Ione and Karen's Year of Quilts

Quilt # 177 - T Shirt Quilt

2012-01-03T20:09:00.000-08:00

We were commissioned to make a T Shirt Quilt from my cousin's Track & Field shirts from High School and College.

Pieces of favorite running shorts and also socks were added to the quilt top.

Even pieces of the favorite worn quilt that was taken on the bus were added to the back. Lots of fun and over 35 hours of work. Enjoy it, glad we could help take an item off your To Do List.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T22:39:00.001-08:00

No quilt this time just Happy Thanksgiving wishes to our family and friends. We are so thankful for our special day we had with our family. We made the candy turkeys yesterday and today Emily loved eating hers. She just ate the vanilla wafer and didn't eat the candies so not too bad.
A special thanks to the men and women who have volunteered to serve in the military. We will not forget those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom or their families, thank you. Erwin Harder - 1948 to 1969, William Bartram - 1959 to 1989, Andrew Shields - 1988 to 2008, and Anthony McDowell - 1967 to 2011.

BQ3

2011-10-10T20:58:00.000-07:00

BQ3 by Maple Island Quilts

Now I just need to decide how I want to do the layout for these blocks. I'll show you a picture when the quilt is finished.

2011-06-08T20:32:00.000-07:00

Quilt # 176 - Star with Dancing Block Border
58" X 58" 2011
This star block is an easy, fun quilt to make. By adding different borders it easily becomes a twin size quilt. I wanted an easy quilt so time could be spent on the dancing block border. This quilt is the sample for the quilt class I will be teaching at Diamond Lake, OR on July 10, 2011. Please let me know if you want to join the class.

#175 - Cabin Wall Hanging

2011-04-26T11:26:00.000-07:00

I made this small wall hanging for some friends who have a cabin retreat. I hand embroidered the middle, adjusting a cabin stencil I had. We found a stick in the yard to use as a hanger. The perfect thank you gift!!

#174 - Jessica's Comfort Quilt

2011-01-13T11:04:00.000-08:00

This "From Scraps to 12" Quilt was made for a bowling friend, Lori's Granddaughter, Jessica.

The bright cheery fabric has butterflies on it so quilted it with the Rebekah's Butterfly Garden Pantograph designed by a friend, Dave Hudson, from Pattern Man Designs.

Jessica, there are alot of people wishing you strength and courage.

I think about you often, Ione.

173 - Quilts for our Heroes

2010-11-11T08:55:00.001-08:00

Happy Veterans Day. We are the land of the free because of the brave.

Thank you. Happy Birthday, Marine Corps.

Erwin Harder - 1948 to 1969

William Bartram - 1959 to 1989

Andrew Shields - 1988 to 2008

You and your families are not forgotten. Thank you

Quilt 171 - From Scraps to 12 with Oodles of Doodles for Emily

2010-08-29T04:13:00.000-07:00

FROM SCRAPS TO 12 WITH OODLES OF DOODLES FOR EMILY

2010

36" X 48"

Miss Emily was kind enough to pose for pictures with her quilt from Grandma on a 100 degree day. The airconditioner and fans were blowing and she loves the colors of the fabric in this quilt. In May when I went to Quilt Market in Minneapolis I took a School House Class from my friend, Ricky Tims. He showed his new line of fabric from Red Rooster called "Oodles of Doodles". It will be in quilts shops this September/October. When the samples of this line were shown in pink, I knew this would be the fabric I used for my new granddaughter who was due in June. I used my pattern "From Scraps to 12" to make this quilt. I quilted the fabric designs and in the green block by Emily I quilted "Grandpa and Grandma Whitney love Emily". A pediatric nurse once said baby quilts should have rounded corners since infants can't move the corner if it pokes them in the eye. That idea makes sense to me, so Emily's quilt has rounded corners. I used Hobbs Wool Batting in this quilt and it drapes very nicely and can be washed. The quilt is really cute but it doesn't compare to the precious baby who has joined our family. We love you Emily. Posted by Grandma.

#170 American Hero Star

2010-07-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July Everyone. Here is a star quilt that we just made at the American Hero Quilt Sew Day.

Love the simplicity of the pattern and hope to make alot of this quilt so we can get quilts on more of our heroes who make this, our Independence Day possible. Thanks to all our servicemembers and their families.

Erwin Harder, 1948-1969, William Bartram - 1989, and Andrew Shields 1988-2008, you are not forgotten.

Posted by Doug and Ione

Baby Emily

2010-07-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

Well, it isn't a quilt, but Grandma Ione thinks it is just as good! Ione's first Grandchild was born this week. Her son, his wife and the baby are all doing well!

#169 - American Hero Quilt

2010-05-30T14:32:00.001-07:00

#169 - American Hero Quilt
It is Memorial Day Weekend 2010 and we are sharing this American Hero Quilt that was made at one of our Sew Days at Pacific Beach. We are part of the American Hero Quilt Project that is supplying quilts to Madigan Hospital for injured servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. We are also supplying quilts to the receiving hospital in Afghanistan where wounded warriors are first treated and prepared for transport to Germany. We are glad to be part of an ever growing group and so happy that more and more quilters are stepping up to help in this endeavor.

This Memorial Day we want to thank our Fallen Heros and their families for the sacrifice they paid for our freedom. We know that freedom isn't free.
Erwin Harder and Andrew Shields you are not forgotton.

Quilt 140 - AHQ Jewel Box Star

2010-05-03T22:46:00.000-07:00

April, 2010
50 x 60

I started this quilt a few months ago for the American Hero Quilts (AHQ) project. Mom was hosting another (AHQ) sew weekend at Pacific Beach, so I made sure we had this along to finish up.

Normally you would put the jewel box squares and the star squares right next to each other so you get a secondary pattern, but the blues and reds didn't seem to have enough contrast and the pattern was just getting lost. So, improvise was the word of the day. I decided to set off each block with dark sashing, and used extra partial blocks to make it a little longer.

It still needs a small border, probably dark blue. Looking forward to another sewing weekend!

Quilt 139 - Mennonite Auction Quilt

2010-04-18T21:40:00.000-07:00

Cindy Wiens pieced this Pam Bono pattern and it was machine quilted by Ione Ewert Whitney.

Cindy and Ione were happy with the winning bid. This was one of those quilts that many quilting ideas were auditioned on the plexi glass before the quilting started.

Quilt 138 - Canyon Rim Quilt 2010

2010-02-21T14:05:00.000-08:00

CANYON RIM QUILT 98" x 108"

9 Patch / Hour Glass

Quilt top was pieced by Adele and Betty.

Quilted by Ione

Many lovely pansy fabrics were used in this quilt top. Each year we as sisters make a quilt for the fund raising event for Canyon Rim Manor.

Who will be the winner of this quilt?

Mom and Betty are checking out the quilting. Big quilt that needs the binding yet but then will be ready to display.

Mom, Adele and Betty ready for the Valentines Dinner at Canyon Rim. What pretty ladies and flowers.

Quilt 137 - Teal Coffee Quilt

2010-02-10T19:45:00.001-08:00

During our stay at Pacific Beach in January, we made a trip to the quilt shop in Ocean Shores. I found a pack of squares from a line of coffee inspired fabrics that were too cute to leave on the shelf. I bought a yard of the teal and brown companion fabric for the border.

A few different patterns went through my mind, but I decided to just leave the squares as they were and make a simple quilt that showed off the colors and design of the fabric. I plan on quilting it with cross-hatching and binding in the same fabric as the border. It will hang on the wall across from my kitchen.

