Friday, January 11, 2019

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR QUILT NOW THAT YOU HAVE ONE!

First of all I want to say that most quilts are made by a lot of time and effort.

If someone gives you a quilt for your wedding, birthday, Christmas, or a just because, YOU ARE SPECIAL TO THEM.  It was made with you in mind and a whole lot of love.  While that person is making the quilt, the whole time they are thinking of you and the joy it will bring to you.

Of course, if you find one at a garage sale, thrift store, antique store, count your lucky stars.

            Found these squares at a thrift store, put it together and now just needs to be quilted.

My biggest concern is that my sons and their wives will not know the true value of the quilts that will remain when I have gone from this earth and either just sale them for CHEAP or throw them away, especially my unfinished items.


A friend died about 25 years ago and left this top unfinished (just one section was done).  I finally finished it for my son for Christmas.

NOW FOR THE CARE OF YOUR QUILTS!

Your quilt is meant to be used and loved.  Don't just store it away in the closet only to be brought out once a year or so.

Hang it on a rod or a quilt rack to showcase it.

The worst thing you can do is store in a plastic container, this will create moisture and your quilt will eventually rot ( of course, this is over an extended length of time).

Don't store folded under yourbed, for one bugs and two you have it crammed under there and probably won't take them out for a long time.

If you do have your quilts folded in the closet, take them out every six months or so and refold them a different way.  Sometimes we get permanent creases and that is not good.

When I sell or give a quilt, I tell the person to not pull strings, clip them. 
 If you have a quilt that you want to last a long time, wash in the washer in COLD water but don't dry in the dryer.  The dryer will dull the color over the continued use.
Use a color catcher in the washer for the first time.

I have some quilts that I wash and dry over and over because I at times have so much company that I refuse to use the same quilt unwashed for the next visitor.  


I do have some quilts I only take out on Holidays



Here is an example of just a few that I pull out and would hang in my sewing room
I would have to iron the creases out.

BUY my biggest advice to you, is to USE them.  They will do you no good when you are dead and gone (sorry, don't mean to sound so fatalistic).  Say you do have that one beautiful quilt and it is left to a child, maybe they will store it away to, who knows, or maybe they will not appreciate it like you did.  SOOOOOOO

USE IT!

Even if you take it out seasonally, or put on your bed for a short time, get the joy out of it that was intended for you.
Now if any of you have anymore suggestion, I am up for them...leave a comment and I will add it to this post.

Thursday, January 10, 2019

SAMPLER BLOCKS

Those who had read my blog in the past know that I love Applique.

Most of my Accuquilt Go dies are applique.

I do have some piecing dies but I recently acquired the 8" Go Qube.

If you are interested in what a Go Qube is, check out the Accuquilt site.

I will give more info on that later.

So.....I have been playing with the QUBE and Island Batik Scraps.

Dutchman's Puzzle

I just love using my Island Batik scraps because I get to see fabric that I have used in the past and as always just love them.



This Accuquilt 8" qubeh as made it so easy to cut out these squares.


I use to hate the half square triangles, no more.



                             I love the variety of blocks you can get from just one Qube box.


It takes no time at all to cut out...now if you make mistakes on a regular basis, (not saying), the blocks go together quickly with wonderful directions.


Who doesn't love these fabrics?


I love Basket Quilts and this one goes together so quickly.

That being said, this month the Island Blog hop is going on, below is the schedule for it.  Lots of giveaways, ideas, and creativity.







Getaway Blog Hop Schedule

WEEK 1
Monday, January 7 - Crystal Ball

Tuesday, January 8  - Ditty

Wednesday, January 9 - Elk Lodge

Thursday, January 10 - Feline Fine

Friday, January 11 - Flea Market

WEEK 2
Monday, January 14 - Fortune Teller
Jennifer Fulton- The Inquiring Quilter

Tuesday, January 15  - Gypsy Rose

Wednesday, January 16 - Paisley Park

Thursday, January 17 - Soul Song



Friday, January 18 - Twilight Chic

WEEK 3
Monday, January 21 - Winter Park

Tuesday, January 22  - Bazaar



Wednesday, January 23 - Blossom


Thursday, January 24 - Boho


Friday, January 25 - Brookview


WEEK 4
Monday, January 28 - French Blue

Tuesday, January 29  - Midsummer Night



Wednesday, January 30 - Oh Deer


Thursday, January 31 - Snow Berry  

Friday, February 1-  Candy Cane Lane and Icicle
Anne Wiens- Icicle - Sweetgrass Creative Designs

Barbara Gaddy - Candy Cane Lane  -Bejeweled Quilts by Barb 

Saturday, January 5, 2019

LOOKING BACK ON 2018 QUILTS

Bea Lee did a post about all of the quilts she has done this year.  Now I have not been over there but knowing her she has doubled what I have done.  That girl is like the energizer bunny.

