Signature Quilts

Have you ever been lucky enough to wrap yourself in a signature quilt made especially for you? Several years ago, my very dear friend, Lisa, made me this quilt when I moved from Maine to Michigan. There are signatures from 3 local guilds and the state guild. It's my favorite - it helped me through my move, divorce, family trials, health issues. Wrapped in love!

This is my favorite block. It's made by my dear friend, Ann Reed, the Appliqué Queen! Love the ruched flowers!

I'm thinking of signature blocks today because I finished my block for Kaaren (see sidebar). I kept practicing my signature over and over again, but I'm never thrilled with it on the final block. Oh, well. I think Kaaren will still like it.

Have you made one for Kaaren yet? Even if you don't know her, she's a generous quilt blogger who could use being wrapped in love right now.

Happy Stitchin'
Elisa

Quilts for Kaaren

Did you notice the "Quilts for Kaaren" button on the left?  Allie-Oops and friends are organizing a signature block drive for Kaaren of the Painted Quilt.  Kaaren, undergoing some health problems, is a generous quilter - you may have seen her adorable (and free) Raggedy Ann & Andy BOM on her site.

If you'd like to donate a simple square-in-square signature block, click here to see Allie's tutorial.  Allie would like to receive your blocks by July 15th.

Be part of the amazing quilting community that always supports - always gives back!

Elisa

P.s. While on Allie's site, make sure you download the pattern to the absolutely adorable embroidery, the Sheltering Tree.

Looky Here! Looky Here!

My Friendship Star quilt just arrived in the mail!  My good friend Judy Frank (of Frankly Quilts in West Bath, Maine) quilted some lovely loopy stars in my loopy star quilt!

Isn't it gorgeous???? I still need to bind it (wanted to photograph it while it's sunny - can't depend on too many sunny days in Michigan right now.  Isn't that an ugly shed and fence in the background?).

Even though this is a simple scrap quilt I've compiled over 9 years, it's my favorite.  So many scraps shared by so many friends!  Pieces shared in charm swaps and pulled out of scrap bins at the retreats and classes.  The only pieces I own of the red floral/stripe (arm of this star) and the pale yellow swatch (upper left) are in this quilt - both shared by friends from Cobblestone Quilters in Portland, Maine.  It's a memory quilt of my fabulous friends I had to leave behind but have never forgotten.

Even the back is fun!  I've decided that at holiday time I'm going to fold this quilt so the back is showing with these loopy stars!  Won't it make a wonderful holiday quilt in itself?!?

Hope you're able to enjoy some sunshine on this Saturday also!

Elisa

p.s. Here is the original tutorial to make these fun blocks!

Quilting is Comfort

Last night we had to rush a family member to the hospital.  It was scary times, but luckily I come from a close family.  While sitting in the waiting room I pulled out my embroidery passing the hours waiting for the blood tests to come back.  I started to think of all the times I've turned to my quilts and quilting for comfort.

This quilt is full of friendship blocks made by ladies of the three quilt guilds I belonged to in Maine.  My dear friend, Lisa, knew moving away would be tough and she wanted to ensure I'd always be surrounded by their love.  She pieced both the front and back (the back is a large pine tree for the Pine Tree Quilt Guild - the state guild).  I spend many nights wrapped in this quilt with Oscar and Ginger on my lap.  You can tell it's already starting to fade.

I made this quilt while going through my divorce.  I wanted something bright and fun - something to preoccupy my time so, just for a little while, I could escape and not hurt so much.  I guess I got a little carried away - the back is pieced too!

Then several years ago I underwent a surgery.  Nothing like getting stuck on a couch for 6 weeks in recovery.  I remember it was particularly sunny - a beautiful September in Michigan - and I couldn't enjoy it.  I made this sunny quilt while staring hopefully out my living room window.

And last night I worked on this.  Luckily, my family member was sent home in the wee hours of the morning and I can put this friend away for another day.

I guess it's no surprise that, in times of trouble and comfort, I turn to bright colors.

Thanks for listening.

Friendship Star - 15 minutes at a time!

Speaking of 15 minutes… here’s what you can do with 15 minutes… spanning years!  J

Right by my machine is a pile of scraps to make blocks a friend showed me years ago.  It’s a TRUE friendship star!

Sew a 2.5”x4.5” light rectangle to a 2.5”x4.5” dark rectangle.  Or, sew a 2.5”x40” light strip to a 2.5”x40” dark strip and cut down into 4.5” subsets.  Press to the dark.

Using the picture as a guide, sew a light 2.5” square to the bottom of the dark rectangle.  You will be sewing on the diagonal of the square.  You can either use a pencil line or the Easy Angle Acrylic Tool as a guide.

Then sew a dark 2.5” square to the top of the light rectangle.   You MUST consistently sew the light square to the dark rectangle and the dark square to the light rectangle as they appear in the picture. 

Trim the excess square fabric.

Flip the fabric, and press down.  Don’t be stressed if it doesn’t match perfectly along the edges.  This is a very “forgiving” block.

Continue piecing these whenever you have 15 minutes to spare, forming a nice scrappy pile.

When you’re ready to assemble, sew a pair of sections together (like the picture below).  Repeat over and over until all your sections are sewed into these new units.

After sewing your sections into new units, start sewing your units together (like the picture below). 

Voila!  A star!

This is what happens when, after making them over a span of 9 years, you finally put them together!   Can you believe I lost track and have enough for 2 quilts!

Thanks for listening!