Quilt 136 - Green and Pink Wall Hanging

2010-01-17T17:26:00.001-08:00

40 x 40"

We are out at Pacific Beach doing some quilting and a little sightseeing. I made this the first night here knowing we'd be doing some driving and hiking the next day. The fabrics were a gift from my boss, a package of green and pink fat quarters. I hadn't know what I'd do with them, but one of the books we brought proved to be the right inspiration. The flowers still need to be appliqued, but we still have a couple of days.

Storms tonight again, but we are prepared. The pictures below were taken on our trip up the coast today.

Quilt 135 - Avo-Cat-O wool ornament

2010-01-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

2009

4x6"

As a follow up to The Avocato wall hanging I made for my friend last Christmas (Quilt 119 on this blog), I ressurected this small wool version for her gift this year. This had been my first attempt at this pattern, which is Block One of Helene Knott's Garden Patch Cats called The Avocato. I had thought that making it smaller and doing a wool applique would be easier and faster, but I ended up not liking it at all and made the full size version in cotton instead.

This little wool version almost ended up the garbage can, but after all the time I spent on it, I went with my Mom's theory of "Save it! You never know..." And she was right! I pulled it out again after a year had passed and it wasn't quite the tragedy I had remembered. I put a little embroidery embellishment on it, whip stitched a back on it, took black wire from some other ill-fated craft project to make a little hanger for it and voila!

She loved it and only wished she could have a dozen more to cover her tree with! Maybe next year...

Quilt 134 - Office Wall Hangings

2010-01-03T10:19:00.000-08:00

2009

13" x 16"

The law firm I work for moved to a different building this year, and my new office had a large blank wall that was just crying out for a wall hanging. When packing up her office, my boss found several rods from old card catalog drawers that she just couldn't bear to throw away. The moment I saw them I said "quilt hangers"!! They are only about 16" long, so I had my dimensions pretty much figured out before I started the quilts.

On a trip to Chelan, I had purchased some fat quarters that I knew would come in handy someday, but didn't really have a project in mind. They turned out to be the perfect mix of the neutral used on the walls of our new office and some bright cheery reds and pinks to liven up my office space. I used the Convergence technique and added an accent border on the bottom to make them a little longer than they are wide.

I also tried a new technique for binding, using strips on the sides and triangles in the corners, to avoid having any binding showing on the front. Fun!! I already have some other small quilts in mind so I can change them out every couple of months.

My high tech solution for mounting the rods: gold colored thumbed tacks. It would have been little cup hooks, but the drug store didn't have any, so gold thumb tacks it is!

Quilt 153 - Christmas Table Topper

2009-12-23T22:34:00.001-08:00

35 x 35"

Merry Christmas to All.
This is my Christmas present from Adele and Betty. They were learning a new technique and I got the result. Very clever pattern and they have made several already this year.

Quilt 152 - Loma's Log Cabin

2009-12-12T12:14:00.000-08:00

Loma's Log Cabin Quilt for American Hero Quilt Project

I got to spend the day with my Mom on her 95th birthday. She held the quilt for me while I attached the binding by machine and talked about how nice it will be for an injured servicemember to receive this quilt. It was cold in Oregon -5 in the morning but all the roads were clear for driving. Notice the Birthday Banner behind us, Adele received this for her 70th birthday and she takes it with her to help celebrate other people's birthdays. There are some grandmother's flower garden blocks from our Grandma in the banner.

Quilts 150 and 151 - Nieces' Graduation Quilts

2009-12-05T23:37:00.000-08:00

Niece's Graduation Quilts # 150 & 151
2009
50 x 60

Our families next generation is starting to graduate from high school. The BQ Pattern is a fun and quick pattern to make into functional quilts, one has minky on the back and the other one has flannel. These quilts are for the girls to use while studying at college. Congratulations
S and B. The girls names and their graduation year are quilted into their quilts. Hope they keep you warm.

Quilt 149 - American Hero Quilt Sew In, October 2009

2009-10-31T21:11:00.000-07:00

We had 2 very productive days at the American Hero Quilt Sew In at Pacific Beach. WA last weekend. Ended up with 9 quilts turned in, 5 of which still needed binding sewn on. Then we made 1 - 9 Patch/Hour Glass Quilt and pieces for almost another one.

Below is one of 2 Log Cabin Quilt Tops that were made with almost enough blocks made for another one.

There were 4 - Disappearing 9 patch quilt tops sewn. Also Strips with 2 Stars quilt top and a Rail Fence Quilt Top were made. A great time of sewing and sharing.

Make plans to join us in 2010 at Pacific Beach Conference Center for more American Hero Quilt Sew Ins:

January 31 - Sunday, 10 to 9 and February 1 - Monday, 10 to 6

April 18 - Sunday 10 to 9 and April 19 - Monday, 10 to 6

October 10 - Sunday, 10 to 9 and October 11 - Monday, 10 to 6

For more information about the American Hero Quilt Project please check out the website www.americanheroquilts.com

There will be a fund raiser at Sound Foods on Vashon Island on Saturday, November 7, 2009 check out the blog http://americanheroquiltswa.blogspot.com

- Posted by Ione

Quilt 148 - Go Green Flying Geese

2009-10-27T18:22:00.001-07:00

GO GREEN FLYING GEESE
12" x 18" 2009

This simple wall hanging is a class sample for a class I will be teaching at Tacoma Community College - Gig Harbor Branch. Four techniques to make the Flying Geese Pattern will be taught and the students will have a small wall hanging when finished. Then I will show several different ways to use the Flying Geese blocks to make other items, including the Folded Flying Geese Tree I designed. So far there are 2 prototypes, of course both different and now a third one is in the works. You may get to see all of them shortly!

- posted by Ione

Quilt 147 - Pink and White Stars

2009-10-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

Pink and White Feathered Star
50 X 50

This is the 4th year we have made a quilt to go with a picture that has been donated for the Gig Harbor Quilt Festival Silent Auction. At first glance, the quilt in the picture looked like a Feathered Star, but upon closer examination we realized it was a painted picture that kind of looked like a Feathered Star. So out came the paper and Karen drafted the pattern to be like the painted Feathered Star in the picture. She finished putting on the borders while out at Pacific Beach, WA. We went for an afternoon American Hero Quilt sew in but stayed a couple of days to work on our own projects. As usual we were very productive: 17 projects many finished and a few new projects started.

When it came to the quilting part of this quilt we realized that the painting was only a quilt top. No one but me thought it would be great to just present the quilt top as shown in the picture. I resized many feathers and just wasn't happy with any of them. Then in the morning, when I said I needed to get this quilt finished, I thought of the square feathers. I pulled out different size lids for the center circles and blue painter's tape for the grid work and away I went. This was a fun quilt to quilt and it felt good to be enjoying quilting again.

I think this is another "winner quilt" for this Mother and Daughter team. The quilt brought many bids and the auction was a success. It's always nice to be part of this project that gives the money from the auction to local breast cancer programs in the area.

- posted by Ione

Quilt 146 - Calico Comfort Quilt

2009-10-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

2009
50" x 65"

This comfort quilt was made for a friend's mother. We used calicos in pinks, greens and blues for the front with green dot Minky on the back. Nice and cozy! Mom used a loose all-over pattern for the front. Just perfect for the irregular pattern of the disappearing nine patch. (Sorry the color in the picture is not great, but you get the idea!)

Quilt 145 - 2009 Gig Harbor Quilt Festival String Scrap Quilt

2009-10-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

2009 Gig Harbor Quilt Festival
String Scrap Quilt
50" X 76"
When you do something 2 years in a row people think it should be a tradition. We were given a puzzle that was framed to make a companion quilt for the Gig Harbor Quilt Festival (http://www.gigharborquiltfestival.org/) auction this year. The puzzle has a Singer sewing machine and a string quilt in it. After finding blue fabric with white polka dots Adele went to work making string scrap blocks.

