A Baltimore Christmas

For all you applique'rs out there, 

A Baltimore Christmas Quilt

I know it's only March, but as a quilter, I receive Christmas quilts all year long, and I just had to share this one! Since this is a Baltimore, you know there is lots of detail with lots of little pieces, and I commend anyone who actually finishes one of these quilts.  

On most appliques, I try not to quilt on the applique itself, but the Santa center block in the one was too large not to. This client also did not mind a little quilting on her work, so I did quilt veins in the border and holly leave, and just a few areas where I felt it was needed in the actual blocks themselves. 

This quilt is mainly a lot of background work, and I have included a few of the blocks for you to check out. It was indeed a privilege to have been given the opportunity to quilt this one!

Border 

Christmas Boot block

Wreath block

Gingerbread wreath block

Partridge in a pear tree

The large center Santa block

April Pantographs

Isn't it wonderful to see Spring has finally arrived, along with some much needed rain?!! I have been out doing some planting and tending to the needs of my perennial garden. It seems all my bulbs were in need of dividing, and fortunately, I have friends who need some! Well, onto those quilts.....

First, a couple of quilts with feather edge to edge patterns. The first one is a black floral pinwheel, that works really well with an overall feather design.
















Next is a log cabin variety, which always seems to look good with feathers.



























































Then an applique with an all over pattern stitched into it. I have not done this before, typically doing custom work for applique, but edge to edge seems to work on this one. I think it's because the applique patterns are fairly large. Since it has Hawaiian floral applique, a simple floral pattern was used.

This last one is also a type of log cabin, but with a musical theme, so a musical note pattern was chosen.

















































The back of the quilt was also pieced, and the notes stitched in may be better seen here.








That's it for now. I currently am working on a cowboy theme quilt, so I hope to let you see that one soon! Until then, happy quilting!
Cathy

Verse for the day: "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." (Psalm 119:18)

A Traditional Wedding Ring Quilt

Traditional Quilts are Still Beautiful!

Good morning, happy quilters! I meant to get this one posted long before now, but things have been a bit hectic lately. But - I am joyful today because my God is good and He has blessed me with a new day!

The quilt as I took it off of the machine.

This quilt is one of my favorite patterns, but one I have yet to try because I know it is so difficult to do. Thankfully, others are braver than I am and willing to try!. I just love the look of a wedding ring quilt and think it is one of the most beautiful patterns out there. After quilting this one, I have become challenged, and have ordered some templates and pattern so that some day, when I get brave enough, I can try my hand at this also.

Anyway, since this is a traditional quilt, I chose a traditional quilting patterns for it. I think it came out beautifully, and I hope you enjoy checking it out!.

Pattern detail

A closer look.

Dale is going in for knee replacement next week, so it will be a while before things get back to normal around here (as though things are ever normal!) But I will still be getting in some longarm quilting whenever I can - I love my job!
 Hope to be posting again soon, but in the meantime, happy quilting everyone!
Cathy

Verse for the day: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

A Feathered Forget Me Not and Some Edge to Edge

Quilts from the Heart of the Giver

I thought I would get this out sooner, but, alas, one thing after another it seems - recovering from the flue, catching up with all those undone things that I put off until after Christmas, getting the decorations down and put away, and then, just to add to the fun, car issues! Life is always an adventure, and all the downs help us to be so much more appreciative of the ups!

It is always such a joy to me to see what some of you put so much time, money, and effort into, and then give to a loved one. This type of gift says so much about the heart of the giver, and you all have such generous and giving hearts!

The last of my "must be done for Christmas" quilts was this Pam Bono design, called "Forget Me Not". If you like feathers, this one has just a few. I knew I would have to break down those large while areas somehow, and decided to curl the feathers around the bow and ribbon. I first drew semi-circles where I wanted the curls to be, then worked out how I wanted to connect them. I included some swirls to add a little interest and fill in some of the odd
spaces.

I continued this theme in the large periwinkle and white center triangles, using a feather curved to the triangle, with some ribbons and swirls. For the dark green and navy triangles, a crosshatch pattern was used to create a trellis look.

The pansies, ribbons, and leaves were simply given their natural character. The narrow borders received a ribbon look, and the navy area around the pansies were also feathered.

A couple of other gifts from the heart included some edge to edge quilts. This first one is called "Evening Mist," and is quilted with an all over feather pattern.

This cute and colorful children's quilt has a teddy bear all over pattern.

