tiny flower quilts

It seems like I've been cutting out circles of fabric all summer. Everywhere I go I bring a bag of scraps and some scissors, and here is why...

To make these little wall hanging quilts. 

It's been years and years since I've made this kind of quilt. It's been fun putting colors and patterns together, but more fun sitting on the beach and doin' it.

a special kind of gift

I can't take credit for piecing this quilt. I was in the right place at the right time (and I suppose the right person too). My mother-in-law Jan was cleaning out her covetously crowded sewing room and passed these pieced squares onto me- perhaps sick of looking at them, lost interest in the project, moved on to pink and blue... In any case, all I had to do was sew them all together and voila... I've got myself a quilt. As my mentor, I love any color combo she comes up with and this quilt is no exception. Sparkly and fantastic color palette- well chosen, my friend.

I don't know if Jan had a plan or a specific pattern that was meant to come through in the end. As you can see I just went with whatever square was next on the pile, jumbled it all together. The Corn Wagon Quilt Shop did the machine quilting, I like the variegated thread- ties it all together, takes it to the next level...
It's a bit snobby to say the quilt is all mine, it's not really... I was just kidding. Actually, it's headed to my folks Bed and Breakfast, Slot Canyons Inn in Escalante. I personally, am running out of wall space, but it's going to fit right in and look great on a wall with some red rocks just outside the window, after I get the binding on...

what a difference a coat of paint can make

Here is the before picture of the master bedroom, the way it's looked for too long. About a year ago I could stand it no longer. I chucked the old worn bedding and sewed up some new stuff. Finally, at long last, I finished the rest of the room. I realized this room has been 'squash blossom' yellow for 10 years now. Wow, time flies- I never thought I would be the girl that leaves a room alone for anywhere near that long, but then you get busy and the years pass...


The new wall color is gray, looks kind of purple in some light, and is so refreshing and clean. While I was at it- I picked up some much needed new blinds, a new light fixture with a ceiling fan. I used a can of metallic spray paint for the fixtures on either side of the bed and found a couple of new lamp shade at Ikea too. Almost the best part was that it was all done in 24 hours-(thank you Steve O for the help) The only things left are to make the curtains and a quilt for above the bed.
I ran into the fabric hanging in front of the window at Ikea and picked up a couple of yards just for fun- not even with this project in mind. It's a little bold in this room but I think I like it.


Here is another curtain fabric option- also in the bold category and from Ikea. As I look at these pictures, I lean toward this fabrics for curtains, but I still can't decide. The chair, I can say for sure, needs to go or get an overhaul. I got it out of the trash many years ago, had it reupholstered once already. But the four precious little angels that run this place sure are hard on furniture. Perhaps some new upholstery- again.



In the end, I suppose the final drapery decision all comes down to the quilt I make for over the bed. Here is the criteria for the quilt- that it take about a day to make, uses mixed textures, is abstract and of course- colorful.
I've been loving Thomas Campbell's stuff lately and quilt boy- what's his name- Ian Hundley. Also, I've always loved the abstract quilt at Sundance in the hallway between the General Store and Grill Room, but I can't find an image of it to share- sorry.
Let's see if I can find a moment to stitch something up for this empty spot.

speaking of maps

Steve O has been all about maps lately, dreaming about the book Maps As Art (while I have been dreaming about seeing the backs of my eyelids)
In all his visions and obsession with cartography, Steve O found Ian Hundley a Brooklyn based artist who makes really rad, inspiring quilts of maps. Watch a video of Ian Hundley here.
Perhaps we've been thinking of maps because in about 4 days we leave for a month long holiday to Australia. After a year of planning, saving and mapping- it's finally going down. All six of us, 1 RV, 30 days, a couple of holidays, and one giant continent. You can follow along on the adventure at the Traveling Is My Hobby blog.

all pieced

As I was finishing piecing this quilt top, the silly saying that you see posted in quilters sewing rooms or quilting shops all over the place kept coming back to me. It goes something like this, "My husband asked me one day why I buy big pieces of fabric only to cut them up and sew it back together again." I think some version of this line rolls through every quilters head when piecing a quilt top. In the thick of it you can feel like you're going a little crazy. But I do love the finished product.

working on a quilt

I know it seems like all I do is ride my bike and stuff, but, I promise- I've been doing lots of sewing too. I'm making this quilt for one of the rooms at the Slot Canyons Inn, my folks Bed and Breakfast. My Mom picked out the pattern from the Kaffe Fassett book- Passionate Patchwork. The design is called shirt-stripe boxes. I must say I'm always very impressed with the design decisions she makes. No doilies and frilly knick knacks cluttering the rooms at her Inn, it's all very simple and tasteful- hats off Grandma Jo (and thanks for letting me help you).
I love the abstract quilts, I've had fun putting this one together. With any luck, I'll have this all pieced and off to be quilted tomorrow. I might need luck and magic.

pieced, but not yet quilted...