The blocks were sashed and corner stones were added like the picture. The quilting was a Baptist Fan quilting pattern so on the way out to Pacific Beach, WA for an American Hero Quilt Sewing Day(http://www.americanheroquilts.com/) we stopped in Ocean Shores. Our friend Jean had a Groovey Board with the Baptist Fan design so we quilted the quilt there. Thanks, Jean! The quilt was bound while at the ocean so it is ready for the auction.

2009 Ricky Tims Super Quilt Seminar

2009-08-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

August 20-22, 2009

Mom, Adele, and I, along with a few of our friends, had a great time at the 2009 Ricky Tims Super Quilt Seminar. It was two and a half days with more ideas than we can even remember! Above was one of the techniques we learned. This is a set in circle! Yes, that's correct! I cut a circle and cut a hole in the other fabric and sewed the circle in by machine! We'll be posting more as we get them done!

Thanks to everyone who came with us and made it a fun and amazing weekend!

Quilt 144 - Shades of Chelan

2009-08-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

2009
60 x 60"

I started this quilt on a Birthday Trip to Chelan to visit my brother and sister-in-law. It was supposed to have been a no quilting trip, BUT the quilt store was having a sale on fat quarters. Luckily Andrea had a cutting table and supplies, and Mom packed the sewing machine "just in case". One of many quilts I've made using the Disappearing Nine Patch technique, but only one of two that I've actually finished! Imagine starting and completing a quilt in the same year! Maybe I've turned a new leaf...

The colors remind me of the different seasons in Chelan: the blue of the sky and water, the green of the orchards and the white of the snow. I put a fluffy back on it, so it would be nice and cozy. Mom used an all over design in the middle and followed the flowers in the border.

Quilt 143 - Julia's Placerville House Quilt

2009-08-02T13:01:00.001-07:00

18" X 24"

Quilt Made By Julia Graham, 1996

Hard to believe it has been a year, Julia Rose. You are missed so much by so many. This quilted wall hanging has been hanging over my piano and Issac loved seeing it when he was visiting in November. Julia appliqued this wall hanging from a picture she had of the house they lived in for several years when Issac and Jen were babies. This piece was professionally framed and shows the wonderful artistic talent Julia had.

Quilt 142 - Jen and Tim's quilt

2009-07-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

45 x 55, 2009

I made this quilt as a wedding present for a friend of mine. She was having a luau themed wedding, so when I ran across these fabrics in Mom's stash, I thought they would be perfect. Hopefully it will be the perfect size for a picnic or to cuddle with on the couch. Mom kept the quilting simple, just outlining the purple flowers in the border and outlining the squares. We used the border fabric for the back and the binding, too.

Those of you who know us will be happy to hear that we didn't even have to finish the binding on the way to the wedding! It was done last night!

We hope you are all enjoying your weekend! In a few hours it will be cool enough to get back to the garden!

Quilt 141 Symbols of Courage

2009-07-12T10:34:00.000-07:00

2009, 24x30"

Symbols of Courage is our Invitational Quilt for Gig Harbor Quilt Festival 2009.

Please check out that web site at http://www.gigharborquiltfestival.org/ for information on when and where you can bid on this quilt. This quilt needed to be finished before we headed out on our family cruise to Alaska. Karen, Doug and Ione participated in Holland America's "On Deck for a Cure 5K Walk".

Quilt 140 - Plaid Bars

2009-06-08T16:58:00.000-07:00

2009

55 x 75"

While we were at Pacific Beach in April, I made this quilt for my friend Jason. I saw a similar quilt pattern in a catalog. They offered different colored quilts, each using variations on a single color, shades of green, shades of yellow, etc. I loved the monochromatic look, but since we had several bundles of these stripes and plaids, I decided to use a variety of colors. (I will make it in a monochromatic color scheme some day. Simple pattern but so cute!)

My bachelor buddy needed something masculine, but not boring. I was a little concerned about the red pieces but there were enough fabrics with hints of red that I think they blend well. It was backed with a plush material. I started laying out the pieces in order, but had to rearrange some when I ran out of certain pieces of fabric. Now I wish I would have had it a little more random, but some people like order!

Mom quilted it for me, keeping it very simple so as not to distract from the fabrics. I love that it looks like it could have been made from men's shirts. Another quilt I almost kept for myself!

Happy Memorial Day!

2009-05-23T23:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day, Everyone! On this day of remembrance, we think of all those who have died in our Nation's service, including Erwin Harder and Andrew Shields. We hope all of you will have time to spend with friends and family. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

Quilt 139 - Patriotic Scraps to 12

2009-05-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

2002
This is Armed Forces Appreciation Weekend. We post this Patriotic Quilt as a reminder to thank all of our Armed Forces Members for their service. This is a pattern I designed to use up fabric that is donated to the different charities that I am involved with. We use this pattern "From Scraps to 12" often in the making of quilts for the "American Hero Quilts" project. Please check out the website www.americanheroquilts.com and if you can, please help with this project. The quilts are greatly appreciated by the wounded service members who return from Iraq and Afghanistan through Madigan Hospital in Tacoma, WA. My azalea is blooming a bit late but it sure was worth the wait.

- Posted by Ione

American Hero quilts at Pacific Beach, Day 2

2009-04-19T18:05:00.000-07:00

Ten worker bees turned into 12 today! We got more accomplished and even got some boxes organized! The top picture shows some of the projects we completed over our two days here at Pacific Beach. The group is looking forward to our next session in October. Email us if you want more information. Below is a quilt Karen started using a panel. Luckily we found some coordinating fabrics. After the addition of a blue border it will be ready for quilting. Check out Americanheroquilts.com for more information about the program.

American Hero Quilts at Pacific Beach

2009-04-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

10 Worker Bees today at the American Hero Quilt community sew day at Pacific Beach. We also had about 15 visitors stop by to see what we were doing. This is a picture of the projects we worked on, 5 of which were started from scratch today. Looking forward to more productivity tomorrow.

Mom and I took a VERY short walk on the beach tonight. Was a little colder than yesterday, and with our sandals on it felt even colder! Now for some freshly baked cookies and a movie!

Quilt 138 - Quilting at the Beach!

2009-04-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

Mom and I are at the ocean for community sew days making American Hero Quilts at the Pacific Beach Resort. We arrived this afternoon and have already taken a walk on the beach and started some projects. Above is a miniature version of the quilt I made for Andrea for Christmas. I had some scraps leftover, so I used them to do the same pattern (disappearing nine patch), only smaller.

Below are our shadows on the beach. What a beautiful day! The sew days are over at 4pm each day so we will have time for evening walks on the beach, weather permitting!

Quilt 137 - Patriotic Primitive Heart

2009-04-10T22:02:00.000-07:00

2009

45x54"

This quilt was made for a friend who just returned from a year in Iraq. I needed a class sample for a class I gave at Tacoma Community College. It was a good opportunity to get two things accomplished at once. Jamey saw the Navy emblem fabric at the American Hero Quilt sew day, so I decided to use it on the label. The Primitive Heart quilt is a good pattern to teach "on point" setting technique and is always a good showcase for special fabrics.

- posted by Ione

Quilt 136 - Patriotic BQ-2

2009-03-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

2009

50 x 65

This is Mom's February contribution to the American Hero Quilt Project we've mentioned in several posts. She used Navy specific fabric in this one, alternated with flag fabric. Hope your class enjoyed it today, Mom.

