each of the baskets and pots plus different leaf or flower designs in the sashings. 

Close up of top half

Bottom half

I had a really hard time giving this one back. I am off to finish another custom quilt that I am falling in love with all over again and will have a hard time returning to Judy.

I keep seeing posts about trying new readers and changing to Bloglovin!?! What's that all about? Just when I have something figured out I have to change again. Like I have time :0(

 Make the best of your Spring Day wherever you are planted!
Spring IS coming :0)

Olivia!

Meet Olivia, isn't she cute! She is surrounded by quilted butterflies and a curly pigs tail border. 

All of these quilts are made by Beckie. She and Donna are friends, work together, spend their lunch hours at Honey Run Quilters/Cathy's and both are talented quilters! I am so happy they bring their quilts to my studio for quilting. I am quite happy to know them as friends and quilters :0)

Theresa Wright's Gypsy Patches pattern

 Beckie's Bunny Quilt, this fabric is so cute. It's hanging up at Honey Run Quilters right now. The quilting design is Viennese Lace. The green is Radiance, it's so pretty when it's quilted.

A baby quilt Beckie made,  I added a monkey quilting design. Love the colors!

This quilt has lots of velvet mixed in as well as brown velvet borders, velvet backing and wool batting. Beckie likes a challenge and to challenge me! This is another Theresa Wright pattern called Chocolate

Beckie's fabrics are really gorgeous, both the color and design. I love the frogs, there is a snail design and the border has a really cool sea turtle. Also made with Theresa's Gypsy Patches pattern.

Cheery Christmas print

Have a bright and cheery week. Spring is just 2 days away! Yipee!!