Favorites from St. Mary's

The previous two posts have been about the second annual St. Mary's Quilt Show held in Plantersville, Texas.  This post will include some of my favorite quilts from the many on display.  In fact, this post includes quilts that are also on my quilt-bucket list (which is a list of quilts that I hope to make myself one day ......)

This lovely kitty quilt received my vote for "Viewer's Choice" award (sadly, I do not know which quilt won Viewer's Choice).  I love the cat and the garden of flowers surrounding her.  This quilt inspires me make it, specifically to make this quilt using the fusible applique technique, possibly with some surface embellishments (paint, beading, embroidery, etc).

I've seen this pattern (possibly this quilt too?) previously.  It looks like a straight forward pattern, possibly made using one or more layer cake sets (10" squares of fabric often sold as charms from one entire pattern line).  I think I may try making this using all the floral fabrics that I've collected.  I have always purchased floral fabrics, then when the "fad" of watercolor quilts became popular in the 1990's, I actively collected even more floral fabrics with the idea of slicing them into 2" squares that would reappear in a watercolor quilt.

 

While I am slicing into my collection of floral fabrics, perhaps I will also consider making this quilt.  I am not certain of the name of this block but it reminds me of both the Goose in the Pond block and a combo nine-patch center of a churn dash block.  I can picture making these 9" blocks, 3" half square triangles with 1" squares and rectangles to make the nine-patch center and the middle side pieces.  I wonder how many blocks I can make, when each will feature different floral prints?

This quilt, "Special Flowers of Red and White" is made by fellow member of the Block Builders Bee Barb Paliatsos.  She sews prolifically: quilts, pillows, tea towels and much more.  She sells her creations in craft shows and at local quilt shows.  Special Flowers of Red and White makes me smile!

This lovely quilt is made using vintage handkerchiefs, many of which were gifts from the quilter's grandmother!  The Artist Statement (which I've included below) tells the story of this Granny's Hankies" quilt made by Marsha H Dolhonde.

I have table linens and a few hankies that my grandmother and her sisters embroidered.  I've been wanting to make something special with these "family heirlooms" of mine, but have been stumped on what to do, how to do it.  This is my reminder to keep planning this quilt of my quilt-bucket list!

This lovely quilt is my reminder to stitch MORE APPLIQUE!  I have made many applique blocks, but really want to focus on finishing a queen-size quilt made entirely with my applique work!

This is a lovely Jinny Beyer quilt that was sold in kits in the late 1990's and early 2000's.  In fact, I've purchased this very kit in this colorway .... but have been too chicken to get started on it!

 I love this view of the pews covered in colorful quilts.  The Angel quilt in front reminds me of one designed by Robin Pandolph years ago (perhaps this is it?).  I'd love to make an Angel quilt .... one of these days.

Can you guess how long my quilt-bucket list might be?  I fear it is only growing and getting even longer!  I'm tickled that I won this too.

My first tie pillow

I am working on a special project -- making memory pillows using the shirts and ties once worn by a dearly loved gentleman.  The pillows are for his children and grandchildren, something to keep the memory of his love in their daily lives.

Here is pillow number one.  It uses six ties that have been appliqued onto a shirt and is an original design that I came up with while playing with the pretty silk ties.  This may be a fun project!

The back of the pillow is made from the shirt's button front.  The buttons open to reveal the custom made pillow form inside.   The pillow measures approximately 12" by 18" in size.

As seen in this detail view, I quilted the front and back pieces of the pillow to add to its longevity.    

This pillow is my first completion in the 2016 finish-along challenge.  Click here to read more about the finish-along challenge where you will see my full list of 10 projects I hope to complete by March 2016 as well as links to more details about this challenge.  I do excel at beginning projects, but this year I plan to finish many too.

My first silk tie pillow is entry #344 of the many finishes that have been posted for the first Quarter of the official Finish Along.  Click here to see the many links.


Time to dream up the next pillow ....

an idea begins ...

Sharing the beginnings of a new series ....

First, the germ of an idea is flushed out with the help of construction paper.

I am using the hamsa as the focal shape of this new series of quilts, small quilts (quiltlets) that will be given to three pairs of friends who have recently been married.  They are all faculty of the religious school where I teach Kindergarten.  Our theme this year is "Peace, Love and Music", hence the three shapes in yellow.  Question:  which way do the fingers of the hamsa point?  or does it matter?

          This is what I learned when looking for this answer:
The hamsa, meaning five fingers (or digits) of the hand, symbolizes luck and prosperity. The hamsa is sometimes referred to as the Hand of God and is also known as Hand of Fatima, or the Hand of Miriam.  One source stated that the hamsa hand conveys a message to the devil, so upwardly hamsa is good against the 'evil eye' and a downward hamsa is an auspicious sign of prosperity and success. However the hamsa is displayed in either direction.... I may have to look into this further.  

For my project, I have decided to place the fingers downward.  Next step is to select the backgrounds and the hamsa fabrics for three different quiltlets.

 

 

After appliqueing the hamsas onto each background, my next step was to use reverse applique to attach the Peace sign, the heart and the musical notes.

Stay tuned for further developments ....