DOLL QUILTS #3, #4, #5

My previous post shows doll quilts #1 and #2 and explains why I'm making these tiny objects.  I have now completed #3, #4, and #5, and am through with doll quilts for the time being.  I think five are enough for the purpose.  Besides these "not so nimble anymore fingers" are tired of sewing on 1/4" finished binding! 

Number 3

The Stats: "Triangle Doll Quilt", 2021, 11" x 16", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted. 2.5" blocks.

Number 4

The Stats:  "I Spy Doll Quilt", 2021, 13" x 16", Machine pieced, Machine quilted.    1.5" blocks.

Number 5

The Stats:  "4-Patch Doll Quilt", 2021, 12" x 15", Machine pieced, Machine quilted. 1.5" blocks.

Below is the first doll quilt I made at age 11 under the tutelage of my grandmother.  I was more interested in learning to quilt, than playing with dolls at that age.  But we decided to make the quilt for my favorite doll from early childhood, a baby-sized boy doll named Jerry.  It is made from my grandmother's sewing scraps reminiscent of the 1940-1950 era.

The scraps I have used for my current doll quilts may not be consistant with our image of doll quilts, but I used what I had refusing to buy anything new just for a doll quilt.  That's what my grandmother did!

The next post will be with the miniature cupboard that Bob has almost finished.  It is adorable!

DOLL QUILTS #1 and #2

 Back in the 1990s when Bob's mother was downsizing, in the basement was a child's miniture cupboard that his Grandpa Bloyd had made for Bob's sisters.  Knowing that he would not inherit it, he photographed and took measurements of it at that time.  He has wanted to duplicate it since then; and is now working on it.  When it is completed, I will blog again about it.  He mentioned that it would be charming as a little quilt cupboard ---- that is all I needed to hear, and I am now making doll quilts to fill some of the shelves.  I have completed two with more in the works!

This one measures 10.5"x15"
with 2.5" blocks.

 

The flying geese blocks are 1"x 2" and the
quilt measures 11.5" x 15.5".

To minimize bulk, I'm not using any batting, but using flannel for the backs.  The binding is single fold, 1/4" finished.  They are paper pieced and machine quilted.

They are enjoyable to make taking very little time in comparison to a larger quilt; and use up lots of little scraps. 

To be continued ---------

H BRAND/H BLOCK

A letter H quilt has always been on my quilt bucket list. 

 As the legend goes, the H block was developed to mimic the flags with a large H on them in the civil war to indicate a hospital.  It was turned into a quilt probably by a mourning mother or widow.  

The Stats:  H Brand, 2021, 21"x29", Machine paper pieced, Machine quilted.

My attraction to the block has been that it is the first letter of my maiden name.   The Haines family came to Colorado in 1886, pioneering in the sheep and cattle industry.  I inherited their sheep brand, which is a wooden large H.  Our sheep were not branded like the cattle; but the wooden brand was dipped in blue paint, then imprinted onto the lambs.

Of course, I also have pictures from the 1930s --

My grandfather in the sheep pens in the 1930s.
I always remember him dressed this way with a tie,
even working the ranch/farm.

My grandfather (2nd from left) and his cronies in the cattle pen in the
1930s.  These weren't cowboys, they were business men.

MORE MEDALLIONS

 I couldn't resist and had to make some more little medallions -- this time only 20.

 I wanted to make some in a single color story, so pulled fabric only from my red and pink scrap bins.  Also, thought I would try the traditional-type medallions in a contempory setting -- a little yin and yang or juxtaposition.

 I'm pleased -- fun time for a couple of days hiding out in the sewing room while it rained.  The sun is shining now!

The Stats:  More Medallions, 2021, 22"x30", Paper pieced, machine pieced, machine quilted.

Last week, also had a trip to the city to indulge in some fabric buying.  Anxious to try something with my new 14 fat quarters.  My scrap bins needed an infusion of new fabric.

Finding joy every day!

LITTLE MEDALLIONS

THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY

In 2016 , I was organizing my bins of scrap fabrics and needed a diversion project.  I started pulling out fabrics that I thought could be fussy cut and sewn together as little medallions.  

 I ended up with 63 4-inch blocks and sewed them in a strippy-style quilt top. 

Top only

The sashing and border fabrics are from Moda's Grunge line.  I love the name as it reminds me of the "Grungies" (clothes) and "Woodsies" (outings in the mountains) of my days as a student at Colorado State University and University of Northern Colorado back in the good old days of the 1950s.  

 I had planned to hand quilt it; but, this was about the time the arthritic fingers and macular degeneration of the eyes started to control my quilting life and ended my hand quilting.  The top has remained unquilted in a storage basket under my sewing table since. 

AND NOW, THE END OF THE STORY

It is 5 years later, and I think I feel confident finally to try machine quilting it. It is bigger than anything I have machine quilted in the past.  It was a bit of a struggle, but numerous breaks made it doable.

 

The Stats:  Little Medallions, 2016-2021, 44"x45", Machine pieced, machine quilted, 63 4" medallions.

Quilting gave me the opportunity to revisit and enjoy each little medallion.  So much so, that now I want to make more.

P.S.:  Of course, I have grungie/woodsie pictures taken 5-15-1957

An all-girl woodsie, but the boys
 managed to find us by nightfall
for a bonfire.

