Wednesday, February 4, 2015

A finish, a stencil, and a birthday!


"Mardi Gras"  74" x 60"
I've been quilting this for the last month.




The border is yukata cotton from Okan Arts.
I had fun outlining the leaves and flowers.




The fans are a mix of old shirts, plus new and vintage fabrics.




The binding is an old Ralph Lauren home decorator linen, 
leftover from a chair cover.  
I don't have the chair anymore, but I couldn't let go of this fabric!

The batting is Hobbs Tuscany cotton/wool mix, 
which gives the quilt extra crinkle when washed.




Last week I received this wonderful quilting stencil from Barb's new Etsy shop.
I'm thrilled with its nice large size!  




I'm going to use it to hand quilt this next spring.




First, I'll finish my winter project, which I started last night.



Now for the birthday news.  Tomorrow is my big six-oh!
It's a happy occasion for me.  I see it as the beginning of the "third act" in the play of life.

These blocks are going to be part of the Pi Project.
Did you know that Pi Day is 3/14/15?  
This one is very special because these are the first five digits of Pi.

I didn't know about it until my dear friend in France, Katell, announced it on her blog.
It took her post to tell me that the Pi Project is happening in my very own state!

They're making a long fabric ribbon with the digits in Pi.  They'll take as many 9.5" blocks 
as they can get, with a rough deadline of Feb 14.

Maybe your blocks will join mine!
The Pi Project, PO Box 2127, Vancouver, WA 98668

Click here for a wonderful showing of Pi blocks from France!




35 comments:

audrey said...

Wowsers! What a knockout of a quilt! Love the log cabin one too, it's one of my favorites of yours.:)

Sandy said...

Love your quilts!
I just purchased abag of that Hobbs cotton/wool batting, am anxious to try it.
I think i need one of those stencils!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Welcome to the sixties ... I, too, was happy to arrive here! Sending birthday hugs!

Did not know about the Pi Project.

Mary said...

Happy Birthday! I love your fan quilt...one of my very favorite blocks. But that border is absolutely the best I have ever seen! So, so good! Loving your other projects too..you are just amazing!

Chris said...

Birthday almost buddies! I reached 60 1-1-15, and it was a joyous occasion, I wish the same for you, and a wonderful year ahead! Love you finish - reminds me of candy in striped wrappers!

Jenny M said...

Mardi Gras is so joyful, love how you have combined so many fabrics...shirts, new & vintage.
Your log cabin is beautiful. Happy 60th to you..love your thinking on reaching sixty!

Julie Fukuda said...

I love how that quilt turned out. Congratulations on the quilt and your birthday. I wish I could go back there again. Amazing what one can learn from the blogging world. How did I get this far without it?

Pam said...

awesome quilt!!! Happy Birthday!!!

Karen said...

Mardi Gras is very graphic. I like it very much.
And happy 60. I have already passed that one by.

Mystic Quilter said...

Happy 60th!! Wonderful Mardi Gras quilt and mad about the border fabric!

Béa said...

Mardi Gras is wonderful ! Joyeux anniversaire XXX

Quilteuse Forever said...

What a joyful Mardi Gras! It looks very Japanese at first sight, but then I would rather say it looks very Nifty Quilts! All the other projects look as great as this one.
When I am 60 I will remember your positive mind and think like you!
Joyeux anniversaire ma chère LeeAnn !

smazoochie said...

Happy Birthday!!! You are a few days and a couple of years ahead of me. I hope you have a grand celebration today!
The camel & red are just right with the fans. I'm eager to see the quilted fans & the hand work on your carpet quilt.

Pinkadot Quilts said...

Your quilt is so lovely and and very graphic.
Have a wonderful birthday!

Barb said...

Happy Happy Birthday on this milestone! I hope you have something fun planned for yourself.
I love your finished Mardi Gras quilt. The quilting looks great and the border is inspired.
I'm so glad you like the stencil. The liberated log cabin will look great quilted with it! Love that quilt.
Your new quilting project looks great, awesome folky flowers.
the pi project sounds really fun!

Helen said...

Your Mardi Gras is just the niftiest ever with old and new fabrics making it timeless and oh, so personal. Happy 60th Birthday from one of your many "fans."

Hilacha (loose strand) said...

