"Housetop" is Finished!

"Housetop," 60" x 60"

I finished hand-quilting this just in time for picnic season!

The top was made in a class with Gwen Marston back in February.

It's called "Housetop" because its inspiration came from the  

Gee's Bend quilt designs that go by the same name.

I quilted it with Barb's big fan stencil and #12 perle cotton.

It includes an old linen napkin and a scrap of polka dots from a friend in New York.

A lovely floral dress,

An old skirt,

An apron from the 60's or 70's,

And two tablecloths from the same era. 

Both were round and had 4" white fringe.  

Remember those out on the patio table?  

This wonderful Jane Sassaman print was perfect for the back. 

I made a wide back to front binding, like the Gee's Bend gals do.

(If anyone wants a tutorial on this, let me know.)

And it's already been launched with the first picnic of summer!

Happy summer--or winter--to you!

Grandma's Peaches

"Grandma's Peaches" 46" x 62"

It started with a peach print blouse and thoughts about 

my grandmother, a Texas farm girl.  

One day she ate a peach while sitting on her front porch.

It was so delicious, she wondered if she could grow a tree of them. 

So she planted the pit in the ground.

A tree did grow, and then another and another.

One was planted in our backyard, 

but it was unhealthy and 

had to be taken down.  

I started the top in 2011 with Stella Pettway in Sisters, Oregon,

And finished it in 2013 with Loretta Bennett in Arlington, Washington.  

They both liked the story about my grandmother.

I finally got around to hand quilting it this year.  

I used Perle 8 cotton and Barb's Baptist fan stencil.  

I had fun working around the shirt pieces that I left in the quilt. 

For binding, I folded the backing fabric around and stitched it,

like the Gee's Bend gals do.  

Maybe the pocket will hold the next delicious peach pit

until it can be planted in the ground.

Got Corduroy?

Corduroy Appreciation Day, 11-11-11, is just one month away!  Are you preparing to celebrate with a corduroy quilt?

Some of you have written that you're feeling a bit intimidated about working with corduroy.  I'll admit, I was too.  But I grabbed my pile of corduroy and a pair of scissors, and dove in.  I found I really love working with corduroy, especially on a rainy day.  I can't wait to make another one!

Here's the process I used, which is one I learned from China Pettway, of Gee's Bend, Alabama.

First, PUT AWAY YOUR ROTARY CUTTER AND RULER.  You'll only need your scissors.  Next, cut or tear--yes, TEAR--your corduroy into strips of various widths. 

Sew two pieces together, using a bit more than 1/4" seam allowance; iron the seam open from the WRONG side of the fabric.  The corduroy really takes the press nicely and stays open and flat.  Notice there's excess.  Take your scissors and cut it off.  Don't measure; just eyeball it.

Then sew on another piece; iron open, and cut off the excess.

You may be tempted to get out your ruler and square it up.  DON'T!  Just eyeball it.

 This will give you nice subtle angles.

Keep adding to your block in whatever way you like, until you feel like moving on to another block.

Then make more!  Use your scissors and eyeball measurements to make them fit together.  Sometimes you'll need to add a strip here or there. 

This is about one-third of the quilt top I made.  I'm thinking we should reveal our corduroy quilts on our blogs on the big day.  Let me know if you plan to participate, and I'll post a list of Corduroy Quilt Makers with a link to your blog.

Save the wales!

Peculiar fabrics

Tonya, over at Lazy Gal, and I have been talking about peculiar fabrics from thrift stores. We have another name for them, but never mind. Here's a quilt I made from peculiars last year. The plaid came from some very dusty kitchen curtains. Luckily they washed up just fine. I don't know if they're from the 1960's or 70's, but they remind me of the avocado appliances that were trendy in the day.

Buffy, over at Rebels, was with me at Goodwill when we stumbled upon them. At first we walked away, probably with some scrunched up looks on our faces. Then we went back. I think they cost all of $4. The plaid was very picky about which other fabrics could play.



The back is inspired by a Gee's Bend quilt. I found this panel on another trip to Goodwill. It's come out of the closet again, now that the fall chill has begun.

Happy Autumn!

Inspired by Gee's Bend

Last summer I got to be in a short workshop with some of the Gee's Bend gals in Sisters, Oregon. It was nothing short of a spiritual experience--truly!

There were about 7 of the ladies there, all ages. First they sang some rousing gospel-type songs. Then they scattered around the room and started working with us. No lecture, no introductions, just gather the inspiration and start.

China Pettway came over to our table, and began to work with my sister-in-law, Bonnie, and me.

The first thing she said was, "Where are your pieces?" I pointed to my nicely folded stack of fabrics. She said, "Well, we'll need to cut some pieces first." OK. I grabbed my rotary cutter and mat. "What are doing with that thing?" she asked. "Get some scissors over here." Lesson one--no rotary cutters.

She took the scissors and cut two rectangles, free-hand, one peach and one red. Then she said, "Sew these together." OK. Then she cut a piece of turquoise and said, "Sew this onto there." Yes, Mam. Then the red polka dot.

I asked her how she decided to put these particular fabrics together. She just ignored me. I asked THREE times over the next hour. No response. Lesson two--let the spirit move you.

As I added fabrics in the same way, she kept saying, "Now that's beautiful, just beautiful." I felt like a little girl with the most encouraging mother at my side. Lesson three--be sweet to yourself.

We made two blocks this way--the top two in this piece. She offered her signature. I went straight back to our cabin and made the other two. I was hooked!



I came home and kept going, humming one of those Gee's Bend songs.


I just finished quilting this one for my sister, Kimber, who lives in Idaho. The back includes a strip from a shirt that belonged to our Dad. Now she can wrap herself in a hug from him--and me--anytime she wants!