Birds of a feather

Flock together!

Look what little birdie flew in from Tennessee, Mary Keasler!  We had SO much fun.  She got to come to the Rebels meeting.  Then we went to the Pacific West Quilt Show.  Here are a few of my favorites from the show.

This was made of wool from thrift stores and free boxes.

One of my favorite quilt makers, Jean Wells, of Sisters, Oregon.

Nancy Lee Chong

Sacred Work

A friend and colleague had a tragedy this summer.  Her husband died suddenly in a freak accident.  I asked if I could make her a quilt from her husband's shirts, and she was glad to let me.

She gave me a dozen of his shirts.  A few other colleagues came to help.  All were new to me and new to quilt-making.  I wanted to cry most of the weekend.  It felt like very important, sacred work. 

Here's what we made.  Pretty good for mostly new quilt makers! 

 I'll make the quilt back from the shirt backs, arranging them something like this.

From the scraps, I'll make quilts for her two teenage daughters as Christmas gifts.  

Aren't you glad to have a skill that can provide such comfort?  I'm feeling very fortunate today.

Go Baby Go!

I just got my Accuquilt Go! Baby last night, and had to spend an hour cutting plaid geese.  Think I'll call this one, "Flying Plaids."  

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the lovely Marit (right) of Norway.  She's nearby  visiting her in-laws, (MIL, Linda, on the left.)  I've been a great admirer of Marit's work for a long time.  We could have talked quilts for days!

Linda gave us a wonderful show of her mother's quilts.  Aren't they fabulous?!  Think I'll have to make that red one. 

Then Malti made herself a spot under the table as I was basting a quilt.  It's almost finished.  If I can keep myself from playing with my new Baby, I'll show it soon! 

National Corduroy Appreciation Day is Coming!

What is this mess?  It's a freshly washed batch of corduroy shirts and pants, eagerly waiting to "show their wales" in a quilt I'll make for National Corduroy Appreciation Day, 11/11/11. 


Would you like to make a corduroy quilt by 11/11/11?   

Here are some inspirations from the Gee's Bend quilt makers, recently shown in Sisters, Oregon.

 Below are some "prints of wales" that I've been collecting for the occasion.

This is a wide wale treasure from Goodwill.   Looks kind of 1970's.  I love that era.

Then there's this beauty, a very soft pin wale.  Maybe I'll have to make a jumper to wear on the day.

Let me know if you'd like to make a corduroy quilt--or a quilt with corduroy in it--for 11/11/11.  Or maybe you already have one.   If there's enough interest, and I can figure out how, I'll make a blog or a flickr group about our quilts!  For more information on National Corduroy Appreciation Day, visit the CorduroyAppreciation Club.