Wow!
the link to your blog was passed to me by Katell, from LA Ruche des Quilteuses
https://quilteuseforever.wordpress.com/
and it seems to me that YOU had the same idea as me, for the Pi Project!
Happy birthday!!!!!!!

Marit said...

Happy, happy birthday! Wish you lots of love today
; )
Your finish is beautiful, as is your new quilting project and the finished top. It will be perfect with those big baptist fans! February is a great time for quilting, by hand or machine. Keeping warm as you go about it.
xoxoxox

Elisa said...

Do you like this batting? I just had a quilt custom quilted and wanted to use a thick cotton batt and was steered to the cotton wool you speak of. I am not super pleased with the quilt, despite the creativity and hard work she put into it. Part of my dissatisfaction is the fact that the batting seems too thin and light for my taste. It also looks very flat.

Rachaeldaisy said...

I love your Mardi Gras quilt!! It's so full of spinning motion and celebration. The name couldn't be more perfect!! The mosty happiest of Birthday wishes to you LeeAnn, what a special occasion, and what a wonderful way to commerate a special day by adding blocks to such an interesting project. Barbs fan stencils are so brilliant! Will you mark by pouncing?

Nancy said...

Happy, happy birthday! Love the Mardi Gras quilt, and Baptist Fan quilting on a Log Cabin.. classic! Love your projects.

Kathy said...

Happy birthday, LeeAnn! Welcome to the 60's. May you have many fun adventures ahead... in life as well as in quilting. Love your quilts. You have an eye for fun!

Mary Keasler said...

Happy Big six oh! Make it a special day. Wish I could celebrate with you. The quilt is perfect and is just sooo you. I love it. Brilliant!!

xoxoxo

Margaret said...

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LeAnn! May your "third act" be fabulous!
Love the movement in Mardi Gras ... and could you have found a more perfect border fabric? Don't think so!

Ada Plouvier-Kopitopoulou said...

Happy birthday!
Love the quilt, beautiful colours! I am going to look at the men's shirts at the local second hand shop. Good idea!
Your new project look very interesting.

meli B said...

So much in one blog! First of all happy 60th. Hope you are properly spoiled by friends and family. Great stitching on the giant border. I always like seeing new made from old and you have done some seriously good recycling. Looking forward to seeing more of your winter project.

Terry said...

Celebrations all round. A BIG birthday wish with all the trimmings!*!*! Mardi Gras is a perfect splash of color and movement for a the full on party it is. Enjoy whatever life brings this year.

Cynthia@wabi-sabi-quilts said...

Wow, this quilt is fabulous and another signature "nifty quilt" - the yukata border so unique and perfect with your bright fan blocks. Congratulations on your birthday! Your third act will surely include many more amazing quilts!

Karen said...

Welcome to the 60's!! My journey thru this decade has been eventful and wonderful so far. My hubby's birthday is 3/14/15! How funny. Your quilt looks fabulous! Happy Birthday.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Happy (belated) Birthday. Mine was the 3rd. Nice, fun, bright quilt. Love the Baptist fan template.

cinzia said...

first off, your fans of old shirts and vintage fabrics are great!
Love that fan stencil you bought. think i have to get one too!
i am already in love with your winter project!
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! it's refreshing to see someone be HAPPY to turn 60! It's always a blessing to celebrate a new birthday!

Tonya Ricucci said...

Happy Birthday! great finished quilt and great quilts in progress. woohoo!

Annemieke said...

First of all: Little bit late, but a very happy birthday and wishing you all the best for the years to come in your 3rd act (good thought) and lots of creativity!!!Your quilt turned out to be FUN!! I remember I liked the fans but they look very different now as a whole, nice border fabric too. Sort of a party fabric;) I'm also a huge fan of the wonky log cabin and pinned it.
I'll check out the Pi project.
Groetjes

fiberchick said...

I'm so sorry I missed this post! Happy Belated Birthday!!! Hope it was very special. Your "Mardi Gras" quilt is wonderful but I suspect you already know that. The Japanese border fabric is fantabulous!We're all looking forward to seeing what you make in your "third act"...

Quilting Stories said...

Your Mardi Gras quilt is absolutely a Chef d'oeuvre! Such great idea this color for the background, it makes your fans sing! Needless to say that the border is amazing! Love the "unconventional" Log Cabin too.
Happy Birthday to you, somehow a little late... Sorry.