Bloggers Quilt Festival - Spring 2010

Greetings to those of you visiting from Amy's Creative Side, home to the semi annual Blogger's Quilt Festival. This is the 3rd event and my 3rd time participating :)
This small wall hanging incorporates my two loves - cross stitch and hand quilting. The only machine sewing was for the internal seams. It was a joy to create right from the start and I use it for the header at my other stitching blog. http://stitchacrosstheborder.blogspot.com/
The project was originally just going to be a basic "learn how to use linen floss for Valentines Day" cross stitch but it morphed into a small quilt when I found some fabric in my drawer that "begged" to be used with it. I never did use the linen floss and the cotton floss that matched the fabric so perfectly was left over from another project :)

Some other details. Finished size approx 131/2"x133/4". Center approx. 63/4"x63/8". Hand turned  binding from back to front on 3 sides with prairie points along the bottom. Hand quilting done with DMC Ecru. Cross-stitch done on 14 ct. Aida with DMC color 3712 - 2 over 1. Cross stitch pattern called Letters Heart/Couer de Lettres by DMC.

Thank you for taking the time to visit. I hope you are enjoying the festival. I know I am. Lots of wonderful quilts to see and fabulous stories to read.

Bloggers Quilt Festival 9-16 October 2009

For a number of years I have been inspired by the book "Grandma's Best Full-Size Quilt Blocks - Pieces of the Past for Today's Quilter" by Better Homes and Gardens. I first saw the book in my mother-in-laws extensive quilt book collection and dropped hints like bricks to my DH for a copy. Lo and behold he got it for me, probably as a Christmas gift :)
On occasion I have made a few of the blocks. Recently I decided it was time to try making them all, which will take me a while because most of the blocks do not have patterns (see my side-bar). Having said that I have been able to find patterns for the more complex ones (for me anything that involves lots of triangles and curves.)
The plan is to make wall-hangings and the occasional sampler quilt.
The main block on this scrumptious wall hanging is called "Ohio Rose" and it's finish is an experiment. I am learning how to do three dimensional applique :) This is proving to be a whoooole lot of fun.
I totally loved making this project. It would look fabulous in my daughter's bedroom but I have very reluctantly parted with it already because it is a gift for someone else. Mmmmm, maybe I should make another one.
There is another more interesting part to this story but I cann't reveal it at the moment.
Any hoo dear people. Thanks for visiting, go grab a chair, a beverage of your choice, (maybe some pic-nic supplies) and click on Amy's parkcitygirl link in the sidebar. Then go do some fun blog hopping. You will not be disappointed.
Carol H.

Textile Corner - One of my favorite small wall-hangings

Greetings from #143 (now #139) on "the list"of ever growing participants for Bloggers Quilt Festival :)

"Really Retro....... not" based on a design called "Really Retro" (when I find the magazine I'll add it into the post.) measures about 12"x15". It was made as a 2008 christmas gift for my oldest daughter. One of her favorite colors is purple so I raided my fat quarter collection to see what I had and also added in a few contrasts.

Why did I give it a slightly different title? Well I used fabrics that were not really retro looking, added an inner navy border and did yoyo's instead of buttons. I also carried the embroidered vine pattern all the way round the border.

I hope you take the time to visit some of the other participants in this fun week of Bloggers Quilt Festival. There's some fabulous quilts out there. Some of them will positively take your breath away :) The link is on my side bar under my welcome.

Glad you visited. Now much as I would love you to stay for a good while and maybe share in some cyberspace hot chocolate and cookies I need to encourage you to move along and enjoy the show, it might take you all week to view the exhibits at the rate "the list" is growing !!!!!!!

*addendum - The original wall hanging that I based my design upon can be found in Quilt Presents #52 Quick Quilts. Designed by Katy Sweigert with the assistance of her daughters. She used 1930's reproduction fabrics. My blog for January 4th 2009 shows a photograph.