Things are finally coming together.  I’ve finished up two and a half of the projects I took with me last weekend on the Watson quilting retreat.  Who was I kidding? – only myself -  There was no way I could finish 5 projects in one weekend – but I did try.

The top is complete for the baby quilt.  It’s also been quilted and bound.  (Good thing too.)  I was just told that she is having a baby shower November 6.  I didn’t know that one was planned this early.  For once I’m ahead of the game.

Quilt for Riley Diane

It was an ‘on and ‘off’ rainy day on Sunday, so I took advantage of forced time indoors and finished the quilt shams for my son.  The side borders are Seminole Patchwork blocks that are also border his quit.

King Size Pillow Shams

Lastly, I’ve embroidered three bluework blocks and have started on the fourth for my Linda Hunter quilt.  The pieced blocks are all finished.  I’d like to finish this top by the end of November.

Pieced and embroidered blocks

The other two projects, will probably go with me on our winter trip to Texas.  I really need to get started on some Christmas presents.   I’m hoping I have enough time to finish two twin size quilts.  The sticky part will probably be finding someone to quilt them at this late date.  I may have to try and quilt them myself – but I normally don’t like to quilt more than a lap size.  – Am I up for the challenge?

Tip of the Day:  When cutting borders for wall quilts I always cut the side borders with the fabric’s lengthwise grain to prevent wavy borders.  The will also lie flatter against the wall.  On a bed quilts, that doesn’t seem to be a problem.

Each year in January or February we tap into the creativity of some guild members for our program.  On Tuesday, four of us demonstrated techniques we enjoy:  Small Drawstring Bag, Crewel Embroidery, Stamp Carving – and I was pleased to be asked to demonstrate Seminole Patchwork.

I became interested in piecing by the Seminole when my husband and I were on a winter vacation in Florida last year.  The creativity of the Seminole continues to amaze me.

The Indian Removal Policy in the 1800′s  forced the relocation of East Coast Indian Tribes to Oklahoma.  The Seminole took refuge in the Everglades.   Only able to make the trip to the trading post once a year, every bolt of fabric  traded for animal skins and furs was extremely precious.  They were sure to make use of every scrap of fabric on the bolt and Seminole Patchwork was born!

Coming Back from Trading Post

In the 1900′s hand-cranked sewing machines became popular and in the 1920′s designs were completed by strip piecing.  Extremely popular designs were:

• Blocks or Bars of alternating colors
• Sawtooth Designs

I can imagine that the machines were one of their most prized possessions.

Traditional dress incorporated these horizontal bands of both simple and intricate patchwork.  The more elaborate and complex designs were symbolic of:

• Seminole clans
  • Bear, Snake, Panther, Toad, Bird, Deer, Wind, Otter
• Refection of daily life
  • lightning striking across the sky
  • crosses reflecting Christian teachings
  • fires racing through swamp
  • spools holding colored threads that were used for the patchwork

Not only did they use patchwork in clothing for themselves,

Typical Seminole Clothing

but also used it to make doll clothes.

Seminole Doll with Patchwork Bands

It certainly was a fun experience for me.  I hoping that everyone came away with an appreciation of the craft.  It’s a great way to not only add borders to a quilt but some interest as well.

This weekend I worked on a sample block for our guild’s 2011 raffle quilt.  The pattern is Granny Stars, designed by Nancy Mahoney and was featured in the July 2009 issue of Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting.

I’ve separated the sections of the block so that members can either choose from the easier corner square unit or the intermediate star piecing units.  Each member working on the quilt will made 2 sections.  In addition, the quilt borders will be hand appliqued.  All in all it should give everyone in the group the opportunity to use the quilt technique they enjoy the most.

Star Point Block

Corner blocks

Completed block

I decided to make a sample block and am really pleased with the pattern.  I cut the squares used for the star points a 1/4-inch larger than called for in the pattern.  I’m hoping that when the oversize triangles  are trimmed to size,  the result will be perfectly sharp star points.

Each year our guild members make a raffle quilt to raise money for programs and charity projects throughout the year.  I am co-chair for the 2011 project.  Members normally are asked to put the quilt together during the first year and the top is quilted, either by hand or machine, during the second year.

"Granny Squares"

My co-chair, Julie and I have chosen Nancy Mahoney’s pattern Granny Stars featured in the July 2009 issue of Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting.

We looked at a number of patterns before making our final selection, but both of kept returning to this one.   Granny Stars combines both piecing and applique techniques into the quilt.  Piecing techniques range from simple for the corner units to the intermediate star points.   The applique will be needle-turn.

Our Guild members’ talents range from beginner to award winning quilters.   So this should be a quilt that any of them can, and I’m hoping, will want to work on.

With the help of two of our guild members, Marion and Sandi, Julie and I were able to coordinate the material for the quilt top at Patchwork Plus. We really ventured outside the box – batiks are not normally a fabric that either Julie or I would choose when making a quilt.  I was definitely a bit skeptical, but now that I have laid the material out on my cutting table and ‘played’ with it a bit  – I’m excited.  As Marion said, “This should be an earthy and warm looking quilt.”  I’m hoping it will appeal to a large number of people.  (We do want to sell a lot of raffle tickets after all!)

We had been  looking for a quilt that would turn heads when displayed.  I think with this fabric selection we’ve found it! 

What a fun way to spend an afternoon!

Sandi was intrigued by this particular fabric and has volunteered to design an applique border using it’s elements.   She put it on her copier, enlarged the designs on the fabric and will design a very unique applique border.  Never would have thought of that myself – but it really is a great idea.   I appreciate anyone who has such a creative talent.

Fabric Detail

What a talented group of quilters I found when I joined Thumbstall Quilt Guild.  It makes quilting with friends all the more worthwhile.

We arrived here on Sunday night and decided that not to wait until New Year’s eve to open our presents.

My son was very surprised and pleased with his Adirondack quilt.  I was happy to see it on his bed. 

A king size quilt just does not show on a queen size bed.

The original pattern was for a double bed and was square.  I enlarged it to make it a king size rectangle by adding pieced and Seminole patchwork borders along with plain borders.

I named the quilt Adirondack Dreaming and printed the label with one of Tom’s pictures of the Adirondacks.  I found the perfect sentiment to use for the label:

Adirondack Dreaming

“You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind…because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.”

Frederick Buechner, Telling the Truth

It seemed appropriate for someone who enjoyed the Adirondacks so much when he lived in upstate New York.