Red Quilt #8 and Some Fun News!

Just finished this.  I'm calling it "Red Quilt #8" because it is!

It's from Bonnie Hunter's very fun "Scrappy Trip Around the World" tutorial.  

I was looking at my shelf of red prints one day, 

and decided to see how they would look all together.  

At first I didn't like it, but it's grown on me.

I quilted it with Hobbs Tuscany wool, stitched in the ditch and feathers in the border.

Nice and warm for the winter ahead.

The back is this fun rose print that I got at a thrift store--$5 for the whole thing!

Here's a little peek at Red Quilt #9, my current travel project.  More on this one later.  

If you want to see my other seven red quilts, click here.

OK.  Here's the fun news.  

My blog is featured in the September/October issue of  

Quiltmania magazine!  

(American Edition)

If you're a Quiltmania reader, turn to pages 86 and 87.  

There you'll find my smiling face, plus an interview about blogging

and copying the masters in "Blogger's Corner."  

Chattanooga Choo Choo!

Last week I spent a few days visiting my talented and dear friend, Mary, 

and got to attend the American Quilter Society show in 

Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Mary won not one, but TWO blue ribbons! 

It was so exciting to share this moment with her.  

I also got to meet Julie, a long-time blogging friend, and see her wonderful barn quilt.

There was an Egyptian tent maker,

demonstrating his amazing appliqué.  

Notice his quickly moving hand!

Junko and Katsuhiko Sakiyama of Caohagan (pronounced cow-hah-gah) were also there, 

showing and selling the stunning and whimsical quilts made by island natives.  

Every single one was captivating!  Here are just a few.

OK.  Back to work, refreshed and VERY inspired!

  

Pine Burr Quilt Fini!

I started this quilt nearly two years ago, and finished it today!

The Pine Burr blocks were inspired by an old quilt and a box of gifted polyester squares.

Click here to see the beginnings and a tutorial on how to make the blocks.

I finished the top, but couldn't figure out how to construct it into a quilt.

The blocks are thick and heavy.  The old quilt's blocks were sewn together with bulky seams.

I didn't want to do that, so I was stuck.

Then Karen made her own Pine Burr quilt and offered a pattern for it.

She figured out a brilliant way to construct it with batting and backing,

and no extra bulk in the seams!

I highly recommend the pattern.  You can download it instantly, 

and the instructions are easy to follow.  

Click here for the pattern.

She sewed her blocks together by hand.  I sewed mine by machine.  

I also added some Baptist Fans in #8 perle cotton to the borders.  

Now all I have to figure out is where to hang it!

Our blog friend in France, Katell, has written a beautiful post on slavery in the U.S.

and African-American quilts, including the Pine Burr.  Click here to read it.