In our sorority grungies. Yes, that's me on the left.

 

MOTHER'S KITCHEN

My cherry tree has been blooming gloriously all week, it's almost Mother's Day; plus it is throwback Thursday and time for a quilt I made in 2004 entitled "Mother's Kitchen".

I made it as a tribute to my Mother, who always worked outside the home beginning when I started to school.  Her kitchen was always cheerfully decorated, and we always spent time together there when she got home from work -- she preparing supper or folding laundry and I was talkative.  Plus, the cherries -- she always made a maraschino cherry and nut cake for my birthday!

You would think I was the tired one by the way
I am lounging; but Mother worked hard and 
always appeared this put together!

The Stats:  "Mother's Kitchen", 2004, 41"x41", Machine pieced, hand appliqued, and hand quilted.  The pattern appears in my book, Traditional Two Block Quilts book, pages 65-70.

I couldn't pass up a photo op with the quilt and a cherry tree blossom.

I was a biological mother before I became an adoptive mom.  At the time, someone told me that CARING not bearing made you a mother.  For all the caring individuals out there, may you celebrate a joyous Mother's Day.

IN PURSUIT OF PLAID

 My fascination with plaid is well known.  It has been a staple in our Christmas decorating for years; and is scattered around our house in pillows, throws, etc.  I scour thrift shops for wool plaid garments to felt and use in my wool quilts. Bob wears a lot of plaid cotton shirts; which when worn out, I decontruct and store the good parts in my fabric stash. 

I think it is time to make a cotton log cabin project using some of my plaid stash.

I'm going simple with a log cabin, straight furrow design, in a table runner format.

I almost always paper piece my log cabin blocks now as I have had trouble getting them to come out square with conventional piecing.  It is really helpful if you need to deal with some bias edges.

The Stats:  "In Pursuit of Plaid", 2021, 12"x24", Paper pieced, machine quilted.

To me, a log cabin quilt is such a majestic design, inspite of its name; that I  rarely use a border except a binding to control the madness of so many fabrics.

Some of my previous log cabin projects:

"Going West", 2017, 24"x24"

Chevron or Arrow layout

"Log Cabin Table Runner", 2012, 15"x100"

Sunshine and Shadow layout 

"Homestead", 1982, 24"x24"

Sunshine and Shadow layout

Following is one of my favorite log cabin projects.  In the 1990s I found at a quilt show vendor 81 antique log cabin blocks.  They were all different sizes -- small to large -- but the fabrics were fabulous most of them light weight wool or silk.  I brought them home not knowing how I was going to make them work into a quilt.  I trimmed the larger ones, and added to the smaller ones (with some of my father's old silk ties).  I worked until I had them all the same size; then set them together in a straight furrow layout.  It was too heavy to hand quilt so I tied it at the intersections with perle cotton with a backing and binding of red wool crepe.  It is the only quilt I have had hanging in my house for 25 years.  I love it!

May you find joy in your passion!

MY GARDEN HAS A MOAT, DOES YOURS?

I'm not always pleased with some of my quilts after they are finished.  Here are the stories of a couple of them, both made from the same two blocks.  I'll start with the first one I made in 2004 called "Garden Maze".

Story #1

If ever there was a quilt that needed a do-over, this is it!  In the beginning, I thought the concept was o.k.; but my fabric choices fell short.  Because there was a time restraint, I had the top machine quilted.  It was sent off to my publisher for photography and inclusion in my Traditional Two Block Quilts book.  The quilt photographed even darker than it was in person, but was still to be included in the book.  Just before publication, I was notified that the book was too long for their outline; and one quilt was to be deleted.  I asked to delete Garden Maze.  They said that the book was already formatted alphabetically; and the last quilt (Zephyr - Wind of the West), would be deleted.  I had lost control because of the bottom line - that's business. 

Story #2

If you know me, you know that I appreciate and enjoy nature; but I don't want to commune with it -- it is hot, cold, windy, snowy, rainy, humid, buggy, and dirty out there.  Now, don't laugh as I have been that way since childhood.  My parents finally gave up with trying to get me to play outside, and built me a playhouse just outside the kitchen door.  That way, I could step out and go play under cover!!  Win, win for Mother and me.  As a child I also didn't enjoy going for a Sunday drive; but now I do like a good ride through the mountains or around town to look at the blooming trees, etc.

This is my way of gardening -- make a new quilt, another stab at the "Garden Maze" two blocks.  I tried this time for a more representational quilt with floral fabric, green hedges, blue ponds and moat, and white paths. 

The two blocks that produce the design.

A bird or two are hidden.

The Stats:  Garden Paths, 2021, 27"x27", Machine pieced, machine quilted.

I'm still not totally satisfied with Garden Maze #2 ("Garden Paths" AKA "My garden has a moat, does yours?") and its different fabrics and layout.  Does it redeem the first quilt?  I may have to admit to myself that this is just a bad design.

A couple of pictures that are examples of my lifestyle.  You can laugh now!

The last time I played in the dirt - 1940.
Mother said I quickly ran to her fussing
about my dirty hands.

That's me at the age of 6 forced 
outside to have my picture taken
on the backside of my playhouse.  Not happy.