Here is a quilt from start- little piles of color ideas on the floor- to almost finished, sorry I couldn't wait until all-the-way-finished happened. I'll post the finished, quilted and bound product-hopefully in the next few weeks.

I cut out all of the indian girls to be hand appliqued at the same time. I put them, all sorted out in a bag with thread, needles and pins, scissors the background fabric squares, and the pattern map. I have been carrying the bag around with me for a month or two- hand stitching whenever I got a minute- watching a movie, sitting on the passenger side of a car, lounging at Lake Powell. Sorry if I annoyed anyone ( friends and family), it suited the muti-tasker in me. But, the cool thing was... the next thing I knew I had finished all 9 indian gals.

The next tricky part was trying to figure out the pattern from the picture I have. For those who missed the earlier post about this quilt, I am copying a quilt my mother-in-law made, then my Mom and I borrowed to hang in my Mom's bed and breakfast, Slot Canyons Inn. Jan, (MIL) couldn't find the pattern again, so I made it up as I went along, and somehow... I think it turned out.
I sewed the beads on the bottom of the skirts, then picked them out after I realized it would be tough to quilt over beads. I'll have to put them back on when it's all finished.

I found the Alexander Henry "lacota plains" fabric, with the teepees on it- already in my stash and just couldn't help myself but use it in the border. The feathers were cut out, pre-washed to fray then top stitched onto the quilt top.

It's finally all put together and shipped off (to the other side of town) to be quilted by my favorite machine quilter. (I'm gonna have to keep her name a secret or the waiting list will get even impossibly longer) The finished product is about 39" x 44".
I made it for my Mom, it will go in the Slickrock Room at the Slot Canyons Inn, her amazing bed and breakfast in Escalante Utah.

my attempt to quilt without a pattern

My mother-in-law Jan made the original quilt. She can't find the pattern, so I am attempting to remake it for my Mom and her bed and breakfast, Slot Canyons Inn- without the pattern. This is my first finished square. I like the way this little indian maiden turned out, and the turn under applique method went faster than I thought it would. Now I just need to add some beads to the bottom of her skirt... and make 8 more squares. It a good thing I like hand sewing, ever since I can remember hand stitching has a relaxing and calming effect to me. It's like my little treat. Kind of weird huh?
Here is the whole darn quilt. It's kind of tiny, about 2 1/2' by 3 1/2'. I have seen it hanging at my in-laws for years and always loved it. It's kind of fun to be trying to recreate it.

spring break wrap up

Oh... a week off of life was lovely. Spending a week at Grandma and Grandpa O's is always grand. You can learn all sorts of things that you can't learn at home in the suburbs (is that where we live?) This little garder snake got manhandled for a good solid 20 minutes, C. wanted to know what his name was and as you can see- was not too worried about getting close.


Here is the quilt my mother-in-law Jan is currently working on. Hello... gorgeous. It was propped up across the room from me as I sewed aprons in the cabin, quite a masterpiece to ponder.


Good times cooking hot dogs and marshmallows over the open fire, "another smore? oh I really shouldn't... OK, well- maybe just one more..."


Joe Bennion joined us for a few days, he had a rock laying class in Torrey. The kids loved making pots and little dog sculptures with the clay he brought. He impressed us all with tales of misfortune and fun at Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon.


These two little doggies were made and then buried in the ashes of the fire to cook. The kids dug them out the next morning, and have been very carefully taking care of them ever since.


Izzy on of the models for the clay dogs pictured above (see the resemblance?) the "wild dingo" doggie having the time of her life in doggie dreamland.

Jan and Owen a big huge thank you for your tremendous hospitality. You guys are the best, we love you!

an almost finished room

Ta-da.... here is the very close to finished room of my little gal. Just the curtains need to be sewn, but I need a few more yards of the fabric shown. (Alexander Henry 'Hollywood" in teal and brown, draped over the curtain rod) I bought this piece at Joanns's just about a month ago but they are all out- even the warehouse. I could only find it again for top dollar on ebay. I guess I should be glad I could find any at all. It should be here next week, and I can finish the curtains then. The walls are Martha's foxglove pink. I swear by Martha Stewart paint colors- there really are no bad colors. I have never been disappointed, or had to repaint with a Martha color. The prints hung on the wall are recycled from the toy room, I just repainted the frames brown (and a glitter clear coat over the top- just for fun) I got them at Hip and Humble a few years back. They are Seasons on the Farm by Eeboo.

The toy room has been dismantled and taken over by my oldest daughter, so the kitchen is back in M's room. I built this kitchen set for the kids in 2002 I think, for Christmas. (based on a Land of Nod kitchen) It has been used as a restaurant, doctors office, vet's office, you-name-it kind of store, and kitchen- of course. Behind the kitchen is the backside of the shoe quilt, just turned around to mix it up for awhile.