Quilt 135 - Karen's Pink Flowered Flannel Quilt

2009-03-21T20:19:00.000-07:00

1990-ish
45" x 65"

When I posted the quilt I had received from my Grandma (Quilt #130), I mentioned that it got too worn to use so my Mom made me a replacement quilt. This is it! I was going through a pink and gray phase, and we had purchased this satin finish fabric to use in my room. I had a valance, a bed skirt and this quilt out of the same fabric.

Mom used flannel on the back so it would be nice and cuddly. It originally had a wide eyelet ruffle around it, that we removed when I changed room styles...again. She even hand quilted it!

Quilt 134 - 9 Patch Heart Comfort Quilt

2009-03-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

9 Patch Heart Comfort Quilt
2005

This comfort quilt was made for me in 2005 by my niece, Karla. She presented it to me at our family reunion at Diamond Lake. My chemo sessions worked out that I was able to recoup for a week, then go to the reunion and was allowed to drive myself back home for the next treatment. I was so fortunate to be able to handle all the treatments so well. It is wonderful to look back and say still "All clear".

The back of this quilt is covered with well wishes from family and friends. Thanks again, Karla. As with all quilts that have been given to me, I love them. There are never too many quilts in a home.

Quilt 133 - Ione's Comfort Quilt from Thelma and Elsa

2009-03-09T18:03:00.000-07:00

2005

Another of my special comfort quilts to keep me warm while I had my chemo
treatments. Thelma and Elsa are friends I made through West Sound Quilters Guild.

It is a bright cheery quilt that still makes me smile when I look at it today.

- posted by Ione

Quilt 132 - Ione's Comfort Quilt from Judie

2009-03-08T15:08:00.001-07:00

I just received another "all clear". It's hard to believe that 4 years ago I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. This is the comfort quilt I received from my friend, Judie. We sure have gone through alot in these last 4 years, Judie. Thanks again for this great quilt.

- posted by Ione

Quilt 131 - Betty's Hotel Quilts

2009-02-28T16:48:00.000-08:00

When a country hotel was going to open near my Aunt Betty's house, the owners asked her to make quilts for some (maybe all?) of the rooms. She sent them to Mom to quilt, and they came out beautifully.

The quilts were based around nature scene panels, and were constructed with traditional piecing patterns in keeping with the country theme of the hotel. Mom stuck to her "Keep it Simple Stitching" to really let the piecing and panels stand out.

And because it is Betty's birthday, we decided to take her on a trip down memory lane. The picture below is of Betty (in the curlers and red handkerchief) and my Grandma getting ready to baste a quilt. Betty's husband Mert is in the background. (And Mom, is that Dad leaning on the car?) Apparently Betty was helping with the quilt while her hair set in preparation for a choir concert that evening. Speaking of choirs, Good Luck to her Grandsons Z and T on their concert fundraiser this evening! Happy Birthday, Betty!

Quilt 130 - Karen's Quilt from Grandma

2009-02-25T21:27:00.000-08:00

50 x 75"

1976

A few posts ago I mentioned I had scanned a picture thinking it was a quilt my Grandma made for me when I was little. Well, this is my quilt! It was hand quilted by my Grandma (and I suspect some aunts, too) when we got back from Spain where I was born. I think I'm about 2 years old in this picture and am obviously loving my new bed!

It has a flannel back and I used it until I was 13 or so. At that point, the back was getting so worn there were holes in it. I was not very happy when we had to put it away, so my lovely Mom made me another quilt with flannel on the back. She hand quilted it and everything! It was pink and gray to match my very stylish 80s bedroom. Thanks Mom!

Quilt 129 - American Hero Quilt - Log Cabin

2009-02-21T20:27:00.000-08:00

2009

50 x 70"

Another quilt made by Ione for the American Hero Quilt Project. This quilt used up 2" scraps from fabrics donated to the project. Ione used gold star on blue background for half of the log cabin block, creating a great back-drop for the scrappy red strips. The blocks were arranged to create diamonds and Ione alternated her quilting style in each row. Stars were quilted in the blue and the logs were followed in the red srappy rows. The bottom picture shows the quilting on the back of the quilt.

If you would like to know more about this project, please check out their website at http://www.americanheroquilts.com/.

Happy Birthday, Roland!

Quilt 128 - Rosemary's Baby Panel Quilt

2009-02-12T20:45:00.000-08:00

2009, 50" x 65"

Another quilt for Rosemary. She had panels that were meant for crib bumpers and wanted a wall hanging from them. They were odd lengths, so I had to patch them together.

I took the rose design from satin fabric and made rose appliques to frame the panels at the bottom.

Mom did a wonderful job quilting it. She "kept it simple" around the panels and interspersed flowers in the sashing and along the border. I used the same fabric for the borders, binding and backing in order to keep the focus on the panels. I hope she likes it!!

Quilt 127 - Jen's Quilt

2009-02-09T21:28:00.000-08:00

2008-2009

My niece Jen bought the fabric for this quilt in New York, her Aunt Glad pieced and bound the quilt in CA, and I quilted it in WA - a multi state quilt! Now it is back in New York for Jen and Rich to enjoy!

- posted by Ione

Doesn't this look like an inviting place to spend some time binding a quilt?

Quilt 126 - Feel the Music Quilt

2009-02-01T23:48:00.000-08:00

42" x 54" - 2009
2008 – 2009, CROOK COUNTY CADET BOYS CHOIR
"FEEL THE MUSIC QUILT" was made by Great Aunts Adele Ewert and Ione Ewert Whitney for their nephews in Prineville, OR. The boys' choir will be using the quilt as a fundraiser for a trip to Ireland later this year. The music fabric comes from the fabric collections of Adele, Grandma Betty Ewert Lawson, Barb and Sharon.

Harriet and Ione were heading over to Vashon Island for Lorraine’s Day and decided to stop at the quilt shop, Island Quilter, (http://www.islandquilter.com/), to see if there was more music fabric Ione could add to the quilt. The store was open for the last day in a house before moving into a storefront in town. Ione was directed to the novelty fabric room which included the music section. When Ione took her choices to the counter to be cut, Anja said that when the American Choir Conductor, Robert Shaw, would come visit his cousin who had owned this house, he had stayed in the room where she had the music fabric. There seem to be lots of music lovers as part of this quilt!

The pattern is a Functional Quilt Pattern designed by Ione Ewert Whitney called "From Scraps to 12". There are 12 pattern pieces in the 12 blocks. The quilt was quilted by Ione – Brickhouse Machine Quilting, Port Orchard, WA.

There were many names considered for this quilt.
Crook County Cadet Boys Choir Music Quilt
Flannel Backed Music Cuddle Quilt
See the Music Quilt
Follow Your Dream Quilt

All of the choir members and their directors have signed blocks that are sewn into this quilt. Adele prepped and cut all of the pieces and was able to sew part of the quilt before they had the signature blocks back. The sashing is a nice way to set off the blocks and bring attention to the names and the variety of music fabric.

Quilt 125 - The Mystery Quilt

2009-01-29T00:31:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's me! And I'm hand quilting! (or maybe I'm just basting.) I had scanned this picture thinking this was the quilt my Grandma made for me with the flannel backing, but I'd had that quilt since I was just a baby so this must have been for one of my cousins. Maybe my aunts can help me identify this quilt? Judging by the quilt rack hanging on the dining room chair, I would guess we were at Grandma's?

Mom, this means we need to get down the baby box to photograph my quilt! I had to stop using it as a teenager because the back was getting too worn.

(Not quilt related, but I do believe I made that tie-died shirt myself at a day camp. A girl of many talents!)

