“Daisy Days” Quilt

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Barb

This quilt might also be called the “Never Too Late” quilt, because I made the top about 13 or 14 years ago, when I was still homeschooling, then carried it from house to house during our various moves before finally machine-quilting it this past winter.

“Daisy Days” was one of many Thimbleberries fabric lines (which are no longer produced). I bought this as a kit after seeing it hanging on the wall in a wonderful quilt shop called “A Touch of Amish” in Barrington, IL, and I had to have it. Who knew it would take me so long to finish it? But given how busy I was when I was homeschooling my kids, I’m amazed I even got the top made when I did.

As for the machine quilting, I did it in alternating rows of daisies and leaves, which I learned how to do at Lori Kennedy’s fantastic blog.

Memorial Quilt

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Barb

Our aunt passed away a few years ago. I say “our” because even though she was technically my husband’s aunt, after 35+ years of marriage, she had become my aunt too.

She was a lovely woman, full of life right until the end of her too-short life. I offered to make our uncle a quilt to remember her by, and he gave me a couple of boxes of clothes to work with.

I was expecting the bright colors she often dressed up in, but what I got was a few dressy things and a lot of her leisure wardrobe: knit tops, t-shirts, and knit shorts. I set aside the clothes for a while so I could figure out what to do. And then I learned about rag quilts, and the light bulb went on.

Using the fronts and backs of a dozen shirts including several from our aunt’s favorite vacation spot, Myrtle Beach, I was able to make a quilt large enough for our uncle to take a nap with.

Tidal Quilt

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Barb

I’ve been busy making quilts but have had trouble getting photos of them on this blog. Now I finally have some photos to share.

I made this particular quilt last fall for someone who suffered a tragedy in her life a year ago. I used batiks to represent the colors of the ocean as she mentioned that she had decorated her bedroom with a beach theme. In the border I quilted one of my favorite Bible verses, one that greatly helped me during a traumatic time in my life many years ago. The backing is sand-colored Kona cotton.

The pattern is the “Double Slice Layer Cake” pattern from Missouri Quilt Co., which I’ve used before. The batiks are from Connecting Threads and I quilted this in a stipple/meander pattern using Aurifil thread, to which I have become addicted.

My First Double-Slice Layer Cake Quilt

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Barb

Yes, the name makes me hungry, but since I gave up white flour three years ago, I don’t eat cake, so I’ll content myself with making a layer cake quilt.

Layer cakes are packages of coordinating fabrics cut in 10-inch squares. I used squares from Connecting Threads and an instructional video from the Missouri Quilt Co. to make this quilt:

It was fun to make, and quick! If I hadn’t been fighting illness this past month, it would have been done weeks ago. The backing fabric came from a thrift store, where I found a set of homemade curtains in fabric I adored. I ripped out the seams and sewed the two panels together, and for a few bucks I had my backing:

Here’s the video I used, in case you want to try your hand at this (warning, it’s addictive! I’m planning to make another one soon.)

Summer Vacation Projects–Finished!

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Barb

It’s been three months since summer began. Where did the time go?

I spent some of it watching my son swim in his pool, gardening, planning our daughter’s upcoming wedding and buying a vintage Bernina and playing with it. I also finished a couple of projects, including this needlework pillow from a kit I bought in 1987 but didn’t start until I finished homeschooling two years ago:

I also made this quilt from fabric I bought from Connecting Threads:

Like the back? It’s a like-new, made-in-Italy sheet I bought at Goodwill for $3.99. What a find! The look and feel of it is just wonderful.

And now my summer’s gone, and it’s back to work. I’ll post here when I can, but I’m also going to share some posts from my older blogs (I began blogging in 2005) that may help newer homeschoolers. You’ll see them on Fridays…..Flashback Fridays.

For current homeschooling news, be sure to visit my other site, Thriving in the 21^st Century.