This little Frida painting is by Ann Gardner, a local gal. We traded a few years ago at a art and craft fair where we were both vendors. I think she got one of my skeleton dollys.

I thought this bit of crafty decor up the other morning, with found objects from around the house. OK- I admit I did have to purchase the giant embroidery hoop, but the rest I gathered up from here and there. Lit up or not M. thinks this is the best part of her new room.

Materials:
1 giant enbroidery hoop
1 strand of Christmas lights with various colored ribbons tied in between each light.
1 garland of felt beads
1 garland of felt flowers
Wrap everything around the hoop then hang it on the wall. Mix in any strand of anything you have laying around.

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas. I didn't mean for it to be so long since I last posted, but things sure got hectic here that week before Christmas. I tried really hard to get it all done and keep all the balls up in the air, so to speak- but, I'm afraid the blog ball got dropped, then kicked under the table and forgotten about.
Anyway, we had a great Christmas. It was just about right, not too much or too little. Everyone worked hard on their handmade gifts, and they were well appreciated. My 11 year old made hats for everyone (wow!), original collage art by M, and school projects by all the kids were some of my favorite gifts. I love seeing their faces light up when you open what they have made for you.
I made quite a few gifts myself, and had load of fun working at it. Here are some of the things I gifted out to all my people.

I finished this quilt for my Mom. I really liked the way it turned out, I hope she likes it too. It will hang on the wall in the Hole-in-the-Rock room in her bed and breakfast, Slot Canyons Inn in Escalante Utah.

A gal named Shantel at Corn Wagon Quilt Co. in Springville did the machine quilting. She does such a good job. She comes up with all the quilting designs herself. I request her every time and have never been disappointed with the finished product.

The big wool reveal...I made numerous little trees for lots of my ladies. Here are just a few. I will put the rest up on my flickr page. I got the pattern from some blogging ladies out there.
I even managed to bust out some flannel pajama pants for all the kids, sorry no picture, they have been wearing them virtually non-stop since they got them Christmas Eve. I guess that's a pretty good sign they like them.

cowboy boots

Here is the cowboy boot quilt top- all pieced together- that I've been working on for my mom and her bed and breakfast Slot Canyons Inn. I've got so many projects started, it feels good to finally have something finished. OK well... once again part-way finished.
It pieced together pretty fast once I had the fabric all picked out and cut to size. I am still trying to decide on fabric for the border, there is a thin strip (2 in.) and a thicker one (3 in.) that go all the way around. I always get antsy at this stage of a quilt, I want to see it all done and quilted. Unfortunately I am on a waiting list at Corn Wagon (a great quilting store just down the street from my house) and they are 8 to 10 weeks out. I should have gotten on the quilting list a little earlier.

cowboy quilt fabric

Here are some fabrics I have been recently collecting (this last week) to make a cowboy boot quilt for my folks bed and breakfast Slot Canyons Inn. They may not look cowboyish, but take a closer look, there are some horses, hats, cards and poker chips, and a little bit of plaid. I was mostly looking for bold designs and colors to mix in with the cowboy theme. I can't wait to get started.

quilt archives

This pattern of quilt is what got me interested in the sport of quilting. I think I made it in 2000 or 2001, it is the first quilt I ever made. Way to start out simple huh?
There are so many dumb and boring quilts out there, I am not interested in the traditional patterns with the baskets, Sun Bonnet Sue and bad colors. But when I saw this pattern, I decided I could give quilting a try.
It's all appliqued by hand, that means each square took about a month to make. I would lay the little dreamlets down for their naps then quietly sew for 20 minutes or so (not nearly enough "personal me time") until someone woke up. It was quite an accomplishment when I finally finished it. My mother-in-law talked me into having a group of ladies hand quilt it, I wasn't going to do that part myself. I could still be trying to finish it...
It is now hanging in one of the rooms at the Slot Canyons Inn, my parents bed and breakfast.

eat your greens quilt

i made this quilt a few years back. it has been hanging at my parents bed and breakfast,slot canyons inn in escalante ut along with a few other quilts my mother-in-law jan and i have made. i borrowed it back for the nothing to say show coming up next week-yikes!

another tiny quilt

I love this tiny quilt. It is only about 5 in. by 25 in. long. Just perfect for hanging in that tight spot, horizontally, vertically, or with a few other colorful items.

sorry Denyse Schmidt

Yes, I will admit it, this is a rip-off of Denyse Schmidt's quilts, which I love. I couldn't afford one of her quilts, and when you love to sew...why not just make it yourself?

tiny quilt

This tiny quilt measures about 6 in. wide and 25 in. long. It was very fun to make with all the random scraps I have laying around. Big quilts take forever, but these tiny ones are done in an afternoon.