Quilt 124 - Sail Boat Stained Glass

2009-01-23T00:25:00.000-08:00

2004?, 15 x 20"

Mom and I made this for the first Gig Harbor Quilt Festival. I designed it at one of our Pacific Beach retreats. This quilt started our tradition of adding the pink ribbon, although the execution of them got much better! We used a string scrap method for the side borders, one of mom's favorite techniques.

Quilt 123 - Ewert Great Grandchild Quilt, #12

2009-01-19T09:12:00.000-08:00

2004, 36 x 40"

We found the picture of M's quilt!

Great Aunts Betty and Adele designed this Noah's Ark Trip Around the World Quilt. The counted cross stitch "When you sleep under a quilt you sleep under a blanket of love, your Great Aunts, 2004" was ready to just be quilted with the name in it before the baby was born. Then she surprised us and we had to wait a bit longer and Betty had to change the counted cross stitch from a 4 to a 5. Happy Birthday, M.

Quilt 122 - Angel Stained Glass

2009-01-14T12:56:00.000-08:00

20 x 30", 2002?

Today's post was supposed to be a great-grandchild quilt for M, but Karen can't find the picture! We'll find it and get it posted soon. In the mean time, Happy Birthday, M!

So instead, I'll post one that we missed over Christmas. I made this quilt from a pattern Mom got from one of her friends. It was fun to use shiny materials and hunt for just the right hair fabric. I had intended to make a companion piece that had Christmas bells using the same shiny fabrics, but that hasn't happened yet. I do have the fabrics with the pattern, though! That's a start.

This is just the right size to hang in Adele's entryway at Christmas time. Although I think she has quite a few quilts that are "perfect" for that spot, so we have to rotate!

Happy Birthday Char!

and a belated Happy Anniversary to K & K!

Quilt 121 - Deb's Disappearing Nine Patch

2009-01-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

2008
55" x 65"

What do you do when it is Christmas Day, your parents are leaving the next day to visit your brother and you still don't have a present for your best friend? I know! You make a quilt! After our Christmas morning adventures and a wonderful dinner, I decided to piece this quilt.

Thanks again to Myra and Cori, I had some great Blue Meadow Designs fabric to work with (all but the pink and purple fabrics). I started with a paisley and matched everything to that. I used my new favorite quilt pattern, the disappearing nine patch, and a couple of hours later it was on the machine for Mom to quilt.

Mom, ever the trooper, quilted it between bouts of packing for their trip. Thanks, Mom!

Quilt 120 - K's Baby Quilt

2009-01-08T07:27:00.001-08:00

2001, 45 x 50

Another of the Ewert great-grandchildren's quilt. This was made for K in 2001. A geometric block pattern with pin striped fabric. Machine quilted by Ione. Happy Birthday, K!

Quilt 119 - Patty's Avocato

2009-01-05T00:25:00.000-08:00

2008, 18" x 18"

This pattern was another of my treasures from Quilt Market in Portland in 2008. It is Block One of Helene Knott's Garden Patch Cats called The Avocato. As soon as I saw it I knew I had to make it for my friend Patty! She loves all things cats, and this was just too cute to pass up.

I raided Mom's fabric stash and came up with some avocado looking fabrics and some to use in the border. I wish I would have stuck to hand applique instead of trying to do it by machine, but Mom tells me it adds character. We'll go with that theory.

So far this year I'm three for three in remembering to put a label on my quilts, Aunt Glad!

Quilt 118 - Andrea's Disappearing Nine Patch

2008-12-30T22:40:00.000-08:00

2008, 50" x 50"

I bought the fabrics in this quilt at the 2008 Quilt Market in Portland. It was a set of fat quarters from Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom collection. I just loved the fabrics and wanted to keep them all together and use a pattern that would show off my favorites. Mom had recently shown me the Disappearing Nine Patch pattern (a large 9 patch cut in half to form 4 blocks) and I thought it would be the perfect thing.

I pieced the blocks the week before Christmas and had enough to make two lap size quilts, so my sister-in-law Andrea was the lucky recipient of the second one! I don't have mine finished yet, but I actually gave a completed quilt as a present...and Mom didn't even need to finish the binding on the car ride over!

Below is a detail of the quilting and a shot of the cozy Minky fabric we used for the back. Thanks for the great quilting, Mom!

Happy New Year, Everyone!!

Quilt 117 - Birthday Snowflake Quilt

2008-12-21T21:14:00.000-08:00

Alma's 90th Birthday Snowflake Quilt

2004, 104" X 84"

This quilt was an inspiration to Adele from the February 2004 McCall's Quilting Magazine. Lori Housel's pattern was adapted from Possibilities "Let It Snow" in the Joy to the World Quilt Book. Our mother, Alma, celebrating her 90th birthday in 2004 was the recepient of this quilt. Top picture shows Alma and Adele putting the quilt on her bed. Bottom pictures shows Ione doing the quilting.

Each of the 10 children had a different white on white fabric for their family's snowflakes and sent their snowflake designs to Adele to assemble. The 18 grandchildren's snowflakes were smaller than their parents. The 11 great grandchildren had even smaller snowflakes. The quilt was presented to Alma over the Labor Day weekend at Adele's new home but the quilt stayed in Washington to hang at the Innovations Quilt Show in October. The snowflakes were fused to the quilt and then were attached with thread while being quilted on the Longarm machine. Hobbs wool batting was used in this quilt and has been on Mom's bed winter and summer. We were in Oregon to celebrate Mom's 94th birthday last week.

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

- posted by Ione

Quilt 116 - Gazebo Lunch Bunch Christmas Quilt

2008-12-17T22:30:00.000-08:00

1996, 48" X 48"

This is the Christmas quilt from our series of Gazebo Lunch Bunch Quilts from the Sisters Quilt Show. Blocks were made by Adele, Malinda, Karla, Annie, Betty, Carol, Ione, Rosemary and Jill. We each made 9 blocks. We had 1 year to get them to the others in the group and then the following year we would meet at the Quilt Show in Sisters, OR at the Gazebo in the park to have lunch together and show our finished quilts. It is always fun to see how others set the same collection of blocks. I like to use checker-board sashing when setting exchange blocks together. Great way to square up blocks made by many people.

When I quilted this quilt I quilted the names of the participants in the green border so I would remember who the piecers were. Glad I did that. It is fun to remember those who shared in making this quilt with me. I also didn't get to quilting my quilt till 1998, I had that info quilted in the green also. I chose to just outline the great pointsettas in the outside border.

The back of this quilt is flannel with teddy bears and red ribbons. Great quilt for on the couch to keep warm on this 20 degree night. The snow may return tonight but we can stay warm with our quilts.

Happy Birthday wishes to Jed and Aunt Tena!

Submitted by Ione

Quilt 115 - Trees with Dancing Block Border

2008-12-16T18:45:00.000-08:00

After taking a workshop from Ricky Tims and learning the Caveman Style piecing technique, I designed a tree table runner. I love the dancing block border idea, too. For several years I designed different Christmas Tree quilts for my students at Tacoma Community College/Gig Harbor Branch. The students enjoyed this pattern, too.

Quilt 114 - Christmas Ohio Star Table Runner

2008-12-14T16:24:00.000-08:00

Ohio Star Table Runner

early 1990's

Gladys and I were making Ohio Star blocks and designing table runners that we thought we would write directions for and sell patterns. Remember that idea, Gladys? We ended up with some really neat table runners but the patterns were never published.

Quilt 113 - Wedding Wall Hanging

2008-12-09T21:29:00.000-08:00

Aunt Gladys took a class in using old handkerchiefs and pictures printed on fabric. This was her class lesson project. It is a picture of Grandpa and Grandma Ewert on their wedding day December 12, 1935 (I think).

