Vintage Grandmother's Flower Garden

Hello Everyone,

Back at Christmas time, my sister in law had a wonderful vintage Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt with her.  When she took it out of the bag to show me,  I was in love!

Each flower is hand sewn with fabric that dates back to the 20s or 30s.

The choices of colors is just fantastic!  I love them encircled with the solid white.  As some of you may remember, I am working on my own.  You can read about it here.

The binding was a sweet yellow and two of the edges are zig zag, the others straight.

The entire quilt is hand quilted and in excellent shape!  It has a couple of stains on the back side, but not on the front.  The great part of this story was that it was for sale!!!  I was psyched!!  She said the proceeds would go to the local animal shelter (something near and dear to my heart).  I asked how much and she said to make an offer and guess what????  They took it and I own this fabulous quilt!

I am in love with it!!  I don't think that I could have found a quilt like this in the condition that it is in, I am so fortunate!  Thank you, Shirley for bringing it to me this weekend!

Also, a couple of months ago a very good friend of mine, (you know who you are), found these...

and sent them to me!  What a surprise to receive these in my mailbox.  My day was made!

Some great vintage Grandmother Flower Garden blocks that are begging for me to finish them.  

Great colors and well put together.  Now for one more project on my to do list!  Thank you so much for making my day, you truly are wonderful!

Do any of you have anything vintage?  I would love to know and if you have photos, would love to see them!

Until Next Time...

Vintage Grandmother's Flower Garden

Handwork

Hello Everyone,

In the summer time we tend to be on the road more than in the winter. This means, I need to bring something to keep my hands busy. So I decided to get back to my GFG Hexies!!But I can only do handwork when we are on the highway, not on windy roads my stomach just can't take it.

It feels good to be doing these again and I just love the results.

Here are 27 of them that were done previously which you can read about in this post.

I keep all my supplies in this little box that I got in the fishing department at Wal-Mart. It is convenient that the hexies fit just right.

Initially I think that I calculated that I needed 96 flowers for the bed that I would like this to cover. With only 27 made and one in progress, I have a little way to go yet.

They will all be bordered with Kona Cotton White Hexagons. You just have to love 1930s reproduction fabric with the white, it is just reminiscent of a different era which I adore.

Before you go, don't forget to enter the giveaway for the Wild Garden Fat Quarter Bundle. Just click here.

Until Next Time...

Handwork

Hexagon Progress

Hello Everyone,

I thought you might like to see my progress on my hexagons! My hand piecing is going slow as of late. Unfortunately, other things are getting in the way of me actually sitting down to relax. But since the last time I have posted this, I think I have managed two more new GFG blocks.

They really do look quite nice. I do enjoy the hand piecing. I just wish I had more time these days.

You can see the multitude of colors that I have. I love using the 1930s fabrics. I think it will make the quilt feel "old fashioned". My stash has no shortage of these either.

So my system for doing these is totally scrappy. But I like it to be a controlled scrappy. I am trying to keep an even amount of each color when making these blocks. Right now I have six different color categories green, orange, yellow, pink, blue, and purple. These are definitely the softer shades of the 1930s prints. No reds will go into this quilt. The look I am going for is more "feminine".

This is the way that I usually keep them, in a stack with their own color grouping. I find that it helps me to keep track of which color I should do next. The color groupings are done by using the outer ring as the primary color.

Right now I have 27 blocks made. By my calculation, I need a total of 96. So I have a long way to go. They will all have white hexagons separating them. Very traditional. That is what I like. So, having no illusions, this quilt will take me some time to complete.

Until Next Time...

Hexagon Progress

What Do You Do When You Have Time????

Hello Everyone,

Yes, I had some time! Granted, they were stolen moments here and there, but none the less, it was time. So here are a few of the things that I was able to accomplish.

1. I opened an Etsy Shop! Yay, I am excited. You can check it out from the button on my sidebar or just click here. My main focus will be die-cut fabrics in all forms, strips, squares, circles, dresdens, drunkards, you name it! I will do custom orders too!

2. I finally updated my website gallery with new customer quilts. Check it out here. I am so behind. So if any of you are still waiting to see your quilt there, I promise it will be there soon.

3. Last time I had said we had taken a couple of road trips to PA. Since then we also went to Boston. Well, I don't know about you, but when my hubby is driving, I am stitching. Therefore, I have some TIME! Here are my results.....

It was the perfect time to work on my Grandmother's flower garden. I basted hexagons.

Sewed them together.

I quickly went up to 20 flowers. Now I know that I need 96 total for the project that I am doing, but I would say being approximately 1/5 th done is pretty good.

I just love the little stack. In my journeys, I was able to find this little packet of finger saving heaven. I don't know about all of you, but I never could get used to a thimble. So my finger has gotten callused and an occasional hole from the needle. OW!

So these little gems are a real helper. You just peel them from the paper and stick them to your finger. At first it takes a little getting used to, but then you don't even know they are there. And the best part no more holes in my finger. You can find them online by clicking here.

Oh and here is a picture of my little tackle box filled with new hexagons to baste and sew.

So, in conclusion, this is what I do with those stolen moments here and there. Not bad! I would love to hear from you, what do you do in those little moments that you might have?

Until Next Time....

What Do You Do When You Have Time????

