Finishing Babies!

Funny thing how inspirations go... you make something that inspires someone else, then in turn you are inspired by THEIR quilt and have to make another... and so it goes!  So here's my bright thimbles quilt!  The incredibly bright pink was a bit much around the border but somehow the lime green binding makes it all right.  Quilt magic I guess.

Here's another example of quilt envy... only it was a the baby thimble quilt I made for Presleigh.  After it was delivered to baby I missed it and certainly had enough fabric to make another.  So, combined with the doll fabric from another baby quilt, I made my very own!

In order to have the dolls all standing upright and not have to piece the border I decided to include some flying geese blocks, they give a little "direction" to the quilt as well!

The last baby quilt finished this week is for baby Cade.  We enjoy many laughing hours together when Mom is working.  He and Eli surely know how to appreciate a new quilt... when I lay it out and say "what do you think boys?"  they both immediately crawl over and hug the quilt and Cade says "Ohhh!" 

Don't forget me, baby Cade!

Too Good to Cut Part 2

I created this sweet star quilt using the Debbie Maddy pattern Radiant Stars and the same box of fabrics I used for the Too Good to Cut challenge.  As with all the Debbie Maddy patterns the star is a no "Y" seam construction. I did alter the pattern to use 9 1/2" triangles instead of piecing all the little squares which used much less fabric and looks tidier to me.

My original Sweet Thimbles quilt (for the challenge) focused more on the pinks while this quilt uses the pink as an accent color with green as the major color.  

Of course, as always there were smaller scraps of fabrics that needed sewing into a pineapple quilt.  This is very pastel for me and difficult to even fathom that I would sew it but it is very sweet and dainty!  I probably would not have chosen the border fabric for this particular quilt except that #1 I already had it and #2 I used it in the middle of the quilt but it does seem to liven up the pastels a bit!

Step by Step

Finally all the suspended ceiling tiles are down along with the framework and support wires!  Then we took down the old AC duct work.  That make the biggest difference as they were right down the center of the building and wrapped in white insulation!  You could see from one end to the other except for all the shelves which are just too big to move around much!

The next step is exposing all the plaster by removing the 70's paneling.  We will chip away some of this plaster to show some of the brick.  In the process of removing the first 1/4 of the paneling we discovered that there was originally a display window at the front of the store which you can see below at the right of the photo.

There are several large and wonderful white shelves and a great counter that will go against the two walls on the left and right where we won't need to remove any plaster.

Coming soon... the new AC/heater!

Happy Graduation Kasarah!

A friend's daughter is graduating from high school in just a few days!  Mom and Dad secretly chose nine t shirts that represented her many activities at CHS including cheerleading, powerlifting and student council.  The quilt is much like Kasarah... bright, organized, happy and fun!  It was presented to Kasarah at a tea party hosted by her parents last week.

Happy Graduation!

Flower Shop update

After three liquidation sales a donation truck came by and picked up the remainder of the flower shop inventory.  Everything left in the building is intended to be used in the quilt shop!  We are extremely fortunate to have inherited many sturdy shelves with the building that can be repurposed for fabric bolts. 

We have successfully taken down the walls to the kitchen and office in the back of the building.  We have also taken a peek at what's under the floor so we'll know how to proceed there.  Now come the big decisions about what we will rebuild.  Our original idea needed to be revamped but I like Plan B very much!

Baby Dolls

This sweet baby doll fabric really didn't need much piecing to show off the cute dolls and clothing.  Since fabrics had two different background colors I used the gathered pink in a more bold color to set the two apart.

The outer border is simple stipple quilting but the center is dainty all over feathers.

Originally I had chosen the tiny doll fabric for the binding but it just didn't add anything to the overall design, so I switched to this fun pink and brown alphabet fabric!  I love it! 

Goodbye Thimbles

 

A good friend and her family are moving soon.  I will miss her sense of humor and storytelling and so this thimble quilt is sent on with her to their new home. 

Much like this thimble quilt, our friendship has brought together a variety of experiences and colors that together make a beautiful whole.  And, I hope, will bring warmth, comfort and a reminder of our times together!

Baby Pineapple

Just finished binding this small baby pineapple quilt made from 1930's reproduction fabrics.  Very sweet!

Quilt Excursion

We went to Gruene for the weekend and visited several quilt shops and other businesses in old buildings along the way.  Our goal was to see how they did their lighting, AC/heat ducts and fans.  We saw a wide variety including the AC/heating ducts that have been suggested to us which was very helpful!  We even purchased a beautiful antique oak counter to use as a second cutting table in the quilt shop!    

However, much cleaning and organizing still needs to be done in our building and another "inventory liquidation" sale of the flower shop contents.  We're making progress! 

If you have the opportunity to visit Gruene we would suggest the Gruene Mansion Inn.  It is owned by Clyde native Cecil Eager and has the friendliest staff I've ever experienced anywhere!  The rooms are all unique and I especially enjoy the outdoor rooms crafted together from antique materials.  Very inspirational!

Here's the counter back at home!

Quilt Shop News!

Here's the big news!  We purchased a shop in our one block downtown and after extensive remodeling will open a quilt shop!  Very exciting!  I hope this will become a wonderful place for quilting friends to gather and gain inspiration from each other and a place where new quilters will begin their adventures in quilting!  My quilting friends range in age from four years to their 80's, won't it be fun to provide a place where we can all come together and learn from each other!? 
Our plans are to open sometime after the first of the year but I'm sure the time will fly by!  It will be fun to go to Quilt Market in Houston again!