Quilt 112 - Rudy Wallhanging

2008-12-04T23:58:00.000-08:00

25 x 40"

The Rudy pattern was in a quilt magazine in the early 1990s. On one of my many quilting trips I found a quilt shop in the middle of nowhere in Eastern Washington. When I saw the reindeer fabric on sale, I knew it needed to be the border for a Rudy quilt. This is one of 2 quilts I made like this. I don't think I got a picture of the other one.

Happy Birthday, Dan and Michelle.

-posted by Ione

Quilt 111 - Karen's Christmas Stars

2008-12-03T23:08:00.000-08:00

60 x 70"

I found this collection of fabrics at the quilt shop in Chelan, WA. We were over there for a Christmas vacation and like any good quilter, we brought our sewing machine just in case. Mom had just made a quilt with the same blocks only smaller. I just love them on point, and thought it was a great way to showcase the lovely fabrics. I am so happy I chose the stripe for the small border.

Quilt 110 - Pooh Rail Fence

2008-12-01T22:47:00.000-08:00

45 x 65

This is another quilt for Rosemary. She purchased a set of Pooh panels that were meant to be part of a crib set. I wasn't sure how to incorporate them into a quilt due to their unusual shape. I finally decided to applique them onto solid backgrounds and fill in with rail fence blocks. Not sure who she is giving it to, so I tried to balance the pink with more neutral colors so it could work for a boy or girl. I think the unusual shapes add to the character of this otherwise simple quilt. (Thanks for holding it up for the picture, Mom!)

The blue and green rail fabrics are from Blue Meadow Designs. Thanks for such wonderful tone on tones, Myra and Cori. The pink is Fossil Fern.

Quilt 109 - Urlene's Log Cabin

2008-11-29T22:25:00.000-08:00

Urlene's Log Cabin Quilt

48" X 48"

I love to make log cabin quilts. There are so many design possibilities. This was Urlene's quilt the year I had Edith's name for Christmas. I might find the other 2 quilts that were made that year too.

Happy Birthday, Urlene.

Quilt 108 - Nativity Panel

2008-11-28T22:34:00.000-08:00

2008, 30 x 40"

Our friend Rosemary sends us quilt and sewing projects to complete for her, and is very understanding when it takes us forever to get them done. This is one she needed for Christmas this year, and it is done already!

It is a panel that we thought needed no extra details, so Mom quilted around the picture and we bound with dark blue.

Quilt 107 - Julia's Fall Table Topper

2008-11-26T00:31:00.000-08:00

9" x 9"

This is a piece from Julia's quilt collection. We aren't sure if she made it or if it was a gift from Adele because we have a Christmas piece from the same quilt pattern from Adele.

This piece reminds us of many Happy Thanksgivings we were able to spend with Julia and also the memories of the many other family and friends we lost this year and in years past. Our wish to you all who read our blog is to have a wonderful Thanksgiving and make lots of happy memories.

Karen and I are back in the quilting mode so watch for some new items we have almost finished to be posted soon.

- posted by Ione

Quilt 106 - Karen's Christmas Jewel Box Star

2008-11-24T18:38:00.000-08:00

60 x 60" 2007

This is the jewel box star I made at the Minnesota Retreat mentioned in the last entry. I used four colors over the white background, including a plaid which I thought constrasted the floral print nicely. It won a ribbon at the Westsound Quilt Show. It was my first ribbon! Thanks for teaching this class, Mom!

Quilt 105 - Christmas Jewel Box Star

2008-11-20T19:58:00.000-08:00

55 x 55"

A little something to get you in the Christmas spirit! This is another of Mom's class samples. She's taught it several times including at a retreat in Staples, MN. (Hi, Mel and Lorna!)

It uses the Jewel Box block, but alternates a star block to create the great diagonal rows. We've made quite a few of these in Christmas fabrics, but it looks great in any fabric selection.

Quilt 104 - Ty's Baby Quilt

2008-11-17T18:45:00.000-08:00

45 x 45

This was made for a friend's first baby. They had chosen a crib set from a department store and it had a thermal throw blanket with appliqued animals on it. I bought the throw and cut it apart using the appliques in this quilt. I set them with simple nine patches. Backed with flannel, of course!

Quilt 103 - Daniel's Tractor Quilt

2008-11-15T16:58:00.000-08:00

2004, 45" X 60"

At a West Sound quilt guild meeting one of our members told the story about an orphanage in Mongolia she had heard about. She had wanted to make a couple of quilts to send there. The director of the orphanage had said that if 1 quilt came then 28 would need to come so each child would get a quilt. Our guild member took on the project, making a folder with a picture and story about each child. She brought the folder to the guild and asked for help. We could look through the book and take the page about the child we would make a quilt for. I started looking through the book wondering how I would choose. Then I turned another page and there was Daniel. With a brother of the same name, it was easy to say I knew which child to make a quilt for.

The story said that Daniel liked tractors and yellow, so that is where I started with this quilt. The quilts were hand delivered to the orphanage. We were able to see pictures of each child with their quilt, including a picture of Daniel putting the quilt on his bed. What a nice feeling! It reminds me of a story my sister, Julia, once wrote titled "Quilts Provide Total Protection, Research Proves", the last line "We won't stop making quilts until everyone in the world is protected."

- posted by Ione

Quilt 102 - Mike and Jo's Patriotic Quilt

2008-11-09T20:11:00.000-08:00

Mike and Jo's Patriotic Quilt

This quilt was made in 2001 for Mike and Jo's wedding gift. It was made with many blocks that were made as sample blocks for classes. The easy delectable mountain blocks for the border just finished this quilt.

As we celebrate Veteran's Day this week we say thanks to all those who are serving and have served in the military of our country. Remember that "FREEDOM ISN'T FREE". Thanks to all of the family and friends of our Fallen American Heroes. Erwin Harder, 1948-1969, and Andrew J. Shields, 1988-2008, you are not forgotten.

- posted by Ione

Quilt 101 - Great Grandchild Quilt #4

2008-11-06T19:28:00.000-08:00

Great-Grandchild #4

The blocks for this quilt were made by the Great Aunts. Betty's cross stitch block says "When you sleep under a quilt you sleep under a blanket of love". Gladys and Julia hand quilted this quilt.

Happy Birthday L, we love you!

Quilt 100 - Glad's State Flower Quilt

2008-11-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

66 x 82 (c. 2005)

Fabric packs acquired over the years from Quilts and Other Comforts. I made a fabric label for each state flower on my computer. The quilt top was constructed at at workshop at Silver Falls,Oregon which I attended with sisters Betty and Adele in spring of 2005.

It was machine quilted by April Sproule of Fortuna, California.

- Gladys

(These are the same flower prints that Ione used in her state quilt shown in the previous post.)

Quilt 99 - States Quilt

2008-11-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

I am so happy to have this quilt finished! This quilt started in 1975. There was a transfer with the birds and flowers of all 50 states. Wouldn't that be a great idea to have a quilt for the bicentennial celebration of our country? I ordered the transfer and the directions said you could use the transfer up to 3 times. My thought was why not make all 3 at the same time? Sooo, I made a set for my sisters Adele and Betty. Betty embroidered her blocks and made it into a quilt that she sent off with her son, Mike, when he went to college. We can't find a picture of that at all.