Stacks O' Progress

Hello Everyone,

Well I have been busy at my sewing machine and also some hand stitching. In between all of that I have been busy with customer quilts too. New ones were added to my gallery check them out!

But I wanted to share the progress I have made on my Judy Niemeyer quilt, A Touch of Spring first. During the day, I tend to use my sewing machine more than hand stitching. I reserve the hand stitching for night, so that I can be with my family. How about you???

Here is what I accomplished so far... Lots more arcs only four more to go!!

Another view to show some detail.

Those perfect points, they are pretty much guaranteed with paper piecing!!

Now onto the night time work... I have been having a blast with my hexies!! I am soooo addicted. Right now I have eleven completed flowers for my grandmother's flower garden. I know I have a ton more to do, as this is going to be for our guest bedroom, it is a double bed! Don't you just love this pretty little stack?

All fanned out for a better view...

This last picture is of 1/2 of a full flower complete! This will be done tonight, no bones about it!

I am just loving my current projects, but I know that I have a ton of UFO's to complete as well. Don't forget to sign up for my monthly newsletter. Click on the widget on my sidebar to do so. My current newsletter is available online here. The next one will be on its way next week.

Well, I must get back to work now! I just love what I do! I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Until Next Time....

Stacks O' Progress

Organization and Progress

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the weekend! It has been a busy week for me. I have been working on several projects at one time. Also working on customer quilts! You can see the newest ones here, they are from a husband and wife quilting "team". See them in my gallery under the Recent Addition right sidebar.

Now onto my work. Well I have to say that I was channeling both Wanda and Karen. They both have wonderful organizational skills.

So here is my find... a $5.00 find at Wal-Mart in the fishing department. Yes, it is a tackle box.

But it is perfect for those little hexagons. You can close it and it has a space for everything and a handle for easy carrying. Pretty cool!

So it seems that the little hexies have become my night time project. I have been doing them while watching T.V. with hubby. Good busy work and addicting too! So I was able to finish 2 more flowers for my grandmother's flower garden quilt. Here is a peek....

I just love them! During the day, I have been working on a Judy Niemeyer paper piecing project that I started about 2 years ago and really want to finish. More on this in my next post.

Then a friend of mine, Leslie (no blog), was reading my last post and saw my hexies. She called me and said she wanted to come by to show me something. Later on she came by with this beauty.

Isn't it just gorgeous!! She said she has had this top for a while, not sure of the maker, but would love to have it hand quilted. I'll tell you, the pictures don't do this justice, it is a real beauty, just breathtaking and vintage to boot!!

So, of course, we did a photo shoot so that we could so this loveliness to all my bloggy friends. Don't you just love the close up?

Here is the back side. All hand sewn. Great workmanship. Thank you so much for sharing this treasure with me, Leslie! Don't forget to click on all the pictures for a closer look.

One other special item, if you would like to see some really good quilting inspiration, go here. I went, with my friend Pam, to the Empire Quilter's Guild show 2 weekends ago and I put a little slideshow together. I'll tell you they have some talented quilters there. There is also a few hexagon quilts you won't want to miss in this slideshow. We also had a chance to go into the fashion district, there are a few pictures of that too. A great trim place! So click on the link, turn on your volume and enjoy!!

Until Next Time,

Organization and Progress

Fruit?? and I am in Love With Hexagons

Hello Everyone,

Yes, I am seriously behind in my blog reading and e-mails. However, I vow today to get caught up! Yay! But first I wanted to share this picture heavy post with you.

Earlier this week, I received this beautiful Edible Arrangement from none other than my hubby's boss. Yes, that is right. I couldn't imagine why, but a wonderful note was enclosed saying that he appreciates all the support that I give my hubby on the home front for all the long hours he puts in. He also understands that hubby is very instrumental to the success of their business and knows that long hours put a strain on family life. He just wanted us to know that this was not overlooked and was greatly appreciated. Well, we were all just blown away! Plus we chowed down the fruit.... especially the chocolate covered strawberries! Thanks goes to Frank! Here is the arrangement...

Now onto quilty stuff. I have been surfing the web and reading lots of blogs and blog posts regarding hexagons. They have always intrigued me, but I always seemed to be a little intimidated by them. But after reading about them for sometime, I decided to "bite the bullet".

I wondered if there was a die for my AccuQuilt that would accommodate English Paper Piecing. Low and behold there was!!! A die for the fabric and one for the freezer paper (exactly 1/4" smaller than the fabric pieces). I quickly ordered it and couldn't wait to receive it. When it was in my hot little hands, I got out some of my 30's reproduction fabrics and started cutting. Here are some of the results...

Here you can see the freezer paper cuts too...

Ironed to the back of the fabric, ready for basting...

First Grandmother's Flower Garden Block complete!!

More hexies cut and a quarter to show the size...

Second block complete...

I also now have a third block complete and working on the fourth. They really do go quickly. I just love doing handwork at night while watching the tube with kids and hubby. I can't believe how addictive these really are... unbelievable. My goal is to have a quilt made for the guest bedroom. I have no illusions though, it will take me years!

On another side note, remember the giveaway that I had a while ago. Well, Anya was one of the winners for the free quilting. I recently quilted her quilt and you can see it here. Anya did a fantastic job and I was glad to do the quilting.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Until next time...

Fruit?? and I am in Love With Hexagons