I liked the idea of showing the quilts made during the year and so I am now going to photo bomb you of all the quilts I have done.  I have only shown one top that is not done, needless to say I have started a few and not finished (yes, I admitted to that).

This does not include the runners, pillows etc that I have done.

It has been a busy 2018!!!!





This was January 2018 Island Batik Project using Alpine Jingle called "Tree Farm"


Just a fun Teddy Bear Quilt.


Island Batik Scrappy Quilt


Slanted Half Hexie Quilt using Island Batik Scraps

Jenny from Missouri Star Quilt Company does a you tube on this.

Once again a quilt using Island Batik Scraps reproducing a quilt that was done in the 1890's



Sunshine and Flowers, using Island Batik 5" strips and Aurifil thread




This star quilt, one block and you are done!

I don't have pictures but I made two more of these  star quilts with 10" squares that I had.  I sold them as fast as I could make them for  a Charity project I was working on.


This little quilt for my grandson.


 Double Dresden delight using Island Batik Scraps


Paint Splatters using Island Batik foundation bundle.


Victoria and Albert fabric by Island Batik.  I have always loved baskets.
In fact, this is one quilt that I have trouble parting with and so I won't.

Used Hobbs batting light and Aurifl Thread for the blanket stitching and quilting.


Dear William fabric by Island Batik and Aurifil threads

This is one of my all time favorites, it is paper pieced which I designed and love.  I just need to tweek it a big but I looooove it.  Reminds me so much of Samoa.


This really does lay flat, it is just hung poorly but this is another Star quilt using Island Batik Scraps.


I just had to add this quilt, the top is not quilted but it is done.  As soon as I get my quilting room back, this puppy will go on my longarm.  This quilt covers my king size bed and once again...a broken record I am....I love it. 


This is just a small 36" quilt that I was trying a new technique out on.


Paisley Dots by Island Batik, using the Quick Curve Ruler by Sew kind of Wonderful.


Finished up this quilt from the squares we found in the attic.


Wonky Basket Quilt using the Tinsel Island Batik fabric line.


Using the Quick Curve Ruler again for the Log Cabin Island Batik Challenge, using scraps.


Crystal Cove Island Batik Fabrics making half square log cabins.



I just finished up two more quilts for my February project for Island Batik.  It is really for the January Blog hop but my day is the last day and that is February 1st.  I hope you join us.

I am excited to start a New Year with Island Batik, I am one of the original Ambassadors and have enjoyed every minute of it.  I want to take a few minutes to Thanks Island Batik, Hobbs batting, and Aurifil Threads for the awesome Year!







Getaway Blog Hop Schedule

WEEK 1
Monday, January 7 - Crystal Ball

Tuesday, January 8  - Ditty

Wednesday, January 9 - Elk Lodge

Thursday, January 10 - Feline Fine

Friday, January 11 - Flea Market

WEEK 2
Monday, January 14 - Fortune Teller
Jennifer Fulton- The Inquiring Quilter

Tuesday, January 15  - Gypsy Rose

Wednesday, January 16 - Paisley Park

Thursday, January 17 - Soul Song



Friday, January 18 - Twilight Chic

WEEK 3
Monday, January 21 - Winter Park

Tuesday, January 22  - Bazaar



Wednesday, January 23 - Blossom


Thursday, January 24 - Boho


Friday, January 25 - Brookview


WEEK 4
Monday, January 28 - French Blue

Tuesday, January 29  - Midsummer Night



Wednesday, January 30 - Oh Deer


Thursday, January 31 - Snow Berry  

Friday, February 1-  Candy Cane Lane and Icicle
Anne Wiens- Icicle - Sweetgrass Creative Designs

Barbara Gaddy - Candy Cane Lane  -Bejeweled Quilts by Barb