Adele and I both began to liquid embroider our blocks. As the picture shows, she finished hers in 1976. Brian and Karen looking cute as can be at the quilt when it was on the quilting frame at Grandma's house before we moved to Hawaii. Raising children came next for me, so my blocks went into a box. Several years ago, my sister, Gladys, called and said "Have you seen the state flower fabric that is out? Wouldn't it be fun to make a state quilt?" My response was, "No, I already have an unfinished state quilt". She wanted the fabric and included me in the project, too. In 2006 she had her quilt finished and I now had 2 unfinished projects.

Adele, Gladys and I were going to attend the "Bach Festival" in Chelan, WA for a week and I thought that maybe I should take those 2 projects with me and figure out what to do. Fabric paints were back on the market so figured I could use them to finish painting the last 25 blocks. We attended 9 concerts during the week and spent time quilting. We even took a day and rode The Lady of the Lake to Stehekin at the end of Lake Chelan. The thought came to me to just make 1 States quilt. Finishing painting the blocks was a great project to take to sewing days with "My Fab 5" friends. I combined those blocks with the state flowers fabrics and this is the result. As always, I finished up with the binding at 11:45 in the evening before taking it to hang at West Sound Quilt Show in October 2008. It is now on the bed and just right for fall.

Welcome back to the States, Karen. She had a great time in England for 18 days. Great quilt ideas in her pictures, too. Who knows what will be inspired there.

- posted by Ione

Quilt 98 - Manitoba Retreat Quilt 2007

2008-10-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

This quilt top was pieced at a quilt retreat in Manitoba, Canada in October, 2007. Karen and Ione flew to Minnesota to meet with my cousin, Marlys and we drove to Canada for the retreat. We found many wonderful quilt shops along the way. This retreat was presented by our friends, Myra Harder and Cori Derksen of Blue Meadow Designs who are designers for RJR Fabrics. Please check out their website http://www.bluemeadowdesigns.com/.

We are missing the retreat this year but made many new Canadian quilting friends. When we came back to the US and the border agent asked where we had been, we said "A Quilt Retreat". He sighed and said, "My wife's a quilter too". We learned some new techniques and had a great time. I hurried and quilted this quilt last week so that it could hang at "Innovations, a machine quilting conference" in Tacoma, WA.

That website is http://www.mqinnovations.com/

While at the conference I missed some birthday wishes.

Happy Belated Birthday

Kacey, Barb, Mike, Kevin and Mike

Posted by Ione while Karen is on vacation.

Quilt 97 - BOSTON COMMONS

2008-10-12T16:17:00.000-07:00

This is one of the two Boston Commons quilts that my sisters, Adele and Betty made. Adele and I are holding the quilt in front of our neighbors 10 foot rhododendron. The technique for piecing made 2 quilts at one time. This is the one I quilted and we gave it to Mom for Mothers Day several years ago.

Quilt 96 - Ewert Great Grandchild Quilt for B

2008-10-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

We decided as great-aunts to make a quilt for each of the next generation coming into the world. This was the second Ewert Great-Grandchild quilt we made. We each made a sampler block using a prechosen set of fabrics. Betty added the counted cross stitch to her block which says, "When you sleep under a quilt, you sleep under a blanket of love". Julia and Gladys then made the tumbling block sashing and assembled the quilt. They also hand quilted the quilt. Happy Birthday, B. We love you.

Quilt 95 - Purple Miniature

2008-10-02T20:43:00.000-07:00

year??, 6" x 9"
This miniature was made for me by my sister Gladys. It was made as a remembrance of triple Irish Chain quilts she and I worked on at a trip to Pacific Beach. They were made with reproduction fabrics. She used the solid green for one of her chains and I used the solid purple. Though the miniature doesn't have any of the reproduction prints, it is a great little symbol of our larger quilts we made together.
-posted by Ione

Quilt 94 - Great-Grandchild Quilt for K

2008-09-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

Another of the Ewert Great-Grandchildren quilts. This time the great aunts chose pin-wheels and four patches in bright colors. Great Aunt Betty continued with the counted cross-stitch block tradition: "When you sleep under a quilt, you sleep under a blanket of love."

Happy Birthday, K!!

Quilt 93 - Purple and Green Pinwheels and Bars

2008-09-29T19:59:00.000-07:00

"She Who Loves to Quilt" Combo

This 40" square quilt was inspired by the "She Who Loves to Quilt" #3 picture in the art piece of this combo. The art piece is by Susan "Kukana" Toronto. This set is our donation to the silent auction for the Gig Harbor Quilt Festival 2008. Please check their website for more information on the auction event to raise money for Breast Cancer Programs in our local area. www.gigharborquiltfestival.org

Quilt 92 - Millennium Wall Hanging

2008-09-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

A gift in 2000.

12" X 12"

Many fabrics came out in late 1999 with 2000 printed in the fabric to celebrate the new millennium. Aunt Lena and Aunt Anna had a new quilting book that had lots of different patterns in it and they wanted to try them. They used millennium fabric and made a block for each of their 38 nieces and nephews. Another great gift that hangs in our home to enjoy. Thanks again.

- posted by Ione

P.S. Happy Birthday, Howard!

Happy Birthday, Mel!

Happy Birthday, Karla!

and Happy Anniversary, Betty and Mert!

Quilt 91 - Bell Pull

2008-09-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

A Gift in 1990

Approx. 5" X 24"

This bell pull was a gift in December, 1990. The note from my Aunt Anna and Aunt Lena said "Our mother - your Grandmother - had started making a quilt top in the 1930's. She hand pieced these little diamonds together but never got it completed. We often took the project out and looked at it and wondered what to do! If we did make it into a quilt then only one could enjoy it - so we got an idea: Your Grandmother thought of and talked about all her grandchildren and spent much time praying for them. Now we wanted to send each one a little remembrance of her. We divided the quilt piece into 38 strips and the Bell Pulls are the end product. We've had lots of fun doing this and enjoyed thinking of you all while working on it. Love"

If you ever see a bell pull like this hanging in someones house please say hi to my cousin and have them post on this blog. What a special remembrance this is for all of us.

- Posted by Ione

P.S. Happy Birthday, Stacey and Jo!! Love Auntie I

Quilt 90 - Great Grandchild Quilt #3

2008-09-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

This quilt was made by the great aunts and again Great Aunt Betty did a counted cross-stitch block that said "When you sleep under a quilt, you sleep under a blanket of love". It has a tumbling block center with a festive rainbow binding.

This quilt needed to be a bit longer to fit the alphabet. Though the quilt top has the letters in the correct order, the label does have the alphabet as ABDCEFGHIJK. Our cousins remember us as the ABDC cousins, as we were named in alphabetic order except for the D and C changed spots in our alphabet. This quilt went on several trips with us in the finishing stages. We had it in Portland to visit with Edith and then took it to Pacific Beach and out to Ruby Beach also. Then it was sent on when A. was born. Now it is several years later. Happy Birthday to you, A. We love you.

Quitl 89 - Cathedral Window Wall Hanging

2008-09-13T11:09:00.001-07:00

Year???, 12" x 12"
This was my first, and likely my last, cathedral window quilt. I started making this many, MANY years ago when my Aunt Gladys found some "easy" directions for making cathedral window quilts. She will have to help with the year, but I am guessing it was close to 10 years ago.

I am posting it now because I finished sewing in the "glass" pieces this week! I found it in a box of half finished projects and thought it was time to finish it and hang it on the wall for a while. (and I'll be sure to cut off that errant string before I hang it...)

Quilt 88 - Rita and Gary's Double Irish Chain

2008-09-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

Several years ago Doug and Ione were heading to Oklahoma for a long weekend. The weekend before flying out on Thursday we found out that Rita was going to get married while we were there. I thought that there wasn't time to make a quilt but Karen said, "Of course we can get a quilt made!" Twenty-four working hours later the quilt was ready to give as a gift.

