Many Hands Make Light Work

Sadly, one of my work friends was recently diagnosed with cancer.  

I proposed to some mutual work friends that we make her a group quilt. 

Never mind that most of them had never made a quilt before!

My house became a quilt workshop.

Here is Kris at my sewing machine.  Jo Ann and Jan learned how to use the rotary cutter 

and cut out all the blocks.

Karen, Leslie and Joan sewed blocks together in the dining room.

Everyone got a turn at the design wall.

All were very proud of their efforts.

The whole quilt top was made in just a couple of hours!

The pattern comes from Sujata Shah's wonderful book, Cultural Fusion Quilts.

It's perfect for a group effort, because accuracy isn't an issue.

Every block is unique, and each maker can identify the ones she made.  

I quilted it with slightly wavy lines this weekend.

It's ready to comfort our dear friend!

The fabrics for the top came from Drygoods Design, a delightful shop in downtown Seattle.  

They have an online store here:  drygoodsdesignonline.com

The main backing fabric also came from Drygoods Design, but a year or two ago.

Quilts for Twins!

My friend has two new baby granddaughters.  

Of course I planned to make quilts.  But it took some thought.

For twins, do you make them different?  What if one likes the other's better?

Do you make them the same?  What if they argue over who's is who's?

Here's how I solved the issue.

 

The blocks are from Sujata Shah's book, Cultural Fusion Quilts.  

The letters are from Tonya Ricucci's book, Word Play Quilts.  

Both are very fun techniques, and no two blocks are alike.

I started with flannel sock monkey print scraps from making 

their older brother's quilt three years ago.  

When I ran out of flannel, I went to my corduroy stash.

The quilts have corduroy backs, one floral and one plaid.

Very soft!

I got to give them to the twins and their moms last weekend.

Older brother got his out and modeled it for us too!

Small World

I haven't accomplished much sewing this summer, 

but I have had some quilter friends visit me and my fair city.

In June, Kathy Doughty, Liesel and Carolyn of Material Obsession in Australia arrived. 

We toured Seattle, including the Dale Chihuly Gardens, (pictured here)

before they headed north to teach.

Toodle-oo, mates!

In July, Ana Maria Perna arrived from Spain with her husband, Ruben.  

She was celebrating her 60th birthday with a tour of the Western states

and Quilters Affair in Sisters, Oregon.

Adios, amigos!

In August, Carol Veillon of Quiltmania and her husband, Jean, came from France.

They toured the Northwest on a motorcycle and stopped by my house.

Au revoir mes amis!

All were very fun visits!  I hope to see all of them again.  

As quilt-makers, we're so fortunate to have a passion that allows us to cross borders and oceans and still have so much in common with each other!

I am getting back to sewing again, and will have something to show soon.

See ya later, alligator!

Parisian Inspirations

Paris is known for many things, including its sidewalk bistro chairs.

I found them beautiful and inspiring, each with different weaves and color combinations.

Click on the photos if you want to see close-ups.

Patchwork chairs in a hotel lobby.

Some old drapery fabric I bought at a flea market.

The stall and purveyors where I bought the fabric.           

A face made of bedspreads and clothes at the Emmaus thrift store.

Yum!

The best inspiration of all!