Easy Baby Quilt...

You can make this quilt just by looking at it. I did. Decide how large you want your quilt to be. Cut your squares and half squares large enough to achieve that size. Arrange them according to the picture. My squares and half squares are 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches.The dog torso is a rectangle and two squares with appliqued ears, head and circles. You will need to draw the ears, head, and circles and embroider the tail. I used two long and two short rectangles around the dog.

I saw a much smaller version in a magazine (that I can't remember the name of) and worked up my own pattern pieces (I don't know if that qualifies as fair or not). I just played with it until I got it the way I wanted it.  

I had this one machine quilted, but it could easily be hand quilted and would quilt up nicely. I would probably quilt along each seam-line (in the ditch) on the blocks and the dog. The white around the dog would be nice done in cross-hatch.

This quilt makes a great shower gift.

As a fun finishing touch to your gift you might go on ebay or etsy and find this vintage pup at a reasonable price.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!!!

More Crazy Quilting...

Thought I'd share some of my favorite Crazy Quilt books. These have instructions on how to make a Crazy Quilt. They also have embroidery patterns and many good ideas for embellishing your Crazy Quilt.

The Magic of Crazy Quilting by J. Marsha Michler is an excellent one. The Crazy Quilt Handbook by Judith Baker Montano is another good one. I bought my copies at the Houston Quilt Show, but they can be purchased at Amazon.com.

I am always on the look-out for material to use. I like to use velvets, satins, men's vintage ties, any type of material that might seem "elegant" or unusual. I find remnants at flea markets, yard sales, thrift shops...

Hope you have a great Sunday!!!

Crazy Quilt Purse...

My youngest daughter asked me one day if I would make her a purse that looked like a crazy quilt. I was working on a crazy quilt at the time and told her I would try. She wanted it to be an over-the-shoulder bag with a flap. Here is the end result.

 It was a lot of  fun choosing just the right embellishments to fit her personality.

Her name begins with a D

and they say every crazy quilt needs a spider for luck

and of course, a fan and some grapes.

My personal favorite-two little bees buzzing around

near a nest of blue eggs.

A row of birdhouses perched on a fence.

I lined it with a soft, blue cotton calico. Her birthday is in October, so I gave her a little row of jack-o-lanterns in the bottom corner.

 I am thinking of starting another one soon. I think I'll make the next one smaller and come up with a different style. I'm thinking no flap.

Have a great Thursday!!!

My First Quilt Top...

Today I was rummaging around in my sewing room wondering where to start cleaning when I happened across this sad quilt top. I made it when I was 15. It was my first attempt at sewing-ever. I am sure my mother never in her wildest dreams thought I would finish it, so she failed to tell me a few things(like turn under the edges of your applique). If I remember correctly she showed me the blanket stitch, gave me some scraps and a pattern and sent me on my way.

I spent hours and hours on those little rabbits and carrots. The rabbits became my friends and the carrots my enemies. I hated those carrots. As I ran out of orange material Mama would return to her scrap bag and produce more. I don't remember ever thinking about the fact that it wasn't always the same shade.

Sometimes she would help me by embroidering a face or two. There are happy faces, sad faces, mad faces, funny faces and some that are down right scary.

It wouldn't be worth quilting, but I think I will keep it anyway. I have grown attached to those wild little faces and the memories they hold.

I have since made quite a few quilts and am a member of the local quilt club.

Maybe my mother knew what she was doing after all.

Thanks Mom!!!