Grandmas' Treasures

Years ago, while living in Frankfurt, Germany, I designed this wallhanging to represent our family.

Grandmas' Orchard


My hubby's sister was an artist and after I'd raved about her graduate art show, she gifted us with a portfolio of her work. Included in it was q block print of their grandparents home. It was the basis for the home and reminds me of many times visiting there when we were first married

The hills, mountains, apple trees are reminiscent of my family's home in Washington. Many happy, happy memories of times on my grandparents' and uncle's orchards as a child and later my parents apple orchard--part of which we now live.  People in the orchard are hubby and I plus our children and my brother's in there, too.  The columns are three dimensional.

The lake and fish reflect both families as we all love fishing.  Hubby has great memories of fishing with his grandpa and I've spent many, many days fishing on lakes, rivers and the ocean with my family.

Entered this in a contest for military wives through a magazine catering to military families and was thrilled to be awarded an honorable mention.

Piece was sewn on my then brand new 1976 Pfaff.  Had lots of fun trying out what seemed like an endless variety of stitches!  It's still a good machine.


Be sure to go here to see all the wonderful quilted pieces in this spring's blogger's quilt festival:
http://amyscreativeside.com/2013/05/17/bloggers-quilt-festival-wall-hanging-quilts/

Celebrating Christmas in Cloth

Nativity I made for grandkiddos 9 years ago.  Wanted something they could play with and saw something somewhere online that inspired me.  It's all free form stitching using stitches on my machine except faces that I did with embroidery designs bought for my machine.

Saw this Swirly Christmas tree wallhanging on Craftsy

http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/home-decor/swirled-christmas-tree-quilt-pattern/17664 and had to have it.  Made three of them this year using Steam a Seam.  Used swirls in quilting, but they get a bit wonky in the colored areas where I was trying to get all the ends and edges of the prettiness.  In last one also sprinkled in some stars near the top.  

 The strip wallhanging uses leftovers from my Christmas quilt I've posted about over at The Christmas Quilt Festival  http://www.quilting-tutorials.blogspot.com/p/2012-christmas-quilt-show.html 

First saw the ornaments runner at my lqs: The Attic Window.  It's from the book My Runners that was found at Amazon, too.  Made it this year.  FMQ was swirls and stars with Merry Christmas written at either end near tree limbs.

Snowman quilt, made using free designs called Snowbound by Bunny Hill.  I used pinwheel blocks instead of what they suggested.  It's one of the favorite quilts I've ever made and my grandkiddos love it.

FISHIES, PANSIES, LADYBUG, OH MY!!!!!

Two latest finished creations are staying at our home. Stained-glass one just screamed "Eileen" when I saw it since it's got the ladybug and pansies, which are one of my favorites and in colors I adore. http://www.bearpawproductions.com/store.php?cat=3 It was a pain to make...not because of directions or pattern, but because basting glue I used just didn't work well. It was a different glue than she suggested so that might make the difference!! To do another stained-glass pattern I'd use fusible web. Made bias because just couldn't see paying money it would have cost to get iron-on type. Of course, for ease, it would have been a lot easier. Someone posted about a glue stick something like lapel stick and might try that another time. Ended up buying one of those bendable lights for my machine and an open toed foot as my old eyes just couldn't see what was going on for sewing bias. Love both of them for other things, too and got a pretty good deal on light at a local sewing machine store. Batiks were used for both of these projects. The fish one was a birthday present to dear hubby...who picks out most of my fabrics for me!! He loves it and it was ridiculously easy!! It's a Ryan Mckenna design. I used corner triangles for hanging it:
http://www.embtreasures.com/articles/QuiltSleeveTriangles.htm shows how to do it. My dear sil hung it up in hall, then cute grandson Trey, made sure to take Boppa out to see it...had to walk him by it a couple times before he noticed it!!

They're similar in size...about 24 x 32.