And this wild, colorful block quilt has and all over star pattern. This one is a two-sided quilt, with bold colors on one side and more pastel blocks on the other.

That concludes the last of the December quilts. I am now working on a traditional wedding ring quilt, which I hope to show you soon! I wish each of you a blessed New Year. Until next time, happy quilting!
Cathy

Verse for the day: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities." (Psalm 103:2-3)

Winter Snow Friends

Merry Christmas!

I am happy to say that my last "must be done for Christmas" quilt went out the door last week - I definitely breathed a sigh of relief! However, since then, my husband and I have had a visit from that nasty flu virus that is being passed around - would have preferred he did not share this one with me! Oh well, we are on the mend, and are thankful that our bodies are so wonderfully made that they have the ability to fight such awful stuff!

I have a number of quilts that need to get put on this blog, but for now, I will settle on this cute little winter appliqued wall hanging called "Winter Snow Friends".

The many 1/2 sq. triangles were quilted with continuous curve and holly leaves. The appliqued portions were mainly stitched around, but a few of the figures required additional stitching to make them lay flat.

I used a variety of backgrounds -  feathers, swirls, snowflakes, loops, and stipple - to add interest and to flow with the pattern. This is just a happy quilt, and it brings a smile to my face!

That's it for today - I just wanted to make sure you had a Christmas quilt to check out. (If  you want to check out another Christmas applique, Dec. 2013 has AJ's stunning Merry Christmas quilt.) I will be adding more quilts very shortly, but company is coming - I must get some baking done!

May each of you enjoy a very blessed Christmas, and may you enjoy, blessed, and be challenged by all He has in store for you in the coming year!

Cathy

Verse for the day: "Your adornment must not be merely external - braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:3-4)

Red, White and Black Bandanna Quilt

Left This Out!

What can I say - I was in such a hurry with my last post that I left this out - now you know how feeble my mind is!

This one was quilted with a feather panto using red thread - sounds a bit bold, but the end look of it is fabulous. Sometimes dramatic is the way to go!

Until next time, Happy Quilting!
Cathy

Blackford's Beauty & a Red/ Black Bandana Quilt

Crunch Time!

With the Christmas holiday quickly approaching, I am becoming more and more aware of the many quilts there are still hanging in my closet awaiting their completion!

Some quilts just seem to take me a lot longer than I anticipate once I get going on them, and that certainly did apply to this quilt, called Blackford's Beauty in Plaids, but I love the way it came out.

This was one of those with a lot of white space, so I had to use the "divide and conquer" method, quilting a diamond pattern to separate different quilting spaces. Since feathers were used in the  border, the plaid stars, and the pinwheels, they were also put into the diamond area for continuity. A flame fill pattern was used in the center, and a more dense clam-shell fill used in the remainder of the space.

That's it for now - have to get back to quilting! Hope you all enjoyed a very blessed Thanksgiving - we have so much to be thankful for.

Until next time, Happy Quilting!

Cathy

Verse for the day: "Daniel said, "Let the Name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to h\Him." (Daniel 2:20)

Woodland Christmas Applique

outer border

Fall Greetings!

It is hard to believe that summer is over and our busiest season about to approach, but yes, it is coming quickly! Already, my schedule is quickly filling with holiday requests, and I love seeing them - it sets my anticipation for all the season has to offer.



Regretfully, I somehow did not manage to take a picture of the whole quilt for you -  I am so sorry, for it really was a wonderful detailed applique and you will miss the full appreciation for the work that went into it. The woodland creatures included bears, foxes, raccoon, hedgehogs, bunnies, and birds among a mix of houses, trees, and stars, which allowed opportunity for a variety of fills and detail work. It has a winter-y looking swirled outer border, leafy corner blocks,  and a holly leaf  pattern for the inner.

One of the house blocks - hmm,
 bears protecting the town hall?

corner detail

Bunnies, fox, and bear admiring
the tree decorations.

All the woodland animals
pitching in to help.

Santa has a new helper!

Hedgehogs preparing for the celebration.

Somehow, these raccoons look
a bit mischievous.

And Merry Christmas to all!

As you can see, this is just a fun quilt and I really enjoyed working on it - thank you, Barb! If you were able to attend Quilt-a-Fair in Longmont, you may have seen it hanging at the Laughing Ladies booth. We have been in New Mexico, so were unable to attend, but hope you were able to enjoy all the variety offered there!

Until next time, happy quilting!
Cathy
Verse for the day: "Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness." (Psalm 30:4)