Bradbury centennial quilt reproduced

For years I admired the Bradbury centennial quilt posted on the Smithsonian site.
I had also seen photos in some books but never a good close up until I found it online. I had collected various patriotic prints from different companies, designers and lines for ages to make my version. Last year I made mine. After Kathie posted
pictures on her blog July 24 th (www.inspiredbyantiquequilts.blogspot.com) of the same print I used on my backing, I decided to show some closeups of my repro quilt.

Since some fabric companies are making new fabric lines reproduced from an antique quilt, this is one I wish they would make a new fabric line from. I would make it again! Where I could not find a close enough repro print, I made up my own, such as in stripes.

This picture shows a couple more blocks with one featuring the same George Washington print a friend was kind enough to trade with me for.
George again:

And more assorted prints used in other blocks:
Finally, the backing which shows the same print Kathie used on the back of one of her little quilts.

On the Smithsonian site you can click under the quilt photo to see closeups of the quilt and the back. I had fun making this.............it's not an exact replica, but a good repro for my tastes to have my "own" quilt like this antique one. I would love to see it in person. In fact, I had so much fun making mine, I didn't want to stop and added an extra row. You may have to look close to see where it is.

Too hot to quilt!

O my............we are sweltering in Ohio, just like I am sure most of the country is. Can't stand it anymore; cuts into stitching time, right? (We have NO a/c at home and fans barely help at 95 degrees.) Just to post something and wish for cooler weather, I will show a picture of the reproduction crib quilt top I basted a couple weeks ago. I only have the center applique piece hand quilted now. Last year I took this class over at Good Wives Co in Marion, Ohio...........my
favorite quilt shop. It's a 40 minute drive for me but so worth it. The last local quilt shop here closed a few years ago so I drive to Good Wives. They have just what I like.


I changed the corner blocks on mine as I did not want to make the carpenters wheel blocks the original had. I needed something easier to get the top done. Streamlined it. I kept the color placements the same, tho. This is so pretty in person and I am looking forward to having it done and draped everywhere. Now to wish the heat away so I can go back to quilting on this!

I'm a lucky winner!

The other day I was happy to learn I was the winner of a new quilting book when my name was drawn by Kimber over at www.heirloomsbyashtonhouse.blogspot.com. My win just arrived and wow, it is amazing. Here is a photo of the book History Repeated by Betsy Chutchian and Carol Staehle. Kimber edited the book as you can read on her great blog. I can't thank you enough for this copy. The pictures are lovely and enticing for future quilts. The color of the quilts and the photography are beautiful. Of course I had to show the book on my version of the quilt in Gone To Texas by Betsy Chutchian. I am a happy, happy quilter today...........

Two UFOs finished

I kept telling myself I was not to start anything new until I finished the three UFOs I have had since last year. For once I listened to myself and here are the first two finished. Even #3 is in the works as I started hand quilting on it last week. Here is the little quilt from the class with Jo Morton last June in Columbus. In order to get mine finished, I did leave off the border of triangles all around it. My decision was to finish it faster by putting a plain border on and I am glad I did it this way. I like the framing on it better with the plain borders. #2 finish was the signature quilt from last year that I passed around for quilt buddies to sign. It is also a Jo Morton pattern. But I'm not a purist. I like to mix her fabrics with others and not limit a pattern to just her fabrics only. Altho, project #1 is all her fabrics since I took the class with her. Her repro prints go so well
with other fabric companies lines as you can tell by looking at any quilt magazine where quilters use many of her repros in their projects. Now it is going to be catch up time on the Barbara Brackman civil war blocks of the week, more tracing templates on some schoolhouse blocks and maybe getting to those blue and brown tumblers I have been wanting to stitch together. Better be getting off this 'puter and get to stichin'!

Salvedges...nothings into somethings

I have been amazed at salvedge quilts for some time after seeing some amazing creations on various blogs. At first when I heard of these quilts, I thought: wow, some quilters are really anal.......I mean, I save tiny scraps all the time for future applique projects, but come on, saving salvedges was just a bit too much.
While working on the Civil War Tribute quilt, where the fabrics had salvedges on both
fabrics ends, I thought I would save a few to use on the back label showcasing
Judie Rothermel fabrics for enternity on my quilt.

Then I saved a few more. And a few more. And soon I had a large ziplock bag full. Then I was thinking of going thru my whole fabric cupboard and tearing all the salvedges off. Then I slapped myself out of that last thought remembering sometimes I need the story those ends tell in case I needed to search for more of a certain fabric.

You can see where it can get to be obsessive, tho, can't you?

So one day I stitched some diagonal salvedges on a piece of backing fabric and liked how it looked. Very much. And I was really having fun picking colors and the names and titles on these scrap pieces. O my. Now it was ME who was anal about it all.


Here is my little quilt. I suggest if you would like a mindless little project to give this a try. And then maybe you would want to go bigger and better with larger patterns. Google these kinds of quilts for a new look into the quilt world.

The joke was on me. Something I took as a little weird turned out to be a lot of fun. I don't dare throw out a salvedge edge now because those little words could be
important in a future little quilt. And there are great memories in those little fabric morsels showing the line and a little bit of the print. A veritable scrap book of scraps!!!!

Has anyone else made one?

A quilt or two for Tuesday

Before I tackle my laundry piles, I thought to post a quilt just because it Tuesday. I know that doesn't make any sense but I'm just killing time before I turn that washer and dryer on. Here is one for today that I made a few years ago.

This is an older Jan Patek pattern and I think it was from a booklet of hers about Fat Quarter Quilts, but I'm not totally sure. It features a blackish/brown print with shirtings, reds, olives, blues and tans. And my favorite stars and moons theme.
It was a challenge at the time because the triangle arcs were paper pieced and I'm not much of a fan of paperpiecing. A little, like this, is ok and worked out well.

Here's one more to add. I made this top last year. It was on the wish list to make for a long time so finally it got made. Not quilted yet. Want to save it for this winter as it's pretty large and I am going to hand quilt it. This is also an older Jan Patek pattern from The Winter Book. More stars and moons. More blue and brown. The striped blue indigo is a favorite piece of fabric. I bought tons of that print and never get tired of it. Still have some left; I'll be a sad quilter whenever the last of it gets used up.



That laundry mountain is calling at me...............

I love old blues and browns

These are my favorites..........add in an old red and some tea dyed tans and beiges and I am in quilt heaven. Needed a little project in between ufo's recently and decided to just cut some simple squares of blues and browns, whack them in pieces and stitch back into squares for a simple little doll quilt or table topper. Ooo, I love the rich deep shades. Once I get some projects finished up from hand quilting, me thinks I will draw out a template for a large tumbler block and maybe use these same colors into a lap size or bigger tumbler. I think a bigger quilt in these deep tones will be a beauty mixed in with my other quilts. It's a plan. Now
to just get 3 good sized wall quilts finished and hand quilted sometime and the plan can go into motion! I'm trying my best not to start anything new until my ufo pile gets slimmed down. But starting new is soooo much fun..........