This was before September 2001 because I took the quilt in a rolling suitcase with my scissors and did a lot of the binding while waiting at airports and on the plane. When Rita and Gary started opening gifts she looked at me and said, " I know we don't get a quilt because we didn't let you know we were getting married." They were both very excited when they saw the large gift bag and realized that they did get a queen size Double Irish Chain Quilt for a wedding gift.

-posted by Ione

Quilt 87 - Scrap Bagger's Patriotic Quilt

2008-09-07T22:10:00.001-07:00

August 30, 2008
Betty and Mert were the grand marshalls of the Rendevous Parade in Wamic, OR. The quilt laying on the back of the car will be a presented to theVeterans Home in eastern Oregon by the Scrap Baggers Quilt Group.

Quilt 86 - Garden Path Block

2008-09-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

2001-2005, 22" square
We aren't sure if this block was made as a sample of Connie's quilt or if it was made because Connie's Pink and Green Garden Path (quilt #85) turned out so beautifully. It was pieced by Adele in 2001. Julia started the hand quilting in 2002, and it was finished by Gladys in 2005.

Quilt 85 - Connie's Pink and Green Quilt

2008-09-05T07:38:00.001-07:00

Gladys had lent a pink and green quilt to Connie to use in her guest bedroom. Connie liked it so much, Gladys decided to make her a pink and green quilt that she could keep. The variety of pinks, greens and background pieces give the quilt a great texture. I had the privilege of quilting this lovely quilt.

-posted by Ione

Quilt 84 - Great Grandchild Quilt #1

2008-09-02T20:31:00.000-07:00

How many quilts does a new baby really need? We decided as great-aunts to make a quilt for each of the next generation coming into the world. We each made a sampler block using a prechosen set of fabrics. Betty added the counted cross stitch to her block which says, "When you sleep under a quilt, you sleep under a blanket of love". Julia and Gladys then made the tumbling block sashing and assembled the quilt. They also hand quilted the quilt. Happy Birthday, S. We love you.

Quilt 83 - Karen's Koi

2008-08-30T22:08:00.001-07:00

1999, 12" x 12"
OK, so maybe it isn't a Koi fish, but it was better than naming it "Karen's Unidentifiable Generic Fish". We've posted some of my other stained glass quilts, and there are sure to be several more. I fell in love with this technique and love making my own designs, but I also like taking patterns for other crafts (rug hooking, stenciling, embroidery, etc.) and making stained glass quilts from those, too.

This fish was from one of Mom's quilting stencils. I just made the quilting lines a little broader and those became my "lead" lines. I decided to leave a few of the sections black to emphasize the movement in the water fabric. I'm now wishing I would have bound it in black, but I'm sure I had a good reason for choosing green at the time...

Quilt 82 - Glad's Jewel Box

2008-08-26T19:45:00.000-07:00

1998, 50" x 70"
In honor of Glad's birthday, we are posting the jewel box quilt I made for her. I started with the border fabric again, and matched the other fabrics to that. Happy Birthday, G!

Quilt 81 - Mike and Joyce's 25th Anniversary Wholecloth Quilt

2008-08-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

30" x 45"
Combining several patterns and some of my own design, I made this quilt for our good friends Mike and Joyce to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. It was quilted on white cotton sateen.
-posted by Ione

Quilt 80 - Glad and Ken's Delectable Mountains

2008-08-21T19:04:00.001-07:00

1998, small-ish
These were class samples then August birthday presents for Ken and Glad. Nothing like a little quilt to bring a smile to your face!
- posted by Ione

Quilt 79 - Kenny's Jewel Box

2008-08-09T12:31:00.000-07:00

2001, 60" x 72"

Kenny's Jewel Box started with the border fabric. I purchased it from a fabric store at 50% off (yea!) not really knowing what I would do with it. It had been in my stash for many years. When it came time to make Kenny's Christmas jewel box quilt, I thought this would be a great border fabric, so I chose the rest of the fabrics to coordinate with it. (A great way to bring cohesion to a scrappy quilt.)

When we drove to Northern California to deliver the quilt, I could see all of the colors of the landscape reflected in the quilt and knew I had made the right color choices! It now lays on the back of their couch, so you look across the quilt and through the window to views of Mt. Shasta. I hadn't even thought of the scenery, but it blends perfectly.

Aug. 9 - Happy Birthday, Ken!!

- posted by Ione

Quilt 78 - Julia's Color Wheel

2008-08-07T07:59:00.000-07:00

1990s, 48" x 48"

We would like to share another one of Julia Rose's hand-quilted quilts today. This was made from blocks won at Julia and Glad's quilt guild. Julia put them together using the striking, solid color sashes and incorporated one of her unique quilting designs. (I love, love, love the striped binding! -K)

Quilt 77 - Glad's Bear Paw

2008-08-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

Julia's gift to Gladys

1997 70" X 85"

We want to share the story of this special gift today. We hope it encourages you to put that extra something special into your next quilt. My sisters, Julia and Gladys, both lived in Eureka, CA, since the early1980's. Their children were the same ages so they shared many adventures together.

Here are a few comments from Gladys who received this wonderful quilt: Julia made this for me for my 50th birthday. She made the one-block wall quilt earlier to tide me over to that much-anticipated date of my birthday. And it has a gift bag for storage of the quilt. It has always been a treasure and now it is even more so.

As Gladys mentioned, she received the one block wall hanging before her birthday. As the picture shows, the back was just as wonderful as the front. Then it was time to receive her quilt at the birthday celebration at the family reunion at Diamond Lake, OR. The Bear Paw Quilt was enhanced with the wonderful Prairie Points around the edge.

There was a label on the back of each one and of course there was the wonderful envelope to safely store the quilt. This is the envelope our cousin, Marlys, mentioned in one of the comments a few days ago. Isn't that just a clever idea? Julia loved to hand quilt and it sure does show in her quilting on this quilt. It was always great fun to watch her come up with the idea for her quilting design. Each quilt would get her undivided attention to what design she would create and where it would go.

Julia Rose

2008-08-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

July 31, 2008
My beautiful blond little sister, Julia Rose, was on this earth only 55 years and one day. We will never know how many lives her kindness and amazing courage touched, but she was one of a kind. She was a wonderful sister and as our cousin Lois said today, she leaves an incredible legacy in her two children. We shared many things: love of our family (yes), Scrabble (not so much), and quilting (definitely). When MS took her ability to continue hand quilting, I had the honor of quilting her quilt tops for several more years. She drafted cryptograms during the many hours she had to lay in bed, but when she would be at her voice controlled computer, they would be encrypted and sent for us to enjoy. They are on her website http://www.jgpuzzles.com/. For those of you who knew her, you can read her obituary in the Sunday Eureka Times Standard online http://www.times-standard.com/. We will leave Julia's blue jewel box quilt up for the next few days. We will get back to quilting and living with a hole in our heart that has lots of memories. Your inspiration will be with us forever, Julia.
-love Onie

Jen just sent me the link to Julia's online memorial for those interested: http://www.jenfein.com/Main/Julia.html
My heart is with my family today, who have all lost someone very special. My thoughts today will be on Scrabble games and homemade desserts, of which we had many with my Aunt Julia.
Love to all,
Karen

Quilt 76 - Julia's Blue Jewel Box

2008-07-29T20:06:00.001-07:00

2000, 64" X 80"

For several years I made a jewel box quilt for one of my siblings each Christmas. This is the quilt that was made for Julia. I often start with a color scheme or border fabric and match all the "jewel" pieces to that.

Julia, You are my inspiration. Love and Memories last forever.

-posted by Ione